The Weekly Mail from the 28th of November, 1908 reported the following: “A detachment of the Malta Artillery is at the Custom House rendering assistance, and a staff of military and naval doctors is doing everything possible for the injured survivors, who have been removed to the naval hospital at Valetta. The direct cause of the disaster cannot yet be stated, but it appears probable that it was due to an explosion…”  

Ship Name: Sardinia 

Ship Built: 1888

Tonnage: 1514

Nationality: United Kingdom 

Ship Type: Steel Hulled Screw Steamship 

Year Wrecked: 1908

Location Wrecked: Off Fort Ricasoli, Malta 

Reason For Wreck: Fire in the Hold 

Lives Lost: 83

Sources: 

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3808795/3808802/113/sardinia

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4198334/4198337/58/sardinia

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-08-08/arts-and-culture/the-ss-sardinia-disaster-2280554497/

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3379239/3379246/176/sardinia

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19081219-1.2.67?qt=sardinia,%20ship,%20fire&q=sardinia%20ship%20fire

https://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/G-Ships/gulfofcorcovado1888.html

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4198039/4198042/80/sardinia

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4197250/4197253/103/sardinia

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3434466/3434472/163/sardinia

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4197305/4197308/109/sardinia

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4197310/4197313/48/sardinia

In Shipwrecks and Disasters at Sea by Milner and Sowerby, published in 1863, the following account was included: “It appears, that on the night of the 2nd of June, the crew of the Chance were anxious to ascertain whether such rocks as were laid down in the chart, forming St. Paul’s Island, forty-five miles north of the equator, and twenty-nine degrees west, were really to be seen, as many doubts prevailed as to their existence. Captain Roxby informed them that, if the same course they were then going was kept until the following morning, they would come in sight of the rocks. Accordingly, and eight o’clock, they descried them, and, at half-past nine, the captain was much surprised by observing, through a glass, a Dutch ensign flying from a spar on the island.”

Year Built: 1845

Tonnage: 800

Nationality: Netherlands

Ship Type: East Indiaman 

Year Wrecked: 1845

Location Wrecked: St Peter and St Paul Archipelago 

Reason for Wreck: Navigational Error, Struck Rocks

Lives Lost: Eight

Sources: 

https://books.google.com/books?id=qv9GAAAAcAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3052013/3052017/38/john%2BOR%2Bhenrick%2BOR%2Bshipwreck

https://books.google.com/books?id=tlZPAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=john+henrick+shipwreck+1845&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The July 1922 issue of the Pacific Marine Review used the Alaska as an example of how much all ships could benefit from having radio compass equipment: “For two hours prior to the grounding of the Alaska its radio operator had been trying to obtain radio bearings by transmitting to the radio compass station on shore, at Eureka, California, but had been unable to get in communication with that station. The failure to obtain radio bearings was due in part to the fact that a large number of ships were endeavoring to obtain radio bearings at the same time.”

Ship Name: Alaska

Year Built: 1889

Tonnage: 3709

Ship Type: Steel-Hulled Screw Propeller Steamship 

Nationality: United States of America 

Year Wrecked: 1921

Location Wrecked: Blunts Reef California

Reason for Wreck: Struck Reef in Fog 

Lives Lost: Estimated 42

Sources: 

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMLjs3Z7Fr8C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Alaska+shipwreck+1921+POrtland&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=9nw9AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Alaska+portland+to+seattle+shipwreck+1921&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspaperarchive.com/atlanta-constitution-aug-08-1921-p-2/

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1921/08/08/issue.html

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1921/08/11/98717365.html?pageNumber=7

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1921/08/09/98716539.html?pageNumber=9

https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-09-1921-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/barre-daily-times-aug-15-1921-p-4/

https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-city-deseret-news-aug-09-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/berkeley-daily-gazette-aug-09-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-aug-08-1921-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-midland-journal-aug-12-1921-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-news-herald-aug-08-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-aug-09-1921-p-3/

https://newspaperarchive.com/great-falls-tribune-aug-09-1921-p-3/

https://newspaperarchive.com/heppner-gazette-times-aug-18-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/anaconda-standard-aug-08-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-aug-10-1921-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-aug-11-1921-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/south-bend-news-times-oct-16-1921-p-10/

Ferrier was pressured to tell his story by the newspapers and the Observer on the 18th of November, 1905 reported his statement: “I am a bit surprised to suddenly find myself developed into a sort of hero. You can see I did nothing out of the way. Any one else in the same position would have done the same thing. No; I did not think of any risk. All I felt was there was a man on the wreck, and that man had to be saved. Some one had to get the man off, and I don't think you need make all this fuss about it.” 

