AH-WR-1167

Samuel J. Goucher

Schooner · United States · Lost 1911 · The Isles of Shoals & the New Hampshire Coast

A big coal-laden five-masted schooner ran hard aground on Duck Island's ledges in fog in 1911, was refloated, and was later broken up at Portsmouth.

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Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents.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

Documented Likeness. Drawn from surviving builder's plans or clear photographs of this vessel. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

The five-masted schooner Samuel J. Goucher, built in 1904 at Camden, Maine, for the Coastwise Transportation Company, ran aground on the NW Ledges off Duck Island, Isles of Shoals, in fog on November 16, 1911, while carrying a cargo of coal. The Appledore Island life-saving station, newly established at the time, stood by the stranded crew. After her cargo was lightered off, the schooner was refloated and towed to Portsmouth Harbor, where she was later broken up rather than returned to service.

Vessel

Built: 1904
Builder: Not established
Yard: Camden, Maine
Material: Wood
Length: 282 ft
Beam: 48 ft
Tonnage: 2249
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Coastwise Transportation Company

Loss

Date: November 16, 1911
Cause: Grounding
Location: NW Ledges, off Duck Island, Isles of Shoals
Water: Atlantic Ocean
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Coal
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: No fatalities reported; the Appledore Island Life-Saving Station stood by the grounded crew.
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Grounded rather than wrecked outright; refloated after cargo removal.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: 43.01° N 70.60° W
Accuracy: Approximate position
Nearest: Duck Island, Isles of Shoals
Region: The Isles of Shoals & the New Hampshire Coast

Position drawn from wreckhunter.net's published coordinates (43-00-5 N / 70-36-0 W), rounded.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Partially documented (65/100)

This vessel was grounded and salvaged rather than lost outright at the site; details of her later breaking up at Portsmouth are only briefly documented.

Wreckhunter.net
Build specifications, owner, date, cause, and salvage of the grounding.
East Carolina University Digital Collections (Portland Evening Express)
Contemporary account of the Appledore Island life-saving station's response to the grounding.