The Corinthian Incident, 1868.

George Howland Whalesite

The Corinthian Incident, 1868.

Courtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
Ship Corinthian in Tow of the Ship George Howland in the Arctic Ocean
Benjamin Russell
[Click on image to enlarge.]

The Corinthian Affair, 1868.

		1868 – Hawaiian Gazette Loss of a Whaler "Loss or a Whaler." The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu) October 21, 1868 p.3 Newspaper article.
A short newspaper account of how the ship Corinthian was lost in the Arctic on August 31, 1868.

		*1868 – Pacific Commercial Advertiser* – "Thank You Notes from the Captain and Crew of the Whaleship Corinthian."** "Cards from the Captain and Crew of the Whaleship Corinthian." The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Honolulu) October 24, 1868 p.3 Newspaper article.
Two cards expressing thanks to the ship George Howland from the captain and crew of the ship Corinthian for assistance given to them.

		1868 – Account of the Loss of Ship Corinthian. "Account of the Loss of Ship Corinthian." The Friend. (Honolulu) New Series, Vol. 18, No. 11. p.93. Newspaper article.
Richard H. K. Hedden, Steward of the wrecked ship Corinthian, Valentine Lewis, master, describes how the ship was lost August 31, 1868, on Blossom Shoals in the Arctic. As the ship had gone on beam ends when it hit the shoal, it righted after Captain Lewis had the masts cut down and oil and blubber being processed put overboard. The captain, three mates and their boats left the ship to seek assistance. Later, a half dozen ships came to assist the Corinthian with the ship George Howland taking off remaining crew and supervising the salvage of the wreck.

		*1868 – The Friend.* "Report of Ship George Howland."** "Report of Ship George Howland." The Friend. (Honolulu) New Series, Vol. 18, No. 11. p.96. Newspaper article.
Captain Knowles of the George Howland reports on his ship's season in the Arctic and his actions in relation to the rescue and salvage of the Ship Corinthian after its loss on Blossom Shoals. The captain describes towing the damaged ship from shoal water and his attemps to save the ship by anchoring it in St. Lawrence Bay.

		1868 – The Portland Daily Press – Marine Disasters: The Whaleship Corinthian. "Marine Disasters: The Whaleship Corinthian." The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu) November 2, 1868 p.3 Newspaper article.
One of the first reports of the loss of the ship Corinthian brought by a ship arriving from the arctic in a mainland port.

Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Feb 4, 2026