Came across an article in the August 16th Honolulu Advertiser about the wreck 1837 British whaling ship that was located near Kure Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands. The expedition that is going out to explore the site is also going to look at the wreck of the USS Saginaw which was a Union ship on the west coast during the Civil War and sank in 1870. The shipwreck was located in 2003.
The USS Saginaw was the first ship built at the Navy's New Mare Island Shipyard near San Francisco, so probably the first US ship constructed on the west coast. The Navy bought the site in 1853 and Commander David Farragut was in charge. It was launched in 1859 and joined the East Indian Squadron with thegoal of protecting American interests and citizens as well as stopping piracy.
In 1862, it was decommissioned in Hong Kong and taken back to Mare Island for refitting. The Saginaw's Civil War duty with the Pacific Squadron was to prevent Confederate activity. In 1863, the ship sailed to the Puget Sound when word reached that Confederate privateers were being outfitted in British Columbia, but this proved unfounded. In 1864, the Saginaw visited Mexican ports and Central America.
THE WRECK OF THE SAGINAW AND QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT
On October 29, 1870. the Saginaw hit a reef at the isolated Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and was battered to pieces. The crew made it to shore, but were stranded except for the ship's gig. A party of five decided to go for help in Honolulu and covered 1500 miles in 31 days, but unfortunately were upset and tossed into the ocean at Kauai. Only one survived, but got word to authorities and help was on its way for the other survivors. The original ship's gig is on display at the Saginaw Historical Museum.
The USS Saginaw was a sidewheel steamer, 155 feet long, 4 foot 5 inches draft, and carried a crew of 50 and four cannons.
Sounds Like the Stuff for a Hollywood Movie. This Pacific Voyage is Right Up There With That of Captain Bligh. --Old B-R'er
