1889 — March 2, last sighting, SF schooner James A Hamilton departs San Francisco for AK-21

–21 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
–21 Alaskashipwreck.com. “Shipwrecks A-Z.”
–20 Tornfelt and Burwell. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore. US Interior Dept., 1992.

Narrative Information

Alaskashipwreck.com: “James A Hamilton (1889). The 74 ton 82 foot wooden whaling schooner James A Hamilton was lost during the whaling season of 1889. Newspapers report the James A Hamilton (J A Hamilton, Hamilton) departed California March 3, 1889 bound for Unalaska with her whaling crew and three passengers for the schooner Angel Dolly; Captain John Lee, a mate and a seaman. The James A Hamilton was never heard from again. Lost were her Captain – Alfred Ryder, First Mate – John Gifford, Third Mate – Thomas Foster, Boat Steerers – Peter Johnson, George Warren and Charles Fitzgerald, Seamen – Charles Frestrain, George Penson, William Brightman, John Wilson, Thomas F Quirk, Steuart Charles Thompson, John Santos, William Dodge, Alfred Christian, and Jas. Jackson, Cook – John F Bookey, Cabin Boy – Zachriah, and the three passengers. The James A Hamilton was valued between $10,000 to $15,000 at the time of the disaster.

“Mapping and Location: Alaska Unknown.

“Comment: The 81 foot schooner Otter and 57 foot schooner Annie were also lost with all hands along the same route the same time. Rumors circulated that the three were lost in the gales of late March.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 77.8 Gross 73.91 Net, Length 81.5, Breadth 24, Depth 7.5, Built 1885 at Benicia CA, Registered San Francisco, ON 76555, Owner Magee & Moore.

“Sources: 1. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 2. The Daily Alta California (July 25, 1889) “Probable Loss of Three Schooners Which Left Last March” Pg 2 Col 1, 3. Merchant Sailing Vessels of the United States (1888) Pg 15.” (Alaskashipwreck.com. “Shipwrecks A-Z.”

Newspaper

Aug 8, 1889: “Washington, Aug. 7. – There has been received at the Navy Department from Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Stockton, in command of the Thetis, a report on the movements of the vessel in the Arctic Ocean….Commander Stockton says: ‘…. I learned also from the whaling vessels that I met in the Arctic that the whaling schooner James A. Hamilton, which sailed several months ago from San Francisco, had not yet been heard from.’” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Cruise of the Thetis.” 8-8-1889, p. 5.)

Sources

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-j/

Good, Captain Warren and Michael Burwell. Alaska Shipwrecks 1750-2015. Published by Warren Good, 2018. Accessed 11-1-2021 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ArpqDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Cruise of the Thetis.” 8-8-1889, p. 5. Accessed 11-6-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1889-p-5/

Tornfelt, Evert E. and Michael Burwell. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Department of the Interior, Mineral Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 1992. Accessed 11-6-2021 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Shipwrecks_of_the_Alaskan_Shelf_and_Shor/8YUTAAAAYAAJ?hl=&gbpv=1