National Marine Sanctuaries |
Channel Islands National Marine SanctuaryShipwreck
Database
|
|
|
Vessel
|
Cuba |
||
|
Name
(former)
|
Coblenz, Sachem |
Official
Number
|
215771 |
|
Propulsion
|
Steam |
Nationality
|
US |
|
Masts
|
2 |
Age
|
26 |
|
Decks
|
2 |
Value
|
300,000 |
|
Type
|
Passenger Cargo Steamer |
Call
Sign
|
LHTM |
|
Use
|
Commercial |
Home
Port
|
CA, San Francisco |
|
Tonnage
(gross)
|
3168.8 |
Built
When
|
1897 |
|
Tonnage
(net)
|
1862 |
Built
Where
|
Germany, Hamburg |
|
Tonnage
|
2516 undec |
Built
by
|
Blohm and Voss |
|
Displacement
|
Hull
Material
|
Steel | |
|
Length
(ft)
|
307.7 |
Cargo
|
Coffee, Silver |
|
Beam
|
42.2 |
Owner
|
Pacific Mail Steamship Co. |
|
Depth
of Hold
|
24.7 | ||
|
|
|||
|
Latitude
|
34°01N
|
Longitude
|
120°27W
|
|
WHERE
|
San
Miguel Island, Point Bennett
|
STATE
|
CA
|
|
YEAR
|
1923
|
LAST
PORT
|
Mexico,
Mazatlan (09/03/23)
|
|
MONTH
|
09
|
DESTINATION
|
CA,
San Francisco
|
|
DAY
|
08
|
People
on Board
|
112
|
|
TIME
|
0415
|
FATALITIES
|
0
|
|
CAUSE
|
Navigation
|
| NATURE OF CASUALTY | ||
| On August 17, 1923, Cuba left the Canal Zone, stopping briefly at Mazatlan on September 3. By the early morning hours of September 8, Cuba approached the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. The crew had navigated solely on dead reckoning for the past three days because of persistent fog. A lack of spare parts had left the ship's radio unrepaired. Captain Charles J. Holland retired for the night, leaving orders for him to be roused if visibility became less than five or six miles, and in no case later than 3 AM in order to take soundings. Second Officer John Rochau did not call the captain, even though he estimated visibility at four miles while on watch. When First Officer Wise arrived to take the watch at 4 AM, he immediately awakened the captain. In the words of the radio operator, "The captain was already on the bridge, his shoes merely slipped on, with his suspenders hanging over his hips, and was taking charge of the vessel" (LAT 10 Sep 23). Holland directed an immediate turn to port (west), and at that time the vessel struck rocks about one quarter mile off Point Bennett, San Miguel Island. Holland ordered reverse engines and the Cuba briefly refloated, but was swung around by the seas and ran onto the rocks stern first, demolishing the propellers. |
Click here for more images and history In rough seas, the vessel listed to port, which caused complications in launching the starboard lifeboats, which had to be dragged across the vessel to the port davits. Captain Holland, the purser, steward, and eight crew remained aboard to guard the cargo, an important part of which was silver bullion, while the rest of the crew and passengers took to the lifeboats. Morris & Lima |
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