The SS Pacific was a sidewheel paddle steamer built in 1851. By 1875 she had already had a long career of service, mostly in the Pacific, transporting passengers and cargo along the west coast of North America. On November 4th, 1875, she was steaming through the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Vancouver Island bound for San Francisco carrying a variety of cargo, and large quantities of cash and gold.
In the dense fog, with inexperienced officers on the bridge, she collided with the sailing vessel Orpheus near Cape Flattery at the tip of the state of Washington. The SS Pacific was fatally damaged, killing approximately 325 on board. Only 2 men survived.
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Sources
- https://www.maritimeheritage.org/ships/ssPacific.htm
- https://www.courthousenews.com/washington-company-discovers-sunken-147-year-old-s-s-pacific-steamboat/
- https://historylink.org/File/8914
- https://www.bcmag.ca/the-sinking-of-the-ss-pacific/
- https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l0237571875/#853
- http://northwestshipwreckalliance.org/the-ship/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/321642606/?terms=steamship%2Bpacific
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/42357915/?terms=%22steamer%2Bpacific%22&match=1
- https://www.bcmag.ca/the-sinking-of-the-ss-pacific/
- https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Howell-3174
- https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/ss-pacific-sank-sv-orpheus/
- https://www.nwyachting.com/steamship-sleuths/
- https://stateparks.oregon.gov
- https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/diving-robots-and-a-timid-octopus-wa-treasure-hunters-find-shipwreck/
- https://www.wymt.com/2022/12/04/shipwreck-california-gold-rush-discovered/
- http://northwestshipwreckalliance.org/the-ship/