FINAL REPORT HISTORIC CONTEXT STUDY TO DEVELOP A HISTORIC THEME FOR SHIPWRECKS AROUND SAN NICOLAS ISLAND TASK ORDER 0008, CONTRACT N68711-04-D-3623 Prepared for: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest 1220 Pacific Highway Code EVP.ES San Diego, CA 92132 Prepared by: JRP Historical Consulting, LLC 1490 Drew Avenue, Suite 110 Davis, CA 95618 February 10, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. PURPOSE, METHODS, FINDINGS, AND ORGANIZATION ...................................... 1 1.1. PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. METHODS ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.3. FINDINGS ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.4. ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................................ 5 2. SAN NICOLAS ISLAND, SEAFARING, AND SHIPWRECKS: AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1. SAN NICOLAS ISLAND: GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT ............................................................... 7 2.2. THE SPANISH AND MEXICAN PERIOD: EXPLORATION, TRADE, AND SEA-OTTER HUNTING 10 2.3. THE GOLD RUSH TO THE END OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: SHIPPING AND FISHING . 12 2.4. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: CIVILIAN MARITIME ACTIVITY AND THE IMPOSITION OF NAVY AUTHORITY OVER SAN NICOLAS ISLAND ........................................................................ 13 3. SHIPWRECKS WITHIN TWO MILES OF SAN NICOLAS ISLAND AND BEGG ROCK........................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1. LOSSES ........................................................................................................................... 16 3.1.1. The Gold Rush to the End of the Nineteenth Century ........................................... 16 Leon ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Ranger ............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 3.1.2. The Twentieth Century – Civilian Vessels ............................................................ 18 La Gironde ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18 May [launch] ................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Selma .............................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Lillian .............................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Coney Island ................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Miss Santa Barbara ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Sport ................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Nora II ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Empress ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26 C.W.W. 26 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27 #4413 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 27 America II ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Ginger ............................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Volga Boatman ............................................................................................................................................................... 29 Deep Six .......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Jazzbo ............................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Margie A ......................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Roughneck ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Sara Jane ......................................................................................................................................................................... 32 3.1.3. The Twentieth Century – Navy Target Vessels ..................................................... 32 Makassar Strait ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 Unidentified LCI (Landing Craft, Infantry) [2 vessels] ................................................................................................... 35 Cabildo ............................................................................................................................................................................ 36 YFU-5 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 3.2. CASUALTIES ................................................................................................................... 40 ii 3.2.1. The Spanish and Mexican Period ......................................................................... 40 John Begg ....................................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.2. The Twentieth Century – Civilian Vessels ............................................................ 41 May [schooner] ............................................................................................................................................................... 41 F.H. Hillman ................................................................................................................................................................... 42 New Moon ...................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Steel Chemist .................................................................................................................................................................. 43 Thetis .............................................................................................................................................................................. 44 4. SHIPWRECKS AND OTHER LOST CRAFT OUTSIDE THE STUDY AREA ........ 45 4.1. WRECKS WITHIN TWO AND 50 MILES OF SAN NICOLAS ISLAND OR BEGG ROCK ........... 45 4.1.1. The Twentieth Century – Civilian Vessels ............................................................ 45 Red Wing ........................................................................................................................................................................ 45 Standard II ...................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Pacific ............................................................................................................................................................................. 47 Gaga ................................................................................................................................................................................ 48 Intruder ........................................................................................................................................................................... 48 4.1.2. The Twentieth Century – Navy Target Vessels ....................................................