The Shipwreck Archives

The Pall Mall Budget from the 12th of October 1877 contained the following report in its “The Army and Navy” section: “The Admiralty have published the official report, by Captain Chatfield for Her Majesty’s ship Amethyst, of his proceedings in search of any possible survivors from the wreck of the steamer Eten, on the Pacific Coast of South America, on the 15th of July. Captain Chatfield denies the rumours which had obtained currency in some Chilian papers that he had seen shipwrecked people on the rocks and abstained from rendering them assistance.”Ship Name: Eten

Year Built: 1871

Nationality: British

Tonnage: 1853

Ship Type: Iron-Hulled Propeller Steamship 

Year Wrecked: 1877

Location Wrecked: Chilean Coast Near the Choapa River.

Reason for Wreck: Navigational Error in Storm 

Lives Lost: Estimated Between 100 and 150

Sources:

https://www.bibliotecanacionaldigital.gob.cl/colecciones/BND/00/PE/PE0001194_0029.pdf

www.bibliotecanacionaldigital.gob.cl/colecciones/BND/00/PE/PE0001194_0030.pdf

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mechanics_Magazine_and_Journal_of_Sc/sbFXAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=eten+pacific+steam+navigation+company+1871&pg=PA335&printsec=frontcover

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70611566/5667881

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/297990821?searchTerm=eten%20amethyst

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pall_Mall_Budget/8rk_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+chatfield+amethyst+eten+1877&pg=PA72&printsec=frontcover

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3388655/3388663/149/eten%2BOR%2Bpacific?from=search&__cf_chl_tk=qr4SXD0CiFuQNuSNPW9xwkWKzKdgvoXR8bK4aWKpLTM-1791840670-1.0.1.1-eghk_HGJ20eiv2iL8P3b_mi7z9X8zouFM7UQ309zKaQ

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3439908/3439910/44/eten%2BOR%2Bpacific?from=search#

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3439908/3439910/39/eten%2BOR%2Bpacific%2BOR%2Bsteam%2BOR%2Bnavigation%2BOR%2Bcompany?from=search

The Seward Gateway from August 30th, 1917 ran the following story: “New friends have been made for the United States in Japan through the treatment accorded the officers and crew of the wrecked freighter by officials and residents of Unalaska. The sailors and officers of the Kotohira Maru had about the same feeling of wonder as to how they would be treated, by American residents of western Alaska as an American crew would have should their ship be wrecked upon a remote island of the Japanese group. To be taken into the home of the deputy marshal and given plenty to eat was a most pleasant change from fourteen days in an open boat and never were men more grateful for kindness.” Ship Name: Kotohira-Maru 

Year Built: 1888

Tonnage: 3478

Nationality: Japan 

Ship Type: Freighter Steamship 

Year Wrecked: 1917

Location Wrecked: Amchitka Island

Reason for Wreck: Blown Ashore in Storm 

Lives Lost: None

Sources: 

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Alaska_Shipwrecks_1750_2015/ArpqDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=kotchira+maru+wrecked+1917+when+was+it+built&pg=PA267&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Japan_Daily_Mail/QRFDAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mitsui+and+co+kotohira+maru&pg=PA539&printsec=frontcover

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-seward-gateway-and-the-alaska-evening-post-aug-30-1917-p-2/

https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/das/meta-en/B12081746400

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-seward-gateway-and-the-alaska-evening-post-aug-17-1917-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/valdez-daily-prospector-sep-13-1917-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-seward-gateway-and-the-alaska-evening-post-aug-30-1917-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-daily-alaska-empire-sep-07-1917-p-6/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-seward-gateway-and-the-alaska-evening-post-oct-01-1917-p-4/

The Western Mail from November 23rd, 1869, discussed the difficult salvage work that had been taking place on the Carnatic. “From the 14th to the 20th there was a continual heavy gale, preventing all operations. On the 20th the English diver was down at the wreck four hours. She lies over at an angle of 45 degrees, and he works in 13 fathoms of water. He found the Carnatic’s spare shaft and crank had fallen overboard to leeward, and the end rested against the mail-room door, where the boxes of specie were deposited. Bales of goods were also found jammed in, requiring great power to remove them, and breaking much tackle in the attempts.”

