Many shipwrecks have a story to tell. A few headlines of some of the following vessels

* Branford – Brig, of N.Y., Capt. Wallace, wrecked  6 leagues westward of Cape Florida among the Keys, 4/29/1756. Vessel & cargo a total loss. Crew saved by a Spanish schooner and taken to St. Augustine. Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 6/17/1756.

* Unk. Sloop – From Barbados for Sunbury, Capt. Gilbert, was lost on the coast of East Florida. Source: Georgia Gazette, 12/17/1766.

* Catherine – Sloop. Capt. John Pyner, from Montego Bay for New London, with rum & sugar, wrecked on the Florida shore during a hurricane near Key Largo, Oct.13, 1766. Except for one who stayed ashore near where wrecked, the rest (nine) took the boat and sailed for Pensacola. They came ashore about 10 miles from the garrison at Apalachicola having lost one person along the voyage. Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 3/26/1767.

* Apollo – From the Bay of Honduras for RI, Capt. James Burk, was cast away on the Florida shore, 6/29/1767. Crew, cargo, sails & rigging saved. Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 8/6/1767.

* Mary – Bernard Romans, a famous cartographer, naturalist, privateer, etc., was the master of   the sloop Mary in 1766-67, and which sloop was wrecked in the area of Cape Florida in 1767. In late 1769, while surveying the Tampa area, Romans survey vessel sank in the Manatee River near Tampa, and he then travelled overland to St. Augustine, writing he may have travelled on Ferdinand Soto’s old path, though likely was one made by the native people here.

* Augustine – Packet ship, Capt. James. Sprung a leak and sank in the St. Augustine River, in 1776. Source: Freemans Journal, 1/18/1777.

* Kingston – British merchantman. Left Jamaica with the fleet in May, 1782, with a cargo of rum for NY. Went aground on the Martiers, 6/4/1782, and could not be gotten off. The frigate Pomona then set her on fire. Source: LL, 7/1782; The Independent Gazetteer, 7/6/1782.

* Lovely Lass – Ship (new-believe the 172 ton ship, built 1800 at Hartford,CT), Capt. Thomas Burnham (or Barnum), of NY, owned by Messrs. William & John Wood. Had left Havana, 8/27/1801 for NY, with sugar and logwood. On the 31st, she encountered a mild squall late that night, and capsized and sank within ten minutes. Most everyone escaped into the water. A Mr. Wm. D. Noble, who later wrote of his experience, said he was asleep in his stateroom, and found himself drowning but was able to get out through a small window. It was speculated that something like a mast had caused a hull plank to leak well before they encountered the squall, causing her to easily overturn. Those that survived found themselves grabbing what little was left floating about. There were a few small spars, etc. and a small boat (16’), though it was full of water. Four got to the boat, but it could hardly hold their heads above water and the waves thwarted any attempt to bail it out by hand. By daybreak they called out for any other survivors, and luckily three more swam to the boat. They also secured two larger spars along with some smaller ones and were able to makeshift a raft which helped them to bail out the boat using the hats that two survivors kept on their heads through the night. Some boards served as paddles, and they made their way windward hoping to find more survivors. Luckily, they found one more and now had a total of eight survivors out of the original eleven on board (one report said seven out of ten). Two men and a boy had been lost, two being trapped inside the ship and one in the waves. Not long after, they saw a vessel nearby and could even see some crew walking on deck, they screamed and waved, but the vessel kept going as they did not see them, or maybe just refused to help. They found some material floating to make a sail, and headed west which they estimated at three miles per hour, safely landing on the Florida shore at Lat. 28 at sunset that day. Naked and hungry, along with being nowhere near any town, things looked bleak. They did find some pieces of sail from another wreck which helped. Four soon took to the small boat and four stayed ashore to look for help. Luckily, they soon spotted an English privateer under Capt. Thomas Johnston at 10am. They rowed the small boat out to it and were warmly welcomed aboard. Soon all eight of the survivors were on board and eventually made it to St. Mary’s, Ga. after stopping on Grand Bahama for provisions Source: 10; Hartford Courant, 11/2/1801; Georgia Gazette, 8/31/1801; Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 1/15/1802.

* Alective – Schooner, Capt. Rudolph, was lost off the St. Johns River, 1/28/1802, with 80 bales of cotton. Source: Savannah Georgia Gazette, 2/18/1802.

* Mary – American schooner, Capt. Chace. From Tobago for Charleston, was lost on the Martyr’s Reef, believe January 1802. Capt. Chace arrived in Nassau on the schooner Venus and reported that a slave uprising in Tobago was thwarted and that 50+ slaves had been executed there. Source: The Adams Centinel, 3/24/1802.

* Spanish Schooner – Reported from Charleston that the vessel Comet from St. Augustine had arrived with the crew & passengers of the “Spanish King’s schooner” from Havana for Cadiz, which wrecked near Cape Florida, May 17, 1806. Source: Charleston Daily Courier, 6/13/1806.

*  Polly – Schooner, Capt. Sellew, from Jamaica for Wilmington, was reported from Nassau 3/3/1807, as wrecked on the Florida Reef. Crew saved along with 22 puncheons of rum, and taken to Nassau by the sloop Searcher & schooner Little Tom. Source: The Republican; & Savannah Evening Ledger, 3/14/1807.

* Little John – Brig, of Charleston, Capt. Booth. Crew and around 90 barrels of flour, along with sails, rigging, spars, etc,, were taken from the brig, 3/16/1807, which had wrecked on the Florida Reef, and taken to NY by the brig William Gray, Capt. Saunders, which was coming from Jamaica. Source: Ibid, 6/4/1807; Charleston Daily Courier, 5/8/1807.

* Harriet – Sloop, Capt. R. Pettet, from Charleston for St. Augustine. Encountered a storm, 10/10/1807, at Lat 27-12, long. 81-16, and stayed afloat for a few days before being driven ashore at “Hillsbury Inlet.” (Hillsboro Inlet?). Vessel and cargo a total loss. Pettet, the sloop owner James P. Watson, and his lady, then “travelled upwards of 200 miles through the Wilderness, on foot, to St. Augustine.” Where they wrecked could not be present day Hillsboro Inlet, as that is much farther than 200 miles, though I’ve seen an early map calling one of the more northern inlets Hillsboro. Pettet had also stated they came upon many other wrecks along the coast, including one from Charleston, with cargo boxes/packages strewn along the beach labeled “T.T.F., & flour barrels marked G.W. &c.” Source: The Evening Post, 12/10/1807.

