AH-WR-0452

J. M. Colman

Lumber Schooner · United States · Lost 1905 · The Channel Islands

A Pacific lumber schooner lost in fog off San Miguel Island in 1905, its salvaged timber later built a ranch house still standing on the island.

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Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Built in 1888 by the Hall Brothers, the same yard that built Comet and Dora Bluhm, J. M. Colman carried lumber and flour along the Pacific coast. On September 4, 1905, she ran aground in fog just inside Point Bennett on San Miguel Island; her first mate drowned trying to save a chest of gold from the hold, and the ship was pounded to pieces by heavy surf. Salvaged lumber from her cargo was later used to build a ranch house on the island.

Vessel

Built: 1888
Registry: US registry no. 76717
Builder: Hall Brothers
Yard: Washington
Material: Wood
Length: 157 ft
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: September 4, 1905
Cause: Grounding
Location: Point Bennett, San Miguel Island, California
Water: Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara Channel
Voyage: Washington → San Pedro, California
Cargo: 800,000 feet of lumber and sacked flour
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: 1
Master: Captain Vasquez

The Wreck Today

Depth: 0 ft
Condition: Pounded to pieces on the rocks; cargo salvaged over following years
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Within Channel Islands National Park