1898 – Nov 17 Clipper Atalanta grounds on reef near Seal Rocks north of Alsea, OR — 23

–23 Finn. “Off Tillicum Beach, Lincoln County; 1898: Ship skipper doubled down…” 5-5-2019.
–23 Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1984, p. 73.

Narrative Information

Finn: “….Shortly after midnight on the morning of Nov. 17, still sailing through sheets of rain and blustering wind, seaman Francis McMahon sought out First Mate Charles Hunter, the officer on deck, and pointed out a light off the port bow. The light didn’t look right to McMahon. It was too steady. It looked to him like a land light. Hunter told him that was impossible. ‘We are passing another vessel,’ he assured McMahon.

“But an hour or so later, the men on watch realized the Atalanta was sailing through breakers. They were literally just a few hundred yards away from the beach….

“The sailors swarmed over the sails, racing desperately to get the ship away from the beach. But it was too late. With a shuddering crunch, she slammed into one of the rocky underwater reefs that lie just offshore in the Tillicum Beach area, between Waldport and Yachats.

“Immediately the breakers started sweeping over the stricken ship. She was lifted and slammed onto the reef a few more times, then broke neatly in half and settled into the drink. Sailors held on for their lives as the breakers continued pounding the decks. Some scrambled to free the boats; others climbed up into the rigging.

“Out of the ship’s complement of 27 crew members, only three sailors survived the sinking of the Atalanta – by swimming to the lifeboat that someone had cut loose when the ship first struck…”

Marshall: “Atalanta 11/17/1898 Clipper, British, 1753 tons carrying 92,405 bushels of wheat valued at $65,000….The Atalanta struck a reef where the rocks extend some two miles offshore near Seal Rocks, five miles north of Alsea. The captain paid with his life for the error, as did 22 others; only three lived…”

Sources

Finn, John. “Off Tillicum Beach, Lincoln County; 1898: Ship skipper doubled down on a bad bet…and lost it all.” 5-5-2019. Accessed 4-16-2020 at:
http://offbeatoregon.com/1905a.shipwreck-atalanta-wager-gone-wrong-546.html

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