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Newspaper Archives

About This Archive

This is a collection based on historical newspaper archives documenting maritime accidents and casualties. Unlike traditional shipwreck databases that focus primarily on total losses, this archive captures vessels that were stranded and recovered, partial losses, and obscure incidents often missing from websites, books and historical shipwreck databases.

How to Use:

  • Search: Enter a vessel name in the console below to find specific reports.

  • Filter: Use the dropdowns to narrow results by Wreck Type (e.g., Stranding, Collision) or Incident Year.

  • Browse: Select a letter from the A-Z Index to view the catalog alphabetically.

This database is a primary source tool for researchers regarding maritime incidents.

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Mary E. Morse

Mary E. Morse aground in 1899

VESSEL: Schooner
TYPE: Collision
DATE: March 24, 1903
SIZE:
BUILT: 1881, Bath, Maine
MASTER: I. T. Newbury
LOCATION: Off Egg Harbor, New Jersey

SUMMARY:
At about 6:15 a.m. on March 24, 1903, the steamer Parthian collided with the schooner Mary E. Morse approximately 42 miles northeast of Five Fathom Bank lightship. The Mary E. Morse had departed from Port Royal, South Carolina bound for New York with a cargo of 491,000 feet of lumber when it was struck by the Parthian in dense fog. The Parthian stoved in the hull of the schooner which quickly filled with water when the steamer pulled away. There was just enough time for the crew on the Mary E. Morse to lower their lifeboat and abandon ship. All the crew were taken on board the Parthian with just the clothes on their backs.

The Parthian had twisted its bow resulting in some leaking, but the steamer was in no risk of sinking.  The Parthian continued on its voyage towards Boston where it would undergo temporary repairs.  There were no reports of injuries on either vessel.

When the crew of the Mary E. Morse reached Boston, they were informed the schooner hadn’t sunk after all.  Around midnight on March 25, the fishing schooner Alberta had spotted the abandoned schooner some 20 miles off Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Somehow the schooner had stayed afloat after the collision and now the captain of the Alberta, Mark Casto, would try to recover the vessel. Leaving 2 crew members on the Mary E. Morse, the Alberta headed to shore to telegraph for assistance.  The tug, S.S. Smith, would later be dispatched and tow the Mary E. Morse to Philadelphia. The four fishermen on board the vessel would settle their claim for saving the schooner and receive about $5,000.

The schooner had wrecked prior in 1899 and 1900 and was recovered.

REFERENCE:
Annual Report of the Supervising Inspection Service, Year Ending June 30, 1903. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1904. Page 39.
The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts). March 25, 1903. Page 8.
The Savannah Morning News (Savannah, Georgia). March 26, 1903. Page 1.
Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia). April 2, 1903. Page 6.

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Mary E. Morse
Vessel Type: Schooner
Country or Flag: United States
Wreck Type: Collision
Incident Type: Collision
Incident Date: 1903-03-24
Incident Year: 1903
Incident Month: 3
Incident Day: 24
Location – By Water: 42 miles northeast of Five Fathom Bank Lightship, Atlantic Ocean
Location – By Land: Off Egg Harbor, New Jersey
Photo Exist: true
Weather: Thick Fog
Notes:
Outcome: Recovered
Cargo: 491,000 feet of Lumber
Homeport: Bath, Maine
Built Year: 1881
Tonnage: 644
Where Built: Bath, Maine

Orono

VESSEL: Steamer
TYPE: Collision
DATE: March 25, 1903
SIZE:
BUILT:
MASTER:
LOCATION: Entrance to Gedney’s Channel, New York Harbor

SUMMARY:
The steamer Orono was departing from New York bound for Montevideo when it was in collision with the schooner Almeda Willey at the entrance to Gedney’s channel in New York harbor. The Orono suffered considerable damage while the Almeda Willey‘s jibboom, head stays and flying jib were carried away. Both vessels returned to New York.

REFERENCE:
The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts). March 25, 1903. Page 8.

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Orono
Vessel Type: Steamer
Country or Flag: Great Britain
Wreck Type: Collision
Incident Type: Collision
Incident Date: 1903-03-25
Incident Year: 1903
Incident Month: 3
Incident Day: 25
Location – By Water: Gedney’s Channel, New York Harbor,
Location – By Land: New York, New York
Lives Lost: 0 deaths
All Hands: false
Injuries: 0 injured
Weather:
Notes: Damaged after collision with schooner Almeda Willey
Total or Recovered: Recovered
Departure Port: New York, New York
Destination Port: Montevideo
Cargo:

Point Comfort

VESSEL: Point Comfort
TYPE: Tugboat
DATE: January 9, 1963
SIZE: 127-foot
OWNER: Gulf Canal Lines, Inc.
MASTER:
LOCATION: Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Texas

SUMMARY:
At 9:25 p.m. on January 9, 1963 the U. S. Navy tanker Maumee allided with the tugboat Point Comfort on the Houston Ship Channel at Galena Park, Texas. The Maumee struck the docked Point Comfort which was tied up at the Texaco dock being refueled. The Maumee signaled 4 short blasts alerting the 5 crew on board the tugboat. They were having coffee when the tanker was bearing down onto their vessel.  The 5 were just able to scramble to safety  seconds before the allision.  The tugboat sustained damage and suffered water ingress and later sank at the dock. The Maumee sustained a 5 foot gash in her bow, but was still able to continue down the channel. Fortunately, there were no injuries on either vessel.

The Coast Guard would later report the incident took place on a bend in the channel where the Maumee was unable to make the turn.  The tugboat sank in about 40 to 50 feet of water and was not an obstruction to navigation.

After the incident, the owners of the Point Comfort, Gulf Canal Line Inc., abandoned the sunken tug. Texaco would hire the New Orleans Coal and Bisso Towboat Company to raise and remove the wreck. By February 23, 1963, the tug was raised from the bottom. Repairs would be made to the tugboat so it could be towed to New Orleans. The Point Comfort was insured for $200,000.

REFERENCE:
The Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas). January 10, 1963. Page 15.
The Flint Journal (Flint, Michigan). January 10, 1963. Page 8.
The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Texas). January 10, 1963. Page 2.
The Houston Post (Houston, Texas). February 22, 1963. Page 11.

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Point Comfort
Vessel Type: Tugboat
Country or Flag: United States
Wreck Type: Allision
Incident Type: Allision
Incident Date: 1963-01-09
Incident Year: 1963
Incident Month: 1
Incident Day: 9
Location – By Water: Houston Ship Channel
Location – By Land: Texaco Fueling Dock, Galena Park, Texas
Photo Exist:
Vessel Length: 127
Vessel Length Unit: Feet
Notes: Sank after struck by US Navy Tanker Maumee, recovered then scrapped
Outcome: Scrapped
Cargo:
Homeport: Houston, Texas
Built Year:
Vessel Insured Value: 200,000.00
Vessel Insured Value Currency: USD
Vessel Owner: Gulf Canal Line, Inc.
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