*  Eagle – Schooner, Capt. Chisolm, foundered about 1/2/ mile offshore, 22 leagues S by E of Cape Canaveral, Sept. 1809. After saving only a few provisions, the crew & 6 passengers made an arduous journey north for 8 days until they fell in with some wreckers moving some rum (I’ll presume salvaged), who gave them some provisions to help them get the rest of the way to New Smyrna where they were kindly taken in and helped. Source: Alexandria Daily Gazette, 11/23/1809.

*  Philadelphia – Schooner, Capt. Ansdell, from St. Jago de Cuba for Philadelphia, with tobacco. Reported from Nassau as lost on the Florida Reef, May 23, 1811. Cargo saved by schooner Dolphin and then seized in Nassau. Source: Richmond Enquirer, 6/7/1811.

* Argo – Schooner, Capt. Smith, of Baltimore. From Philadelphia for Havana, wrecked on the Florida Reef, 3/19/1815. Approx. 300 barrels of flour and the crew were saved by the New Providence wreckers. Source: Charleston Daily Courier, 4/29/1815, 5/15/1815.

* Argus – Ship, of Baltimore, Capt. Jesse Huffington. From Matanzas for Baltimore, wrecked on the Basin Reef, Key Largo (believe now Basin Hill Shoals), 11/13/1815 (or possibly in late October as a 10/31 report said lost in Bahamas). Vessel and most cargo lost, crew saved with some cargo and taken to Nassau. Source; Charleston Daily Courier, 11/11/1815; Evening Post, 11/2-18/1815.

* Expedition – Privateer brig, Capt. Chase, 340 tons, of Baltimore. Had just saved the crew of the schooner General Jackson near Great Isaac when she wrecked on Carysfort Reef the next day in 10’ of water, early 1816. All on board were saved and taken to Savannah in the schooner Young Brilliant.

* Sally – Brig, of Bristol, R.I., Capt. William Fales, around 90 tons, 63’4” x 21’2” x 8’, one deck, 2 masts, and had a figurehead. From Rhode Island for Havana. Reported from Nassau 3/18 as leaving there 2/28/1817 and wrecked on the Florida Reef not long after. Cargo & crew saved and taken to Nassau. Source: 27; Charleston Courier, 4/18/1817.

* Charity – Sloop, from Darien, Capt. Donnelly. Had grounded on a sand bar about 2 miles inside the breakers at St. Augustine, early Sept., 1821. She bilged later that day. The pilot boat saved the passengers and crew, and the brig Harmony also saved some items from the sloop. Source: Florida Gazette, 9/15/1821.

* Hope Jr. – Sloop, of & from Philadelphia. went ashore at the mouth of Tampa Bay during a heavy fog, 1/28/1825. Crew and passengers saved, vessel a total loss. Source: Pensacola Gazette & W. Fl. Advertiser, 2/12/1825.

* Rolla – Schooner, of Beverly, MA, Capt. Woodbury.  From Ragged Island for Apalachicola, with salt. Took aboard the pilot at St. George Island and attempted to go into Apalachicola Bay, but ran aground on a sandbar around Dec. 10, 1826. She remained there a few hours but finally got over the bar, but not before damage to her hull caused her to take on water. She was then purposefully run aground off St. Vincent Island about ½ mile from shore. The crew managed to bring some valuables to shore. Sails, rigging, etc. were saved and were to be auctioned. Source: SR, 2/3/1827; Sag Harbor Corrector, 2/3/1827

* Alfred – Brig, of Baltimore, Capt. Oliver, from New Orleans for New York, wrecked on the Tortugas, April, 1827. Crew and some cargo and materials saved and taken to Key West. One report said vessel was saved and taken to Key West, though all others say vessel was a total loss. Source: The Evening Post, 5/9/1827; The U.S. Gazette, 5/11/1827.

* Molestadora – Mexican private armed schooner (privateer). She was detained along with her prize, the Spanish schooner Providence, off the Tortugas by the U.S. ship Natchez (privateer), where they “scuttled and sunk the Molestadora in the harbor of Tortugas,” after transferring all the armament and men from her to the prize vessel, believe in June-July,1828. Source: The Philadelphia Enquirer, 8/1/1828; R.I. Republican, 8/7/1828.

* Glaneuse – French brig, of Havre, Capt. Forneaux, from Havana for London with sugar and coffee. Went aground on Little Pickle’s Reef, 3/10/1834, and immediately bilged. The wrecking sloop Azelia luckily was in the area and saved the crew and brought then to Key West. Was stated that little if anything was salvaged. A Scottish paper in early May printed the same story but same paper in late May said it was taken into KW and condemned, though I think this is wrong, though can’t confirm. I did not find the brig in Lloyd’s Register. Source: The Charleston Mercury, 3/24/1834; The Caledonian Mercury, 5/10-24/1834

* Aurora – British brig, Capt. Crowell, from Kingston, Jamaica for St. Johns, NB, with sugar, rum, coffee, and pimento. Wrecked on the Tortugas, July 7, 1834. After failed attempts to get her off, it was abandoned with stern-post knocked out and 8’ of water in her hold, and all took to the boats. The captain, mate, and four others were picked up four days later and taken to NY in the brig Statira, while the other seven crewmen refused to board and headed to Havana in the boat.. Source: Evening Post, 7/19/1834; Boston Post, 7/21/1834.

* Conde de Villanueva – Spanish bark, 147.5 tons, Capt. Carlos de Ageo, from Charleston bound for Cuba with rice and lard. Were caught in a gale on 9/11/1835, and they decided to run her ashore to save the crew. Just before the breakers, they let out the bower chain and anchor and made it fast to the mainmast and she struck bottom soon after. They then cut away the foremast to lighten the ship and help to bring the bow around towards the beach. Fearing the vessel would soon break up they all attempted to swim to shore and two of the crew were drowned. With only the clothes on their back, they walked some distance and came upon the plantation of Abraham Dupont, Esq, who welcomed them in and soon helped them get to St. Augustine.  It was wrecked about 26 miles south of St. Augustine. The Capt. had a court case in St. Augustine regarding tonnage duties paid. A portion of the lard was saved. Wrecked on the Florida coast about 50-60 miles north of Cape Florida, 9/11/1835.  Source: 10

* Impress -  Fishing smack, from New Bedford for New Orleans, went ashore 15 miles south of Cape Canaveral during the Sept. 1835 hurricane. Capt. and 3 crew drowned, only one survivor. Vessel a total loss. Source: Pensacola Gazette, 10/17/1835.

