BLANCH KING
By Capt. Dan Berg
Photo dead eyes from the
Blanch King. Photos by Stephen Kerr
The American schooner, Blanch King, was built in 1887 by New
England S.B. Company, Bath, Maine, for T.T. Anderson. She was 192
feet long, 42feet wide and displaced 1,156 gross tons and 1021 net
tons. According to her Certificate of Registry, she had two decks,
four masts, a Billet head and an Elliptic stern. During her career,
she was sold five times. Her last owner was the U.S. Shipping
Company.
The Blanch King was en route from Norfolk to Bermuda under
the command of Captain Pattison. On December 2, 1920, with a cargo
of coal, she was stranded on the southwest reefs and sunk. At the
time of her loss, she had eight crew men aboard; all got off safely.
This wreck now sits in 35 feet of water in a sand hole surrounded by
shallow reefs. Cable and rigging are scattered across the
surrounding reefs. Within her main wreckage is the center board box
for her retractable keel. Divers will also notice some machinery and
a capstan on the site.
The information listed
above was taken with permission from the Book:
BERMUDA SHIPWRECKS, ISBN # 0-9616167-4-1
A Vacationing Divers Guide to Bermudas Shipwrecks,
by Dan and Denise Berg, 6x9 softcover,73 pages.
Retail $14.95
From the first quarter of the 16th century, Bermuda became a
landmark for Spanish ships sailing back to Spain from the New World.
The desire to sight Bermuda to confirm their position often ended
their voyage as they wrecked on Bermuda's outer reefs. To this day
Bermuda's treacherous reefs have taken their toll on shipping. The
reefs have claimed vessels ranging from ocean lines to small fishing
boats. Bermuda Shipwrecks is the most comprehensive, accurate,
illustrated collection of information, photographs, sketches and
stories ever written about the legendary wrecks around Bermuda.
Bermuda Shipwrecks includes over 100 illustrations comprised of 61
sensational color photos, 17 rare b&w historical images, 19 stamps,
4 sketches plus one map. Bermuda Shipwrecks contains a wealth of
enlightening information that gives the readers a nostalgic glimpse
into the history and present condition of over 55 of Bermuda's most
popular Shipwrecks.
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