The Emily Reed was a down Easter owned by a company in San Francisco, and well known in both American and Australian ports."Disastrous shipwreck". The Argus. February 19, 1908. Retrieved April 28, 2012. She ran aground in February 1908 off the coast of Oregon, with the loss of eight men.
Career The Emily Reed was built by A. R. Reed, Waldoboro, Maine, for the San Franciscan firm of Hind, Rolph and Co."Emily Reed disaster". The Sydney Morning Herald. June 11, 1908. Retrieved April 28, 2012. She was launched on November 10, 1880; her first captain was O. D. Sheldon, and her first owners Yates and Porterfield of New York. On her first voyage, she transported a load of case oil from New York to Calcutta."The Down Easter, Emily Reed"
In December 1890 or January 1891, while en route from New York to San Francisco (having departed approximately February 1890), a severe storm at sea caused the rudder head to be twisted clean off. The crew steered the ship by tackle over each quarter, eventually reaching port in Rio de Janeiro for repairs. They arrived in San Francisco 208 days later, on August 31, 1891.San Francisco Morning Call, September 1, 1891; page 3 column 1, Sea and Shore
Daniel C. Nichols took command of the Emily Reed in Hong Kong,American Merchant Ships, 1850–1900, Volume 1, Page 355 until in April 1900 she was sold in Tacoma, Washington, to Hind Rolf."Pacific Marine Review, March 1929, Page 100, Two Famous Shipmasters Cross the Bar""Morning Oregonian, April 17, 1900; Page 8, Column 5/6 Marine Notes"
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."The ship Emily Reed". The Examiner (Launceston). August 1, 1903. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
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."Ship Emily Reed wrecked – survivors' thrilling experiences". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill). April 6, 1908. Retrieved April 28, 2012. The ship's cargo of 2,100 tons of coal was washed out to sea without a trace."Eleven lost on Emily Reed". The Spokesman-Review. February 15, 1908. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
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.Tobias, Lori. "Shifting sands reveal 102-year-old shipwreck off Rockaway Beach". Oregon Live, December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012.
Sightings December 9, 1880; Arrived New York City, Possibly maiden voyage; Sheldon, Waldoboro, Me. In ballast to Yates & Porterfield;"New York Times, Marine Intelligence (Arrived – second column)" August 19, 1882 Arrived Kobe Japan (Hiogin) in 116 DaysJapan Daily Mail August 19, 1882, Column 1 page 1031 (google books) April 25, 1883; Liverpool For San Francisco,The Guardian, April 27, 1883 page 4, column 6, under Liverpool Shipping August 25, 1885; New York – Loading for San Francisco voyageDaily Alta California, August 25, 1885, Page 8, Column 4, Vessels on way to ... San Francisco February 26, 1886; Pitcairn Island, en-route San Francisco to Liverpool, Master: SheldonPitcairn Island as a Port of Call: A Record, 1790–2010, 2d ed., Page 60 May 3, 1888; Depart Melbourne for LondonSydney Morning Herald, published May 5, 1888 page 12, column 1, Telegraphic Shipping News August 24, 1889; Possibly Philadelphia PA;The Collected Writings of Walt Whitman, The Correspondence 1886–1889, Page 366, Letter dated August 24, 1889 Camden June 1, 1890; Arrived San Francisco from Hisyo Japan with load of coal and merchandise, Captain Sheldon"The Morning Call, San Francisco, June 2, 1890, page 6, column 5, Sea And Shore, Coal From Japan" July 12, 1890; Leave San Francisco, destination unknownThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, July 12, 1890, Page 6, Column 3, Movements Of Vessels October 4, 1890; Arrive Rio de Janeiro, suffering damage, lost boats, house, etc. Captain SheldonThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, October 07, 1890, Page 1, Column 2, A Damaged Ship", and Page 6, Column 3 Sea And Shore January 20, 1891; New York City loading for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, January 20, 1891, Page 6, Column 3, Sea And Shore February 4, 1891; Depart New York for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, February 8, 1891, Page 3, Column 6, Around The Bay March 4, 1891, Spoke at Sea (Mid Atlantic) 4 N 23 W, Bound for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, March 19, 1891, Page 6, Column 8, Spoken August 27, 1891; 204 Days at Sea – still en route for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, August 27, 1891, Page 3, Column 5, Out over 100 days August 31, 1891; Arrived San Francisco, story of damage en route, broken rudder, stop in Rio de JaneiroThe Morning Call, San Francisco Calif, Sept 1, 1891, Page 3, Column 1 October 11, 1891; Chartered for Liverpool, Cargo WheatThe Morning Call, San Francisco Calif, October 11, 1891, Page 3, Column 6, Reported Charters October 29, 1891; Correction: Cork IrelandThe Morning Call, San Francisco Calif, October 29, 1891, Page 6, Column 6, Shipping Notes March 26, 1892; Arrived Dublin, via Queenstown?The Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif March 29, 1891, Page 6, Column 6, Foreign Ports July 17, 1892; Advertisement for New York FreightThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, July 17, 1892, Page 10, Column 