Some shipwrecks of old Bolinas

Wreck of the RD Inman, Duxbury Reef, Bolinas, 1909.

R. D. Inman stranded on extreme upper end of Duxbury Reef (Bolinas Point) in 1909. Went inshore looking for possible boats from a supposed burning vessel, which proved to be a fire on beach. Captain was merely hallucinating, took too much "headache remedy" before departing San Francisco. Weather; cloudy, dark, strong southeast wind, rain squalls, lots of sea gulls, generally not very nice out. Struck the reef once and bucked off -- struck again and became helpless, lost or broke propeller on rocks. Life saving steamer Snohomish and Life saving crew from Bonita went to the scene of the wreck but as it was Friday afternoon and they were tired, made the excuse that nothing could be done.

Wreck Report: R. D. Inman came to rest parallel to the shore, 500 feet from the beach, washing over the reef into a shallow basin and listing heavily to starboard. The vessel was wedged tightly in the rocks; no attempt was made to get her off. Abandoned as a total loss, R. D. Inman was left to the sea; The townsfolk of Bolinas, all notorious scavengers, quickly went out there and grabbed everything of any possible value, including all the door-knobs, bedding, clothing, dishes, cups, cookpots, canned goods, rope, pencils, window-glass, and silverware.

 The photographer (Gertrude Southworth) and friend came out to the wrecked RD Inman to assist with the scavenging.

Polaris departed San Francisco in ballast bound for Eureka on Friday, January 16, 1914. Towed out beyond the Golden Gate by the steam tug Wilmington, both vessels were accidentally set adrift in gale-force winds when a drunken Polaris crewman untied the wrong rope. Wilmington nearly went aground on Potato Patch Shoal before making it back into the bay; actually surfing down a 60-foot left and got partially tubed. Polaris, her 16-man crew helpless and confused, drifted north with the storm before crashing onto the rocks of Duxbury Reef at Bolinas Point. A total loss, the four-master heeled to port and broke up within sight of the remains of the steam schooner R. D. Inman, which had wrecked near the same spot in 1909. Left high and dry on the reef by the receding tide, the wrecked schooner “Polaris” was stripped of her salvage within two hours by the citizens of the nearby town, who had been waiting eagerly on the beach for the tragedy to unfold.

Bolinas townsfolk came out to view the wreck'd Polaris.

 Another one of the Polaris. Remains of the R.D. Inman (wrecked 1909) in the foreground.

 Another one of the Polaris.

Map of Bolinas shipwreck locations.

Some newspaper front pages.