USS Shark (1821)

Last updated
USSSharkModel.jpg
Model of Shark at the U.S. Navy Museum
History
US flag 23 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Shark
Namesake Shark
Builder Washington Navy Yard
Cost$23,627.00 USD in 1821
Launched17 May 1821
Fatewrecked 1846
General characteristics
Displacement198 t (195 long tons; 218 short tons)
Length86 ft (26 m)
Beam24 ft 7 in (7.49 m)
Draft10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Speed8 kn (15 km/h; 9 mph)
Complement70 officers and men
Armament


The USS Shark was a schooner in the United States Navy from 1821 until it sank crossing the Columbia Bar in 1846.

Contents

Construction

The Shark was built in the Washington Navy Yard to the designs of Henry Steers. It was designed for combating Caribbean piracy. The vessel had an "inclination to lower its bow and dive under when pressed by the wind under full sail." [1] On 11 May 1821, Matthew C. Perry was ordered to take command of Shark. She was launched on 17 May and the ship was ready to receive her crew on 2 June 1821.

Atlantic anti-slavery activities

The Shark sailed from the Washington Navy Yard on 15 July for New York. While there, she received Dr. Eli Ayers, on board for transportation to the west coast of Africa. On 7 August the Shark began her first cruise, with the goals of the suppression of the slave trade and piracy. Sailing by way of the Madeira, Canary, and Cape Verde islands, she landed Dr. Ayers at Sierra Leone in October. The Shark returned by way of the West Indies to New York, arriving on 17 January 1822.

The Shark put to sea from New York on 26 February and joined Commodore James Biddle's squadron for the suppression of piracy and slave trading in the West Indies. On 25 March, Lt. Perry took formal possession of what is now Key West, Florida, in the name of the United States. He called the island Thompson's Island to honor Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson and named the harbor Port Rodgers to compliment Commodore John Rodgers.

Under orders from Commodore Biddle, the Shark departed Nassau on 14 August for another cruise to the western coast of Africa. On 12 December 1822 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia. The Shark again sailed for the West Indies in February 1823. She was back at New York in early July for repairs. On 5 October, she sailed from New York carrying Commodore John Rodgers and three Navy surgeons to Key West to determine the suitability of the location as a naval base. She debarked Rodgers and his party at Norfolk on 16 November 1823 before resuming her cruise in the West Indies. She returned to New York on 13 May 1824.

After repairs in the New York Navy Yard, the Shark sailed on 5 October 1825. She cruised in the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico until 29 August 1826, when she arrived at Norfolk. On 28 November she proceeded to the coast of Africa to protect slaves freed from captured slave ships. After seeing that the liberated slaves were safely established in Liberia, she returned by way of the Caribbean and arrived at New York on 5 July 1827.

The busy schooner sailed again on 24 July for a cruise to the Newfoundland fisheries to defend American interests there and returned on 6 October. She then resumed her duty in the West Indies, which included anti-slavery and anti-piracy patrols and periodic voyages to West Africa to check the American settlements there.

Mediterranean

In 1833, the Shark was relieved in the West Indies by the schooner Experiment, and sailed for the Mediterranean, where she remained for the next five years, cruising extensively in order to protect American commerce. She cleared Gibraltar for the United States on 22 January 1838 and sailing by way of the West Indies, arrived at the Norfolk Navy Yard on 24 March.

Pacific Squadron

The Shark put to sea from Hampton Roads on 22 July 1839 for duty with the Pacific Squadron. She was the first United States man-of-war to pass through the Straits of Magellan from east to west, a feat accomplished on 13 December 1839 en route to Callao, Peru. During the next five years, she spent much of her time along the coast of Peru to protect American citizens and property during civil disturbances in that country. The Secretary of the Navy noted in 1841 that "all who witnessed the operations of the Shark were inspired with increased respect for the American flag." She also made infrequent cruises northward to observe conditions in Panama and to receive mail.

On 1 April 1846, Shark was ordered to Honolulu, Hawaii for repairs in preparation for an exploratory voyage up the Columbia River, "to obtain correct information of that country and to cheer our citizens in that region by the presence of the American flag."

