Colusa (I)

This vessel was reported to have gone aground on Bonilla Point November 1899 but apparently, this vessel was confused with the Vidette or some other of the vessels that were wrecked in that period. On December 12, 1899 under command of Captain Ewart this vessel was reported to have sunk off Sitka Sound AK. An American bark, this vessel was travelling enroute to Puget Sound. Heavy southeast gales drove her up to Alaska. The crew abandoned her in a small boat in which they spent four terrible days: the Captain, his wife, and 13 crew members with their black cat mascot Jonah. The Colusa had left Hawaii in October, sailing to Esquimalt for repairs. This vessel was off Cape Flattery on November 14th when a heavy southeast gale raged until the 22nd. At that point they were within 3 miles of Vancouver Island labouring heavily so much that the water in the bilge turned the ballast to mud. The pumps were working constantly, bringing up ballast and the ship was growing ever more tenderly. The ship developed a strong list to port. By December 10th they had been driven to the entrance to Sitka Harbour.

They crew requested that the Captain abandon ship. The Captain perceiving no hope put everyone in the ship’s boat and within 30 minutes they had lost sight of her.

They travelled in the Cottage City to Seattle from Sitka.