1888 — Oct 3, whaling bark Ohio driven ashore in storm ~Point Hope, Chukchi Sea, AK-25

–25 AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.
–25 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
–25 Alaskashipwreck.com. “Shipwrecks A-Z.” “O”

Narrative Information

Alaskashipwreck.com: “1888///Ohio (Little Ohie)…N…93 Foot [size]…Wood Whale Bark…25 [lives lost]…8 [saved].” (Alaskashipwreck.com. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”)

Alaskashipwreck.com: “Ohio (1888). The 195 ton 93 foot wooden bark Ohio (Little Ohie) was driven ashore and lost south of Cape Lisburne near Point Hope at 9 p.m. October 3, 1888. The vessel was under the command of captain George E. Allen during a strong snow storm when she struck the beach 60 feet from shore. Of the crew of thirty-three, fifteen reached shore. The other eighteen perished in the frozen waters as the Little Ohie went to pieces. Three of the crew that reached shore froze to death on the beach. The remaining twelve crewmen found their way to Point Hope Station where they spent the winter. Four of those survivors perished in an attempt to reach the whaling bark Narwhale. The whaling bark Belvedere arrived at Point Hope June 28, 1899 and took the last of the survivors on board and transported them to St. Michael. Only eight of the 33 crewmen survived. The cargo of the Ohio at the time of the disaster was 50 tons of provisions, bone and oil worth $11,000. The Ohio was valued at $10,000. Both the vessel and her cargo were lost. The wreck was attributed to a thick snowstorm and heavy gale. The 25 crewmembers who were lost included Captain George E Allen (51) of Boston, 1st Mate Thomas E. Pease (frozen and died on the beach), 2nd Mate Thomas H. Niles (frozen and died at Pt Hope Station), 3rd Mate Manuel Lopez (disappeared long boat capsized), 4th Mate Joseph Enos (disappeared long boat capsized), Boat header Alexander Omey (shot himself), Boat steerer Peter Gomez, Boat steerer Samuel Brown, Boat steerer John Rogers, Cook E W Hirst, Steward Henry C Jobit, Engineer John A Maher and Cooper Peter Murphy. The eight crewmen who survived the disaster were Anton Rodrique, Edward Mason, W.E. Tait, James Roy, Frederick W Swartz, Enos Yaco, Pleas Perez and Samuel Brown.

“Mapping and Location: Northern Alaska 68 20 20 N 166 50 40 W Chart 16005.

“Comment: I have charted this wreck at Pt Hope as the wreck report states. The Revenue Cutter Service records 1868-88 mention it near Cape Lisburne to the north. Little Ohie may be a nickname for the smaller of two New Bedford whaling barks with the name Ohio. The larger bark Ohio was lost near Nunivak Island in 1889. WG.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 195, Length 92.6, Breadth 24, Depth 14.9, Built 1830 at Baltimore MD, Registered New Bedford MA, ON 18980, SL HPJG, Master George E Allen of New Bedford, Owner Gilbert Allen of New Bedford, Vessel Insurance $14,000, Last Port San Francisco November 1887.

“Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report August 13, 1889 by Gilbert Allen, 2. New York Herald (July 31, 1889) “Loss of the Little Ohie” Pg. 3, 3. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1888) Pg 208, 4. Boston Herald (July 31, 1889) “Only Eight Survivors” Pg 9.”
(Alaskashipwreck.com. “Shipwrecks A-Z.”)

Sources

Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses. Accessed 7-18-2011 at: http://www.alaska.boemre.gov/ref/ships/

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. A Comprehensive Accounting of Alaska Shipwrecks and Losses of Life in Alaskan Waters. Accessed 10-31-2021 at:
Indian Journal, Eufaula, OK. [Schooner Flying Scud lost.] May 5, 1887, p. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=158340462

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks.” Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.” Accessed 11-6-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1800-1899/

Alaskashipwreck.com. “Shipwrecks A-Z.” Accessed 11-6-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-f/