View source for SS Oakland (1890)

{{Short description|1890 General cargo/passenger ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=New South Wales Colony
|Ship flag={{flagicon|New South Wales|size=60px}}
|Ship name=''Oakland''
|Ship namesake=Owner's Residence, Richmond, New South Wales
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Murray Brothers, [[Dumbarton]], Scotland
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=20 February 1890
|Ship acquired=1890
|Ship sponsor=William T Yeager
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service= 27 August 1890
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship reclassified= 
|Ship identification=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Foundered, 26 May 1903
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship type= Coastal cargo ship
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|398}}
|Ship length={{convert|154|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|oa]]
|Ship beam={{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|10|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} (max)
|Ship power= 70 hp
|Ship propulsion=*1 × triple-expansion [[Steam engine]]
*1 × [[Propeller|screw]]
|Ship speed= 8-9 knots
|Ship range=
|Ship complement= 17
|Ship notes=}}
|}

'''SS ''Oakland''''' was a small general cargo/passenger ship commissioned in 1890, [[Dumbarton]], Scotland, for [[New South Wales]], Australia, timber merchant William T Yeager.  It sank off [[Cabbage Tree Island (John Gould Nature Reserve)|Cabbage Tree Island]], New South Wales, in 1903, with the loss of 11 lives.

==Origin and early service==
To the order of William Yeager, the small coaster ''Oakland'' was built by Murray Bros. of Dumbarton, near [[Glasgow]], Scotland, and completed in February 1890.  Under the command of Capt. Rice, it left Scotland for New South Wales on 10 May 1890,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/wrecked-on-rocks/OAKLAND_4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316005129/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/wrecked-on-rocks/OAKLAND_4.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 March 2015|title=Clydebuilt, Wrecked Ships on Rocks and Reefs|access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> arriving Sydney on 7 August 1890.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=13 August 1890|title=The Oakland, New Steamer for the Richmond River Trade|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71716758|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  Configured purely as a general cargo carrier, she commenced her coastal trade the next month under master Capt. Benjamin Alley.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=26 September 1890|title=The New Steamer Oakland|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127722796|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  By April the next year, accommodations had been added to serve passengers on her Sydney-Newcastle-Richmond River run<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=26 April 1891|title=The SS Oakland|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141003431|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> and, by June 1896, still under the command of master Alley, she would carry as many as 30 passengers, as well as livestock, on her voyages.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=5 June 1896|title=The Oakland Episode|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126300198|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  The vessel faced significant challenges on this service, not least being entrance to [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]], its northern destination, only being possible across the bar at high tide.

==Incidents==

On 23 December 1891, the ''Oakland'' ran aground on the southern breakwater at Ballina, sustaining damage.  Attempts to refloat her by offloading her cargo of timber, sugar and other cargo were unsuccessful and gear was later brought in to complete the salvage.  The ''Protector'' was seriously damaged in an attempt to render assistance.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=31 December 1891|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127728066|title=The Steamer Oakland|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

In the early hours of 24 June 1893, in clear weather, the ''Oakland'' collided with the ''Sydney'' off Bird Island, near [[Budgewoi, New South Wales]], sailing on to Newcastle with her port bow bulged in.  She was operated by The Newcastle and Hunter River SS Company and mastered by Capt. Alley, though the second mate was in charge at the time.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 June 1893|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13936441|title=Accident off the Coast|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>  A Marine Board inquiry resulted in Alley being reprimanded for lax discipline and breach of steering and sailing rules.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 July 1893|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13917100|title=Marine Board|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

In June 1895, also on its usual Sydney-to-Ballina run, a seasick steerage passenger fell overboard and drowned.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|date=4 June 1895|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9361054|title=Accident on the SS Oakland|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

On 14 April 1897, she lost two blades of her propeller when crossing the bar at Ballina though she continued on to Sydney.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=19 April 1897|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136552272|title=Accident to the Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  She had run aground on the bar on 31 August 1896 and this was repeated on 9 August 1897, 22 August and 21 December 1898,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=1 September 1896|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/135768385|title=A Steamer Aground|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=10 August 1897|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134880133|title=The Oakland Ashore|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 August 1898|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14135539|title=The Oakland Aground|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=22 December 1898|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14191809|title=The Steamship Oakland Aground|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> and again at the Richmond River (probably the bar again) in July 1899.  She was refloated undamaged on each occasion.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 July 1899|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14221469|title=The Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

