| Summary: | Formerly the Frank D. Stout shown in the surf, 1898 (Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society Note). The steamer Corona sailed from Seattle, WA with 247 passengers on a schedule to Juneau, Dyea and Skagway. She left Seattle on January 20th and on January 23rd she wrecked on a reef at the southeast point of Lewis Island 480 miles north of Victoria, BC, Canada, and opposite the mouth of the Skeena River. In addition to the 247 passengers she carried a cargo of 700 tons, along with 10 horses and 38 dogs, At 0505 Monday morning, when in what is known as Arthur's Passage, the steamer suddenly crashed on the reef. Seven boats were manned and all the passengers were landed in two trips without incident. The hand luggage and all that which was in the foward hold was then transferred. Then the dogs and horses were saved. Mattresses and blankets were also salvaged for the shipwrecked passengers. By 0900 the CORONA settled so far that the fires under the main boilers were extinguished. Captain Pierce then orderd the Purser to take the mail ashore and at 1115 he orderd the crew ashore and he himself followed. Twenty minutes later the ship sank, stern foremost with the bow hanging upon the rock upon which she struck. On the following Wednesday - Captain Pierce was rescued by the Steamer DANUBE, the rest of the passengers and crew were picked up by the Steamers ALKI and ELDER. The CORONA was built in Philadelphia in 1888 at a cost of $200,000. She was insured for $120,000. This information was taken from a New York Times Article published on Janury 30, 1898. 1 negative: b&w; 4 x 5 in.
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