Vessel Profile

Wolcott

Wolcott
Photo: Wikipedia Collection

Story

This schooner, trading (northern) was built in 1873 by John W. Dickie Shipyard, Alameda CA.

Historical Notes

The first recorded narcotics seizure by a cutter occurred on August 31, 1890 when the USRC Wolcott, stationed in the Straits of Juan de Fuca, boarded and discovered a quantity of undeclared opium on the U.S. flagged steamer George E. Starr. The cutter seized both the vessel and the opium for violations of Customs laws. Her crew deserted in 1882 for unknown reasons. And then in 1883, at the request of the British Columbia authorities, this vessel was directed to be present at Fort Simpson, to prevent an "Indian outbreak." In 1896 this vessel was in the Bering Sea Patrol and in service on the North Pacific.

In 1897 this vessel retired and was sold into private ownership for feeder service between Sitka and western Alaska

Owners & Masters

In 1873-1897 she was owned by the U.S Revenue Service.

In 1897 she was owned by the Pacific Steam Whaling Co., San Francisco CA USA.

Masters

Lieutenant H. Emery USRS (1897); Captain J.C. Dowing (1898);

Armament

2 guns

Named Features

Named after the second Secretary of the Treasury, Oliver Wolcott, she was the second cutter to bear the name.

References

Continue your research

Related on Nauticapedia

Help preserve BC's maritime heritage

Donate

Support the Nauticapedia Project

Help preserve BC's maritime heritage for future generations — digitizing records, restoring photographs, and expanding our vessel collection.

Make a Donation