The stranding of USS Milwaukee, not unexpected by those familar with local conditions, brought a large crowd to Samoa Beach, both to spectate and to help. As the fog lifted in mid-morning on 13 January 1917, it was clear that extensive work would be needed to rescue the cruiser's crew. Initially, a line rigged from ship to shore brought men ashore by breeches buoy -- a slow process that subjected its passengers to frequent dunkings as the ship's rolling tightened and loosened the line. Two surfboats were then put to use, manned by volunteers from among the onlookers. Assisted by gradually moderating surf, work continued until evening, when all on board the Milwaukee were safely ashore.
Most of the survivors (there were no lives lost, and few injuries) were sent by train to the Mare Island Navy Yard within a few days, while others remained behind to begin the long task of salvaging equipment and stores from Milwaukee's wreck. Upon due reflection, the Navy turned back to the private sector to recover the H-3, whose stranding a month earlier had begun the whole affair.
Some fifty years later, in the February 1967 issue of the "U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings" (pages 34-49), Captain Harvey Haislip, USN (Retired), who was intimately familiar with the affair, related the whole tale. His title, "The Valor of Inexperience", elegantly summarizes cause and effect of a costly encounter with the dangers of the Pacific Coast and the inherent risks of marine salvage work.
Another informative article on the affair was published in the Fall 1981 issue of "California History -- The Magazine of the California Historical Society" (pages 210-227). Entitled "Maritime Fiasco on the Northern California Coast", and authored by Lynwood Carranco, it draws extensively on local sources, as well as on Haislip's earlier work.
This page features all the views we have concerning rescue operations following the stranding of USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) at Samoa Beach, California, on 13 January 1917.
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Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
For more pictures of, or related to, this event, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions. |
Page made 31 May 2004
Text added 13 June 2004