8, bottom" July 21, 1892, Loading NYC for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco Calif, July 21, 1892, Page 7, Column 2, Removals September 22, 1892, NYC – Cleared for San FranciscoThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif September 23, 1892 March 2, 1893, Arrived San Francisco, Captain SimmonsThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, March 2, 1893, Page 3, Column 1, Clipper Line In Full Operation March 28, 1893, Loading Redwood for the UKThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, March 28, 1893, Page6, Column 6 July 11, 1893, Spoken at Sea, For QueenstownThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, July 11, 1893, Page 9, Column 4 September 28, 1893, Arrived Liverpool via QueenstownThe Morning Call, San Francisco, Calif, Sept 28, 1893, Page 9, Column 5, Foreign Ports May 12, 1894; Sighted in Straits of Sunda en route New York to Hong Kong;"London and China Telegraph, June 18, 1894; page 8, left side" January 1894; Hong Kong – Received Lending Library from Sea Man's FriendGoogle Books: Seamen's Friend, Volumes 65–66, Page 128 July 23, 1895, Philadelphia, Captain Eldridge W. Simmons fined for improper payment of a seamanThe Morning Call, San Francisco, July 23, 1895, Page 7, Column 2, Around the Water Front Next port of call Cienfuegos, Cuba 1895 – Arrived at Manila Philippines from Hong Kong;"Annual Report of the Commissioner of Navigation to the Secretary of Commerce, Page 127" August 8, 1985 – From England to Philadelphia, and Japan with case oil.The Guardian, August 8, 1895 page 6, column 5, Freight Market Dec 10, 1896 – Spoken at Lat 5N, Long 25W – Nichols, enroute New York to Hiogo (Japan?)New York Herald January 27, 1987 Page 12, Column 5 http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/New%20York%20NY%20Herald/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201897/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201897%20-%200639.pdf January 5, 1898; passed ship Venezuela at sea, Location: lat 34 50. lon 72 27, from Hlogo (Kobe, Japan) for New York."New York Herald, January 8, 1898, Page 14, Column 3" October 29, 1888, SingaporeThe Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 29 October 1898, Page 4, Column 3, Advertisement Nov 7 – 1888 Departed Singapore March 9, 1899 Arrive New York From Singapore, Damage to top mastNew York Herald, March 10, 1899 page 14, column 2 arrivals http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/New%20York%20NY%20Herald/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201899/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201899%20-%201695.pdf September 25, 1899 – SingaporeThe Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 25 September 1899, Page 2, Column 3 September 28, 1899 – Singapore (Damaged ship?)The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 28 September 1899, Page 3 April 22, 1900, Port Townsend, Washington, From Hong Kong, August 1, 1900; Kahului Hi; Capt. George A. Baker – Departed to San Francisco"Honolulu Republican, Sept 5, 1900, Page 4, Column 3 Shipping Notes" August 24, 1900; San Francisco; Capt. George A. Baker – Arrived in port (From Kahului HI, 23 days at sea) November 19, 1900; Sydney NSW Australia; Capt. George A. Baker – Arrive in port (From San Francisco) February 5, 1901; In port Sydney, NSW; Caught in Hurricane, partly demasted"San Francisco Call February 5, 1901, page 7, center top" 1901 Generally – San Francisco to Sydney, Hong Kong, Puget Sound"Report of the Commissioner Of Navigation, US Government Printing Office 1901, Page 346" October 1901; Honolulu, HI; Capt. George A. Baker – Jumps bail and sails away "Honolulu Republic, Vol II, #424, Page 1, Column 8, Judge Estee Orders That Bonds Stand" January 2, 1902; Sailed from Sydney NSW Australia, Captain Baker to San Francisco"New York Herald; January 5, 1902; Herald Cable Reports, Page 9, Column 4" June 21, 1902; Maui, Hi; Capt. George A Baker; leaves for the "sound" to load coal (?New Castle AUS?)"Maui News, June 21, 1902, Page 4, Column 4, Shipping News" December 27, 1902 – Cape Town South Africa from Chemainus San Francisco Morning Call, December 30, 1902, Page 5, Column 5, Foreign Ports April 2, 1903; Spoken @ 43S 106.18E; en route Delagoa Bay to Hobart Sydney Morning Herald April 10, 1903, Pg 8, Column 7 July 31, 1903; New Zealand; Capt. George A. Baker – altercation on-board between crew members"New Zealand Star, Issue 7771, 31 July 1903, Page 3, retrieved on February 4, 2013" May ?? 1903; Deiagoa Bay, Mozambique (Now: Maputo Bay); Leave for Hobart Tasmania "The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Page 4 Column 3; Tasmanian timber for South Africa, Arrival of an American Ship"] April 10, 1903; Passage at sea 43 deg S, 108 deg E in route, "All Is Well""Sydney Morning Herald, Page 8, Column 7 Emily Reed Spoken" April 13, 1903; Passage Point, Hobart Tasmania; Arrived to pickup shipment of piles to South Africa "The Mercury, April 13, 1903; Hobart Tasmania, Page 4 Column 3 (Shipping); Tasmanian timber for South Africa, Arrival of an American Ship"] May 20, 1903; Finders Bay (Norfolk Bay), Tasmania to complete loading; "The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, May 20, 1903; Page 4 Column 2 (Shipping); Tasmanian timber for South Africa, Arrival of an American Ship"]