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Historic Shipwreck Profile: Additional Information on Wreck Event

Sir John Franklin

Medium Clipper Ship


Newspaper clipping from Daily Alta California 20JAN1865 p1 col1 of shipwreck Sir John Frankln

Source: Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA), 20 January 1865, p 1, col 1.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

THE WRECK OF THE SHIP "SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.” The card of Messrs. C. W. Brooks & Co., consignees of the wrecked ship Sir John Franklin, and the agent of the Underwriters, Captain Fletcher, regarding the disposal of the cargo, or such portions there of as may be recovered, will be found in the ALTA this morning. The schooner Wm. Irelan, Capt. Harloe, and two other schooners were despatched for the scene of the wreck yesterday morning, and Captain Fletcher left, overland, to superintend operations. He will remain on the ground until all that can be saved of the Cargo is recovered. The mate reports that the vessel went ashore in a small cove about ten miles south of Half Moon Bay, and that before he left the place some three hundred barrels of spirits, and quite a large amount of coal oil, candles, and cases and bales of other goods had floated ashore and had been got out on the beach. It is thought that from one-quarter to one-half of the cargo may be saved; of course, in a damaged condition. The cargo of the Charles Pennel, which made up the bulk of the cargo of the Franklin, was fully insured, and it is probable that the total insurance on vessel and cargo is in the neighborhood $300,000. The Franklin was built some ten years since but was in perfect order, and was rated as an A 1 ½ vessel on the Lloyd's register. The Overland Telegraph not being in working order yesterday, it was impossible to learn what the actual amount of insurance, on vessel and cargo, was, but it will probably be known to-day. Capt. Fletcher, with usual promptness, decided not to wait for advices from New York, but proceeded at once to the scene of the disaster. Since the notice in yesterday's ALTA was written we learn that the supercargo — name noy given — was also lost, so that the list of the drowned now numbers thirteen.


Newspaper clipping from Daily Alta California 23JAN1865 p1 col2 of shipwreck Sir John Franklin

Source: Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA), 23 January 1865, p 1, col 2.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

FROM THE WRECK.—Captain J. W. Sayward, who left the wreck of the Sir John Franklin on Saturday evening, informs us that up to that time six bodies had been recovered, and an inquest had been held by the Coroner of Santa Cruz county. The names of the persons whose bodies were recovered were Captain John J. Depaux, Supercargo Robert Dawson, Owens, seaman, John Devine of Liverpool, Charles Martin of Norway, and John Scoltine and Jacob Staten of Finland. The property from the wreck was strewed along the beach for miles. The people in the vicinity had turned out to save it, and all acted very honorably. Captain Fletcher had settled with them all. Although great quantities of liquor were in reach, everybody was sober, save one or two men sent down from San Francisco.


Newspaper clipping from Daily Alta California 24JAN1865 p1 col2 of shipwreck Sir John Franklin

Source: Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA), 24 January 1865, p 1, col 2.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

THE WRECK OF THE "SIR JOHN FRANKLIN."
PESCADERO, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, January 22d, 1865.
EDITORS ALTA: I notice in your issue of the I9th inst., an account of the wreck of the Sir John Franklin, which materially differs from that given by the men and some of the under officers. It is stated that she struck at 9 o'clock, but the survivors say she struck at ten o'clock, and that she was running full on, and the fog being very dense, it was impossible to see anything. The first alarm was given by the look-out. " breakers ahead." immediately followed to “wear ship," but before the order could be executed she struck on the sand. The order was then given to cut away the masts, and while cutting the head-stays, the broke in two forward of the poop and then abaft the forecastle. The officers and men being in the fore-channels, excepting one who was in the forecastle. were left on one half of the deck. At this time the fog cleared so that they could see the shore, but very soon thickened so that all was darkness again. In this condition they drifted close in when this part of the ship capsized and all was terror and confusion. In the darkness, and midst the wreck and cargo that had drifted ashore, only eight out of the twenty reached the shore. This was about 1 1/2 o’clock, and at 2 o'clock they reached the house of Mr. Gushee, where they were hospitably cared for, every attention being paid them. In the morning the neighbors came their relief with, clothing. and kindly furnished Mr. Boyd with means and conveyance to your city, and would have sent the rest of the survivors had they desired it. This was probably the most total wreck ever known on this coast. The bodies of the Captain, Supercargo and six of the sailors have been recovered. Nothing of value was found on the bodies, excepting that of the Supercargo. Messrs More and Eaton, and others who examined his pockets, found a purse (that was chafed so that they saw some three twenty-dollar pieces,) which was placed in the hands of the Deputy Marshal.

The inventory on the goods saved was between eight and nine thousand dollars. The stone will bring but a small amount, owing to the position it lies in and the difficulty of getting it to market. A.B.


Newspaper clipping from Sacramento Daily Union 24JAN1865 p3 col3 of shipwreck Sir John Franklin

Source: Sacramento Daily Union (Sacramento, CA), 24 January 1865, p 3, col 3.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE UNION.

Gold in New York—Greenbacks—Murder in Lower California—French Defeat—The Late Wreck—Bark and Lives Lost—Coal Oil Fever—Incendiarism. San Francisco, January 23d.

...The funeral of Captain Despeaux and Supercargo Owens, of ship Sir John Franklin, takes place to-morrow afternoon, at Trinity Church. The bodies of four sailors were buried at the wreck...


Reviewed: September 08, 2023
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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