J. Marhoffer
Encyclopedia
The J. Marhoffer was a steamboat that wrecked on May 18, 1910 just south of Lincoln City, Oregon
, United States. While underway to Portland
under Captain Gustav Peterson, the vessel caught fire and ran aground at Boiler Bay
, then known as Brigg's Landing. Her boiler still sits in the small inlet and can be viewed on calm days.
, an assistant engineer on board tried to light an unfamiliar design gas torch, while the chief engineer was napping in his cabin. However, his inexperience and determination to light the torch caused it to explode and throw burning fuel throughout the oil-soaked engine room. The flames spread quickly and soon much of the ship was ablaze, even before the burned engineer could make it on deck to alert the crew. The engine continued to run at speed, but was too hot for the crew to approach and flood it. Captain Peterson then ordered the crew to abandon ship. The Captain, his wife, the crew, and the ship's dog were able to abandon the burning vessel in her two lifeboats. The J. Marhoffer continued north without the crew, a burning beacon visible in Depoe Bay
.
It wasn't long before the doomed vessel ran aground at Brigg's Landing, where a sizable crowd from the surrounding area had already gathered to watch the burning ship crash. Shortly after, the vessel was destroyed as a large explosion ripped through her. The explosion launched debris a half a mile to a mile inland. Nobody on shore was injured by the explosion.
One local described the event as follows:
He later added:
Meanwhile, the crew made their way to land, intending to put ashore at Fogarty Creek just north of the bay. A woman on shore used a red shirt to signal to the crew where they should put ashore. However, the crew took this to mean that the landing was unsafe and rowed back out to sea. They put ashore at Whale Cove
to the south of Depoe Bay. Of the crew, only the cook died of injuries received. He was the only fatality of the incident.
Lincoln City, Oregon
Lincoln City is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It is named after the county. The population was 7,930 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, United States. While underway to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
under Captain Gustav Peterson, the vessel caught fire and ran aground at Boiler Bay
Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint
Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park is one mile north of Depoe Bay, Oregon...
, then known as Brigg's Landing. Her boiler still sits in the small inlet and can be viewed on calm days.
The wreck
While underway to reload in Portland after dropping off her cargo in San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, an assistant engineer on board tried to light an unfamiliar design gas torch, while the chief engineer was napping in his cabin. However, his inexperience and determination to light the torch caused it to explode and throw burning fuel throughout the oil-soaked engine room. The flames spread quickly and soon much of the ship was ablaze, even before the burned engineer could make it on deck to alert the crew. The engine continued to run at speed, but was too hot for the crew to approach and flood it. Captain Peterson then ordered the crew to abandon ship. The Captain, his wife, the crew, and the ship's dog were able to abandon the burning vessel in her two lifeboats. The J. Marhoffer continued north without the crew, a burning beacon visible in Depoe Bay
Depoe Bay, Oregon
Depoe Bay is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States, located on U.S. Route 101 next to the Pacific Ocean. The population was 1,174 at the 2000 census, with an unofficial estimated population of 1,355 in 2007...
.
It wasn't long before the doomed vessel ran aground at Brigg's Landing, where a sizable crowd from the surrounding area had already gathered to watch the burning ship crash. Shortly after, the vessel was destroyed as a large explosion ripped through her. The explosion launched debris a half a mile to a mile inland. Nobody on shore was injured by the explosion.
One local described the event as follows:
- "I could see a small speck drift astern of here, and I figured it was the lifeboat with her people. Then she came charging in belching flames, sparks and smoke like a volcano."
He later added:
- "She piled onto the rocks with a helluva crunching crash, heeled way over to starboard, then lay there burning like a blast furnace. All of a sudden her tanks exploded and shot timbers, chunks of steel and flame clear up into the trees behind me, a quarter of a mile away,"
Meanwhile, the crew made their way to land, intending to put ashore at Fogarty Creek just north of the bay. A woman on shore used a red shirt to signal to the crew where they should put ashore. However, the crew took this to mean that the landing was unsafe and rowed back out to sea. They put ashore at Whale Cove
Whale Cove (Oregon)
Whale Cove is a small cove, approximately one-third of a mile in diameter, located on the Pacific Coast of Oregon in the United States, approximately 2 mi south of the city of Depoe Bay...
to the south of Depoe Bay. Of the crew, only the cook died of injuries received. He was the only fatality of the incident.