1895 — Apr 24, SF CA seal/fishing schooner C G White grounds in gale, Trinity Isl. Reefs, AK–11

–11 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
–11 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwreck A – Z.” “C.”

Narrative Information

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.” —
“1895…C G White…SC [south central area]…81 Foot…Schooner…11 [lives lost]…17 [saved].”

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwreck A – Z.” “C.” —
“C G White (1895). As many as 11 men were lost on Wednesday, April 24, 1895 when the American schooner C G White ran ashore in the Trinity Island Reefs during a westerly gale and snowstorm. The vessel had departed San Francisco February 28 on a seal hunting and fishing trip with Zart Isaackson of San Francisco as master and a crew of 28. The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed July 24, 1895 by managing owner A P Lorentzen:

‘On SW end of Kodiak Island…ran ashore in a snowstorm.” “Some of the crew were saved and cared for by natives, who afterwards took them to Wooded Island, where some died and others recovered. Some lost limbs by frost bite. All the officers were lost, either drowned or died on the beach from cold. No papers saved, and no other particulars received except through newspapers.’

“The following is an accounting from Lewis and Dryden Marine History of the Pacific Northwest:

‘The same gale that sent the (Walter A) Earle on her last cruise ended the career of the old Columbia River pilot schooner C G White.’ ‘She was caught off the Alaska shore by the gale, which was accompanied by a blinding snowstorm, with Thermometer three degrees below zero. Her sails were carried away, the fore topmast went by the board, and her rudder became disabled. In this helpless condition she was carried before the wind, and just before morning struck a submerged reef and was soon smashed to pieces. A line was made fast to shore, and twenty five of the crew reached land in safety, three losing their lives before the line was secured. Eight of those who landed perished from starvation and exposure, and several of the others were so badly frozen as to render amputation of limbs necessary. They were finally rescued by some Indians, and taken to Kodiak. Capt Gus Isaacson was one of the eleven who perished.’

“In an article in the N Y Times from August 6, 1895: ‘When the wreck occurred, the first to get ashore were Bail, Marillo, Sweeney and Rogers who started for assistance to the nearest settlement, a place called Okyok, thirty-seven miles away, across a lagoon. The snow was neck high. Bail was the only one to reach the place, the others succumbing to their injuries and the intense cold.’

“The storm that caused the loss of the C G White is referred to as ‘the great Easter gale of 1895’. The below lists of passengers and crew of the C G White was compiled from a number of publications. Names crewmembers names were often spelled differently from one news story to the next. Abbreviations for the sources of names and other information are put with each of the names for clarity.

“Names and particulars come from the following publications:

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE of Friday May 10, 1895 (SFC-10)
THE NEW YORK TIMES August 7, 1895 (NYT-7)
PACIFIC COAST NEWS VOLUME LXXVII.—No. 148 May 7, 1895 Pg. 14 (PCN-7)
SAN FRANCISCO CALL TUESDAY May 14, 1895 (SFC-14)
FUR TRADERS REVIEW VOL 22 NO 11 June 1, 1895 (FTR-61)
VICTORIA June 7, 1895 (VCT67)
EMIL BAIL personal letters (EBPL)

“Names of passengers and crew lost:

1. Captain Gustave (Gus)(Zart) Isaacson (SFC-10) (PCN-7) Died of exposure on the beach (EBPL) (FTR-61)
2. Hunter Henry Ledger (SFC-10) Henry George drowned 50 feet from shore (EBPL) (SFC-14)
3. Mate A.W. Thompson (PCN-7) Went overboard and drowned in the wreckage (EBPL) was also a captain of the sealing schooner Lily L (FTR-61) At the helm when the vessel struck. Told the survivors to “take this ring to my little girl in Oakland”. (EBPL)
4. Hunter Dan Doole (PCN-7) Daniel Dover of Santa Barbara went insane on the beach and died of exposure near the lagoon. (EBPL)
5. Hunter Harry Harmsen (PCN-7) H. Hamsden made it to Wood Island but died after legs amputated. (EBPL) In the past he was the captain of schooners Alexander and Mary H Thomas. (FTR-61) Henry Hansen lost both feet above the ankles (EBPL) (VCT67)
6. Hunter Charles Haritwen (PCN-7) “Long Charlie” Hartmen died of exposure on beach (EBPL) (SFC-14) Long Charlie was a pioneer in the fur trade and had been captain of the sealing schooner Louisa D.
7. Cook Charles Lind (PCN-7) First man to drown(EBPL)
8. Donkey Engineer T.J. Hurdel (PCN-7) Thomas Hurdle drowned during wreck (EBPL)
9. Seaman William Backey (PCN-7) William Backey died of exposure on beach (EBPL)
10. Seaman J.E. Silver (Silva) (PCN-7) John Silva as washed overboard and never seen again (EBPL)
11. Seaman Manuel Vasquitz (PCN-7) Manuel Murillo died of exposure in the snowfields near the lagoon (EBPL)
“….Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 56 50 N 154 10 W Charts 16580, 16590.

“Comment: There are 20 survivors and 11 lost crewmen listed above which totals more than were reported as being aboard the C G White. The ship’s papers were lost with the wreck so accounting for who was aboard is difficult. WG.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 73.51 Net, Age 8 years, Built 1887 San Francisco, Length 81.5, Breadth 23, Depth 9.5, Registration San Francisco, ON 126439, Owner A P Lorentzen of Alameda, Vessel value $7,000, Cargo Value $5,000 outfit, Vessel Insurance $2,000, Cargo Insurance none.

“Additional Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report (July 24, 1895) filed at San Francisco by managing owner A P Lorentzen, 2. Lewis and Dryden’s Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1961) Pg 452, 3. N Y Times (August 6, 1895), 4. U S Revenue Cutter Service Files (1867-1914) Roll #4.” (Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.” “C”)

Sources

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

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A – Z.” Accessed 11-10
-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-c/