* William Osborne – Brig, of Portland, ME, had 600 bales of cotton loaded at Apalachicola bound for Liverpool, when she caught fire at Apalachicola (spontaneous combustion of one cotton bale was said to be the cause), 6/10/1836, and was a total loss. Source: BNP, 7/2/1836; London Morning Post 7/21/1836.

* Allure – Schooner, Capt. Conklin, from NY for Tampa, wrecked off St. Augustine on the outer shoal about 2.5 miles S.E. of the Lighthouse, 1/9/1838. “The Allure had been waiting for a pilot for 52 hours, but receiving none, she attempted to come in through the old south channel as laid down in Blunt’s chart, heaving lead all the time, when she suddenly struck.” Most of the cargo was saved, though some damaged. An 1840 article in a St. Augustine paper about the “wreckers”, printed an “An Ode” composed to the wreckers who worked on salvaging the cargo of the Allure. Being quite long, I only include the first few lines of the poem here: “Come all you good people and listen to me, I’ll sing you a song, a song of the sea; The schooner Allure, as plain to be seen, Was wrecked on the bar near St. Augustine.” The wreck of the Allure had caused some alarm for the Port of St. Augustine soon after, as insurance companies were now refusing to insure vessels entering the port there. A Florida paper blamed the captain for trying to enter without a pilot, though had no explanation for a pilot not going to assist in the first place. Source: The Georgian, 1/23/1838; Florida Herald, 3/29/1838; The News, 11/20/1840.

* Antelope – Schooner, Capt. Gifford. Employed by the government, had left Palatka with no cargo, and capsized in a squall, 4/12/1841. Reports say both off St. Johns Bar and off St. Augustine Bar. Crew saved in their boat and wreck drifted ashore either 20 miles north or 10 miles north of either bar. As one report from the St. Augustine’s The News said 10 miles northward of this bar, likely capsized off St. Augustine area but haven’t verified. Vessel a total loss.

* Cinderella – Schooner, around 20 years old, of Charleston, wrecked in the Indian River during a gale, mid-January, 1857. Had a cargo of turtle, hides, etc. Source: The Southern Enterprise, 1/29/1857.

* Palmas – Brig, Capt. Bracegrdl, built 1858 at N.B., 263 tons, of Liverpool. From Belize for Liverpool, with mahogany, rosewood and logwood. She sprung a leak, 3/25/1861, at Lat. 29-12 N, Long. 79-48 W, and after pumps failed to keep the water out, she was abandoned and sunk off Florida the next day as the crew took to the boats. They safely landed 15 miles to the south of Matanzas Inlet. Source: LR; SDR, 4/13/1861.

* Horace – Schooner. Burned by the Confederates while at anchor in the Jupiter River to prevent its capture, Dec. 1862. Anchors and sails salvaged by the USS Sagamore. Source: Alexandria Gazette, 1/20/1863.

* John Stevens – Brig, of Bluehill, ME, 266 tons, 104’ x 26’ x 10’, 1 deck, built 1853 at Bluehill by A. Cough. Became a total loss of the St. John’s Bar, late Oct. 1866. She went to pieces and much of her valuable cargo was strewn along the coast for miles. Source: 37; Florida Times Union, 12/14/1883; SDMN, 10/31/1866; Portland Daily Press, 10/26/1866.

* Lincoln Webb – Brig, of Thomaston, ME, Capt. Guthrie, built 1853 or 54 in ME, 199 tons, 98’ x 25’ x 9’. Had just finished loading 120,000’ of valuable flooring, and was getting underway to sail opposite the Wallis & Co.'s Mill, Jacksonville, when a fire started in the cabin area and soon engulfed the whole vessel, 10/10/1867. Was a total loss. Source: 37; Florida Times Union, 12/14/1883; Boston Post, 10/23/1867; Portland Daily Press, 10/23/1867.

* Cicely Helen – Brig, of St. John, Newfoundland, Capt. W. Taylor, 202 tons, 106’7” x 26’2” x 16’5”, built 1865 by Sinclair, iron bolts. From Nassau River, FL. for Rio de Janeiro, became a total loss at Nassau Inlet (now known as Nassau Sound), Nov. 1867. Source: LR; The Daily Telegram, London, 11/18/1867; Florida Times Union, 12/14/1883.

* E.M. Hamilton  -  Schooner, of Portland, ME, 192 tons, 102’ x 27’, built 1867 at Portland of oak, pine & steel, copper & iron fastened. From Portland for Jacksonville, with hay, lime, potatoes & other provisions. Went aground on the north breakers of the St. John’s Bar, 12/31/1868. Most cargo saved. Source: 37; Florida Times Union, 12/14/1883; Portland Daily Press, 1/13/1869.

* A.R. Wetmore – Schooner, of Hackensack, NJ, 172.96 tons, built 1850 at Belleville, NJ, of oak, copper & iron fastened.  From NY for St. Mary’s, GA, in ballast, went aground at Ft. George Island and bilged during a gale, 8/25/1871. A total loss. Source: 37; Fl. Times Union, 12/14/1883; Boston Post, 9/4/1871.

* Dora Ellen – Schooner, of New Smyrna, 33.12 tons, from Jacksonville for New Smyrna, wrecked about 10 miles north of Mosquito Inlet, 9/8/1878. A total loss. Crew saved by schooner Ida Smith, which wrecked near same area the next year. Source: 10; FL Times Union, 12/14/1883; Portland Daily Press, 9/17/1878; The Florida Agriculturist, 10/2/1878.

* Carrie E. Woodbury – Schooner, built 1871 at Brewer, ME, 260.18T, 127.3’ x 29.5’ x 10.2’. From NY for Jacksonville in ballast, Capt. Bryan, drove ashore in 3’ of water 10 miles below the St. John’s Bar-4 miles below Pueblo, 11/28/1895, and was soon breaking up. Some sails and rigging saved. Source: 10; The Morning News, 11/30/1895.

