Emily Reed (ship)


The Emily Reed was a down Easter owned by a company in San Francisco, and well known in both American and Australian ports. She ran aground in February 1908 off the coast of Oregon, with the loss of eight men. Later was removed as of May 2015.

Career

Launched November 10, 1880 - Waldoboro, Maine Named for one of the builders sisters. Reported size: 1600 tons, 209' long, x 40'6" wide, X 24' deep, on the Medomak River. Sails provided by Thomaston sail loft, George Washburn & Sons. Her first captain O.D. Sheldon, and first owners Yates and Porterfield of New York. First voyage, a load of case oil from New York to Calcutta
Approximately December 1890 or January 1891 - While en route New York to San Francisco, severe storm at sea the rudder head was twisted clean off. The crew steered the ship by tackle over each quarter, eventually reaching port in Rio de Janeiro for repairs. Arriving in San Francisco 208 days later, on August 31, 1891
Daniel C Nichols previous ship burned in Hong Kong October 1895, he then took command of the Emily Reed in Hong Kong - until she was sold in Tacoma Washington to Hind Rolf.
April 1900 - Purchased by Hind Rolf, San Francisco for $40,000 from Yates and Porterfield
On July 12, 1903, the ship was carrying Tasmanian timber from Hobart to Simonstown, South Africa, when it ran into distress and was forced to stop at Lyttelton. The captain, Baker, had received a serious injury to his left arm, and there was sickness on board. The vessel was quarantined for eight days. Nine crew members were charged with disobeying orders, and the captain was charged by his crew of assault. The men were convicted, but the charges against the captain were dismissed.

Wreck

On February 14, 1908, the ship was heading for Portland, with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, New South Wales, when she ran aground at the mouth of Nehalem River. Captain Kessell's chronometer was faulty, and he didn't realize until it was too late that he was too close to the shore. The time was a little after midnight, and the sea was too rough to attempt to swim to safety. The first mate, the ship's cook, and two more seamen jumped into a lifeboat, and appeared to be lost as soon as they hit the water. The captain therefore ordered the rest of his crew to remain on the ship until daylight. When morning came, it brought low tide, and the survivors managed to get ashore. The ship's cargo of 2,100 tons of coal was washed out to sea without a trace.
It was initially reported, based on the account of the captain, that eleven men were dead. Three days later, however, the lifeboat which had been thought lost was discovered by a sloop at Neah Bay, 200 miles from the wreck. The first mate and two seamen were alive but weak with thirst and hunger, and the ship's cook was dead.
The wreck still lies buried beneath the sands near the city of Rockaway Beach, and is occasionally uncovered by storms.

Sightings