1894 — May 11, SF CA whaling bark James Allen hits rock and sinks, Amlia Island, AK–25

–25 AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.
–25 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
–25 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwreck A – Z.” “J.”
–25 Nelson, Eric. Shipwrecks on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Oct 28, 2007.

Narrative Information

Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management: “May 11, 1894. Whaling bark James Allen. Struck rock and sank. On W end of Amlia Island, Aleutians. 25 lost, 33 rescued.” (Alaska BOEMRE. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.)

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”
“1894…James Allen…SW [southwest region]…117 Foot…330 Ton Whale Bark…25 [lives lost]…33 [lives saved].” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1800-1899.”)

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwreck A – Z.” “J.”
“James Allen (a894). The 117 foot 330 ton whaling bark James Allen struck a rock at the east end of Amlia Island at 1:30 a. m. May 11, 1894 and was lost with 25 souls. She had sailed out of San Francisco April 14, 1894 bound for whaling in the Arctic Ocean with 49 crew and 9 passengers aboard. The vessel was carrying about 250 tons of cargo and stores worth $30,000. The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed by Captain Arthur Huntley, master of the James Allen:

“Wind about 30 miles per hour, thick weather, dark.” “Ship some 30 miles to the west of supposed position.” “Sunken rock east end Amlia Island, Seguam Pass (One of the Aleutian Islands Lat 52N Lon 174) Hole in ships bottom caused by striking rock.” “Striking three times; Nothing was seen of the rock. Ship close hauled on the wind, heading to the NE.” “At the time of this statement 15 men are unaccounted for. (Later report states 25 lost)” “to myself and 16 men Capt. M Healy, USS Bear rescued and provided for. Str. Dora rescued 8 others.”

“The James Allen, worth $10,000 and her cargo were listed as total losses. The vessel had $15,000 worth of insurance. At least 25 passengers and crew were lost. All of the casualties occurred subsequent to the James Allen stranding. 5th Mate Andrew Robinson stayed with the ship and was lost. The rest of the crew escaped to four boats and soon became separated in the darkness and foul weather. Boat #1 found their way to a settlement on Atka Island and the crewmembers were rescued by the steamer Dora after a week. Survivors from Boat #1 included Third Mate Joseph Duarte (Dewatt), Forth Mate Charles C. McIntyre, Steerer John Roach, Steerer Joseph Gonzales, Seaman Peter T. Peterson, Seaman Max Gohne, Cook Thomas Gordge (Goody) and Landsman Frederick Hill (seaman Fred Hub). Boat #2 with 1st Mate Thomas Yellot, 2nd Mate William F Allen and 13 others disappeared and was never seen again. Boat #3 capsized and William Fitzgerald of San Francisco, Engineer John (James) White, Blacksmith G. E. Loy(Lay)(E. Eloy) and Frank Murphy drowned. Captain Huntley’s boat capsized and Patrick Connoly, Sam Masterson (Masterman), William Dory (Dorey), Harry Taylor, Boat steerer Joseph Pena (Portuguese) and Austin Gideon all died of exposure. Survivors from Boat #3 and the Captains boat eventually made it to the beach at Umnak Island a week after the wreck of the James Allen. There they survived for two weeks, six of the men dying of exposure. Those lost to the cold weather included William Dory, Joseph Pena, Sam Masterson, Austin Gideon, Harry Taylor and Pat Connelly. Captain Huntley and five men left the remaining nine men on Umnak Island and took a boat and provisions and headed for Unalaska for help. It took a week to get to Unalaska and another two days to return to Umnak to rescue the remainder of the crew of the James Allen. Unfortunately the nine sailors left behind had given up all hope and in a depraved mental condition took to consuming their lost shipmates whose bodies had been preserved by the cold climate. When Captain Huntley returned from Unalaska with the U S Revenue cutter Bear the men he had left behind were all huddled in a small smoke filled dugout, barely alive and unable to walk or even speak.

“Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 04 N 173 30 W Chart 16012.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 330, Length 116.7, Breadth 27.8, Depth 17.1, Built 1877 at Bath ME, Registered San Francisco, ON 75940, Master J Arthur Huntley of San Francisco, Owner Jas. McKenna of San Francisco.

“Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report (June 28, 1894) filed by Huntley, 2. San Francisco Call (July 7, 1894) “How the Bark Allen’s Men Survived” Pg 12, 3. Sacramento Daily Union (June 22, 1894) “Wrecked in the Arctic” Pg 1.” (Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwreck A – Z.” “J.”)

Newspaper

June 19, Boston Globe: “Nanaimo, B.C., June 18 – The steamer Willamette has arrived here from Dutch Harbor. She brings a meagre report of the loss of an American whaler bark, James Allen, which was wrecked off Atka Island, 200 miles west of Alaska, on May 11. The steamer Dora picked up two of her crew on Bonen Island June 7. The men were starving, their only food being salty meat.

“The Allen ran on a rock off Atka Island and sank almost immediately. The captain and first mate were lost. The rest of the crew, who left in one of the boats to head for Ounalaska, are still missing. The U S patrol boat Petrel is out searching for them. The lost vessel belonged in San Francisco. The captain was drowned with the first mate in his cabin. The second mate is also missing. The Allen had a cargo valued at $45,000 for whalers up north.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Loss of the James Allen.” June 19, 1894, p. 8.)

Sources

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

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-j/

Boston Daily Globe. “Loss of the James Allen.” June 19, 1894, p. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com

Nelson, Eric. Shipwrecks on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. 10-28-2007. Accessed at: http://www.amnwr.com/ShipwreckList.htm