Tuscan Prince

On February 15, 1923 this vessel was bound from San Francisco to Seattle under the command of Captain James Chilvers and a crew of 42 men. This vessel was carrying a cargo of pig iron and coke. Radio operators heard the distress message “breaking up fast!” This vessel became distressed off Cape Flattery in a violent winter storm. In the darkness, and uncertain of their position they hove to await daylight, anchored and then were struck by a huge wave that knocked out the radio. In ten minutes, they were stranded on Village Island (later renamed as Austin Island) in Barkley Sound BC and quickly broke in two. Grinding on the rocks they became wedged tightly. In the thick of a blizzard her crew was rescued by the USCGC Snohomish using a breeches buoy. Boatswain Fox of the Tuscan Prince risked his life to save his shipmates he swam ashore, clambered over wet rocks through the surf with a line that he fastened to a tree. Each crew member was hauled through the surf to safety.

They camped on the shore shivering in the cold until the arrival of Coxswain Brady in the Banfield Lifeboat who picked up the crew again by use of a breeches buoy.