Raincoast Chronicles 21

West Coast Wrecks and Other Maritime Tales

A special edition of Raincoast Chronicles dips into the rich history of maritime stories and shipwreck lore, creating a rollicking coastal record that is both haunting and enticing. In West Coast Wrecks and Other Maritime Tales, archeologist Rick James re-lives many high seas adventures and provides a background to an important maritime narrative.

There is the story of the Geo S. Wright—an American steamer that was thought to go down somewhere near Cape Caution. There may have been survivors, but after the wreck was reported to authorities, the story became more and more convoluted as rumours in newspapers became increasingly sensationalized. At the center of the story was Alden Westly (“West”) Huson, the Alert Bay storekeeper who informed Victoria’s Daily British Colonist of the wreck, saying “I have no doubt but that all are past and gone.” However, as the book presents various artifacts and newspaper articles from the time, we find out that there may have been more going on with West Huson than meets the eye.

Unique coastal characters step forward and tell their stories, including old towboaters like Joe Quilty, who risked his life as a matter of course. He recounts having to toss an elderly woman from a sinking barge toward the foredeck of a tug, where the crew was waiting to catch her with a tarp.

Rick James also relates how Wreck Beach got its name and how Cape Horn windjammers ended up as part of a hulk breakwater in Royston, BC. He relays stories of deep-water sailors who traveled the sea lanes of the world, and those who spent most of their time on inside waters, going from remote coast logging camps to south coast lumber mills. And of course, what would a book about BC’s maritime history be without Easthope engines. They were heavy-duty, slow-turning and easy to repair, and they happened to be the first gasoline marine engines that were manufactured in Vancouver.

The maritime history of BC is always fascinating, though sometimes tragic. Raincoast Chronicles 21: West Coast Wrecks and Other Maritime Tales is an essential book for anybody who is interested in coastal heritage, or simply in need of a good story.

Find out more information about the book at Harbour Publishing.

ISBN 13: 978-1-55017-545-5
ISBN 10: 1-55017-545-9
8.5 x 11, 128 pp, Paperback, $24.95
75 BW photographs