1924 — March 12, Ward line freighter Santiago sinks, storm, 60M off Cape Hatteras NC – 25

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-30-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–25  Berman, Bruce D.  Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 144.

–25  International News. “10 Survivors of Ill Fated Santiago…” Ames Daily Tribune, IA. 3-13-1924, p1.

–25  NavSource Online. “Santiago (ID 2253).”

–25  Stick. Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast. 1952, p. 255.

Narrative Information

NavSource Online. “Santiago (ID 2253).”

“Freighter:

“Built in 1906 as Tabaristan by William Hamilton and Co., Ltd., Port Glasgow, Scotland for the Anglo-Algerian Steamship Co., Ltd. (Strick Line)

….

“Sold in 1907 to Cia. Cubana de Nav. of Cuba (New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Co, managers), and renamed Santiago

“Transferred in 1914 to the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Co. of New York

“Acquired by the Navy 3 June 1918

“Commissioned USS Santiago (ID 2253), 11 June 1918

“Decommissioned 21 March 1919 at New York and transferred to the United States Shipping Board for return to her owner

“Abandoned 11 March 1924, 60 miles south of Cape Hatteras, NC while on a voyage from Cienfuegos, Cuba to New York with a cargo of sugar. Heavy seas broached No. 2 hatch and some of the crew were washed overboard in a vain attempt to make the hatch secure. The ship flooded and sank 12 March 1924. Twenty five of the crew were lost, ten men were picked up from a boat.”

Newspaper

March 12, AP: “Charleston, S.C., March 12. – The Steamship Santiago, has sunk sixty miles south of Cape Hatteras according to a radio message intercepted today by the Charleston navy yard wireless station. The wireless message sent by the Norwegian steamship Cissy, reported picking up of one life boat containing eleven survivors. The message was received as follows:

Picked up life boat containing six sailors, four firemen, one carpenter, from the Steamer Santiago, which sank sixty miles south of Hatteras. No other life boars seen, signed ‘Captain.’

(Associated Press. “S. S. Santiago Sinks 60 Miles Off Hatteras.” The Manitowoc Herald News, WI. 3-12-1924, p. 1.)

March 13, International News: “By International News. Norfolk, Va., March 13. – Maritime authorities today awaited word from the Norwegian steamer Cissy, with 10 survivors aboard from the Ward line freighter Santiago that foundered in the Atlantic storm with the probable loss of 25 men, 60 miles south of Cape Hatteras, early yesterday [March 12].

“The Santiago, with a cargo of sugar, was en route from Matanzas, Cuba, to New York. She carried a crew of 35 men. The 10 survivors were picked up in a life boat y the Cissy. The Cissy, under command of Capt. Nels Stinessen, saw no more boats or survivors in the vicinity. The waves were running mountain high….” (International News. “10 Survivors of Ill Fated Santiago Are Aboard Cissy.” The Ames Daily Tribune, IA. 3-13-1924, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “S. S. Santiago Sinks 60 Miles Off Hatteras.” The Manitowoc Herald News, WI. 3-12-1924, p. 1. Accessed 3-30-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-news-mar-12-1924-p-1/

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

International News. “10 Survivors of Ill Fated Santiago Are Aboard Cissy.” The Ames Daily Tribune, IA. 3-13-1924, p. 1. Accessed 3-30-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/ames-daily-tribune-and-ames-evening-times-mar-13-1924-p-1/

NavSource Online. “Santiago (ID 2253).” Accessed 3-30-2025 at: https://www.navsource.org/archives/12/172253.htm

Stick, David. Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast. 1952.  Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=jjZXyzPrhpgC&pg=PA242&dq=Stick,+David.++Graveyard+of+the+Atlantic:+Shipwrecks+of+the+North+Carolina+Coast.+1952,&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false