* Favonius – British ship, of New Brunswick, Capt. J.W. Dunham, wood hulled, composite metal sheathed, 2 decked, 1,569 Tons, built 1883 at St. John, N.B., 213.6’ x 40.3’ x 24.3’. Burned about 10 miles from land and 18 miles from the Pensacola Lighthouse. Sept. 18, 1897. It was purposely set on fire by a crewman (carpenter) who was trying to do anything to not set sail for Rio de Janeiro with her cargo of lumber, and remain at Pensacola. His pleads to be let off the ship being met with a resounding “no,” he did the following: “he, for the purpose of securing his release, intentionally mutilated himself by cutting off with an ax the ends of two fingers of his left hand.” He then asked to be taken ashore for medical help, but instead a doctor was brought aboard and after treatment, deemed him still fit for duty. That night the carpenter was heard telling some of the crew that they would all be back in Pensacola soon, and he was later seen approaching the forward ventilator with a large roll of oakum. A fire was discovered soon after. The crew tried to put the fire out but to no avail, The anchor was let go to prevent the ship from going into deeper water as a large swell was running, and it was said “the chain becoming red hot as it went grinding through the hawsepipe. “The boats were lowered and all made it safely off the burning ship. The carpenter was sent to England along with 4 witnesses to face trial as it was a British ship. The penalty for his deed in the United States was death, and in Great Britain was life imprisonment.” Source: LR; BDG, 10/6/1897.

* C.S. Glidden – American 4-masted schooner, wood hulled, 1,657.94 tons, of Thomaston, ME, built 1894 at Thomaston, 195.7’ x 41’ x 19.4’ From Tampico to load phosphate at Port Tampa, went aground on Egmont Key, Nov. 1, 1897. A report dated Dec. 16 said the vessel “was imbedded in sand, its starboard rails 3’ under water, and is a hopeless wreck.” The captain and crew were busy saving all they could from the wreck at the time. Note: Another identical copy of the ship with the same name was built soon after at Thomaston. Source: 10; 

* Priscilla Scribner – American 3-masted wood schooner, built 1874 at Milford. DE, of  Wilmington, 454.97 tons, 144.5’ x 33’ x 16.5’, Capt. Van Gilder. From Darien for Philadelphia with lumber. Newspaper reports in early October, 1897 reported that wreckage from the Priscilla Scribner were washing up on Anastasia Island and the north & south beaches of St. Augustine. Pieces of the bow and stern with the schooners name came ashore identifying her. A yawl from the schooner also came ashore with its bow stove in and indications that it was being launched by the crew. No sign of the six on board were found, and it was feared all were lost. Source:

* Asturias – Mexican iron steam tug, 113 tons, from Laguna for Wilmington, wrecked May 24, 1896. Reported as sunk between Alligator and Carysfort Light and also as aground near Matecumbe Key.  Salvage was attempted but they couldn’t raise her.

* Avanti – Norwegian ship of Christiania (now Oslo). U.S newspaper reports all say a bark. Originally the ship Belle Morse built at Bath, ME in 1867, by J.P. Morse. Norwegian specs-1314 tons, 185’ x 33’ x 23.7’. Sailed from Ship Island for Greenock, Aug. 3, with pitch pine, Capt. J.R. Agerup. Wrecked on Rebecca Shoal, Aug. 18, 1898. Attempts to salvage her failed and she filled with water. All on board saved. Source: 35.

* Lizzie Heyer – Three-masted schooner, of Boston, 360.17 tons, built 1873 at Thomaston, ME, 137’ x 31.4’ x11.3’. Left Jacksonville for Providence, RI, with lumber, Sept. 18, 1898, just before a major storm struck the area. Was reported in early October a portion of her bow with her full name washed ashore at Fernandina along with other wreckage including lumber. Two bodies also washed ashore but were too decomposed to identify though most likely from the Lizzie and another body was reported seen floating off Fernandina. She had a crew of seven. Was under command of Capt. Frank Delay and was also accompanied by his son Capt. Frank Jr. Note: An early Nov. 1898 report said that a lower hull structure (about 160’) with yellow metal sheathing, and some cargo of lumber which appeared to be Florida or Georgia pine, most with the letter “S” stamped on the ends, had washed up at Cape Lookout Light, and it was surmised that it was likely part of the Lizzie Heyer which had drifted north, but not confirmed.

* Cadice – Italian bark, 800 tons, built 1873 at Gravosa, 158.1’ x 30.5’ x 24.2’. Left Pensacola for Messina, 2/10/1898, Capt. Capriol. Went ashore on the Quicksands near the Tortugas, Feb, 23, 1898. On April 19, 1898, a steamer reported seeing her drifting in the middle of the shipping lane “lying on her port beam ends, fore and main masts and jibboom gone, mizzen lower mast standing,” while other reports just said it was stripped clean and longboat was still on deck. Area reported at that time: “Rebecca Shoal Light-house, bearing N. NW (magnetic), 6.5 miles, drifting NE.”

* Chipman – Norwegian full-rigged ship (newspaper reports say a bark), of Tønsberg, was at Pensacola to load pitch-pine lumber and caught fire due to a lightning strike around June 17, 1899. She was scuttled in order to put the fire out and later condemned. Built 1877 at St. Stephen, NB, 191.2’ x 36.6’ x 22.5’. Source: 35.

* Gertrude Abbott – 3-masted schooner, of Philadelphia, 594 tons, 144’ x 35’ x 16.5’, built 1882 at Dennisville, N.J. From Philadelphia for Jax, with coal, Capt. Duneau. Due to a storm, she missed the entrance to the St. Johns, and “grounded heavily on the south jetty,” 3/27/1900. Her boats got smashed. There were two different reports on how the crew were saved. One said a line was shot from the beach to the schooner and made fast to a mast, and all were saved via a breeches buoy. Another says the crew all remained in the rigging overnight and were rescued by the tug Three Friends the next morning. It soon broke up.

* Nellie M. Slade – Bark, 560 tons, built 1874 at Boston and of Boston, 143.5’ x 33.4’ x 15.9’. From Cuba for Ship Island, Capt. Rawling, ran ashore on an outer reef at the Tortugas, 8/17/1900. Couldn’t be saved and became a total loss.

