Shipwreck! A Chronicle of Marine Accidents & Disasters in British Columbia

John M MacFarlane

• Publisher: John MacFarlane
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9780993695452
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

The waters of British Columbia are dangerous - and have claimed thousands of vessels and thousands of lives over the last 250 years.  This is a collection of 1900 of the most significant of those shipwrecks and marine disasters. Each one is documented with detailed accounts in an easy-to-read, easy-to-access book that will please the casual reader as well as the most dedicated nautical historian.  In these carefully researched accounts, the author has separated myth from fact to tell true stories of 1, 900 British Columbia marine wrecks and disasters.

A CHRONICLE OF SOME MARINE AND FRESHWATER WRECKS AND DISASTERS

A.L. Bryant⁷ In 1930 she collided with ferry Sonrisa. In 1950 she was rammed by a tug at Centre Bay, Gambier Island BC. On October 3, 1950 she was cut in half and sank from a collision with the SS Lady Cynthia halfway between Finnistere Island and Whytecliff Point in Queen Charlotte Channel (Howe Sound) BC. The Lady Cynthia was proceeding down Howe Sound from Britannia Beach to Snug Cove and the A.L. Bryant was crossing from Gambier Island to Whytecliff Point. The Lady Cynthia was overtaking the A.L. Bryant but failed to keep safely clear and the A.L. Bryant failed to keep a proper lookout resulting in the loss of three of the seven men aboard the A.L. Bryant. They were crewman FW Longstaff, and two passengers WM Ingram and AP Wrotnowski. The remaining crewmen were rescued by the Lady Cynthia. The ticket of the First Mate of the Lady Cynthia (Alan Strang) was suspended while the master of the A.L. Bryant (JA McDonald) was severely censured by Mr Justice Sidney Smith.

A.P. Knight⁸ 153015 On December 22, 1947 this research vessel burned at the Pacific Biological Station wharf at Departure Bay BC. Dr John P Tully stated: “The ship was 59 feet 11 inches long — one inch short of the requirement for steam ship inspection. It had a hot surface stationary diesel engine taken out of an old power plant-1904 vintage-and was started up by lighting blow torches on the top. It had a coal furnace, a gasoline engine for generating electricity, and a gas stove. It lasted thirty years before it blew up and burned.”

Abnoba 155093 This vessel, owned by British Pacific Log Transport Co., was once a freighter and then converted for use as a log barge. On April 2, 1929, while being towed by the tug Lorne, she foundered in Muchalat Arm, Nootka Sound BC. Later, in 1930, she was broken up.

Aceaway^a 189275 On February 22, 1980 this fish-boat, owned by John G. Flottvik, Fort Langley, BC had a fire in the engine room while in Granville Channel BC and sank near Port Edward BC.

Achates^b,9 126078 On April 09, 1908 while owned by Greer & Coyle Towing, she suffered a fire at Parsley Island in Howe Sound BC. In 1925 she was converted to oil. On June 08, 1930 while under command of Captain Thorvald Aaroe, she caught fire while stationed next to her boom of logs. The fire started in the engine room and spread quickly to the rest of the vessel. Her crew of two escaped unhurt. The fire damage was so extensive, that she sank after two hours of burning in eight fathoms of water close to Steep Island near Gowland Harbour, Quadra Island. Her steam engine and condenser, originally from HMS Algerine, were later salvaged by diver John Pieters.

Active Pass¹⁰ 153375 On August 18, 1939 this fishpacker, owned by Mrs Narutaro Okukawa, Vancouver BC and Yasojiro Nishibata, Steveston BC, was swamped and sank in heavy seas at the mouth of the Fraser River BC near the anchored lightship at Sand Heads. The crew of three were picked up by the passenger steamer Princess Kathleen.

Ada^a 080045 On December 29, 1915 this sealing schooner, owned by Joseph Boscowitz, Victoria BC, sank in Esquimalt Harbour and was a total loss.

Ada L. 193527 On January 22, 1970 this fishboat, owned by Donald JW Palmerley, Ladysmith BC was destroyed by fire.

Ada No. II 156813 On November 6, 1955 this fishboat, owned by John Clausen, Prince Rupert BC burned in Prince Rupert Harbour BC.

Adam¹¹ 122332 On March 29, 1934 this fish-boat, owned by Mike Sakich and Ivan Bobic, Vancouver BC caught fire and was severely damaged near Paisley Island just south of Bowen Island BC.

Addison 155091 Circa 1935 this former freighter, converted to use as a log barge, was incorporated into the breakwater at Powell River BC. She sank on site at Powell River in 1943.

Adele¹² The Adele was known as the “Flying Dutchman” for her reputation as a seal poacher. On March 8, 1891, this sealing schooner was stranded on North Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands Group. She had been on her way to the sealing grounds in the Bering Sea with a crew of five and a boy. They had been intending to engage First Nations sealers at North Island. After anchoring she was caught by a strong gale and began to drag. More anchors deployed failed to stop her drift and she came close to shore. The tides were some of the highest of the year and she was unable to get back to sea on the next high tide. At low water, her back was discovered to have broken, so the crew stripped the wreck of valuables and took it ashore. Captain Hanson travelled by canoe with area residents to Masset and obtained a sailing boat which he used to evacuate the crew and the valuable gear. He sailed to Port Simpson awaiting the arrival of the Danube to return to Victoria. The local First Nations people thinking the vessel was plated in copper burned her for salvage but were disappointed to find little of valu...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• A Chronicle of some Marine and Freshwater Wrecks and Disasters
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author
• References