Source Clan Line - Illustrated Fleet History

The steel German steamship Mariechen struck a rock in a snow storm January 25, 1906 in False Bay, Chatham Straits, Alaska. The following are excerpts from the wreck report:

“Disabled Dec. 25, 1905, deadlight in coal bunker sprung open, adrift until Jan. 25, 1906.” “Unable to see on account of snow storm and lack of steam.” “Struck rock in snowstorm.” “No charts of this coast, compass frozen up.”

The Mariechen departed Seattle December 19, 1905 bound for Vladivostock, East Siberia. She had a crew of 50 and a cargo of 5,000 tons of general merchandise worth $100,000. The vessel herself was worth $250,000. At the time the wreck report was filed by Rudolph Heldt, master of the Mariechen, the damage to the vessel and cargo had not been ascertained. Later reports have the vessel salvaged and towed back to Seattle

A group photograph taken aboard Clan Matheson in 1895

I would suspect that the group is those travelling as guests to the opening of The Kiel Canal by the Kaiser on 20 June 1895

From South Wales Daily News

ENGLISH M.P.'S ON THE SCENE. COPENHAGEN

Tuesday.—The Glasgow steamer Clan Matheson has arrived at Copenhagen.

Amongst her passengers are seven members of Parliament—Mr Arnold Forster, M P., Sir H. D. Wolff, M.P., Mr C. H. Wilson, M.P. for Hull,

Mr J. Cumming MacDonal, M.P., Mr Macartney, M.P., Mr Furness, M P., and Mr C Cayzer, M.P. Admiral Markham was also on board.

Charles Cayzer had been invited by one of his fiercest rivals, Sir Donald Currie, to attend the event aboard Tantallon Castle.  

Cayzer snubbed the invitation and chose to travel on one of his own fleet.

The CLAN MATHESON was a 3917 gross ton ship, length 381ft x beam 43.3ft, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), single screw, speed 11 knots.

There was accommodation for 1st and 3rd class passengers. Launched for the Clan Line (Cayzer, Irvine & Co) by Napier, Shanks & Bell, Glasgow on 20th Aug.1883, she was used on the Far East service.

In 1893 she grounded in the Suez Canal, causing massive cost penalties for her owners and in 1895 cruised with guests to the opening of the Kiel Canal by the Kaiser.

Sold in 1905 to Hamburg Diederichsen, Jebson & Co, she was renamed MARIECHEN and used on their service to Vladivostok.

In 1906 she grounded at Chichagoff, Alaska, was refloated and towed to Seattle where she was condemned and scrapped.

[Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, Clan Line]