1865 – March 15-16, bark Industry grounds, breaks-up, Columbia River bar, OR –15-17

–17 Gaines. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. Louisiana State Univ. Press, 2008, p. 138.
–17 Lettens, Jan. SV Industry (+1865) “History” wrecksite.eu. 11-7-2014.
–17 Lloyd. “‘This Nest of Dangers’….” Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA. 11-1-2017.
–17 Wilson, Elleda. “‘Terrible wreck.’” The Astorian, Astoria, OR. 3-15-2018.
–15 Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Pubs., 1984, p. 130.

Narrative Information

Lettens: “Industry was a Union bark of 300 tons, built in 1862 at Stockton, Maine.

“On March 15, 1865, Industry was wrecked on the southwest shore of the Middle Sands, Columbia River entrance with 17 casualties.”

Lloyd: “This writer’s carefully curated list of wrecks attributable to the Columbia River bar…reads ….1865: February, bark Industry, 17 lost…” (Lloyd. “‘This Nest of Dangers’: Astorian speaks up…” Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA. 11-1-2017.)

Marshall: “Industry 3/15/1865 Bark….The vessel stood offshore two weeks waiting to clear the bar; stores and water were in short supply. The ship attempted to enter under Captain I. Lewis. Once inside the bar, the wind lulled and the anchor was dropped. The wind freshened, rose and the anchor was raised, but the ship missed stays. The skipper tried to tack a second time and again she missed stays, this time bumping on the middle shoals and unshipping [removing] her rudder. A boat was launched, but it upset; 1st mate Cavines drowned. 23 passengers and crew took to the rigging for the rest of the day and night after heavy seas took the ship’s upper works, cabins and boats. The SS Oregon from San Francisco crossed the bar, spotted the Industry, but was unable to render assistance. The following morning two rafts were built from the wreckage and people climbed aboard both. The first raft drifted into the south channel where the riders were rescued by a lifeboat manned by soldiers from the fort. Captain Lewis and three others remained with the ship, but 14 others drowned….”

Newspaper

March 30 Daily Alta California: “The following particulars of the harrowing disaster to the ill-fated barque Industry, have been sent to us for publication. The communication of our correspondent arrived per steamer Oregon:

Astoria, March 22d, 1865.
Editors Alta: — As I am one of the saved from the wrecked barque Industry. I thought a few lines would give valuable information to the relatives of the lost.

The vessel left San Francisco February 23d. On the 25th she encountered a heavy gale which soon increased to a hurricane and caused the vessel to ship heavy seas, which stove in two large water-casks and washed away five sacks of flour—the vessel’s stores.

After two week’s heavy weather she made the mouth of the Columbia, but there being no pilot-boat to bring us in, the vessel was again put to sea.

About the 7th of March she spoke the Jane A Falkinburg, and, being short of provisions, sent a boat to her, and received three sacks and flour and one case of hard bread. The vessel lay off and on the bar for some nine days, not seeing a pilot boat and there being not a drop of water aboard, the Captain stood in, calculating to enter the south channel. He had previously entered here without a pilot. Whilst the vessel lay on the bar, the pilot boat ran down and raised a flag, which the Captain of the Industry understood as a signal for a pilot. Accordingly, the vessel was headed into the north channel for the pilot boat; but she sent no pilot, so Captain Lewis thought the pilot boat desired the barque to follow in. In doing so, she misstayed, and commenced to go on the sands. Both anchors were instantly let go. In about half an hour the wind increased, and both anchors were raised, and the vessel headed into the channel, but she again misstayed. During all this time the pilot boat was within half a mile of us, and could have placed a pilot on board with all safety. The second time the anchors were let go, but they would not hold, and the vessel struck aft, which unshipped the rudder. The flag was immediately run up the mizzen mast, Union down, as a signal of distress, but the pilot boat did not seem to take any notice of it, and left us to our fate.

“One of the anchors was slipped, and the vessel drifted nearly across the sands before she grounded. The vessel commenced to break up aft, about 10 o’clock. The sailors were, during the night of the 15th, in the fore-top, and the passengers in the main-top. Several attempts were made to rescue the passengers, but of no avail. So we made two rafts, and the first that was put over board thirty-nine of the sailors got on, all the passengers seeming to be bewildered. Your correspondent made a jump, was carried out to sea, washed back, and I went back on the vessel then. One passenger jumped on, I again followed, and soon the raft was let go and we headed into the breakers, mountains high. There were five of us. How we ever lived to get through into the channel, I cannot say; but I was picked up from the raft insensible, and my skin had become black with cold. All on the first raft were saved. Soon as those on board the vessel saw that we had been picked up, they then crowded on, and nine out of eleven were drowned, the saved being a white man and a Chinaman….

Those known to be drowned are Miss Matilda Marks; Mr. Green, 2d mate; the steward; two sailors, names unknown; Meade; Myers, and two Chinamen.

Those still supposed to be on board are Captain Lewis, Mrs. Sarah Marks and husband, Mr. Beane from Ohio, and a teacher by profession, and three seamen, names unknown.

These are all the particulars. As I am not well, your readers will excuse this hasty and short letter. More soon. C. W. Shively.”

(Daily Alta California, San Francisco. “The Shipwrecked Barque ‘Industry’ – Details of the Disaster, by a Survivor – Lists of the Saved and Lost.” 3-30-1865, p. 1.)

Sources:

Daily Alta California, San Francisco. “The Shipwrecked Barque ‘Industry’ – Details of the Disaster, by a Survivor – Lists of the Saved and Lost.” 3-30-1865, p. 1. Accessed 4-17-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC18650330.2.5&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

Gaines, W. Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2008.

Lettens, Jan. SV Industry (+1865) “History” wrecksite.eu. 11-7-2014. Accessed 4-17-2020 at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?220907

Lloyd, Nancy. “‘This Nest of Dangers’: Astorian speaks up, boosters for maritime economy.” Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA. 11-1-2017. Accessed 4-16-2020 at: https://www.chinookobserver.com/life/history/this-nest-of-dangers-astorian-speaks-up-boosters-for-maritime/article_faef6635-9c09-55e6-863b-9f36bc0b108f.html

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

Wilson, Elleda. “‘Terrible wreck.’” The Astorian, Astoria, OR. 3-15-2018. Accessed 4-17-2020 at: https://www.dailyastorian.com/life/in_one_ear/terrible-wreck/article_6f467a12-49cd-5a26-9e53-87bfb66bfafc.html