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:

Robert Graham Dun

VESSEL: Schooner
TYPE: Collision
DATE: March 19, 1903
SIZE:
BUILT:
MASTER:
LOCATION: Hampton Roads, Virginia

SUMMARY:
The schooner Robert Graham Dun was in collision with the schooner Charles Davenport in Hampton Roads.  The Robert Graham Dun sustained damage with its jibboom and cathead being carried away.  The schooner was later towed to Norfolk for repairs.

The Robert Graham Dun was bound for New Haven with a cargo of coal from Baltimore.

REFERENCE:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland). March 21, 1903. Page 10.

+ Structured Data
Vessel Name: Robert Graham Dun
Vessel Type: Schooner
Country or Flag:
Wreck Type: Collision
Incident Type: Collision
Incident Date: 1903-03-19
Incident Year: 1903
Incident Month: 3
Incident Day: 19
Location – By Water: Hampton Roads, Virginia
Location – By Land:
Lives Lost: 0 deaths
All Hands: false
Injuries: 0 injured
Photo Exist: false
Weather:
Notes: Collided with the schooner Charles Davenport with the Robert Graham Dun losing its jibboom and cathead.
Total or Recovered: Recovered
Departure Port: Baltimore, Maryland
Destination Port: New Haven, Connecticut
Cargo: Coal
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