* Ceres - Bark, of Galveston, built 1876 at Rostock, Germany, 467 tons, 143’ x 29.8’ x 17’. From Sabine Pass with lumber, Capt. Taylor. Arrived at Key West leaking, late February, 1901. Was condemned and cargo offloaded onto a schooner. She later sank in Key West harbor. Appears to have been a failed salvage attempt that summer and bankruptcy court was involved and in Nov. 1901, the government was accepting bids for the wreck’s removal. She may have moved after first grounding as the U.S. Coast & Geodetic survey vessel Blake, reported finding the vessel 5/31/1910, "on the Middle Ground Shoal, near its southern end, about 1-1/16 mile WNW. 7/8W, from the Key West Lighthouse." Source: The Florida Star, 7/19/1901; The Times (VA), 3/9/1901.

* Manakin – The sloop Manakin was being towed from Jacksonville to Miami by the tug Admiral Dewey, when a gale struck off Ft. Lauderdale and the sloop sank, 2/22/1902. The three on board were rescued. Source: The Florida Star, 2/28/1902; Miami Metropolis, 2/28/1902.

* Monhegan – Four masted schooner of Bath, Me, built 1890 at Rockland, Me, 1,030 tons, 184.4’ x 39’ x 18.6’, Capt. J.W. Murphy. From Havana for Delaware Breakwater, with 10,600 bags of sugar, went aground the evening of March 16, 1902 on Molasses Reef in rough seas. She soon bilged. Crew saved and some cargo and materials salvaged. Source: SMN 5/22/1902, Lloyd’s Casualty Reports 1902.

* Otzamiz – Uruguayan bark, 1132 net tons, from Liverpool for Fernandina in ballast to load lumber, wrecked on Amelia Beach, 3/6/1904, about one mile south of the jetties. One report said: “is a total wreck on Amelia Beach. The vessel is listed to port and bilged. Her rudder is gone, and she is deeply grounded.” She later sold for $120 as she lay. Supposedly was anchored offshore in a dense fog and chains parted that evening and she went aground on the beach. The pilot who boarded next morning said two crewmen were on deck with knives and later arrested and charged with mutiny. A report four days after she wrecked said she was fast going to pieces. Last report I saw said the two charged with mutiny were fined, but those were remitted as a shipping agent was then charged with having shanghaied them.

* El Victoria – Spanish bark, from Tampico for Fernandina, with lumber, wrecked (likely just offshore,) 1/16/1905, believe not far south of the wreck of the Italian bark Massa E Gnecco, which wrecked just offshore the day before about 6-7 miles south of Palm Beach (one report says two miles south of the beached wreck James Judge (on beach since Oct. 1904). Of the 16 on board, The Captain and ten crewmembers drowned trying to reach shore. Source: DMM, 1/16-17/1905. Note: Actual location of wreck is confusing as it appears some newspaper reports got her confused with the Italian bark, whose crew had taken refuge in the wreck of the J. Judge.

* Vanloo – Italian ship, of Genoa, 1,553 net tons, from Buenos Ayres for Pensacola in ballast, went hard aground 25-miles east of the Pensacola Lighthouse on the outside gulf beach, Nov. 16, 1906. She was headed for Pensacola when it was caught in a dead calm and slowly drifted onto the beach. A few hours later a storm hit with 50 mph winds and she almost broke in two. A total loss, crew saved.

* Charlotte Caase – A two-masted fishing smack, built 1904, 11 tons, 49.2’ x 14’ x 4.5’, of Wilmington. Had left St, Augustine for Wilmington, 3/31/1907, and soon encountered heavy weather. Capt. Otto and his wife tried returning to St. Augustine, but with the cabin washed away and taking on water, they beached her about 10 miles above North Point (another report said 16 miles below Pablo) where both remained there that night and for two more days. Capt. Otto then found an old boat, made a paddle, and they made it to St. Augustine the next day. Source: 10; MDM, 4/6-8/1907.

* Norah Higgens – The hull of this sloop washed up on the beach near Delray, early Oct., 1908. Looked to have been stripped of all materials. Source: MM, 10/19/1908.

* Trixie – A Launch/yacht owned by the Manetto Co., who had a plant at Cape Sable was “Used in Conveying Supplies, Passengers, etc., to and From Cape Sable.” It had left Cape Sable for Knights Key late afternoon on 5/18/1909, with Capt. Phelps, the engineer and three passengers, who were to board the train for Miami. The engine started to act up and they decided to drop anchor about midway between East Cape and Sandy Key so the engineer could fix the engine (original article said Sand Key which I don’t want to confuse with Sand Key off Key West--Sandy Key lies just off Cape Sable). As dusk approached though, mosquitoes began to attack, and as anyone who has ever anchored at dusk near the Florida swamps or mangroves knows, you don’t stick around. Phelps immediately told the engineer to start the engine so they could get far enough from land and the relentless mosquitoes. The engine started, and they made their way further offshore when they heard the engineer yell “Help” and they all scrambled to the stern. The engineer was gone, and the engine compartment was on fire. The engine was shut off and they began to fight the fire, two men got in the small boat they were towing and were lucky to find the exhausted engineer in the dark who had jumped overboard after his clothes caught fire. They then rowed back to the burning launch where Phelps and another passenger were about ready to jump overboard as the fire had almost reached the gas tank and they immediately jumped in, leaving most all their personal belongings. The fire had started about 9:30 pm and the gas tank exploded a couple hours later and the launch sank. All five reached Sawfish Hole about 2am the next day. The three passengers eventually made it to Quarry, where they boarded the train to Miami. Source: MM, 5/20/1909.

* Mayflower – Columbian 3-masted schooner, 132 net tons, was anchored on Plover Key Point, ten thousand Islands, and dashed to pieces in the hurricane of Oct. 19,1910. Two lives lost, one being a child. All others saved by schooner Florida though all survivors had to stay in the trees overnight to avoid drowning in the high surf.

* Maria – Uruguayan bark, built 1878, 567 tons, 140.1’ x 30.7’ x 21’. From Jacksonville for Carrabelle for lumber, Capt. J.R. Pickett, went aground on the east side of San Phillips Shoal, eighteen miles south of Carrabelle, the night of March 23, 1911. The crew abandoned ship the next night except for the Capt. and one crew member. A storm hit the next day and it was feared she would break up but a report on March 30th said there was 3’ of water in her hold and was hoped she could be saved. The 1912 Lloyd’s Register has her as wrecked, so was never saved.