Ship Name: Carnatic 

Year Built: 18662

Tonnage: 1776

Ship Type: Iron-Hulled Screw Steamship 

Nationality: United Kingdom 

Year Wrecked: 1869

Location Wrecked: Reef Off the Coast of Shadwan Island, Egypt 

Reason for Wreck: Ran Aground 

Lives Lost: 26

Sources: 

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Final_Report_of_the_Commissioners_Minute/1YFPAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=carnatic+shipwreck+1869&pg=RA1-PA454&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Annual_Register/aYhWAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=carnatic

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1300593

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3881149/3881151/9/carnatic?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3385441/3385447/44/carnatic?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3096666/3096669/11/carnatic?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3881050/3881057/71/carnatic?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4466596/4466599/44/carnatic?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3438611/3438619/71/carnatic?from=search

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mail_and_Passenger_Steamships_of_the_Nin/jDUZAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=carnatic

The Plainfield Daily Press from March 12, 1908, ran an interview with Mrs. Winn, wife of Captain Winn: “In speaking of the stories in last night’s papers, Mrs. Winn declared she could not place Kulman as a member of her husband’s crew. He claimed to be second mate, but this position was held by Andrew Keegan, of New York, while the First mate was Philip A McVicer, of Oregon. It may have been that Kuhlman was one of the ordinary seamen and, being familiar with the wreck as it occurred, decided to elaborate the story in order to make some money when he reached New York.” Ship Name: Tillie E Starbuck 

Year Built: 1883

Tonnage: 1931

Nationality: United States of America

Ship Type: Iron-hulled Three-Masted Cargo Vessel

Year Wrecked: 1907

Location Wrecked: Pacific, Closest to Chile

Reason for Wreck: Demasted in a Storm 

Lives Lost: One 

Sources: 

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-cleveland-leader-mar-29-1908-p-5/

https://newspaperarchive.com/barre-daily-times-mar-12-1908-p-3/

https://newspaperarchive.com/plainfield-daily-press-mar-12-1908-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-mar-12-1908-p-2/

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Last_Days_of_Sail_on_the_West_Coast_San/LQgMAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tillie+starbuck+american+vessel&pg=PA38&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Master_Mate_and_Pilot/DS0AAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tillie+starbuck+american+vessel&pg=PA343&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_the_Columbia_River_Valley_fro/LIwjAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tillie+starbuck+american+vessel&pg=PA126&printsec=frontcover

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1908/03/12/104719442.html?pageNumber=3

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lloyd_s_Register_of_Shipping_1886/3t9XEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tillie+e+starbuck+lloyds&pg=PR593&printsec=frontcover

The Lloyds Weekly London Newspaper from December 30, 1849, featured an article about the high demand for emigrant ships and the resulting dangers, inspired in a large part by the fate of the Caleb Grimshaw: “In fine calm weather the boats could not have contained one-tenth of the number. Few as they were, they turned out in the hour of trial to be mere hen-coops, and were stove in or sunk. There is an act of Parliament rendering it imperative on emigrant ships to carry a life-boat, but on board the Caleb Grimshaw there was not such a thing to be found. There was not a single one of those appliances which modern ingenuity has invented for assisting the struggles of shipwrecked men--no floating mattresses, no copper tubes, no means of constructing rafts.” Ship Name: Caleb Grimshaw 

Nationality: United Kingdom 

Year Built: 1848

Tonnage: 1165

Ship Type: Wooden-hulled Emigrant Ship

Year Wrecked: 1849

Location Wrecked: Mid-Atlantic, Closest to the Azores 

Reason for Wreck: Fire 

Lives Lost: 101

Sources: 

https://newspaperarchive.com/patriot-dec-27-1849-p-3/

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3394766/3394768/4/grimshaw?from=search

https://newspaperarchive.com/lloyds-weekly-newspaper-dec-30-1849-p-5/

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Diary_of_Philip_Hone_1828_1851/KAwUAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+hoxie+caleb+grimshaw&pg=PA370&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Illustrated_London_News/85jlNgyYXBYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+hoxie+caleb+grimshaw&pg=PT4&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reports_of_Committees/16YFAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+hoxie+caleb+grimshaw&pg=RA13-PA5&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/In_the_Wake_of_the_Wind_ships/4o5DAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+hoxie+caleb+grimshaw&pg=PA201&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Accounts_and_Papers_of_the_House_of_Comm/B6FbAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=caleb+grimshaw+ship+built&pg=RA2-PA62&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Americana_Illustrated/HnhIAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=caleb+grimshaw+ship+built&pg=PA303&printsec=frontcover

