Brother Jonathan (steamer)

[jeff of pa]

The San Francisco Examiner​

Fri, Oct 03, 1879 ·Page 3

Brother Jonathan was a paddle steamer that struck an uncharted rock near Point St. George, off the coast of Crescent City, California, on July 30, 1865. The ship was carrying 244 passengers and crew, with a large shipment of gold. Only 19 people survived, making it the deadliest shipwreck up to that time on the Pacific Coast of the United States. Based on the passenger and crew list, 225 people are believed to have died. Its location was not discovered until 1993 and a portion of the gold was recovered in 1996
About 4.5 mi (7.2 km) SW of Point St. George

 

[Oregon Viking]

View attachment 2235696

The San Francisco Examiner​

Fri, Oct 03, 1879 ·Page 3
View attachment 2235697

Brother Jonathan was a paddle steamer that struck an uncharted rock near Point St. George, off the coast of Crescent City, California, on July 30, 1865. The ship was carrying 244 passengers and crew, with a large shipment of gold. Only 19 people survived, making it the deadliest shipwreck up to that time on the Pacific Coast of the United States. Based on the passenger and crew list, 225 people are believed to have died. Its location was not discovered until 1993 and a portion of the gold was recovered in 1996

Yep ! We locals fish around Point St. George lighthouse.

 

[Mackaydon]

The wreck has been found and partiallly salvaged. Operations were stopped by the government. Some of the cargo (gold coins, etc.) was sold at auction receiving high bids. There is still more in the vessel and in the debris field, but getting a permit is not going to happen.
Don in SoCal

 

[Physics guy]

More detail on the recovery by Deep Sea Research and their legal battle with State of California, ultimately resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court:

Brother Jonathan (steamer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Physics guy]

Also from the above Wikipedia article, there’s this:

“Despite the gold coins already discovered and brought up, crates of gold from Brother Jonathan still remain hidden and undisturbed. The large safe with its millions of dollars of jewels, gold bars, and gold was never found. The salvors estimate that four-fifths of the treasure is still waiting to be discovered—mere miles from land.”

Per the SCOTUS decision, State of California now owns the wreck, but they could presumably grant a future salvor a share if they wanted to.

 

[Red_desert]

Also from the above Wikipedia article, there’s this:

“Despite the gold coins already discovered and brought up, crates of gold from Brother Jonathan still remain hidden and undisturbed. The large safe with its millions of dollars of jewels, gold bars, and gold was never found. The salvors estimate that four-fifths of the treasure is still waiting to be discovered—mere miles from land.”

Per the SCOTUS decision, State of California now owns the wreck, but they could presumably grant a future salvor a share if they wanted to.

Keywords for state of California --- if they wanted to