From collection Charles Coombs Collection
Government Steamer on Bradbury Isle ledges Aug 1897
Lighthouse tender ARMERIA on Bradbury Isle ledges Aug 1897 Boston Daily Advertiser, Thursday, August 19, 1897: A wrecking expedition consisting of tugboats KATE JONES, Capt. Evans: WILLIAM SPRAGUE, Capt. Dolan: and JUNO, Capt. Smith; with the lighters AID and MYRTLE tow large pontoons, divers, left Boston August 18, 1897 in the afternoon for Bradbury Island Me., where an attempt will be made to float the U. S. Lighthouse tender ARMERIA, which stranded at that place Monday. The government made contract with the towboat company with the towboat company through Col. Livermore. The expedition will be in the charge of W. J. Flynn, the superintendent of the Boston Towboat Company. Bangor Daily Whig & Courier (Bangor, Maine), Wednesday, August 25, 1897 AMERICA to be repaired at Bath Bath, Me., August 24, 1897 The U. S. Lighthouse supply steamer ARMERIA arrived in Bath this morning in tow of the U. S. steamers LILAC and MYRTLE assisted by the tug Ralph Ross. The ARMERIA was gotten off the rocks at Bradbury's Island east Penobscot Bay, las Sunday and towed into Northwest Harbor, Deer isle, where a diver examined her. He found her not seriously hurt and the steamers and tow started for Bath early Monday morning. Last night they remained at Boothbay. The ARMERIA is not leaking badly and a donkey pump easily keeps her free. She will be hauled on the marine railway in Bath. HISTORY AND SPECIFICATIONS Lighthouse tender ARMERIA, 1890 Builder: John H. Dialague, Camden, New Jersey Commissioned: 4 December 1890 Decommissioned: Wrecked on 20 May 1912; hulk sold at auction in 1914 Length: 201' 8" Beam: 34' 9" Draft: 17' 7" Propulsion: Independent vertical compound steam engine with two HP cylindrical Scotch-type coal fired boilers producing 1,350 horsepower. Complement: 7 officers, 27 crewmen (1908) Armament: None History: ARMERIA, was a lighthouse tender built in 1890 at Camden, New Jersey for a cost of $178,930.09, She served the Third Light House District out of New York. During the Spanish-American war, she was transferred to the Navy from the Lighthouse Service on 24 March 1898 and was converted for naval service at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Armeria's commissioning date in the Navy is unknown, but her commanding officer was LCDR Leavitt Curtis Logan. Assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron for the duration of hostilities in the Spanish-American War, she made two voyages from the United States to Cuba carrying ammunition. She entered Key West, Florida, on 9 August 1898 and, two days later, she was returned to the Lighthouse Service. In 1907 Armeria transferred to the Thirteenth Light House District. She again moved, in 1911, to the newly established Sixteenth Light House District out of Ketchikan, Alaska, becoming the first tender permanently assigned to Alaska. She grounded on 20 May 1912 while landing supplies for the Cape Hinchinbrook Lighthouse. She was declared a total loss.
