1875 — Nov 18, OR schooner Sunshine found bottom-up, Cape Disappointment, WA — 25

–40 Newport Daily News (RI). “Terrible Marine Disasters,” Nov 27, 1875, p. 3, col. 1.
–25 Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA. “Shipwrecks…Ship Graveyard…Pacific…” 12-29-2005.
–25 Gibbs, James A. Pacific Graveyard. 1993, p. 206.
–25 Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Pubs., 1984, p. 169.
–20 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 101.

Narrative Information

Gibbs: “The Sunshine was constructed at Marshfield (now Coos Bay), Oregon, and completed in September, 1875, by Holden & Company for E. B. Deane and Associates, at a cost of $32,000. She was a three-masted schooner of 326 tons…

“The vessel was placed in command of Captain George Bennett, who shared an interest in the ownership of the schooner. On her maiden voyage from Coos Bay, she arrived at San Francisco, October 8, to discharge a cargo of lumber. For the return passage the Sunshine carried machinery and general cargo. In addition, several passengers were booked, her complement numbering twenty-five in all.

“Captain Bennett had an excellent record as a mariner and carried two officers of equal repute: John Thompson and Joseph Johnson.

“On the return leg of her maiden voyage, the Sunshine passed through the Golden Gate on November 3, and was not seen again till fifteen days later when sighted, bottom up, off Cape Disappointment. On November 22, the derelict washed ashore on the peninsula, but no clue to the disappearance of company was found among the wreckage….”

Marshall: Left San Francisco on November 3 for Coos Bay, OR. “Fifteen days later the Sunshine, bottom up, drifted in the swells off the mouth of the Columbia River. Her exposed planking, too new to collect the wispy green tendrils of seaweed enjoyed by older ships, left no shred of doubt as to the identity of the vessel. On November 22nd, her battered remains washed ashore on the North Beach peninsula of the Washington coast….”

Newspaper

Nov 26: “San Francisco, Nov. 26. The schooner Sunshine, hence from Coos Bay is ashore, bottom up, at the mouth of Columbia River. She is reported to have had 30 passengers besides a crew of 10. All are supposed to be lost.” (Newport Daily News, RI. “Terrible Marine Disasters,” Nov 27, 1875, p. 3, col. 1.)

Sources

Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA. “Shipwrecks: The Ship Graveyard of the Pacific: A deadly legacy.” 12-29-2005. Accessed 4-19-2020 at: https://www.chinookobserver.com/life/shipwrecks-the-ship-graveyard-of-the-pacific-a-deadly-legacy/article_aa63d8fe-a644-5416-9fdf-5a140bd43cfe.html

Gibbs, James A. Pacific Graveyard. A Narrative of Shipwrecks Where the Columbia River Meets the Pacific Ocean. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1993.

Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1984.

Newport Daily News, RI. “Terrible Marine Disasters,” 11-27-1875, p. 3, col. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=56840949

Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. Google digital preview accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JuiSjvd5owAC