1923 — Feb 20, barkentine Alta sails from San Pedro, CA for Bellingham, WA, lost — 16
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-10-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–38 Modesto Evening News, CA. “Warnings May Disclose Fate of Ships.” 5-17-1923, p. 2.
–35 crew
— 3 wife and two children of Captain Sexton.
–36 United Press. “2 Vessels Missing In Pacific Storms.” Santa Ana Register, CA. 4-23-1923, 1
–35 crew
— 1 wife of Captain Sexton.
–35 Oakland Tribune, CA. “S. F. Vessel Missing; Many Days Overdue…” 4-23-1923, B22.
–16 Santa Ana Register, CA. “Fear 16 Perished as News of Ship Lacking.” 6-2-1923, p. 1.
–12 Los Angeles harbor men
— 4 Captain Charles Sexon, his wife and two small children.
–15 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 202.
Narrative Information
Berman: “Alta Bkn. 1,381 [tons] 1900 [built] Feb 20 1924 Foundered Sailed from San Pedro, Calif., for Bellingham, Wash., and has not since reported.”
Newspaper
April 23: “San Francisco, April 23. – Another craft – this time a San Francisco vessel – has been added to the long list of missing ships. The four-masted barkentine Alta, which carries lumber between San Pedro and Bellingham, and is often a visitor at this port, melted into a gray fog bank off San Pedro sixty-two days age and has not been hear from since. No ship has reported seeing or speaking her. With favorable breezes, according to marine men, she should have made Bellingham in less than 15 days. The schooner Vigilant, with a smaller spread of canvas, left San Pedro about the same time the Alta put to sea, and fifteen days later dropped her anchor at Tatoosh, Wash.
“According to weather bureau officials, there was no calms nor severe weather off shore in the period that the Alta has been missing, and only winds that would have carried her along at their liveliest gait were reported.
“The barkentine was commanded by Captain Kirkpatrick of Bellingham and carried a crew of thirty-five men.
“Shipping men of the bay area are at a loss to account for the disappearance.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “S. F. Vessel Missing; Many Days Overdue. Barkentine Atta Not Sighted Since It Left San Pedro Two Months Ago.” 4-23-1923, p. B22.)
April 23, UP: “(By United Pres Leased Wire)
“San Francisco, April 23. – One vessel was sunk and one listed as missing and great anxiety expressed for a third as a result of storms and ship disasters on the Pacific over the week-end….
“The four masted Barkentine Alta, carrying a crew of thirty-five and with the wife of Captain Sexton aboard, was listed as missing. She left San Pedro, Calif. For Washington ports sixty-two das ago. The vessel has never been reported…” (United Press. “2 Vessels Missing In Pacific Storms.” Santa Ana Register, CA. 4-23-1923, 1.)
May 17: “Portland, May 17. – Contained in a brief and official formal warning to mariners issued today by Lt. N. M. Pigman, U.S.N., in charge of the local United Sates hydrographic office, may be a possible disclosure of the fate of one of two ships, recent victims of sea tragedies of the north Pacific. The notice reads: ‘The master of the barge Gratia reports passing a derelict 200 feet long, with only stanchions of forecastle head showing above water; apparently a sailing vessel burned to water’s edge. Sighted April 27 in approximate latitude 41:50 N., longitude 119;43 W. [unclear]. ‘Dangerous to navigation.’
“The barkentine Alta and the five masted schooner Elinor N., both sailing north Pacific waters, had recently been posted as missing. The Alta sailed from San Pedro, Calif., February 20, for Bellingham, Wash., with a crew of 35 under command of Captain Charles Sexon, who was accompanied by his wife and two children….” (Modesto Evening News, CA. “Warnings May Disclose Fate of Ships.” 5-17-1923, p. 2.)
June 2: “San Pedro, June 2. – With the passing of 102 days without any word from the four-masted steel barkentine ‘Alta’ shipping men said today they believed the ship went to the bottom somewhere between Santa Barbara and Bellingham, Wesh.
“Since she passed out of the Santa Barbara channel on the evening of February 20, nothing has been heard of the wind jammer. Her crew included twelve Los Angeles harbor men, Captain Charles Sexon, his wife and two small children. She was provisioned for 20 days.
“Gales which swept the sea several hundred miles off the California coast in March probably account for the Alta’s fate, it is believed. She was made of steel, which discredits the theory that fire may have brought her to her end.” (Santa Ana Register, CA. “Fear 16 Perished as News of Ship Lacking.” 6-2-1923, p. 1.)
Sources
Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.
Modesto Evening News, CA. “Warnings May Disclose Fate of Ships.” 5-17-1923, p. 2. Accessed 4-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/modesto-evening-news-may-17-1923-p-4/
Oakland Tribune, CA. “S. F. Vessel Missing; Many Days Overdue. Barkentine Atta Not Sighted Since It Left San Pedro Two Months Ago.” 4-23-1923, p. B22. Accessed 4-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-apr-23-1923-p-22/
Santa Ana Register, CA. “Fear 16 Perished as News of Ship Lacking.” 6-2-1923, p. 1. Accessed 4-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-daily-evening-register-jun-02-1923-p-1/
United Press. “2 Vessels Missing In Pacific Storms.” Santa Ana Register, CA. 4-23-1923, 1. Accessed 4-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-daily-evening-register-apr-23-1923-p-1/