1895 ❖ STEAMER BUCKEYE CAPSIZED, ONE LOST.

 

Steamer Buckeye
This steaming workhorse was built in 1890
in Seattle, WA. and purchased by
Capt. Andrew Newhall
of Newhall, Orcas Island four years later. 
Click image to enlarge.
This original gelatin-silver photo is inscribed 
with a date of 1890.
She was replaced by the Islander built 
by Newhall adjacent to his lumber mill,
Orcas Island, in 1904
Original photo from the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

2 April 1895. Fairhaven, Whatcom county, Washington

"The mail steamer Buckeye, on the route between Whatcom and Friday Harbor, by way of Anacortes, was swamped in a heavy sea shortly before 4 o'clock this afternoon, two miles off Chuckanut. She had six passengers aboard, beside her crew of five, all of whom but one, Mr. H. Kautzman, of Anacortes, have been saved. The steamer carried one skiff, one lifeboat, and a raft. 
        When the steamer listed and filled an attempt was made to launch the skiff, but she swamped. Then the lifeboat was lowered and the captain, Oscar Hahn, and engineer Snyder, the cook, Mrs. Kautzman, a passenger, Will D. Jenkins, editor of the Champion, and Tony Vogt, pulled ashore, landing at Chuckanut. The remaining four, the mate, Captain Bowden, Mr. Asher, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Kautzman, tried to reach the shore on the life raft. Kautzman was soon washed off and drowned and the other three were brought to this city by the tug Boyden about 11 p.m. tonight, having been picked up at 7 o'clock about two miles offshore. They had been about three hours in the water.
        The house of the steamer had been washed off and a portion of the upper works was seen by those aboard the tug tonight. They pulled the stem out of her trying to pull her ashore. She was heavily loaded forward with cattle, beef, and hay, and the loss of the steamer was said to be due to the shifting of the cargo. She was owned by A. Newhall, of Newhall, Orcas Island, WA.
        Later––The steamer was towed to the Fairhaven dock late Tuesday night. Her hull is apparently uninjured, and Mr. Newhall expects to have her on the route again in a few days.
        Mr. Kautzman cut himself on the glass while crawling through the cabin window and was so weak from loss of blood that he could not hold onto the raft.
        P.E. Peterson and Tony Vogt, of San Juan Island, shipped some livestock and grain on the Buckeye Tuesday morning, all of which is a total loss.
        The Brick will bring the Anacortes mail sometime tomorrow."