Pilot boat George Peabody on the coast of Japan. Sketched for The San Francisco Call by William A. Coulter.
History
United States
NameGeorge Peabody
Owner
  • Boston Pilots
  • Samuel Henry Burtis
OperatorSamuel Henry Burtis
Launched1867
Out of serviceDecember 24, 1893
HomeportPort of San Francisco
FateSank
General characteristics
Tons burthen54 Tonnage[1]
Length71 ft 0 in (21.64 m)
Beam20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
Depth8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
Propulsionschooner sail
Sail planSchooner-rigged

George Peabody was a 19th-century pilot boat built in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867, for San Francisco pilots. She was in the San Francisco pilot service for twenty-seven years. The Peabody was sold in 1893 to Captain Samuel H. Burtis and sailed to Yokohama, Japan for fishing and Seal hunting. In March 1895, she went ashore off the coast of Japan while working in the sealing trade.

Construction and service

George Peabody, No. 3, was a fast-sailing Boston pilot-boat that was built in 1867, for San Francisco pilots. She was the last of the Boston pilot boats brought to Port of San Francisco for use in the Golden Gate. All the later boats were built in the West Coast. She was a replacement for the San Francisco pilot boat Caleb Curtis, which was wrecked inside the Bonita Channel outside Golden Gate Bridge on April 11, 1867, while attempting to cross the bar on her way to relieve the pilot boat J. C. Cousins.[2][3] The Peabody was in the pilot service for twenty-seven years. She was 71 feet in length, 20.8 beam, 8 foot depth[2]: p211  and 54-tons burden[1]

The George Peabody sailed to San Francisco from Boston on the October 5, 1867.[4] She was cleared for San Francisco with Captain William Chatfield of Thayer & Peabody of Boston.[5] She arrived in San Francisco on February 11, 1868, after a 124-day journey from Boston, via Rio de Janeiro. She was assigned to Stevens and Baker.[6]

On July 6, 1883, the Peabody was rammed by a Mexican steamer General Zaragoza. She was able to reach safety without sinking and was repaired. Captain Turner supervised her repairs.[7][2]: p211 

End of service

Pilot Schooner George Peabody, No. 3, of San Francisco sailing by the Farallon Islands.

On December 24, 1893, the George Peabody, No. 3, was sold[8] to Captain Samuel Henry Burtis, Jr. and others. She was refitted and taken to Yokohama, Japan for fishing and Seal hunting.[9]

In April 1894, the Peabody had a narrow escape when a typhoon broke over the boat near Yokohama. Two men went overboard but were able to swim back to the boat. The captain was able to bring the ship about and the crew were able to bail her out. The weather broke and they were able to safely bring her back to Yokohama.[10]

The Peabody went ashore on the coast of near Yokohama, Japan on March 13, 1895, when she was working in the sealing trade. The crew and a portion of the cargo were saved but the boat was a total loss. She was commanded by Captain Samuel H. Burtis.[1][2]: p211  A sketch was made by William A. Coulter for an article that appeared in The San Francisco Call about the accident.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Crushed In The Breakers. The Schooner George Peabody Goes Ashore On The Japan Coast". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. 16 Mar 1895. p. 14. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: Wooden Boat Publications. p. 211. ISBN 9780937822692.
  3. ↑ "From California". New England Farmer. Boston, Massachusetts. 20 Apr 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  4. ↑ "New Pilot Boat". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 19 Oct 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  5. ↑ "Cleared This Morning". Boston Evening Transcript. Boston, Massachusetts. 5 Oct 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  6. ↑ "New Pilot Boat". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 11 Feb 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  7. ↑ "A Collision Outside the Heads". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 7 Jul 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  8. ↑ "Into The Bay. Launch of a Pilot-Boat, Gracie S." The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. 24 Dec 1893. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  9. ↑ "Local Brevities". The Independent. Santa Barbara, California. 19 Nov 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  10. ↑ "In A Typhoon. The Peabody Has A Narrow Escape". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. 23 May 189. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
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