Story
This schooner, four-masted was built in 1893 by Hall Bros. Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Co. in Port Blakely, WA.
Historical Notes
This vessel carried cargoes of lumber. This vessel carried supplies to US government posts in Arctic Alaska in 1914 under her master Captain John Backlund.
In 1922 this vessel was used by Roald Amundsen on his Arctic expedition.
In 1935 this vessel was engaged in the whaling trade. In September 24, 1926 this vessel ran aground on Church Island west of Race Rocks BC while rum running. This vessel was salvaged by the MacFarlane Brothers Towing Ltd. tug J.W.P of Victoria BC Canada. This vessel was beached at Becher Bay for repairs. After her wartime use by the US Army this vessel was dismasted and reduced to a barge and severely hogged. On November 4, 1950 this vessel was stranded after this vessel lost her chain on the Juan Perez Rocks off Estevan Point (VI) BC Canada. Her registry was closed on January 31, 1951. Her hull was eventually found three miles north of Estevan Point in 1975 by Rod Palm.
Owners & Masters
In 1893 she was owned by C.S. Holmes Shipping, Seattle WA USA.
In 1910 she was owned by San Francisco CA USA interests.
In 1913 she was owned by Captain John Backland Sr., Seattle WA USA.
In 1928 she was owned by E.M. Backland (Midnight Sun Trading Co.), Seattle WA.
In 1935 she was owned by the C.S. Holmes Shipping Co., Seattle WA USA.
In 1942 she was requisitioned by the United States Army.
In 1950-1951 she was owned by Tahsis Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada.
Masters
Captain John Backlund
Name Significance
She was named for C.S. Holmes, the owner of the Port Blakely Mill Co. and Seattle agent of the Struhers & Dixon Co. He was a steamship agent, charterer and broker.
Rebuilds
She was rebuilt as a non-powered barge 181.0' x 37.5' x 10.9' 488.77gt/rt.
References
- Nicholson, George (1962)
- Newell, Dianne (1989)
- Gibbs, Jim A. (1968)
- Merchant Vessels of the United States (1910)
- archive.org ↗
- Andrews, Ralph W. & Harry A. Kirwin (1955) This Was Seafaring. Bonanza Books: New York NY
- Merchant Vessels of the United States (1935)
- Greene, Gary (June 1998) The Sea Chest (J. of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society) Seabeck WA USA)
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada (1993)
- Canada List of Shipping
- List of Shipping Casualties Resulting in Total Loss in British Columbia and Coastal Waters Since 1897 (undated manuscript document)
- recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca ↗ (website viewed 18/02/2025)
