More Pigeon Point:…The Hellespont Horror
[Note: I wrote this in 1977.]
The voyage was not a smooth one as Frederick Wilson steered the American ship, Hellespont, along the rocky California coast in November of 1868. Not only dark weather but ruthless winds and a boiling sea blinded the way in the early morning hours.
Captain Cornelius Soule (well known in San Francisco for his fast passages on the “Panama” from New York), believed the Hellepont to be 20 miles out at sea. When the captain suddenly saw the breakers ahead, he kept a cool head issuing commands to “Wear ship“–meaning to change the course away from the wind.
Yet instead of tacking out to sea, the Hellespont easily glided in among the ruthless breakers. The first time she struck heavily, crashing against the black reefs. The second time the waves swung the Hellespont around wildly, striking her broadside.
Captain Soule emerged from the cabin holding an axe and ordered the crew to cut away the masts which they did. As the masts fell overboard, they smashed the lifeboats to pieces. Without warning, a huge breaker struck, this time splitting the Hellespont in half. The tremendous impact ripped apart the main deck and carried it away to sea.
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