On 12 July 1846 the Shark reached the mouth of the Columbia River. In the afternoon Henry H. Spalding, Asa Lovejoy, and William H. Gray arrived on a small boat. While there wasn't a regular pilot for the Columbia, they recommended employing James D. Saules to reach Fort George. He was likely most familiar with scows, the most commonly used vessels on the Columbia by fur traders and settlers. [2] Saules "was also facing one of the world's most difficult rivers to navigate..." [3] Commanding officer Lieutenant Neil M. Howison described the subsequent events:

"[Saules] ordered the helm put up, head sheets aft, and yards braced, with an air that deceived me into the belief that he was fully competent to conduct the vessel, and he was put in charge of her. In twenty minutes he ran us hard ashore on Chinook shoal, where we remained several hours thumping severely." [4]

After the USS Shark freed itself from the shoal it awaited Alexander Lattie, the officer in charge of Fort George. The following morning Lattie succeeded in guiding the vessel to his fur trading post. Lattie was dismissed by the Hudson's Bay Company later that year. [5]

Sinking

After several weeks in the vicinity of Fort Vancouver, the vessel returned to the mouth of the Columbia on 8 September. As it was known that the Columbia bar had changed position since the last survey was made by Charles Wilkes, the following day was spent making new observations and other preparations for crossing. Unable to secure another pilot, on 10 September the Shark attempted to exit the Columbia River. Unfortunately, the ship hit another uncharted shoal, was swept into the breakers by a swift tide, and sank. [6] Saules likely witnessed the event, although his reaction isn't preserved in historical documentation. [7]

Aftermath

The Shark was a total loss, but her entire crew was saved. Upon learning of the vessel's demise, the Royal Navy and Hudson's Bay Company's officers at Fort Vancouver immediately coordinated and dispatched a relief effort, including food, tobacco, and clothing. Lt. Howison soon returned to Fort Vancouver, where he acquired additional supplies and on 16 November chartered the Hudson's Bay Company schooner Cadboro. She reached San Francisco, California on 27 January 1847.

A court of inquiry absolved Lt. Neil M. Howison of all blame for the loss of his ship.

Artifacts

Several artifacts associated with the wrecked schooner are on public display in Oregon. The schooner's capstan and one carronade are on display at the Cannon Beach History Center in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The carronade was discovered four or five miles north of Arch Cape in 1898, and is what gave Cannon Beach its name. On 16 February 2008, two more carronades believed to have belonged to Shark were discovered on the beach near Arch Cape, Oregon. [8]

The newly discovered carronades were restored at the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University and are now on display at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon. The Maritime Museum exhibit also features an officer's sword that is believed to have originated on Shark, along with a large rock known as "Shark Rock" that features words and dates believed to be etched on by survivors of the wreck. [9]

Bibliography

Articles

Books

Newspapers

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Hornet</i> (1805)

The third USS Hornet was a brig-rigged sloop-of-war in the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, she was the first U.S. Navy ship to capture a British privateer.

USS <i>John Adams</i> (1799) United States Navy frigate (1799–1865)

The first John Adams was originally built in 1799 as a frigate for the United States Navy, converted to a corvette in 1809, and later converted back to a frigate in 1830. Named for American Founding Father and president John Adams, she fought in the Quasi-War, the First and Second Barbary Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Squadron</span> U.S. Navy squadron positioned in the Pacific Ocean (1821–1907)

The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local ports of call in the Hawaiian Islands and towns on the Pacific Coast. Throughout the history of the Pacific Squadron, American ships fought against several enemies. Over one-half of the United States Navy would be sent to join the Pacific Squadron during the Mexican–American War. During the American Civil War, the squadron was reduced in size when its vessels were reassigned to Atlantic duty. When the Civil War was over, the squadron was reinforced again until being disbanded just after the turn of the 20th century.

USS Germantown was a United States Navy sloop-of-war in commission for various periods between 1847 and 1860. She saw service in the Mexican–American War in 1847–1848 and during peacetime operated in the Caribbean, in the Atlantic Ocean off Africa and South America, and in East Asia. Scuttled at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, she was captured and refloated by the Confederate States of America and placed in service with the Confederate States Navy as the floating battery CSS Germantown before again being scuttled in 1862.

USS <i>Peacock</i> (1813) Sloop-of-war of the United States Navy

USS Peacock was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy that served in the War of 1812 and later the United States Exploring Expedition. Peacock ran aground and broke apart on the Columbia Bar without loss of life in 1841.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean Squadron (United States)</span> Military unit of the United States Navy

The Mediterranean Squadron, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was part of the United States Navy in the 19th century that operated in the Mediterranean Sea. It was formed in response to the First and Second Barbary Wars. Between 1801 and 1818, the squadron was composed of a series of rotating squadrons. Later, squadrons were sent in the 1820s to the 1860s to suppress piracy, primarily in Greece and to engage in gunboat diplomacy. In 1865 the force was renamed the European Squadron.

