J. A. Chanslor Explained

The J. A. Chanslor was an oil tanker built in 1910 which was wrecked off of Cape Blanco, Oregon, on 18 December 1919, with only three survivors of the 38 crew.

History

The J. A. Chanslor was a 4,936 Gross register ton^[1] or 4,938 ton capacity^[2] oil tanker built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company at Newport News, Virginia, in 1910. It was 378 feet in length with a beam of 52 feet. It had a draft of 29.5 feet.

The ship was named for J. A. Chanslor, who, with Charles A. Canfield, formed the Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Company, which began drilling operations in the Midway oil field in late 1901. Canfield's oil interests were eventually assimilated into the Associated Oil Company.

Owned by the Associated Oil Company, her home port was San Francisco, California.^[1]

Accident

Early on Thursday night, 18 December 1919, while en route from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco,^[3] the ship struck rocks off of Cape Blanco, on the southern Oregon coast, in dense fog^[2] and sank. On course at noon, a strong cross-current swept the steamer out of her plot, unknown to her crew, and in the poor visibility, the jagged rocks were not observed until it was too late, according to a statement made by her captain, recovering in hospital in Bandon. The ship struck at 6 p.m. and split with the stern and after half of the hull dropping away immediately. No one in the engine room had a chance to escape.^[4] The vessel broke in two and only the bridge is showing above the sea.^[2] Fifteen men of the 36 crew escaped the foundering vessel in a single lifeboat but only three made it ashore alive. No passengers were carried, this being contrary to company regulations.^[2]

The life boat drifted north during Thursday night and Friday to a point 30 miles north of Cape Blanco, and about four miles north of Bandon, but overturned in the surf while attempting to reach shore.^[2]

The rescued men were reported recovering in hospital after their ordeal.^[5]

A representative of the Associated Oil Company was expected at Marshfield, Oregon, on 22 December to make arrangements for sending the bodies to the San Francisco Company headquarters.^[5] Captain Johnson, of the U. S. Coast Guard, inspected the wrecked vessel on Sunday 21 December, and hoped a diver could approach the site as conditions improved and became the most favorable since the ship struck the rocks.^[5]

Efforts were made on 23–24 December to reach the sunken vessel to recover the bodies, but little hope was given that this would succeed.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Mariners' Museum Online Catalog. catalogs.marinersmuseum.org. 2019-12-23.
2. United Press, “40 Drowned Tanker Wreck - Tanker J. A. Chanslor Hits Reef and Goes to Pieces Off Cape Blanco, Ore. - Captain And 12 Of Crew Are Rescued - Manned Lifeboat and Got to Shore - Boat on Way Portland to S. F.,” Riverside Daily Press, Riverside, California, Saturday 20 December 1919, Volume XXXIV, Number 302, page 1.
3. Wire service, “36 Death Toll In Wreck Of Tanker - Steamer Chanslor Is Sent on Rock by Strong Cross Current - Survivors In Hospital - Men Cling to Life Boat Until They Can Endure Cold No Longer.” The Sacramento Union, Sacramento, California, Sunday 21 December 1919, 69th year, Volume 211, Number 51, page 1.
4. Associated Press, “Captain Relates Graphic Story Of Shipwreck - Tank Steamer J. A. Chanslor Loses Course During Big Storm and Heavy Fog,” The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 21 December 1919, Volume XLVI, Number 112, page 2.
5. United Press, “All Hope Is Abandoned Of Saving Missing Men,” Riverside Daily Press, Riverside, California, Monday 22 December 1919, Volume XXXIV, Number 303, page 2.
6. United Press, “Will Attempt To Get To Wrecked Tanker - Unless Diver Can Get to Aft Section of Vessel There is No Hope of Getting Out Bodies of Drowned Sailors - Four Bodies Washed Ashore,” Riverside Daily Press, Riverside, California, Tuesday Evening 23 December 1919, Volume XXXIV, Number 304, page 1.