West Central Alaska Shipwrecks ( P )

PCS Co #1 (1911)     The 40 ton wooden barge PCS Co #1 broke loose from her towboat and foundered at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday September 26, 1911 in Norton Sound.  The vessel was being towed empty in ballast between Nome and Cripple River when the tragedy occurred.  The following are comments from the wreck report made by owner John J Sesnon:

“About 2 mi. offshore, SW. Cripple River, Norton Sound, Alaska”  “Adrift from towboat and foundered”  “Towed too fast and on short towline”  “Light wind, dark, current to SW”  “Broke adrift 3 times; picked up twice but abandoned on third time”  “Had tug Dorothy cruising all day of Sept. 26 trying to locate barge; not successful.”  “Total loss”

The PCS Co #1 was valued at $1,500 at the time of the loss and had no insurance.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   64 32 N 165 48 W   Chart 16200

Additional Information: Tonnage 40, Built 1901 at Tacoma WA, Registered Nome, ON 54593, Master R B Woodson of Nome, Owner John J Sesnon of Nome, Crew 4, Casualties none

Source: U S Customs Wreck Report October 23, 1911 at Nome by H Jacobsen, Agent for John J Sesnon Company

POLITKOFSKY (1899)     The 174.89 ton fuel barge Politkofsky went ashore and was pounded to pieces at Nome in 1899 with a load of coal.  This same old Russian gunboat served as a fuel barge for the Eliza Anderson on her journey north from Seattle in 1897.

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

Comment: BEOMRE list this vessel at St Michael.  WG

Sources: 1. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 2. BOEMRE Alaska Shipwreck List (2011)

POLITKOFSKY (1915)     The cedar hulled vessel Politkofsky broke up on the beach at St Michael in an April storm in 1915.  This stout hull had remained intact since the gold rush days.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   63 29 N 162 02 W   Chart 16006

Comment: Probably same old Russian gunboat hull that washed up on the beach at Nome in 1899.  WG

Sources: 1. Shipwrecks of the Alaskan Shelf and Shore (1992), 2. BOEMRE Alaska Shipwreck List (2011)

PRINCESS (1913)     The 16 ton 41 foot wooden schooner Princess was lost with all hands October 12, 1913 in Norton Sound.  The vessel departed St Michael in tow of the undocumented gas boat Nora on October 9th bound for the Kuskokwim River.  There were an estimated 10 tons of general merchandise worth $3,000 aboard the Princess.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report:

“The vessel was in tow of a small undocumented gasoline boat, Nora and both vessels were found bottom up on the beach a few miles west of Nome having evidently been blown across Norton Sound by the storm, a southerly gale then raging in those waters.  There are no survivors to give particulars”

Lost in the disaster were Martin Brimhall, Charles Green and an Eskimo Boy, name unknown.  The Princess was valued at $1,000.  The vessel and her cargo were total losses with no insurance.

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

Additional Information: Tonnage 16, Length 41.4, Breadth 13.6, Depth 4.1, Built 1912 at Kotlik, Registered St Michael, ON 210603, Master and Owner Kuchuk Westall of Kotlik

Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report September 5, 1914 at St Michael by Frank P Williams, Agent, 2. Merchant Vessels of the United States (1913) Pg 77

PROSPER (1900)     The 23 ton 45 foot wooden schooner Prosper went ashore and was lost at 9:45 p.m. September 12, 1900 near Nome.  The master of the vessel, Captain G R Geise of San Francisco was lost in the disaster.  The vessel departed San Francisco June 20, 1900 bound for Nome and Cape Blossom.  There were 7 crewmen aboard, including Captain Geise, and no cargo.  The following are excerpts from the wreck report filed by William Munce, second mate and part owner of the Prosper:

“Near mouth of Penny River, near Nome City, Alaska”  “Gale, heavy seas, dark night”  “Went ashore in Gale”  “Sails carried away, Captain washed overboard.  Vessel in breakers, could do nothing”  “Entire loss”

The Prosper was valued at $100 and was a total loss with no insurance.  The Prosper was lost along with the 150 foot schooner Sequoia.  Some records indicate that the two vessels were salvaged in 1902.

Mapping and Location: West central Alaska   64 32 N 165 45 W   Chart 16006

Additional Information: Tonnage 23, Length 45, Breadth 14.6, Depth 6.0, Built 1892 at Anacortes WA, Registered San Francisco, ON 150586, Master G R Geise of San Francisco, Owner W N Letcher, George Stokes and William Munce of San Francisco

Sources: 1. U S Customs Wreck Report September 29, 1900, 2. The H W McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (1966) Pg 63

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