Central Alaska Rivers Shipwrecks ( T )

T H TRAHEY (1936)     The 494 ton 130 foot freight barge T H Trahey stranded and was lost in the Yukon River August 26, 1936.  No lives were lost in the disaster.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska Unknown

Additional Information: Tonnage 494, Length 130, Breadth 33.3, Depth 5.5, Built 1910 at St Michael, Registered St Michael, ON 164261, Owner American Yukon Navigation Company

Sources: 1. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1937) “Vessels Lost” Pg 529, 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1936) Pgs 816-7

TANANA (1921)     The 495 ton 149 foot wooden passenger stern wheel steamer Tanana struck a submerged snag and was lost near Minto on the Tanana River at 11:30 p.m. Sunday October 2, 1921.  The vessel departed Fairbanks the day before bound for Tolavana with 21 crewmen aboard.  There were no passengers and there was no cargo on board.  The following are excerpts from the casualty report:

“Tanana River, 1 mile above Minto, Alaska”  “Dark, heavy offshore wind blowing”  “Struck submerged snag”  “Immediately after striking snag which tore hole in her bottom just aft of fire box, steamer was headed for shore and sank in 6 feet of water.  Lateness of season prevented necessary repairs being made and in the spring the vessel’s condition showed it was not worth repairing.  All machinery and equipment worth salvaging were removed from the vessel”  “Casualty unavoidable”  “Everything possible done by crew”  “Total loss”

The Tanana had a value of $25,000 which was a total loss with no marine insurance.  There was no loss of life.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 495 Gross 372 Net, Length 149.6, Breadth 30.4, Depth 5.9, IHP 550, Built 1904 at St Michael, Registered Eagle, ON 201297, Master C W Adams of Seattle, Owner American Yukon Navigation Company of Seattle

Sources: 1. U S C G Report of Casualty April 20, 1925 by W D Gordon, Supt., 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1921) Pg 168

TANANA CHIEF (1906)     The 72 ton 59 foot stern wheel river steamer Tanana Chief stranded and was lost on the Kantishna River May 10, 1906.  The vessel had a value of $20,000.  No lives were lost.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 72 Gross 36 Net, Length 59.2, Breadth 12.9, Depth 3.9, Service freight, Crew 5, Built 1898 at Unalaska, Registered St Michael, ON 145795

Sources: 1. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1907) “Vessels Reported Lost” Pg 380, 2. Merchant Vessel of the U S (1906) Pg 308, 3. Marine Disasters of the Alaska Route (1916) Pg 33

TEDDY H (1930)     The 153 ton 74 foot wooden stern wheel steamer Teddy H was crushed in the ice during the spring thaw on the Tanana River at 10:00 a.m. May 9, 1930.  The vessel had been brought from Bettles July 11, 1929 to Nenana.  The Teddy H had a crew of 13 and was in the business of hauling freight.  The following is an accounting of the disaster from the casualty report filed by Samuel Dubin, owner of the Teddy H:

“1/2 mile above Nenana”  “Wrecked by ice in Tanana River”  “Vessel ready to sail when the ice jam broke above, and it broke her up completely”  “Ship was taken up slough but could not get far enough to clear the ice”  “Total loss”

The Teddy H had a value of $39,000 and was a complete loss.  There was $10,000 insurance on the boat and $1,500 worth on her barges.  There was no cargo and no loss of life.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 153 Gross 96 Net, Length 74.3, Breadth 20.8, Depth 4.3, Built 1910 at Fairbanks, Horsepower 50, Registered Seward, ON 208037, Master and Owner Samuel Dubin of Fairbanks

Sources: 1. U S C G Report of Casualty October 2, 1931 at Seward, 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1931) Pgs 176-7

TETLIN (1922)     The 65 ton 60 foot wooden stern wheel steamer Tetlin stranded and was lost in the Nabesna River at 3:00 p.m. September 4, 1922.  The vessel was coming from the upper waters of the Nabesna River bound for Fairbanks.  There were 5 crewmen aboard and no cargo.  The following are remarks from the casualty report filed by J A Northway, master of the Tetlin:

“About 10 miles above the mouth of the Nabesna River, Alaska”  “Struck sand bar”  “Stranding”  “No wind, daylight”  “Vessel struck sandbar when going at full speed downstream with a 7 mile an hour current.  Bottom was practically torn out of her, and as river was falling and commencing to freeze, no attempt was made to float her.  Machinery was removed, and crew went to Fairbanks in small boats.  Hull froze up in the ice and when the river broke up in the following spring the hull was totally destroyed”

The Tetlin had a value of $3,000.  There was no insurance on the vessel.  There was no loss of life.

Mapping and Location: Central Alaska

Additional Information: Tonnage 65 Gross 41 Net, Length 60.5, Breadth 12.7, Depth 3.7, IHP 32, Built 1908 at Fairbanks, Registered Fairbanks, ON 208036, Master J A Northway of Fairbanks, Owner Royal Stores Co of Fairbanks

Sources: 1. U S Coast Guard Report of Casualty August 18, 1923, 2. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1923) Pg 112