O.D. Shelton; Daniel C Nichols; George A Baker; William Kessel
The Emily Reed was a
down Easter owned by a company in
San Francisco, and well known in both American and Australian ports.[2] She ran aground in February 1908 off the coast of
Oregon, with the loss of eight men.
Career
The Emily Reed was built by A. R. Reed,
Waldoboro, Maine, for the San Franciscan firm of Hind, Rolph and Co.[3] She was launched on November 10, 1880; her first captain was O. D. Sheldon, and her first owners Yates and Porterfield of New York. On her first voyage, she transported a load of case oil from
New York to
Calcutta.[1]
In December 1890 or January 1891, while en route from New York to
San Francisco (having departed approximately February 1890), a severe storm at sea caused the rudder head to be twisted clean off. The crew steered the ship by tackle over each quarter, eventually reaching port in
Rio de Janeiro for repairs. They arrived in San Francisco 208 days later, on August 31, 1891.[4]
On July 12, 1903, the ship was carrying Tasmanian timber from
Hobart to
Simonstown, South Africa, when it ran into distress and was forced to stop at
Lyttelton. The captain, Baker, had received a serious injury to his left arm, and there was sickness on board. The vessel was quarantined for eight days. Nine crew members were charged with disobeying orders, and the captain was charged by his crew of assault. The men were convicted, but the charges against the captain were dismissed.[8]
Wreck
On February 14, 1908, the ship was heading for
Portland, with a cargo of coal from
Newcastle, New South Wales, when she ran aground at the mouth of
Nehalem River. Captain Kessell's
chronometer was faulty, and he didn't realize until it was too late that he was too close to the shore. The time was a little after midnight, and the sea was too rough to attempt to swim to safety. The first mate, the ship's cook, and two more seamen jumped into a lifeboat, and appeared to be lost as soon as they hit the water. The captain therefore ordered the rest of his crew to remain on the ship until daylight. When morning came, it brought low tide, and the survivors managed to get ashore.[9] The ship's cargo of 2,100 tons of coal was washed out to sea without a trace.[10]
It was initially reported, based on the account of the captain, that eleven men were dead. Three days later, however, the lifeboat which had been thought lost was discovered by a sloop at
Neah Bay, 200 miles from the wreck. The first mate and two seamen were alive but weak with thirst and hunger, and the ship's cook was dead.[9]
The wreck still lies buried beneath the sands near the city of
Rockaway Beach, and is occasionally uncovered by storms.[11]
Sightings
December 9, 1880; Arrived New York City, Possibly maiden voyage; Sheldon, Waldoboro, Me. In ballast to Yates & Porterfield;[12]
August 19, 1882 Arrived Kobe Japan (Hiogin) in 116 Days[13]
^The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 25 September 1899, Page 2, Column 3
^The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 28 September 1899, Page 3
^REPORTS FROM NATIONAL QUARANTINE AND INSPECTION STATIONS Public Health Reports Vol. 15, No. 19 (May 11, 1900), pp. 1120–1123 (Page: 1120, line 14, JSTOR:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41452321
O.D. Shelton; Daniel C Nichols; George A Baker; William Kessel
The Emily Reed was a
down Easter owned by a company in
San Francisco, and well known in both American and Australian ports.[2] She ran aground in February 1908 off the coast of
Oregon, with the loss of eight men.
Career
The Emily Reed was built by A. R. Reed,
Waldoboro, Maine, for the San Franciscan firm of Hind, Rolph and Co.[3] She was launched on November 10, 1880; her first captain was O. D. Sheldon, and her first owners Yates and Porterfield of New York. On her first voyage, she transported a load of case oil from
New York to
Calcutta.[1]
In December 1890 or January 1891, while en route from New York to
San Francisco (having departed approximately February 1890), a severe storm at sea caused the rudder head to be twisted clean off. The crew steered the ship by tackle over each quarter, eventually reaching port in
Rio de Janeiro for repairs. They arrived in San Francisco 208 days later, on August 31, 1891.[4]
On July 12, 1903, the ship was carrying Tasmanian timber from
Hobart to
Simonstown, South Africa, when it ran into distress and was forced to stop at
Lyttelton. The captain, Baker, had received a serious injury to his left arm, and there was sickness on board. The vessel was quarantined for eight days. Nine crew members were charged with disobeying orders, and the captain was charged by his crew of assault. The men were convicted, but the charges against the captain were dismissed.[8]
Wreck
On February 14, 1908, the ship was heading for
Portland, with a cargo of coal from
Newcastle, New South Wales, when she ran aground at the mouth of
Nehalem River. Captain Kessell's
chronometer was faulty, and he didn't realize until it was too late that he was too close to the shore. The time was a little after midnight, and the sea was too rough to attempt to swim to safety. The first mate, the ship's cook, and two more seamen jumped into a lifeboat, and appeared to be lost as soon as they hit the water. The captain therefore ordered the rest of his crew to remain on the ship until daylight. When morning came, it brought low tide, and the survivors managed to get ashore.[9] The ship's cargo of 2,100 tons of coal was washed out to sea without a trace.[10]
It was initially reported, based on the account of the captain, that eleven men were dead. Three days later, however, the lifeboat which had been thought lost was discovered by a sloop at
Neah Bay, 200 miles from the wreck. The first mate and two seamen were alive but weak with thirst and hunger, and the ship's cook was dead.[9]
The wreck still lies buried beneath the sands near the city of
Rockaway Beach, and is occasionally uncovered by storms.[11]
Sightings
December 9, 1880; Arrived New York City, Possibly maiden voyage; Sheldon, Waldoboro, Me. In ballast to Yates & Porterfield;[12]
August 19, 1882 Arrived Kobe Japan (Hiogin) in 116 Days[13]
^The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 25 September 1899, Page 2, Column 3
^The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 28 September 1899, Page 3
^REPORTS FROM NATIONAL QUARANTINE AND INSPECTION STATIONS Public Health Reports Vol. 15, No. 19 (May 11, 1900), pp. 1120–1123 (Page: 1120, line 14, JSTOR:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41452321