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.

BROWSE A-Z: ALL ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Cherokee

VESSEL: Steamer
TYPE: Stranded
DATE: January 12, 1906
SIZE:
BUILT:
MASTER: Captain Archibald
LOCATION: Atlantic Ocean, Brigantine Shoals, New Jersey

SUMMARY:
The Steamer Cherokee ran aground in the Atlantic Ocean on Brigantine Shoals off New Jersey on January 12, 1906. The Cherokee departed from San Domingo bound for New York with a cargo of raw sugar and 60 passengers when it became lost in thick fog. Unable to gain its bearings, the steamer ran up on Brigantine Shoals.

Captain Mark Casto with a volunteer crew launched the 58 foot, 10 ton fishing schooner Alberta.  Provided with life belts, the volunteers reached the Cherokee. Rescuers would use a lifeboat from the steamer to safely transfer passengers and crew to the schooner. After 12 trips with the lifeboat, all were safely onboard the Alberta. The schooner returned to shore and there were no reports of injuries.

Two wrecking tugs and a lighter would later arrived on scene. Passenger baggage along with bags of mail would be later recovered.

REFERENCE:
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission https://www.carnegiehero.org/hero-search/mark-casto/
The New York Times (New York, New York). January 15, 1906. Page 1.
Marine Review 33, no. 3 (January 18, 1906): 41.

 

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Cherokee
Vessel Type: Steamer
Built Year:
Incident Type: Grounding
Incident Date: 1906-01-12
Incident Year: 1906
Location – By Water: Brigantine Shoals, Atlantic Ocean
Location – By Land: Atlantic City, New Jersey
Lives Lost: 0 deaths
All Hands: false
Injuries: 0 injured
Photo Exist: true
Master: Archibald
Weather: Dense Fog
Outcome: Recovered

Consuelo

VESSEL: Steamer
TYPE: Grounding
DATE: March 25, 1903
SIZE:
BUILT:
MASTER:
LOCATION: Shovelful Shoal, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

SUMMARY:
The four-masted steamer Consuelo departed from Boston when dense fog prevailed in the area for several days.  On the morning of March 25, the fog finally lifted and the Consuelo departed for New York where the steamer would load additional cargo. As the steamer proceeded southward in the navigation channel, the Consuelo reached Shovelful Shoal and struck a “uncharted lump”. The steamer suddenly stopped in the channel. The lifesaving station at Monomoy spotted the stranded steamer and launched the surfboat to assist.  Before the surfboat reached the steamer, the Consuelo was able to free itself and proceeded on its course over the shoals. The steamer continued on its voyage with no serious damage.

The cause of the grounding was attributed to the Consuelo’s great size and heavily laden for the reason the steamer struck bottom while other moderate-sized vessels did not.

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

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Consuelo
Vessel Type: Steamer
Country or Flag: Great Britain
Wreck Type: Grounding
Incident Type: Grounding
Incident Date: 1903-03-25
Incident Year: 1903
Incident Month: 3
Incident Day: 25
Location – By Water: Shovelful Shoal
Location – By Land: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Lives Lost: 0 deaths
All Hands: false
Injuries: 0 injured
Photo Exist: false
Weather:
Notes: Ran aground on uncharted lump in channel near Shovelful Shoal
Total or Recovered: Recovered
Departure Port: Boston, Massachusetts
Destination Port: New York, New York
Cargo:

Mary E. Morse

Mary E. Morse aground in 1899

VESSEL: Schooner
TYPE: Grounding
DATE: September 10, 1900
SIZE:
BUILT: 1881, Bath, Maine
MASTER:
LOCATION: Between Eau Gallie and Sebastian, Florida

SUMMARY:
Little was reported on the grounding of  the 3 masted schooner Mary E. Morse.  Newspapers reported the schooner had run ashore off Sebastian with no further details reported. One newspaper had the name of the vessel as the “Mary Ross”, but also stated it was assumed to the be the Mary E. Morse. Some accounts had assumed the schooner was a total loss, but the vessel appears

The schooner had wrecked prior in 1899 Carrabelle hurricane. On August 1, 1899, the Mary E. Morse went ashore on Dog Island, Florida and would be later recovered.

REFERENCE:
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). September 11, 1900. Page 7.
The New York Times (New York, New York). September 11, 1900. Page 3.
Wrecked vessels on Dog Island following the 1899 hurricane. 1899. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/259373

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Mary E. Morse
Vessel Type: Schooner
Country or Flag: United States
Wreck Type: Ashore
Incident Type: Grounding
Incident Date: 1900-09-10
Incident Year: 1900
Incident Month: 9
Incident Day: 10
Location – By Water: Atlantic Ocean
Location – By Land: Sebastian, Florida
Photo Exist: true
Weather: Gale
Notes: Driven ashore by gales
Outcome: Recovered
Homeport: Bath, Maine
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