Daily Alta California - June 8, 1853
Wednesday (page 2 column 4)
Wreck of the Carrier Pigeon. - Probably a Total Loss
Intelligence was received in this city last evening that the clipper
ship Carrier Pigeon, of Boston, had gone ashore on the
night of the 6th instant, in a thick fog about thirty miles south
of the Heads, where she now lies stern on. The ship has bilged,
but it is hoped that the cargo between decks may be saved. The
news were received through an ignorant Mexican. We look for further
particulars from a reliable source to-day.
Mr. Bacon, the agent of the underwriters at Boston has taken efficient
measures to afford assistance immediately, and goes down to the
wreck with steamers and men to render all the assistance requisite.
Daily Alta California - June 10, 1853
Friday (page 2 column 2)
The Wreck of the Carrier Pigeon
The U. S. surveying steamer Active, Lieut. Alden, sailed
on the 8th inst. from port, and after stopping at the Farallones,
proceeded to the wreck of the Carrier Pigeon, which lies
about 7 miles north of Point Ano Nuevo, bow on shore. Her bows
lay about 500 feet from the beach, and she rests amidships on
a ledge of rocks, which have broken the ship's back. The tide
ebbs and flows in her, and is up to her between-decks. A portion
if not all of her cargo between decks may be saved if the weather
hold good, which is doubtful, as there was a heavy surf when the
Active left. Her mizzenmast was cut away on the 8th at
3 P.M., and they intended to cut away the other masts to save
the ship. We learn that if the parties interested had allowed
the Active to got to work, without bartering and bantering
on salvage, a considerable amount of property might have been
saved for the underwriters. Too much praise cannot be awarded
to the officers of the Active for their exertions to
save the goods from the ship, until parties in charge began to
talk about salvage, wages, and so forth. Lieut. Cuyler deserves
great credit for boarding the ship, taking the captain ashore,
and securing a line on shore so as to allow their boats to go
back and forward. The insurance agents in California should have
liberal views as regards wrecks on our coasts, more so than in
the Atlantic States. Soon after the arrival of the Active,
the Sea Bird arrived with Mr. Bacon on board, who took
charge of the wreck.
Daily Alta California - June 13, 1853
Friday (page 2 column 5)
Steamer Sea Bird Ashore -- The Carrier Pigeon
We have intelligence of the steamer Sea Bird having gone
ashore, furnished by Purser Wright of the steamer Goliah,
Capt. R. Haley, which arrived yesterday afternoon from the wreck
of the Carrier Pigeon. That vessel was lying head on
shore, with the water ebbing and flowing in her.
The steamer Sea Bird, laying at anchor astern of the
Carrier Pigeon, at 3 A. M. on Friday, parted her best
bower chain; she immediately let go her second anchor which brought
her up head to the sea. In a few minutes she parted her second
chain, when the captain made sail on her, and veered her clear
of a reef of rocks lying off her lee side. There being a heavy
ground swell when the second anchor brought the steamer's head
to the sea, the chain veered across the forefoot, which caused
her to start the scurf at the bottom of the forefoot, and in a
few minutes the steamer was reported to be filling. Capt. Wright
immediately kept her off under steam, and succeeded in reaching
the beach under Point Ano Nuevo, where he beached her, all hands
being engaged in pumping and bailing in the meantime. Capt. Waterman
and the crew of the Carrier Pigeon were on board at the
time. The Goliah took out the cargo that the Sea
Bird had received from the Carrier Pigeon, some
1,200 packages of merchandise.
When the Goliah left the Sea Bird, Capt. Wright thought
he would be able to get the steamer afloat the next: high water.
She was not leaking as bad as when she went ashore. The Goliah
left the wreck of the Carrier Pigeon yesterday morning
at 9 A. M.
Immediately after beaching the Sea Bird Captain Wright
sent an Express to San Francisco for the steamer Goliah
to come to his relief. Capt. Waterman and a gang of men remained
at the wreck of the Carrier Pigeon, and if the weather
continues good, there will be more goods saved. Capt. Doane, officers
and crew of the Carrier Pigeon were passengers in the
Goliah. The Goliah returned to the wreck last
evening.
Transcribed by Robert Schwemmer 29 June 2003