Captain Edwards told the story of the events that led to him receiving a Medal of Honor from the Navy as well as earning him an officer in the French Legion of Honor, and that story was later published in American History Told by Contemporaries, edited by Albert Bushnell Hart and published in 1929: “My officer of the watch had in the meantime sighted a vessel to starboard. While he strove to make her out in the dim early morning light, he suddenly saw a flash of fire near her stern. Sensibly he put his helm hard over and sent word to me. This was a simple routine of the sea. There was no indication that my big crisis was getting close. I was sleeping in the emergency cabin opening on the bridge. Glancing out, I saw I had time to throw an old uniform over my pajamas before we came within hail.”Ship Name: Vinh-Long 

Nationality: France 

Tonnage: 5050

Year Built: 1881

Ship Type: Iron Hulled Troop Transport Steamship 

Year Wrecked: 1922

Location Wrecked: Sea of Marmora, Near Constantinople 

Reason for Wreck: Ship Fire 

Lives Lost: 13

Sources: 

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/bainbridge-iii.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/409844295/?match=6&terms=vinh-long&search-id=30ce74fa-775e-409a-9e53-ec4ba7e8f36a&search-rank=4

https://www.newspapers.com/image/919428027/?match=5&terms=vinh-long&search-id=30ce74fa-775e-409a-9e53-ec4ba7e8f36a&search-rank=6

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lloyd_s_Register_of_British_and_Foreign/GcYzAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vinh-long+french+navy+1881&pg=RA10-PA31&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Army_and_Navy_Register/pflJR73UzpwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vinh+long+ship+explosion+1922&pg=PA110&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_History_Told_by_Contemporaries/JUEpAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vinh+long+ship+explosion+1922&pg=PA232&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Army_Navy_Air_Force_Journal_and_Register/eWkabpbVGaEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vinh+long+ship+explosion+1922&pg=PA550&printsec=frontcover

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1988/january/old-navy-inferno-sea

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1900-1949/1922-vinh-long-passengers.html

In the Nautical Gazette from September 14, 1929 Captain Felix Riesenberg gave his opinion about helm orders, connected to the fate of the San Juan: “Just what happened may never be clearly known, but the point is that something must have happened and that the happening had connected with it a considerable about of confusion, and that one vessel, and perhaps both, put their helms the wrong way. The matter of confusion in the use of the helm is the thing that concerns everyone who has the remotest connection or interest in the sea. This growing confusion is due to incompetent personnel and not to the old-established helm commands.”

Ship Name: San Juan

Year Built: 1882 

Tonnage: 2,152

Nationality: United States of America 

Ship Type: Iron-Hulled Screw Steamship

Year Wrecked: 1929 

Location Wrecked: Off Pigeon Point, California

Reason for Wreck: Collision with the S.C.T Dodd

Lives Lost: 55

Sources: 

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19290830.2.2&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------

https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Documented_Seagoing_Merchant_Ve/2S7mAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=san+juan+los+angeles+san+francisco+navigation+company+built&pg=RA9-PA16&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Railway_and_Marine_News/maFOAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=captain+asplund+california&pg=RA14-PA46&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pacific_Marine_Review/hYdfsHKB_fEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=san+juan+john+roach+and+sons&pg=RA1-PA79&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Record/sTMwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=san+juan+john+roach+and+sons&pg=PA864&printsec=frontcover

https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-express-sep-01-1929-p-18/

https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-aug-31-1929-p-14/

https://newspaperarchive.com/brisbane-week-sep-06-1929-p-8/

https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-nov-24-1929-p-12/

https://newspaperarchive.com/berkeley-daily-gazette-nov-13-1930-p-11/

https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-courier-citizen-sep-06-1929-p-11/

https://time.com/archive/6743375/catastrophe-off-pigeon-point/

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report_of_the_Supervising_Inspector_Gene/yQMcAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=san+juan+dodd+collision+1929&pg=RA9-PA15&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Nautical_Gazette/PbI5AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=san+juan+dodd+collision+1929&pg=PA296&printsec=frontcover

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/08/31/issue.html

https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-daily-evening-register-sep-05-1929-p-1/

The Straits Echo from October 2nd, 1923 contained a summary of the investigation into the collision between the Ranee and the Boribat: “The plaintiffs alleged that no proper look-out was kept on board the Boribat, there was no certificated or properly qualified officer in charge at the time, and that the Boribat improperly starboarded her helm and attempted to cross ahead of the Ranee. The statement of defence alleged that at the time the Boribat sighted the Ranee it was the duty of the latter vessel to keep her course, but the Ranee crossed the course of the Boribat.” 

