1859 — Dec 16, Ship Silas Holmes Founders vicinity of Florida Keys, FL –32-33

— 33 Singer, Steven D. Shipwrecks of Florida: A Comprehensive Listing (2nd Ed.), 1998, p. 223.
— 32 Baltimore Daily Exchange, MD. “Ship News – Marine Disasters.” 12-29-1859, p. 1, c. 3.
— 32 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Fatal Marine Disaster.” 12-28-1859, p. 5, col. 5.

Narrative Information

Singer: “Silas Holmes – Ship, 645 tons, from New York. Reported ashore in the Keys, Dec. 3, 1859. She was freed, but wrecked again on Dec. 9, and was reported in a dangerous condition. In Cutler’s book she is listed as having foundered on Dec. 18, 1859, with the loss of Captain Charles Berry and 32 passengers and crew. Likely was gotten off and foundered soon after.” (Singer 1998, p. 223; citing: Cutler, Carl C. Queens of the Western Ocean. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1967, and New York Daily Times and New York Times for Dec. 14, 1859. )

Newspaper

Dec 27: “Ship News – Marine Disasters.”

“New Orleans, Dec 27. – Arrived, bark Dretto, from Bremerhaven, having on board five women and four men, picked up on the 19th inst. from the wreck of the ship Silas Holmes, which was sunk at sea on the 16th inst., when five days out from Garden Island Key, where she had been aground. The remaining fourteen of her crew and passengers, thirty-two in number, have not been heard of.” (Baltimore Daily Exchange, MD. “Ship News – Marine Disasters.” 12-29-1859, p. 1, c. 3.)

Dec 27: “Fatal Marine Disaster.”

“New Orleans, Dec. 27. The bark Dorretta has arrived from Bremerhaven. On the 19th inst. she picked up a woman and four men from the wreck of the ship Silas Holmes, sunk on the 16th inst., when five days out from Garden Island Key, where she had been aground. The remaining thirty-two of the crew and passengers are still unheard of.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Fatal Marine Disaster.” 12-28-1859, p. 5, col. 5.)

Jan 11: “Telegraph Marine Report.”

“….Ship Silas Holmes – The following is a list of those on board the ship Silas Holmes when she left this city, of whom five women and three men passengers, with the second mate, have arrived at New Orleans, as before stated: Passengers – Mr. Herito, wife and daughter; Philip Hoaking, Edward Whiting, Henry Hillman, P. Dolan, Eliza Duggan, A. F. Gramlick, Mr. Mace and friend, Catherine Hart, Chas Hunter, Henry A. Miller, George Groves and wife, Wm. Lambert, A. Nicholas, P. B. Lyons, John Rodgers, Mr. Jacobs. Officers and crew – C. R. Griffith, captain; L. W. Silberth, mate; Julius Smith, second mate; John Bremmer, carpenter; Edward McSill, steward; Peter A Dorsaice, cook; Joseph Davis, Henry Fulton, Daniel Roberts, Henry Wilson, David Teuton, Lewis Smith, John L. Marshall, John J. Sheltz, Edw. Purcell, Geo. Brown; Edward Clure, Vincent Irwin, boys. We shall probably hear of the safety of the remainder in a short time.” (New York Herald. “Telegraph Marine Report.” 1-11-1860, p. 8, col. 5.)

Source

Baltimore Daily Exchange, MD. “Ship News – Marine Disasters.” 12-29-1859, p. 1, c. 3. Accessed 3-2-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-daily-exchange-dec-29-1859-p-1/

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Fatal Marine Disaster.” 12-28-1859, p. 5, col. 5. Accessed 3-2-2021 at: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec 28, 1859, p. 5 (newspaperarchive.com)

New York Herald. “Telegraph Marine Report.” 1-11-1860, p. 8, col. 5. Accessed 3-2-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-herald-jan-11-1860-p-8/

Singer, Steven D. Shipwrecks of Florida: A Comprehensive Listing (2nd Ed.). Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1998. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed 2-16-2021 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=6j6kjZQReqkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false