1893 — March 21, SF CA seal schooner Helen Blum last seen, Shumagin Islands vic., AK–all 26

–26 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
–26 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.”
–26 Alaaskaweb.org. Alaska Shipwrecks Involving Injuries and Casualties.” Accessed 11-9-2021.
–26 Good and Burwell. Alaska Shipwrecks 1750-2015. Published by Warren Good, 2018, p203.

Narrative Information

Alaskashipwreck.com: “Helen Blum (1893). The 75 foot 66 ton sealing Schooner Helen Blum was lost with all hands in 1893 in the vicinity of the Shumagin Islands. The last sighting of the vessel was at Ugamok Island on March 21st. The following is an excerpt from the Victoria Daily Colonist July 18, 1893:

“The steamer Queen, which arrived down from Alaska with a large excursion party, last evening, brings word that quantities of wreckage picked up to the westward of the Alaska Peninsula have been positively identified as belonging to the San Francisco schooner Helen Blum and that vessel, carrying twenty six of a crew, has now been given up as lost with all hands aboard.”

“Wreckage thought to be from the Helen Blum was found on Simeonof and Chernabura Islands at the southern extremity of the Shumagin Island group by two local hunters in May of 1893. The Helen Blum was reported to have departed Sanak with 26 crewmembers aboard. A violent northeast snowstorm set in shortly after their departure. The crew included captain A. F. Carlson, first mate Charles Carlson, William P. Shafter, Frederick Irvine, hunters Joe Sasauilla and Charles W. Bernard, cook Alek Lindstrom, cabin boy Ed W. Ryan, seaman Hans Johnson and sixteen Japanese. No boats were found, so hopes were high that the crew made shore.

“Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 54 47 N 159 33 W Chart 16540.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 66.17 Gross 62.87 Net, Length 75, Breadth 23, Depth 7.8, Built 1886 at San Francisco, ON 75870, Value of Vessel and Outfit $16,000, Insurance partial.

“Sources: 1. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 2. The Victoria Daily Colonist (July 18, 1893) “First Seizures of the Season” Pg 3, 3. San Francisco Chronicle (July 22, 1893) “Lost in a Great Gale” Pg 4, 4. San Francisco Chronicle (July 13, 1893) “The Helen Blum” Pg 4.” (Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.”)

Alaaskaweb.org: “The 66 ton Schooner Helen Blum was lost with all hands in 1893 between Chirikof and Kodiak Islands….

“Sources: 1. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 2. The Victoria Daily Colonist July 18, 1893.” [Victoria Daily Colonist excerpt notes twenty-six lives lost.] (Alaaskaweb.org. Alaska Shipwrecks Involving Injuries and Casualties.”)

Newspaper

Aug 19: “….The sealing schooner Helen Blum, of San Francisco, was reported lost with her crew of twenty-five men.” (Greencastle Democrat, Greencastle, IN. “Domestic.” 8-19-1893, p. 2.)

Sources

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.” Accessed 11-9-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1800-1899/

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.” Accessed 11-9-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-h/

Alaaskaweb.org. Alaska Shipwrecks Involving Injuries and Casualties.” Accessed 11-9-2021 at: 11-9-2021 at: http://alaskaweb.org/maritime/shipwrecks_cas.html

Good, Captain Warren and Michael Burwell. Alaska Shipwrecks 1750-2015. Published by Warren Good, 2018. Accessed 11-9-2021 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ArpqDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

Greencastle Democrat, Greencastle, IN. “Domestic.” 8-19-1893, p. 2. Accessed 11-9-2021 at: https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=TGD18930819-01&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——-

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 11-9-2021 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Shipwrecks_of_the_Alaskan_Shelf_and_Shor/8YUTAAAAYAAJ?hl=