RICHARD P. BUCK
By Capt. Dan Berg

The 1,490 ton vessel, Richard P. Buck, was enroute from Philadelphia to San Francisco under the command of Captain Carver. She had a2,149 ton general cargo in her holds, which included kerosene and whiskey. On April 13, 1889, the vessel had encountered a violent storm, which caused extensive damage to her sails and rigging. After surviving the storm, the crewlater discovered the ship to be on fire. Captain Carver immediately summoned help and the steam tug, Gladisfen, proceeded to her aid. The Gladisfen towed the Buck to shore, but by this time the rapidly spreading fire, fueled by her flammable cargo, had engulfed the entire ship. The Bermuda Royal Gazette reported that "A very large number of spectators thronged the hills in the vicinity to witness the exciting, but sad spectacle, afforded by the brief destruction of so much valuable property."

Mike Davis reports that the burned remains of the Richard P. Buck can still be found off St. Georges. Divers will find some scattered wood beams and brass spikes 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.