* Bicycle – Sloop. Owned by the Cape Florida lighthouse keeper Capt. Ed Walker, exploded due to a gasoline stove in the galley injuring the one person on board. It sank near the dock there. The Daily Metropolis, 4/25/1911.

* Leonard Parker – Canadian three-masted schooner, built 1897 at Tynemouth, NB, 287 tons, 127.9’ x 29.8’ x 10.4’, from Gulfport for Cape Breton. Went aground on a reef off Ragged Key, Biscayne Bay. While trying to get her off the reef using anchors, a lamp was accidentally knocked over in the hold, and the 400 tons of dry lumber and a hold saturated with pitch immediately caught fire and swiftly spread, leaving no opportunity to put out the blaze, 9/16/1913. Capt. McNeil and the seven crewmembers barely made it to the lifeboat and landed on Ragged Key where they watched their vessel burn and then sink. Source: 20; Tampa Times, 9/19/1913; MDM, 9/17/1913.

* Rockledge (ex -Governor Worth) – Iron hulled side wheel steamer, built in 1866 at Wilmington, DE, 136.4’ x 22.4’ x 5.3’. President & Mrs. Grover Cleveland enjoyed their first visit to Florida and their honeymoon on this vessel. It later became a floating hotel in West Palm Beach and later towed to Miami and became Miami’s first hotel where many early residents also dined, being anchored for many years at the Avenue D bridge. Later it became a gambling hall (known for gunfights on deck), house of ill-repute, & moonshiner’s hangout (a still was found onboard after one raid). It eventually fell into disrepair and abandoned. As many Miamians watched and reminisced about her many years and roles in Miami, she was finally towed out to sea about 3 miles offshore and sunk, 11/14/1913. Source: 10; MDM, 11/14/1913.

* Nimkee – Dredge, owned by the Trumbo Dredging Co, of Havana, and was one of the most powerful suction dredges in its class, had finished its job filling in a marsh area for development at Daytona and was preparing to be towed back to Havana. On May 28, 1915 around 8:00 in the morning, a large tug waited outside Mosquito Inlet to tow the Nimkee back to Havana.  A launch had both the Nimkee and a large barge with dredging equipment in tow proceeded out the inlet to the tug, but when almost to the bar, a strong southeast squall struck and blew the barge and the dredge onto the north shore. The tug came in closer and the launch managed to get to the tug and retrieve a tow line to attach to the dredge. The launch then took safety back inside the inlet. Unknown if the tow line failed or if the tug just wasn’t able to get the dredge off, but by noon, the seas were now breaking over her and she was being pushed higher up onto the beach. There she remained, and at low tide people could walk around her. As days passed the dredge further imbedded itself in the sand, and by June 11th, any hope of re-floating her was abandoned and she was being broken up to save whatever machinery and other parts could be salvaged. Source: Daytona Daily News, 5/29/1915; Daytona Gazette, 6/11/1915.

* Charles K. Schull – Schooner, built 1889 at Camden, NJ, 884 tons, 176.3’ x 38’ x 18.2’, of Philadelphia. From Gulfport for Rotterdam, with phosphate, Capt. O’Brien, foundered about 15 miles west of the Tortugas, 2/1/1917. The crew took to the boats and drifted for five days until rescued by the Norwegian steamer Mt. Vernon and taken to Key West. Source: 10; Lakeland Evening Telegram, 2/7/2017

* Maria Louisa – Greek schooner. Built at Madison, CT, 1884, 500.98 tons, 155’ x 34’ x 11.5’. Originally the John L. Treat. Wrecked on the Tortugas, 4/28/1917. Source: LC; 10.

* M. E. Eldridge – Three-masted schooner, 252 tons, built 1878 at Portsmouth, NH, 101.7’ x 30.2’ x 10.8’. She left Tampa for Cienfuegos, Cuba either May 5 or later (different dates given), 1917, with 140,000’ of lumber. She encountered a hurricane and began to leak. The pumps could not keep up and she rolled over May 14th off Cuba and the crew climbed onto the overturned hull. I should note that her cargo of lumber likely helped to keep her afloat as I’ve seen this reported with other wrecks. For the next five days the crew remained there with no food or water until the mainmast fell away which immediately gave hope the vessel could be righted. The crew then began to cut away the foremast which had also been loosened when capsized, which they achieved and the vessel righted itself. A few cans of peaches were retrieved but not enough to sustain anyone for long as all other provisions had been lost. The stronger of the crew had managed to snare three sharks and this enabled eight to survive by drinking its blood and eating the raw flesh.  Capt. George Delbat died from exposure on the 23rd, and another crewman died four days later, and both had been given a proper burial at sea. The survivors said that a few steamers passed right by and did not stop, “a steamer came so close to us we could see the water foaming around her bow. She did not come to us, and one passed so close later that we could see her water-line.” On the 15th day adrift, they were rescued by the British schooner Frances from Belize for New York, who brought them to Havana. The abandoned schooner drifted north and news reports on the June 5th said the derelict was now six miles south of the New River Inlet off Dania in 28’ of water though another said off Delray. A report on June 9th said that the wreck was now a mile from the New River Inlet stuck on a reef and on the 11th said it was so broken up there was no hope to save her though saving the cargo was still being considered. Source:10; Tampa Times, 6/9/1917; Tampa Tribune, 5/31/1917,6/6/1917; Miami Metropolis, 6/11/1917; MH, 5/31/1917.  *  Aigua Freda – Spanish 3-masted schooner, 400 net tons, from Barcelona for Jacksonville, in ballast, burned about 30 miles from Jacksonville, 9/2/1917. Crew abandoned her after a large gas tank exploded on deck, and they were picked up by a fishing boat 24 hours later.

* Springfield – Four-masted schooner, 538 net tons, 172’ x 36.1’ x 13.7’, of Puerto Rico (used to sail from Jacksonville). From Gulfport for Puerto Rico, with lumber, was abandoned (either 120 or 160) miles south of Pensacola, 4/9/1918, after a storm caused her to leak badly. Crew were rescued by the smack Sea Connett and brought to Pensacola. Capt. E.C. Hunter searched for his abandoned vessel on the tug Nimrod out of Mobile. They found it on fire and decided to return later to see if they could tow her back. On their second trip, they only found floating wreckage. The Capt. of the Sea Connett said he rescued the crew at Lat 27.40° N, 87.28°W, and on the 19th saw it again at Lat. 28.40°N, long. 87.28°W. Possible Florida shipwreck.

