SS Iowa (1920)
 SS West Cadron, 1920s
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | SS Iowa (1928-1936) SS West Cadron (1920-1928) |
| Operator |
|
| Builder | Western Pipe & Steel Co. |
| Yard number | 12 |
| Completed | 1920 |
| Fate | Ran aground January 12, 1936 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 5,724 (gross) |
| Length | 410 ft (120 m) |
| Beam | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Installed power | 359 nhp |
| Propulsion | triple-expansion engine |
| Speed | 10.5 knots |
SS Iowa was a steamship built by the
Washington, part of the Columbia Bar at the mouth of the Columbia River
.
SS Iowa was travelling from
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse around 2 a.m., a Coast Guard observer witnessed the ship start to turn south and then turn to the north toward Peacock Spit where water depths are only around 20 feet (6.1 m). The Astoria Coast Guard station received the Iowa distress call around 4:30 a.m.[2]
The Coast Guard cutter
Onondaga was dispatched after the SOS was received. Attempts were made to communicate with the ship by observers at the lighthouse using radio, light signals, and flags. The observers saw a flash of light from the ship and a few flags raised in response, but were unable to decipher any messages from the ship in the stormy conditions. By the time that the Onondaga arrived, only masts were visible above the waves.[2] All 34 people aboard the ship died, and only six bodies were recovered from the wreckage that dotted local shorelines for days.[3]
References
- ^ "SS Iowa (+1936)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4930-1322-7.
- ^ "Ship wrecked with 34 aboard lost: Freighter is hit by gale off Astoria". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. January 13, 1936. p. A1.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1936 | |
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| Other incidents |
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