Peter Iredale

Coordinates: 46°10′42″N 123°58′52″W / 46.178361°N 123.981003°W / 46.178361; -123.981003
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Peter Iredale in Seattle, circa 1900

Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel

shipwrecks of the Graveyard of the Pacific
.

Namesake

The ship was named after Peter Iredale, who not only owned the vessel as part of his shipping fleet, but was also a well-known figure in Liverpool, England, where his business was headquartered.

The ship was built in

net register tons and was 87 meters (285 ft) in length. The vessel was fashioned from steel plates on an iron frame. She had royal sails above double top and topgallant sails
, and was the largest vessel built by Ritson. The ship was originally commanded by Captain G.A. Brown and later by Captain H. Lawrence.

Wreck

Peter Iredale shortly after grounding in 1906
The wreck of the Peter Iredale in 2012

Sailing from

Hammond, Oregon and assisted in evacuating the sailors, who were tended to at Fort Stevens
. No casualties occurred in the accident.

A Naval Court inquiry was held in Astoria on November 12 and 13, 1906, by the British Vice-Consulate to determine the cause of the wreck. After investigating, no blame was placed on Lawrence and the crew for the loss, and he and his officers were commended for their attempts to save the ship.

There was little damage to the hull and plans were made to tow the ship back to sea, but after several weeks waiting for favorable weather and ocean conditions, the ship had listed to port (left) and become embedded in the sands. The salvage rights to the ship were sold in 1917, though the wreck was never actually broken up.[1] All that remains is the bow, a few ribs, and a couple of masts.[2]

Captain Lawrence's final toast to his ship was: "May God bless you, and may your bones bleach in the sands."[3]

World War II

The Oregon Coast saw action on the night of June 21, 1942 from

fell under Japanese hands two weeks earlier. Peter Iredale was entwined in the wire
and remained that way until the end of the war.

Today

The wreck of Peter Iredale at sunset in 2003

Over a century since it ran aground, the remains of Peter Iredale's rusted bow and masts are still visible jutting out of the sand and are a popular tourist attraction.

Fort Stevens State Park, which is part of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
.

See also

References

  • ISBN 0-8323-0391-7
    .
  1. ^ John, Finn J.D. (August 26, 2012). "Schemers sought to seize Peter Iredale shipwreck, sell for scrap". Offbeat Oregon History. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The Peter Iredale". Photograph Oregon. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  3. The Associated Press (October 29, 2009). "100 Years on the Beach". Statesman Journal
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Iredale shipwreck.

46°10′42″N 123°58′52″W / 46.178361°N 123.981003°W / 46.178361; -123.981003

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