Caught on a snag.
1838. Many steamers have been damaged by striking the wrecks of the Baltimore, the Roanoke, the William Hulburt, and other craft, which were themselves snagged.—E. Flagg, ‘The Far West,’ i. 27 (N.Y.).
1842. Steamboat snagged. The Cincinnati papers say that the steamboat Nonpareil was “snagged” a few days ago at the “Grave Yard,” and sank.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Nov. 29.
1844. I have been snagged once and on fire twice.—Watmough, ‘Scribblings and Sketches,’ p. 181. (For fuller quotation see BULLY-BOAT.)
1845. Steamboats are about ten days coming from New Orleans to St. Louis, when they are not blown up or snagged on the way.—Bangor Mercury, n.d.
1851. In the papers you will often see whole columns, headed, “Snagged,” containing a melancholy list of boats that have had that unpleasant and unnecessary operation gratuitously performed upon them: frequently they are materially damaged. Then follows, sometimes, a list of “boilers burst.”—Lady E. S. Wortley, ‘Travels in the U.S.,’ p. 112 (N.Y.).
1852. He wanted to get me snagged up for a while, so that he could get the start of me.—Knick. Mag., xl. 318 (Oct.).