Ship Name: La Bella

Ship Type: Steel Hulled Three Masted Barquentine 

Tonnage: 406

Year Built: 1893

Nationality: New Zealand 

Year Wrecked: 1905 

Location Wrecked: La Bella Reef, Near Warrnambool

Reason for Wreck: Missed her Course in Fog and Bad Weather 

Lives Lost: 7

Sources: 

https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/643f55f2b36b5eb4e74926ed

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101567173?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199910809?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38807578?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260882681?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162443374?searchTerm=shipwreck

https://books.google.com/books?id=DhtbAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=la+bella+shipwreck+shipwreck+1905&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14754468?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://www.environment.gov.au/shipwreck/public/wreck/wreck.do?key=6343

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55658343?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242207547?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211481907?searchTerm=la%20bella%20shipwreck

The Age on July 15th, 1909 announced the arrival of the survivors of the Errol: “Striking evidence of the terrible privations the men had gone through was given when they landed from the Tofua at Druitt-street wharf. They had to be carried ashore, being too weak to sit up. They were placed on mattresses and conveyed to a van, which took them to the Scandinavian Home, where the Norwegian consul (Mr. Olav E Pauss) had them comfortably quartered.”

Ship Name: Errol 

Nationality: Norway 

Year Built: 1868

Ship Type: Iron Hulled Barque 

Tonnage: 1500

Year Wrecked: 1909

Location Wrecked: Middleton Reef

Reason for Wreck: Struck Reef in Storm 

Lives Lost: 17

Sources: 

⁠https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198474616/18532360⁠

⁠https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76903309?searchTerm=errol%20shipwreck⁠

⁠https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170777914?searchTerm=shipwreck⁠

⁠https://books.google.com/books?id=aUcyAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=errol+shipwreck+1909&source=gbs_navlinks_s⁠

⁠https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HNS19090716.2.54.4⁠

⁠https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=1921⁠

⁠https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/maritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=2099⁠

⁠https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19090726.2.51⁠

⁠https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15101848⁠

The Melbourne Herald reported the following on November 17th, 1928: “Inquires disclose that, although the Vestris was a British ship on a British register, she had not been in England for several years. For that reason the latest certificate of seaworthiness was not granted by Britain, but as a result of United States supervision and a shipping examination on November 8, after the ship had been dry docked. This is also the reason why an inquiry must be held by the United States and not by the British Board of Trade…” 

Ship Name: Vestris

Year Built: 1912

Ship Type: Twin Screw Steamship

Nationality: United Kingdom

Tonnage: 10,944

Year Wrecked: 1928

Location Wrecked: Off Virginia Capes 

Reason For Wreck: Sprang Leaks in a Storm 

Lives Lost: 111 

Sources:

https://www.loc.gov/item/2012649642/

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67622026?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://books.google.com/books?id=8zk-AAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928+lionel+licorish&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=C2FqU1x2BNwC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928+lionel+licorish&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143921329?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://books.google.com/books?id=q9uJzeBUQ9cC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928+lionel+licorish&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222959372?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67622390?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244093045?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3969482?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/228380207?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/99409402?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254044811?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/61055611?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67621592?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67624144?searchTerm=vestris%20inquiry

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/61055263?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79498367?searchTerm=vestris

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/80690292?searchTerm=vestris

https://books.google.com/books?id=5IHPAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928+lionel+licorish&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=Iq1f35x28LMC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928+lionel+licorish&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=LLI5AQAAIAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=AJWGKWM5QQUC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=QBJbAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=vestris+shipwreck+1928&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Evening Star on Saturday, July 31st, 1937 reported that the Senate commerce committee had approved a new bill, called the “Safety at Sea” bill: “The passenger list bill, introduced yesterday by Senator Copeland, Democrat of New York as a result of the burning of the City of Baltimore the night before, would require owners of vessels carrying passengers for fire on inland or coastal waters over-night to deposit ashore complete lists of passengers carried.”

Year Built: 1911

Nationality: United States of America

Tonnage: 2379

Ship Type: Steel Hulled Steamship

Year Wrecked: 1937

Location Wrecked: Bayside Beach, Maryland 

Reason for Wreck: Fire originating on the freight deck 

Lives Lost: 3

Sources: 

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/05/28/retro-baltimore-steamer-fire-1937/#:~:text=The%20fireboats%20pumped%20plumes%20of,carried%20that%20night%2C%20three%20died.

https://newspaperarchive.com/morning-herald-aug-03-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-evening-star-aug-07-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/charleston-gazette-aug-03-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/corsicana-semi-weekly-light-aug-03-1937-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/wilson-daily-times-jul-31-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-daily-capital-news-jul-30-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/gastonia-daily-gazette-jul-31-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-daily-capital-news-jul-31-1937-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-jul-30-1937-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/winchester-evening-star-aug-05-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/montana-helena-independent-jul-30-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/charleston-gazette-jul-30-1937-p-10/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-jul-31-1937-p-3/

https://newspaperarchive.com/winchester-evening-star-aug-05-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/montana-helena-independent-jul-30-1937-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/charleston-gazette-jul-30-1937-p-10/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-daily-mail-aug-07-1937-p-3/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-aug-07-1937-p-2

The North Wales Express reported the following on the 9th of February, 1883: “In a recent sitting of the German Parliament, Herr Sonnemann brought forward an interpellation, asking whether, in consequence of the loss of the Cimbria, the Government intended to propose any new regulations or bring about some international arrangements for the prevention of collisions at sea. Herr Sonnemann, in justifying his interpellation, suggested that endeavors should be made to introduce the use of electric lights in navigation.”

