1903 — Nov 2, storm, WA steamer Discovery founders off Lituya Bay, SE coast AK–all 26-30
–40 Gottehrer. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska (Revised 2nd edition). 2000, p. 91.
–30 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1900-1925.”
–30 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Shipwrecks A-Z.” “D.”
–30 U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1904, p. 6.
–30 U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1905, p. 31.
–26+ AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.
Narrative Information
Alaska Bureau Ocean Energy Mgmt.: “Nov 1, 1903. Steamer Discovery. Foundered. Off Lituya Bay, Gulf of Alaska. 26+ (all hands).” (AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.)
Alaskashipwreck.com: “1903…Discovery…SC [south central area]…90 Foot…Wood Steamer… 30 [lives lost.” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1900-1925.”
Alaskashipwreck.com: “Discovery (1903). The 209 ton wood steamer Discovery is ‘supposed to have been lost during the night of November 1, 1903.’ The vessel departed Yakutat November 1, 1903 with about 14 passengers and about 16 crewmembers. She was never heard from again. The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed at Port Townsend, Washington by B Hasting, President of the Discovery Transportation Company who owned the Discovery:
Supposed to be between Yakutat and Cross Sound. Supposed to have foundered. Heavy gale from ENE with southeast & southwest cross sea running. Wind 60 mi.; dark night.
Revenue Cutter Rush was sent from Sitka after some weeks, but found no tidings. Since then report comes of Indians finding hull of vessel. This has not been confirmed. Parties coming from Cape Yakataga to Kayak, in November report finding doors, windows, and broken parts of steamers house on beach, also life preservers marked Str Discovery. This is same way the Discovery life preservers were marked.
We are convinced the Discovery is lost with all hands on board. The exact time and how the accident occurred will never be known.
“According to the wreck report, along with the Discovery an estimated 30 passengers and crew were lost including J W McGrath, Charles Mokler, Ed Nord, Guy Trolford, Ed Van Dice, R Price, Christ Judson, — Shady, A Dergin, William Dangerfield, Albert R Cassell, Robert Carlson, — Hans; Joe Birry and wife, Captain Seabery and George Powell. The Discovery was valued at $24,000 at the time of the loss and was insured for $12,000.
“Other reports of the fate of the Discovery state that all but one of the passengers who had started with the vessel at Nome, had quit the trip at Unga, Kodiak and Valdez claiming that the Discovery was not seaworthy. The remaining 26 persons aboard, mostly crew, were lost with the vessel somewhere between Middleton Island and Cross Sound. One questionable report from a claimed survivor has the vessel striking an iceberg at Cross Sound. The cabin of the Discovery was reported found in August of 1904, storm ravaged and buried in beach sand on Middleton Island.
“A second more credible report was published a year after the disappearance. Chief John of the Lituya Bay Native Tribe was said to have witnessed the loss of the Discovery the afternoon of November 2, 1903 outside of Lituya Bay. His story did not reach the south until late the following year. According to a credible source, the Chief watched as the Discovery attempted to enter the bay but the waterlogged vessel seemed out of control. After an hour or so the steamer was said to have gone down in the stormy seas with no chance for survivors. She was last seen attempting to round the point on the southern side of Lituya Bay.
“Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 59 32 30 N 139 51 30 W Chart 16760.
“Additional Information: Tonnage 209 Gross 111 Net, Length 90, Built 1889, Registered Port Townsend Washington, ON 157263, Master M R Walters of Port Townsend, Last Port Yakutat November 1, 1903, Destination Port Townsend via Cross Sound.
“Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report January 22, 1904, 2. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 3. Daily Alaska Dispatch (August 5, 1904) “Discovery Wreck Found” Front Page, 4. Morning Olympian (October 6, 1904) “Saw Discovery Sink in Stream” Pgs 1&3.”
Gottehrer: “Nov. 1, 1903. The steamer Discovery disappeared between Yakutat and Cape Spencer. An estimated 40 people were on board. A newspaper report of the search period stated the full passenger list would never be known.” (Gottehrer. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska (Revised 2nd edition). 2000, p. 91.)
US SIS: “…the steamer Discovery [foundered] off the southeastern coast of Alaska about November 1, 1903, with a loss of 30 lives.” (U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1904, p. 6.)
US SIS: “November 1. – Steamer Discovery, 209 gross tons, Marshall R. Walters, master, was lost with all hands somewhere between Yakutat and Cross Sound, Alaska, about November 1, 1903. Wreckage found on different places along coast, but no trace of ship’s boats or hull. At the time of the supposed wreck there was a gale of southwest blowing and much ice reported coming out of Cross Sound. Thirty lives lost – 13 passengers and 17 crew….” (U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1905, p. 31.)
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. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1900-1925.” Accessed 11-16-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1900-1925/
Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.” Accessed 11-16-2021 at:
Gottehrer, Dean M. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska (Revised and 2nd edition). Fairbanks, Alaska: Epicenter Press, 2000. Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=O53zwdFYTGEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1904. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1904. 332 pages. Google digitized and accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=6lYpAAAAYAAJ