In October of 1918, just days before the end of the first World War, a the Princess Sophia ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef and sank into icy Alaskan waters. Every single one of the over 350 people aboard perished despite rescue boats circling the ship for nearly two days, nearly within arms reach. What has gone down in history as the worst maritime disaster in the history of the pacific northwest has largely been lost to history, but baffles everyone who hears her tale.

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Sources:

Book - The Sinking of the Princess Sophia, Taking the North Down with Her by Ken Coates & Bill Morrison

Articles - Travel Alaska, Capital Daily, NPS, Last Frontier Magazine, Alaska Daily News, Juneau Empire