Ship Name: Cimbria 

Ship Built: 1867

Ship Type: Iron Hulled Screw Steamship 

Tonnage: 3025

Nationality: German 

Year Wrecked: 1883

Reason for Wreck: Collision With Sultan 

Location Lost: 12 Miles from Barkum Reef 

Lives Lost: Estimated 445 

Sources: 

https://books.google.com/books?id=jDUZAAAAIAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=hamburg+america+line+cimbria+1867&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-daily-news-jan-22-1883-p-4/

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH18830124.2.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3560379/3560385/51/cimbria%2BOR%2Bsultan

https://books.google.com/books?id=SK0FAAAAQAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=SMGERh5lkQgC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=Xk4FAAAAQAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=KUdaAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=F4DnAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=MJ7xuwZQUo0C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3421443/3421446/15/cimbria%2BOR%2Bsultan

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3017440/3017442/9/cimbria%2BOR%2Bsultan

https://books.google.com/books?id=yAZHAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3372575/3372577/15/cimbria%2BOR%2Bsultan

https://books.google.com/books?id=1DgIAAAAQAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=PIrVoyLYu7EC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4481231/4481234/46/cimbria%2BOR%2Bsultan

https://books.google.com/books?id=mfk-AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspaperarchive.com/joliet-weekly-news-jan-26-1883-p-7/

https://books.google.com/books?id=UGZBXw44jj8C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=cimbria+collision+sultan&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Sea by Frederick Whymper, published in 1883, started its story about the Samaritano as follows: “One Sunday night in the month of February, a few years ago, the weather was what sailors call “dirty”, and accompanied by sudden gusts of wind and snow-squalls. Before light broke on Monday morning, the Margate lugger, Eclipse, put out to sea to cruise round the shoals and sands in the neighborhood of Margate, on the lookout for the victims of any disasters that might have occurred during the night,  and the crew soon discovered that a vessel was ashore on the Margate sands.”

Ship Tonnage: 170

Ship Type: Wooden Brig 

Nationality: Spain 

Year Wrecked: 1860

Location Wrecked: Margate Sands

Reason for Wreck: Driven Ashore in Storm 

Lives Lost: None

Sources: 

https://books.google.com/books?id=yl9HAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=samaritano+shipwreck+Goodwin+sands&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=xAQHAAAAQAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=samaritano+shipwreck+Goodwin+sands&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3079398/3079402/69/samaritano

https://books.google.com/books?id=-21c6-vhMbAC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=samaritano+shipwreck+Goodwin+sands&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=f2QFAAAAQAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=samaritano+shipwreck+Goodwin+sands&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Coast Seaman‘s Journal on May 20th, 1914 published the following: “Why was it that the “Monroe” foundered so quickly after the collision that there was little time to launch the lifeboats? The steamer had six watertight compartments, only one of which was injured in the collision. The damaged compartment was in the forward end of the ship which, nevertheless, sank stern first. Why? The answer will be found in the fact that the “Monroe” was improperly manned and that owing to this the necessary deck work had not been attended to.”

Ship Name: Monroe

Year Built: 1903

Ship Type: Single Screw Steel Hulled Steamship 

Nationality: United States of America 

Tonnage: 4704 

Year Wrecked: 1914

Location Wrecked: Off the Virginia Capes 

Reason for Wreck: Collision with the Nantucket 

Lives Lost: 41

Sources: 

https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-jan-31-1914-p-1/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-jan-30-1914-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-mobile-item-jan-30-1914-p-11/

https://newspaperarchive.com/nelson-colonist-mar-19-1914-p-5/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-feb-01-1914-p-2/

https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-feb-02-1914-p-6/

https://newspaperarchive.com/brainerd-daily-dispatch-feb-02-1914-p-5/

https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-sun-mar-18-1914-p-8/

https://books.google.com/books?id=TcJMAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Monroe+Nantucket+1914&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ndnp/dlc/batch_dlc_parkins_ver01/data/sn83030214/00206531733/1914013101/0674.pdf

https://books.google.com/books?id=mNEsAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Monroe+Nantucket+1914&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=Cg48AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Monroe+Nantucket+1914&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=f6HVAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Monroe+Nantucket+1914&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://books.google.com/books?id=7vVYAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=marine+engineering+monroe+nantucket+1914&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/02/21/100300686.html?pageNumber=3