Central Alaska Rivers Shipwrecks ( L )

LAFRANCE (1911)     The steamer LaFrance struck a rock at Twelve Mile Point and was lost in the spring of 1911.  The vessel was traveling from Fairbanks to Dawson.  The LaFrance caught fire and burned soon after.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Source: The H W McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1966) Pg 197

LEAH (1906)     The 477 ton 139 foot wooden stern wheel steamer Leah struck a sunken rock and sunk at Quail Island in the Yukon River September 10, 1906.  The Leah was in service as an inland passenger vessel and had 199 persons aboard at the time of the casualty.  The following is from the wreck report:

“While proceeding down the Yukon River, 40 miles below Kaltag, the steamer struck a sunken rock or snag, and sunk.  This accident occurred just as the long Arctic winter was commencing and the vessel could not possibly be raised or removed from that position for at least 8 months, being filled with mud and ice bound during that period.  The owners, therefore, regarded her as a total loss as soon as informed of the accident.  There was no loss of life.”

The Leah was valued at $35,000 at the time of the wreck.  She was built in 1898 at St Michael and listed the same as her home port.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 477 Gross 295 Net, Length 138.7, Breadth 31, Depth 6.3, IHP 400

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report

LEOTA (1920)     The 36 ton steamer Leota was crushed by the ice of spring breakup May 25, 1920 and broken up.  The vessel was laid up for the winter near Fairbanks on the bank of the river.  The Leota was valued at $1,500 with no insurance.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 36 Gross 24 Net, Built 1898, Registered St Michael, ON 141541, Master A J Livingston of Chena, Owners Horton & Nesars of Ft Yukon, Last Port Fairbanks

Source: U S C G Report of Casualty filed by Andrew Livingston November 18, 1921 in Juneau

LESTER (1920)     The stern wheel steamer Lester was lost at Fairbanks May 21, 1920.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Comment: Leota reported lost same place a few days later.  WG

Source: The H W McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1966) Pg 313

LOTTA TALBOT (1906)     The 342 ton 146 foot wooden stern wheel river steamer Lotta Talbot stranded at Fairbanks May 22, 1906 and became a total loss.  The 5 crewmen aboard reached safety but the Lotta Talbot, valued at $60,000 with cargo became a total loss.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 342 Gross 216 Net, Length 145.7, Breadth 24.8, Depth 4.2, Built 1898 Seattle, Service Inland Passenger, Registered Seattle, ON 141551

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report

LUELLA (1910)     The 115 ton 90 foot stern wheel steamer Luella was lost September of 1910 on the Tanana River near Chena.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 115 Gross 88 Net, Length 90, Breadth 17, Depth 3, Built 1898 at Stockton CA, Registered Nome, ON 141540

Sources: 1. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1922) “Vessels Reported Lost” Pg 451, 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1910) Pg 238, 3. The H W McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1966) Pg 180

LUELLA (1920)     The stern wheel steamer Luella was lost September of 1920 at Chena.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Source: The H W McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1966) Pg 313

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