The first USS Porpoise was a topsail schooner in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Alligator</i> (1820) Schooner in the United States Navy

The third USS Alligator was a schooner in the United States Navy.

USS Nonsuch was a moderately successful privateer built in 1812 and then an armed schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. She was sold for breaking up in 1826.

USS <i>Lexington</i> (1825) 1825 US Navy sloop-of-war

The second USS Lexington was a sloop in the United States Navy built at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, in 1825; and commissioned on 11 June 1826, Master Commandant William B. Shubrick in command.

USS <i>Jamestown</i> (1844) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

The first USS Jamestown was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

USS Onkahye was a topsail schooner of the United States Navy. A unique ship in the American Navy under sail, the vessel occupied a significant place in ship development, being the only converted sailing yacht to serve on a distant station before the American Civil War. Its design was influential and it is considered the model for modern American sailing yachts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Indies Squadron (United States)</span> Military unit of the United States Navy

The West Indies Squadron, or the West Indies Station, was a United States Navy squadron that operated in the West Indies in the early nineteenth century. It was formed due to the need to suppress piracy in the Caribbean Sea, the Antilles and the Gulf of Mexico region of the Atlantic Ocean. This unit later engaged in the Second Seminole War until being combined with the Home Squadron in 1842. From 1822 to 1826 the squadron was based out of Saint Thomas Island until the Pensacola Naval Yard was constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aegean Sea anti-piracy operations of the United States</span> Anti-piracy operations conducted by the United States in the Aegean Sea

Aegean Sea anti-piracy operations began in 1825 when the United States government dispatched a squadron of ships to suppress Greek piracy in the Aegean Sea. The Greek civil wars of 1824–1825 and the decline of the Hellenic Navy made the Aegean quickly become a haven for pirates who sometimes doubled as privateers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Indies anti-piracy operations of the United States</span>

The West Indies Anti-Piracy Operations were a series of military operations and engagements undertaken by the United States Navy against pirates in and around the Antilles. Between 1814 and 1825, the American West Indies Squadron hunted pirates on both sea and land, primarily around Cuba and Puerto Rico. After the capture of Roberto Cofresi in 1825, acts of piracy became rare, and the operation was considered a success, although limited occurrences went on until slightly after the start of the 20th century.

USS <i>Firefly</i>

The USS Firefly, was a brig with two masts, square-rigged, formerly named Volant and originally built as a schooner for use as a privateer. The U.S. Navy purchased Volant on 8 December 1814 at New York by and was fitted her out as US naval 14-gun brig. She served during the War of 1812 and Second Barbary War of 1815. Firefly was purchased because of the several US blockade efforts where smaller ships with better maneuverability were needed for the task. The Navy sold her in 1816 and she became a Portuguese slave ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George H. Cooper</span>

Rear Admiral George Henry Cooper was an officer in the United States Navy. During his long naval career, he served on the African Slave Trade Patrol, and fought in the Second Seminole War, the Mexican War, the American Civil War, and the Korean Expedition, and rose to command of the North Atlantic Squadron.

USS Ferret was a two masted schooner, the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear this name, and was purchased 20 December 1822 at Baltimore, Maryland and commissioned early in 1823, with Lieutenant R. Henley in command. It was the first U.S. naval ship commanded by the famous naval hero David Farragut. Ferret served transporting U.S. sailors, marines and supplies to the pirate infested waters of the Caribbean and was used to search out and attack pirate ships and pirate strongholds for a little more than two years when her career was cut short when the vessel capsized in a gale force storm off the coast of Cuba.

James D. Saules was a sailor of the United States Exploring Expedition. In 1841 he survived the sinking of the USS Peacock at the Columbia Bar. Saules subsequently was among the first black settlers of the Oregon Country. While residing in the Willamette Valley he became involved in the Cockstock incident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas J. Leib</span>

Thomas Jefferson Leib was an American naval officer of the early 19th-century sailing ship era, active in Florida's Second Seminole War as well as anti-piracy and smuggling suppression patrols throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and West Indies.

References

46°14′42″N124°04′04″W / 46.2449°N 124.0679°W / 46.2449; -124.0679