1890 — Apr 26, SF CA ship Oneida strands, “Oneida Rock,” SW off Sanak Island, AK– 77

–77 Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Mgmt. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.
–77 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks.” Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”

Narrative Information

Alaska BOEM: “Apr 26, 1890…Salmon packer…Oneida…Stranded…Hennig Rock, 8 mi SW of Sanak Island…77 lost, 78, rescued.” (Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.)

Alaska Shipwrecks: “Oneida (1890). The 1,074 ton 179 foot wooden ship Oneida stranded and was lost near Sanak at 9:00 p.m. Saturday April 26, 1890. 77 Chinamen perished in the disaster. The vessel departed San Francisco with 28 crewmen and 127 passengers bound for Thin Point. The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed by F P Anderson, master of the Oneida:

“Light wind, foggy, rough sea, dark and foggy” “Uncertain currents, foggy weather” “Hamings Rock 10 miles SW of Sanak Alaska” “Stranding” “No sail set, vessel hove to, waiting fair weather” “Total loss”

“The vessel was carrying 550 tons of merchandise and provisions worth $50,000. The Oneida, valued at $15,000 and her cargo were total losses. The vessel was insured for $42,000 and her cargo for $15,000. Wreckage from the vessel washed up on area beaches for days. Combing through the debris, a seal hunter named Irwin found two zinc lined boxes containing $400 in Mexican money and 130 cases of opium. Fights over the loot ensued, but the drugs were eventually sold to Chinamen on Sanak for $4 a pound and the money split with a fellow sailor.

“Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 54 28 20 N 162 55 40 N Chart 16520.

“Comment: I have charted this wreck at Oneida Rock (SSE of Hennig Rock) named so by Ferdinand Wesdahl, commander of the USC&GS steamer McArthur, who did surveys of the area in 1901.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 1130 Gross 1074.26 Net, Length 179, Breadth 36.5, Depth 23, Built 1856 Searsport ME, Registered San Francisco, ON 18864, Owner Lea Cross of San Francisco.

“Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report June 3, 1890 at San Francisco, 2. San Francisco Chronicle (October 16, 1890) “Money Discovered on Sanak Island” Pg 2 Col 4.”

Sources

Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses. Accessed 11-8-2021 at: https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/alaskas-worst-all-time-shipping-losses

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.” Accessed 11-7-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1800-1899/

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.” Accessed 11-8-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-o/