Ship Name: Ranee

Ship Type: Steel-hulled Twin-Screw Steamship 

Tonnage: 319 tons

Nationality: British, Singapore

Year Built: 1906

Year Wrecked: 1923

Location Wrecked: Near Johor   

Reason for Wreck: Collision with the Boribat 

Lives Lost: 31

Sources: 

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitsechomail19231002-1.2.67?qt=ranee,%20boribat&q=ranee%20boribat

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/singfreepressb19230926-1.2.34?qt=ranee,%20boribat&q=ranee%20boribat

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/pinangazette19230316-1.2.50?qt=ranee,%20boribat&q=ranee%20boribat

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230316-1.2.73?qt=ranee,%20boribat&q=ranee%20boribat

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/maltribune19230925-1.2.35?qt=ranee,%20boribat&q=ranee%20boribat

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230328-1.2.72

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230329-1.2.65

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230404-1.2.64

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230327-1.2.67

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230329-1.2.63

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19230329-1.2.64

The South Wales Daily News on the 6th of December 1898 published the report of the Captain of the steamship the King Arthur about his discovery of a derelict vessel:  On the mainmast was an ensign reversed, and from its good condition he judged had not been long hoisted. He passed very close to the Londonian and in her then condition, and in view of the bad weather prevailing, considered she would not live long. The size of the vessel in comparison with the King Arthur, the condition she was in, and the heavy weather precluded any idea of towing her to the nearest port. As to the crew, he thinks they must have abandoned her in their own boats, as had they been taken off by a passing vessel, all boats would not have been employed in transferring the crew on account of the difficulty of getting the boats into the water.”Ship Name: Londonian

Year Built: 1896 

Tonnage: 5531

Ship Type: Steel-Hulled Cargo Steamship 

Nationality: United Kingdom 

Year Wrecked: 1898

Location Wrecked: North Atlantic

Reason for Wreck: Steering Failure in a Storm 

Lives Lost: 17

Sources: 

https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/SOTON_Documents/Plimsoll/17537.pdf

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3741716/3741721/94/londonian?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3371337/3371345/224/londonian?from=search

https://newspaperarchive.com/nelson-daily-miner-dec-09-1898-p-1/

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3803173/3803179/81/londonian?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4232990/4232993/49/londonian?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4607389/4607392/28/londonian?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3741633/3741637/45/londonian?from=search

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3742113/3742118/64/londonian?from=search

The Bloomington Weekly Leader of April 1st, 1869, reviewed the history of the Hermann: “The Hermann, with the Washington, was built about thirty years ago, for the Liverpool trade, but subsequently ran in the Bremen line. She was a staunch and popular steamer in old times, before the advent of the swift Cunarders. Some twelve years ago she was chartered and sent to the Pacific, in command of Captain Vavendy, to run an opposition line between San Francisco and the Nicaragua route, but was never used for the purpose. After lying up in ordinary for a long time, she seems to have floated across the Pacific to Japan.” Ship Name: Hermann 

Year Built: 1848

Tonnage: 1734

Ship Type: Side-Wheel Steamship 

Nationality: United States of America 

Year Wrecked: 1869

Location Wrecked: Reef off Kawazu Point 

Reason for Wreck: Ran Aground on Uncharted Reef 

Lives Lost: Estimated Between 250 and 300

Sources: 

https://archive.org/details/sanfranciscosoce01wrig/page/49/mode/1up?q=hermann

https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Historical_Dictionary_of_the_U_S_Merch/unvDEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=pacific+mail+steamship+company+hermann&pg=PA248&printsec=frontcover

https://newspaperarchive.com/gold-hill-daily-news-apr-02-1869-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-weekly-leader-apr-01-1869-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-daily-evening-bulletin-apr-22-1869-p-5/

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/77146662

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/straitstimes18690320-1.1.3

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123617641?searchTerm=hermann%20shipwreck