* Jeannette – Three-masted, steel hulled, auxiliary schooner, of Rotterdam, built 1917 at Foxhall, 332 tons, 135.1’ x 26.4’ x 11.5’. From Philadelphia for Havana, with 400 tons of cement, Capt./owner Edgar Sammis, sank about 15 miles southeast of Fowey Rock, 3/18/1919. She’d been struggling in heavy weather and early that day a leak started and by that afternoon the pumps couldn’t keep up. The captain then headed for the Florida coast when she suddenly began breaking in half and was abandoned, the crew barely escaping as she sank to the bottom. All seven on board arrived at Miami in their lifeboat the next day. Source: MDM, 3/17/1919; LR. Note: Lloyd’s lists her in both sailing and steam vessel registers (schooner rigged with steam engine). One newspaper report said was 15 years old and American, but the only Jeannette I found with same tonnage was the Dutch one listed and which Lloyd’s says was the ex-Harry Frater, which I could not find in any registers. Source: LR; MDM, 3/17/1919.

* Santa Cristina – Twin screw schooner/steamer. Built 1917 at Aberdeen, WA, of Hoquaim, WA, & owned by the W.R. Grace Line, 2159 tons, 224.5’ x 42.6’ x 25.9’. From Barranquilla for New Orleans with coffee & hides (another source says 2,000 tons of lumber), sunk after an explosion in the engine room about 50 miles north of Havana, 7/8/1919, which could put it close to Key West. The 29 crewmembers and 5 passengers took to the boats and were picked up by a passing schooner. Possible Florida shipwreck.

* Adonis – British 3-masted schooner, built 1903 at Bridgetown, NS, 350 tons, 140’ x 32’ x 11.3’, of Bridgetown, Barbados. From Jacksonville for Sagua La Grande, Cuba, Capt. Smith, with yellow pine lumber. Was disabled during a gale and abandoned about 20 miles NE of Jupiter Inlet whose crew were picked up by a passing steamer. Waterlogged, and with sails fully set, she then drifted ashore opposite Jensen, FL, where she sank and quickly went to pieces in a heavy surf, 10/21/1920, a total loss. Source: Lakeland Evening Telegram; The Pensacola Journal; & Tampa Tribune, 10/23/1920; Lloyd’s Casualty Reports; 20

* Kenomee – The 55’ British gas-powered yacht, burned off Elliot Key due to a faulty gas tank and sank in eight feet of water, 5/2/1921. Was from Havana for Miami. The two crewmen got into their life boat and were rescued. Source: MDM, 5/4/1921.

* Mount Hamilton – Norwegian four-masted schooner, 1537 tons, 231’ x 45’ x 18’, built 1919 at Seattle, WA. From Brunswick, Ga. for Havana, with 1,400 tons of railway steel, and lumber. She caught fire June 3, 1921 due to one source saying some tanks of benzine had exploded. Unable to put the fire out, the crew took to the boats, were soon rescued, and landed at Miami. She burned to the waterline and sank one mile south of the Fowey Rock Lighthouse in 18’ of water. In October it was reported from the lighthouse keeper that the wreck was rapidly breaking up and pieces were washing up onto adjacent beaches and warned any small craft to be on the lookout for floating debris. In November, it was reported that two salvage barges had been towed from NY to Miami to salvage the steel rails and hopefully some of the lumber. A report from March of 1922 said the vessel Salvor had just brought in 50 tons of steel rails from the wreck into Miami. Source: 35; MDM, 6/4 & 10/28/1921; MH, 10/30 & 11/30,1921, 3/24/1922. Believe owned by the bank of Norway

* Celeste D – 3-masted schooner of Weymouth, NS, 649 tons, 164’ x 23.3’ x 15.6’, built 1919 at Meteghan River, NS. From Pensacola for Le Have, N.S., in ballast, Capt. J.H Richards, and caught fire at one am, 6/26/1921, when a crewman tried to light a lamp with gasoline instead of kerosene, causing an explosion. The fire quickly spread, and the crew had only about 15 minutes to lower the boats (a gas-powered launch & a skiff) and abandon ship about 75 miles off the coast of Florida. They tied the skiff to the launch and headed west but the gas quickly ran out. When daylight came, the captain put two crewmen in the skiff and sent them towards the Florida coast. The two landed at Coronado, FL, and soon met with the lighthouse keeper, Capt. Lindquist, by Mosquito Inlet. Lindquist soon found a boat to go search for the launch. They were able to locate it and tow it back to shore. The crew were brought to the lighthouse to rest and later taken to New Smyrna. As the schooner had burnt to the waterline, no salvage was attempted.

* Former Navy Sub-Chaser 205 (SC-205) – This former sub-chaser (built 1918 at Alexandria, VA) left Miami for Matanzas, Cuba, 6/2/1922, and appears to have run out of fuel, as it was later towed into Key West.  It left Key West on 6/15/1922, and when about 13 miles from Key West, a fire was detected on board believed to have started due to a short circuit in one of the guest rooms. Unable to put out the fire, the vessel eventually burned to the waterline before sinking off Sand Key. All twelve on board were rescued by nearby vessels, though the owner’s wife was slightly injured by the fire. This was the same vessel that blew up in Key West Harbor in 1920 killing two on board, which was then condemned by the Navy and sold to the current owner. Source: MM, 6/15/1922.

* Shirin – A 125’ converted yacht for passenger service between Miami & Nassau. It exploded about 3 miles off Miami, 8/11/1922. Several passengers were killed or drowned; the rest being rescued clinging to scattered wreckage. This was the third vessel Capt. Pappas had lost in the last three years, the Albert Soper off Florida in 1920, the Thetis in 1921 off Cat Cay, and now the Shirin. Miami Metropolis, 8/12/1922.

* Lizzie A. Williams – Three masted schooner of Jacksonville, 188 tons, 125’ x 23.7’ x 7.5’, built 1892 at Bethel, DE. Foundered at Tampa in 1922.  Merchant Vessels of the US 1923, simply lists her as being abandoned.

