SS Louisa

The building materials and stone massonary were delivered from Okaso to Shoreline 106 by water. It was the fastest, cheapest route. And as the lighthouse was built along a cliff, a special hoist could lift materials directly from the ship upwards to the builders.

 

SS Louisa sailed nearly two weeks, making a round trip in 18 hours to deliver the majority of the neccessary equipment and supplies. As Matthew Phelps had no one at home to watch his children, he often had them aboard. By accounts in the logbook, the three daughters enjoyed ship life, helping in the galley, even learning basic navigation.

 

It was expected that Phelps would have continued his career in the merchant marine as a skilled and capable ship master. Unfortunately he died in the shipwreck, along with 2 of his daughters. Only the youngest girl, Olivia, survived.

This is a picture of the actual logbook. It was recovered after the disaster. Most of the entries are routine watch or course corrections. Weather and water current observations. The entries date from 1895 when Shoreline 106 was being constructed, after 104 and 105.

 

In fact, it was probably this disaster that haulted the construction of additional Shoreline lighthouses. The investigation and insurance claims dragged for another half dozen years and by that time, there was little interest in building another. Investements into more railways became the trend.

 

Sadly, water routes were no longer the most efficient way to transport people or items.

 

The natural question to ask is what exactly happened? How did the SS Louisa sink? Does the logbook contain the answers?

 

The logbook contains only clues, hints. 

 

Leading up to the evening, in calm waters, when the ship went down with all hands, there are several reports of disiplinary actions taken on the crew. Even in these enlightened times, the sailers had concerns of women (girls actually, aged 14, 12 and 10) onboard. One sailer was docked a week's pay for opening saying the girls were witches. Nonsense, of course, pure supersition. 

 

At the same time, stories of long, blackish tentacles being seen just below the water's surface started. Sailers claimed these things were knocking against the hull at night. They were unable to identify the animal or animals attached to them.

 

 

Olivia, the sole survivor, said the sailors became very agitated during Saturday, April 30, 1895. The logbook cannot back this up. However, it is noted Phelps order all crew to the deck for watch duty. Additional oil lanterns were issued.

 

Olivia claims the boat lurched twice rapidly. Her older sisters oddly insisted she put on a life preserver and move to the highest point on the quarter deck. Apparently, at this time, one of the oil lights had tipped over, causing a fire. Olivia remembers one more lurch before being thrust overboard. She swam westward toward the shore. Behind her, the ship became covered in flames.

 

She was found the following morning, water logged. She was nursed for several months at what would become the Sheridan Institute. Tragically, there were no other survivors.

 

Years later, she would marry one of the doctors from the institute. They started a drug store to make ends meet. This eventually became the wine shoppe we know and love today.