Ericsson (I)

The caloric engines moved the ship across the water with significantly less fuel consumption than the other steamers of the day. As a sailing vessel the Ericsson broke many records around the horn, and still holds the record for the fastest voyage from Shanghai to Victoria, in 28 days.

In 1874 this vessel sailed from San Francisco to Liverpool in 103 days. Most of her sail career was spent hauling grain around Cape Horn from San Fransisco to Europe until in 1890 this vessel was leased to British interests. An American ship bound for Nanaimo from San Francisco to load coal. This vessel went aground on Folger Island (formerly Entrance Island) three miles from Cape Beale 19/11/1892 while in ballast enroute from San Francisco to Nanaimo BC Canada. Her wreck was discovered by the Underwater Archaeology Society of British Columbia in 1985. Early in her life this vessel sank in storm off New York. On being raised the Ericsson was fitted with steam engines.

In 1851 the Ericsson-cycle engine was used to power a 2,000-ton ship, the caloric ship Ericsson, and ran flawlessly for 73 hours. The combination engine produced about 300 horsepower (220 kW). It had a combination of four dual-piston engines; the larger expansion piston/cylinder, at 14 feet (4.3 m) in diameter. On November 19, 1892 this vessel, while bound for Nanaimo from San Franciso for a cargo of coal this vessel was stranded at Folger Island in Barkley Sound BC Canada. In the Juan de Fuca Strait a gale drove her onto the Vancouver Island coast into Barkley Sound. The captain went ashore to use the newly installed telegraph line to Victoria at Cape Beale Lighthouse to request assistance. The vessel's bow was on a rock while her stern was awash. The steamer Alert offered assistance which the crew declined assuming that he had made alternate arrangements. But the captain could not get his message through and the departure of the Alert left them helpless. Three days later the lightkeeper managed to get a message through and the tug Lorne picked up the survivors. The ship was destroyed by waves.