The Noonday completed four passages from eastern ports to San Francisco, being lost on the fourth when about to take a pilot near the Farallon Islands. On January 1, 1863, the Noonday was approaching the entrance to San Francisco harbor, 139 days out of Boston, weather clear, sea smooth but with a long swell on, the ship under all sail to main skysail and topgallant studdingsails and making 9 to 10 knots. When about eight miles west of the North Farallon, she struck a rock but glided clear. The shock was not sufficient to carry away of the of the spars or rigging. However, her bottom had been stove and she immediately started to fill. Capt. Henry and his crew had only time to save a portion of their effects and take to the boats before the ship sunk in 40 fathoms. The pilot boat Relief, some two miles distant, picked up all hands. It appears that the rock that caused the disaster was covered by 18 feet of water; its existence was known to pilots but it had not been charted; it subsequently received the name of Noonday Rock. In spite of the depth, there were apparently some attempts made to salvage her cargo, in some reports valued as high as $600,000. The steamer Active sailed from sailed from San Francisco on January 3, 1863, with the intent of grappling for the hulk and attaching hawsers. The results of that attempt are unknown. Delgado & Huller [2]