On 11 February 1901, she sustained damage and began taking on water after striking ground twice during passage between North Evans Reef and Evans Head, then, upon arrival at Ballina, she was grounded on the bar.  A Marine Court held an inquiry into the incident, concluding that master William Slater was free from blame for either mishap, the first being due to an uncharted rock and the second wrong official information about the depth of water over the bar.  Having been on suspension, Slater was reinstated after the finding. Second mate James Langlands was also brought before the same inquiry.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Evening News|date=13 March 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114025965|title=Grounding of the Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=24 May 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136091001|title=Grounding of the Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

On 27 July 1901, the ''Oakland'' collided with the ''Sarah L Hixson'' on the Richmond River, Ballina.  A Court of Marine Inquiry absolved the master of blame.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=30 Aug 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127888307|title=Oakland-Sarah Hixson Collision|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>  The passenger saloon had been removed the previous year, returning her to her original pure cargo configuration.<ref name = "RRH19030605">{{cite news|newspaper=The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=5 June 1903|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127888591|title=The Steamer Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

On 26 August 1901, just three days after the court's hearing on the ''Hixson'' collision, the ''Oakland'' ran aground on the north side of the southern breakwater at the mouth of the Richmond River, causing extensive damage and was considered a total wreck.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=29 Aug 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136090464|title=The Wrecked Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  She was then under the ownership of the North Coast Steamship Navigation Company and command of Capt. Daniel Molloy.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian Star|date=27 Aug 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/228280465|title=The Oakland Ashore|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  Although attempting entry some minutes after the flood tide signal had been lowered, the master was found blameless for running aground in insufficient draft by a Marine Court of Inquiry.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Northern Star|date=2 October 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72079389|title=Stranding of the Oakland, The Captain Exonerated|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  Five days after this finding, reports of her refloat on 1 October 1901 were met with surprise by the shipping industry generally.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=2 October 1901|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138484074|title=The Oakland Ashore|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  After an extensive overhaul in Sydney, she returned to service on 16 February 1902, plying her old route to Richmond Heads.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|date=18 February 1902|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/135341090|title=The Steamer Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  She was placed under the command of Capt. Beech.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 February 1902|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14448035|title=The Anglo-Japanese Treaty|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

==Foundered==
On 27 May 1903, the ''Oakland'' met her end when she foundered in seas described as "terrific", "wild" and "mountainous", near Cabbage Tree Island.  Under the temporary command of Capt. Slater, she was carrying a load principally of coal on her regular voyage from Newcastle to Richmond.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Northern Star|date=30 May 1903|title=Loss of the Steamer Oakland|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72067229|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  The lives of Capt. Slater and 10 others were lost.

The seven survivors were plucked from a partially submerged lifeboat, holed during the mayhem of the sinking, by the SS Bellinger eight hours later.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|date=6 June 1903|title=Steamer Oakland Founders|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138686093|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

Although no cause was found at the preliminary and formal court inquiries held into its sinking, shifting cargo was thought most likely.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=15 June 1903|title=Why the Oakland Foundered|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/153944851|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  A large tank had been added in the aft section for carrying bulk molasses shortly before the foundering.<ref name = "RRH19030605" />

Ship's boy Cargill was one of the crew lost.  His father, chief steward of the ''Maitland'' had also died at sea.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian Star|date=15 June 1903|title=The Oakland Wreck|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/228529203|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  A fundraising concert was held at Lismore on 2 September 1903 for relatives of the victims.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser|date=4 September 1903|title=Oakland Disaster Concert|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127883421|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

==As dive site==
The remains of the vessel now lie on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of 27 metres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uwphotography.com.au/gallery/port-stephens-boat-dives/ss-oakland/|last=Dodd|first=Jim|title= SS Oakland|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>  It is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and is considered an attractive dive site.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{1891 shipwrecks}}
{{1893 shipwrecks}}
{{1895 shipwrecks}}
{{1896 shipwrecks}}
{{1897 shipwrecks}}
{{1898 shipwrecks}}
{{1899 shipwrecks}}
{{1901 shipwrecks}}
{{1903 shipwrecks}}
{{Navbox shipwrecks of New South Wales|Wreckshunter}} 
{{Hunter Region places and items of interest}}

{{coord missing|New South Wales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oakland}}
[[Category:1890 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:Iron and steel steamships of Australia]]
[[Category:Coastal trading vessels of Australia]]
[[Category:Coastal passenger vessels of Australia]]
[[Category:Victorian-era merchant ships of Australia]]
[[Category:1871–1900 ships of Australia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1891]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1893]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1895]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1896]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1897]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1898]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1899]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1901]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1903]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Hunter Region]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Tasman Sea]]