West Central Alaska Shipwrecks ( O )

OAKLAND (1901)     The 534 ton 151 foot wooden bark Oakland stranded and was lost at 10:30 a.m. Monday July 15, 1901 near Port Clarence.  She had departed Everett, Washington June 8, 1901 bound for Teller, Alaska with 12 crewmen aboard.  The Oakland was carrying a cargo of 900 tons of lumber and shingles valued at $8,000.  The vessel was valued at $15,000.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed by her master, P Peterson of San Francisco:

            “Reef about 10 miles from entrance to Port Clarence, Alaska”  “Fog and currents”  “Wind light breeze from southwest”  “Stranding”  “Vessel filled immediately and sank to her deck, crew abandoned and I went ashore for help, ship and cargo was afterward sold at public auction”  “Practically total loss”

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   65 15 N 166 30 W   Chart 16006

Additional Information: Tonnage 534 Gross 483 Net, Length 150.8, Breadth 34.5, Depth 13.2, Age 36 years, Registered Port Townsend WA, ON 19142, Owner James Bell and A O Nelson, Insurance unknown

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report July 23, 1901 at Teller by Peterson

OHIO (1889)     The 364 ton 111 foot wooden whaling bark Ohio stranded and was lost at 2:30 a.m. May 22, 1889 at Nunivak Island.  The vessel departed Honolulu, Hawaii March 6, 1889 on a whaling trip with 35 crewmen aboard.  At the time of the disaster her only cargo was a $10,000 outfit of whaling supplies.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report:

            “Nonnivak Island, Alaska”  “Strong breeze, dark night, foggy”  “First stove in ice, afterwards stranded.”  “Unmanageable after being stove in, and blown ashore.”  “Total loss”

            The Ohio and her cargo were a total loss but the entire crew made it to safety.  They were taken from Nunivak Island by the bark Ocean.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   60 N 166 W   Chart 16006

Additional Information: Tonnage 363.8, Length 110.9, Breadth 28.4, Depth 18.6, Built 1833 at Rochester MA, Registered New Bedford MA, ON 18987, Master Elihu G Gifford of New Bedford, Owner Frederick Swift of New Bedford, Insurance $28,000

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report September 16, 1889 by Frederick Swift at New Bedford

OLGA (1909)     The 43 ton 64 foot wooden gas screw schooner Olga was severely damaged in a storm at Nome the night of October 24, 1909.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed by William Mogg, master and owner of the Olga:

            “Sand spit at Nome”  “Easterly gale, high sea, dark night”  “Lying on beach at Nome”  “High wind and heavy sea breaking over her while lying on beach”  “Tried to haul her up higher on beach.  All tackle carried away”  “Capt. Bain, with a crew of men tried to haul her up on beach”

            The Olga was valued at $5,000 with no cargo.  The damage reported was $3,000.  There was no one aboard and no cargo.  There was also no insurance.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   64 30 N 165 25 W   Chart 16006

Additional Information: Tonnage 43 Net, Built 1890 Benicia CA, Length 63.5, Breadth 20, Depth 7, Service Whaling, Registered San Francisco, ON 155176, Master and owner William Mogg of San Francisco

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report October 26, 1909 at Nome by Mogg

OLGA (1923)     The 76 ton gas schooner Olga stranded on a sand bar southeast from shore opposite the mouth of Safety Lagoon at 4:00 p.m. Thursday May 16, 1923.  The channel buoys had been shifted from their original positions.  The vessel was later crushed by ice and completely wrecked by a gale during the spring breakup.  The Olga was valued at $10,000 and had no insurance.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   64 29 N 164 45 W   Chart 16006

Additional Information: Tonnage 76 Gross 60 Net, Built Misato Japan, Registered Alaska, ON 208171, Master and Owner Alexander Allan of Seattle, Last Port Nome September 3, 1922, Destination Port Safety

Source: U S Coast Guard Report of Casualty June 25, 1923 at Nome by Alexander Allan

OMILAK CHIEF (1917)     The 65 ton 70 foot stern wheel steamer Omilak Chief was crushed by the ice at Fish River May 15, 1917.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   64 35 N 163 21 W   Chart 16006

Comment: The Fish River is 45 miles long flowing from above the village of Omilak at 65 02 N 162 41 W down to Golovin Lagoon.  WG

Additional Information: Tonnage 65 Gross 57 Net, Built 1906 at Chinik, Home Port Nome, ON 205772, Length 70, Breadth 15, Depth 2.2

Sources: 1. Merchant Vessels of the United States (1918) “Lost Motor Vessels” Pg 441, 2. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names (1967) “Omilak” Pg 724

ORIOLE (1901)     The 6 ton 34 foot wooden steamer Oriole was carried out by ice and lost at 10 a.m. November 9, 1901 in Kotzebue Sound.  The crew of three departed Teller October 28, 1901 bound for Keewalik, Kotzebue Sound.  Harry Storey of Nome, master of the Oriole gave the following particulars in the wreck report:

            “Calm wind, sea and weather, daylight”  “10 miles West Cape Espenberg entrance Kotzebue Sound, Alaska”  “Carried out by ice”  “Run vessel into beach and made all lines fast on dead men to hold vessel”  “Assistance rendered by crew of barge Reception and Nome City, which I had in tow.”  “Total loss”  “No cargo”

            The Oriole was valued at $2,000 and became a total loss.  The crew survived the tragedy.  There was no insurance

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   66 33 N 163 36 W   Chart 16005

Additional Information: Tonnage 6, Length 33.7, Breadth 9.2, Depth 3.5, Built 1894 at New Whatcom WA, Registered Seattle, ON 155260, Master Harry Storey of Nome,  Owner J J Barton, William Seliner, Richard Lewis and William Robertson of Nome

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report July 16, 1902 at Nome

ORIZABA (1900)     The 967 ton 205 foot iron schooner Orizaba stranded and was lost near St Michael at 3:45 p.m. Monday September 17, 1900.  The Orizaba departed St Michael that day bound for Safety Harbor with 8 passengers and 46 crewmen aboard.  The vessel was engaged in laying cable for the United States government and was carrying 285 tons of submarine cable worth $95,000.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report:

            “2 ½ miles off Rocky Point, St. Michael, Alaska”  “Clear, smooth daylight”  “Stranded on a ledge”  “Ledge not charted”  “Alaska Commercial Co. lightered cargo”  “Total loss”

            All passengers and crew made it to safety, but the Orizaba, valued at $75,000 was a total loss.  The cargo was salvaged.  The reef where the tragedy occurred now bears the name Orizaba.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   63 31 10 N 162 01 50 W   Chart 16006

Comment: The Wreck Report for this vessel has the information for the wrong Orizaba at the bottom of the page.  That Orizaba became the Northwestern and was much larger.  WG

Additional Information: Tonnage 967 Gross 742 Net, Length 205, Breadth 34, Depth 16.4, NHP 540, Built 1883 at Wilmington DE, Registered New York, ON 14416, Master C Randall of San Francisco, Owner Pacific Coast Company of New York, Vessel Insurance unknown, SL KBHT

Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report September 29, 1900 at St Michael by C Randall, 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1900) Pg 282

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