* Elaine – A 42’ gas powered charter boat, built 1922 in St. Paul, MN. Believe exploded about 7 miles south of Jupiter while testing out a new engine April, 1923. Capt. Fontein, (who built the boat) was presumed drowned. The mate was picked up by a passing steamer headed to France and it looked for the captain for about an hour around the burning craft before ending its search. Source: The Columbus Telegram, 4/11-12/1923; MH 4/11/1923.

* Cristobal – Spanish 3-masted schooner, of Alicante, 212 tons, 97.8’ x 30.3’ x 11.2’, built 1919. From Havana for Cagliari, owner & Capt. Juan Rodriguez, with a cargo of antique tiles and building materials from Cuba. She became becalmed in the Gulf Stream, and drifted for several days before grounding off Walton (a now defunct town not to be confused with Walton County in the Panhandle) about three miles north of Jensen and 100 yards offshore in 14’ of water, 11/22/1923 (also stated as wrecked 12 miles south of Ft. Pierce, which is about where Walton is on old maps). The crew swiftly abandoned her, claiming the ship was “bad luck,” and the hull was soon sinking in the sand and breaking up in the surf. The rescued crewmembers were taken to both the Indian River Coast Guard Station, and Gilberts Bar Station. Supposedly coins, etc. dating from the 1715 fleet period have been found in this general area over the years from a wreck referred to as the “Power Plant Wreck.” I wonder if the so-called “antique tiles” dated from the 18th century. I’m sure just as in the USA, that builders in Cuba would save old decorative tiles, and other antique building materials when tearing down or remodeling old buildings, and possibly unused antique building materials were still stored in Cuba and being sold.

* Valdarno – Italian steel steamer (ex-War Persian), of Genoa, 5311 tons, 400.2’ x 52.3’ x 28.5’, built 1918 at Glasgow. Burned at the St. Andrews Bay Lumber Co. dock at Bay Harbor, 10/24/1924. Had loaded 1,300,000’ of pine lumber and 300 barrels of rosin. Was a complete loss, and caused $125,000 dollars of damage to the dock and lumber stored there.

* Clara B – A 40’ launch type gas powered yacht, was headed out Sebastian Inlet, 10/11/1925, with 23 persons on board. Realizing the seas were too dangerous, the captain attempted to turn around just outside the breakwater, when a large wave quickly capsized her about 150’ offshore where her bottom remained visible. Fourteen of those on board died by drowning or being slammed into the rocks of the jetty. Source: MH, 10/12-13/1925.

* Campania – Schooner, of Cayman Brac, built 1903 at Luneburg, NS, 88.8’ x 24.6’ x 9.2’. On the morning of 11/17/1925, Capt. Banks said they were hit by a storm around Lat 24.52N; Long. 85.07W, when some planking tore off the hull and she began to sink within 25 minutes. Crew took to the lifeboat and were luckily picked up the next day by the schooner Horace M. Bickford (see #69).

* Horace M. Bickford – Three-masted schooner, of Tampa, 503 tons, 147.5’ x 33.5’ x 13.7’, built 1907 at Phippsburg, ME. From Miami for Tampa, Capt. A.N. Borden, was already in a leaky state when she came upon the crew of the Campania which she took aboard. On 11/21/1925, she was also in a sinking state and had to be abandoned. At Lat. 24.51N; Long. 85.51W. and were all picked up a few hours later by the Steam tanker Olean and taken to Texas City. Another report from Key West, Nov. 24, said she was seen 125 miles NW of the Tortugas and posed a hazard to navigation. This report also stated the crews form both the Campania & the Horace M. Bickford were taken off the Horace by the lifeboat lowered from the Olean. Both the Campania and the Horace M. Bickford are possible Florida wrecks as both may have drifted many miles before sinking, as I’ve reported on a number of vessels that have drifted from the Gulf, around the Keys, and into the Gulf Stream, with some then becoming wrecks in the Keys or off Florida’s east coast.

* Rosabliss – A 55 or 60’ motor yacht. Caught fire while starting engines which backfired, and it sank soon after while anchored about 350 yards southwest of Cape Florida. All seven on board got in their dinghy and were soon rescued by a nearby craft and taken to Tahiti Beach. The keeper of the Fowey Rock Light saw the flames and radioed the Coast Guard, but when the cutter arrived, they found no trace of the yacht  Source: MH, 3/9/1926; TBT, 3/8/1926.

* Geneva – Brigantine, of the Whitney & Bodden Shipping Co., Mobile, AL, 495 tons, 150’ x 36.3’ x 14’, built 1892 at Benicia, CA. Was from Gulfport for Mayaguez, with 672, 020’ of lumber, Capt. V.H. Bowden, when she caught fire about 25 miles SE of Fowey Rock Light, 6/11/1926, which quickly spread. The crew took to the lifeboat and were soon picked up by the tanker Gulfstate. She burned to the waterline and turned upside down drifting north. On the 14th was spotted about 75 miles northeast of Miami and a hazard to navigation. Was reported that this was THE LAST BRIGANTINE STILL ACTIVE! There are some brigantines still sailing today, but they were either converted from an original schooner rigged vessel or are a much newer replica build.

* Artemis – Honduran steamer, steel, twin screw, 559 tons, 161.3’ x 26.3’ x 15’, single deck, built 1912 at Wilmington, DE. From Gulfport for Mayaguez, to pick up bananas and fruit, Capt. Harold Borden, with lumber, caught fire around 10pm, 2/24/1927, while about 20 miles off Key West. The flames spread quickly and the crew were able to save one lifeboat and abandon ship. They were picked up by the vessel City of Houston. Believe the fire started in a boiler. Was reported from Key West on the 25th, that around 11pm yesterday, she was engulfed in flames “in plain view of South Beach here, went down just before noon today, a total loss.” Owned by the Tropical Fruit Co., of Tampa. The Capt. was later to have said “he’d never got to sea with a crew of 13 ever again.”

* Cynthiana – Yacht, owned by William Filer (chairman of Dade County Board of education), wrecked near Barracuda Key, 11/12/1927, and four on board spent two days on the isolated key until rescued and taken to Key West. Motor and some brass items later saved but hull went to pieces on the reef. Source: Miami Daily News, 11/27/1927; Palm Beach Post, 11/14/1927.