The Sinking of the Princess Sophia: Taking the North Down with Her

by Kenneth S. Coates, Bill Morrison

On October 23, 1918, a storm rose and the Canadian Pacific steamer Princess Sophia ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef, northwest of Juneau, Alaska. Tragically, there were no survivors. The 353 aboard represented a significant cross-section of the population of the Yukon and Alaska, and their loss was a heavy blow to a society that, with the end of the gold rush, was already in decline. This book tells the dramatic stories of many of the passengers, how they had gone to the north, what they did there, and why they were leaving that fall, and sheds light on a little-known aspect of Alaska's history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 1990

About the author

See also Ken S. Coates

Coates, K. 1956-
Coates, K. S. (Kenneth Stephen), 1956-
Coates, Ken, 1956-
Coates, Ken S. (Kenneth Stephen), 1956-
Coates, Kenneth, 1956-....
Coates, Kenneth S., 1956-
Coates, Kenneth Stephen 1956-

Ken Coates (born in Alberta in 1956 and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon) is a Canadian historian focused on the history of the Canadian North and Aboriginal rights and indigenous claims. Other areas of specialization include Arctic sovereignty;[1] science, technology and society, with an emphasis on Japan; world and comparative history; and post-secondary education.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, co-authored by two eminent Canadian historians, is a fine piece of work, well-researched and clearly-documented yet easily understood by the amateur historian. It is much more than a simple description of the events immediately surrounding the actual sinking of the steamship Princess Sophia.

A brief history of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98 is presented — essential to understanding the effect of this tragedy on the future of the Yukon Territory. The ship was the last to leave the Klondike in 1918 before the freeze-up of the Yukon River would make travel impossible. It was an arduous journey by river and rail from the remotest mining settlements and the larger communities to the steamship docks and railway stations.

The citizens of the Klondike, although far-flung, were a close-knit community, mutually supportive in a tough and unforgiving environment. The annual exodus of residents migrating south for the winter was always a significant social event as people gathered and travelled together to the port of Skagway, which was the gateway to “the outside”.

In 1918, the happy gatherings were tinged with sadness. The Great War had depleted the population of the Yukon. The economy was in decline. Many of the travellers had decided not to return in the spring of 1919. These were people who had become the backbone of Yukon life - from the community leaders and businessmen and businesswomen to the prospectors, launderers, steamship crews and hotel staff - those who had provided continuity and stability in the midst of a largely transient population. The reader learns the names of these passengers on the Princess Sophia, the jobs that they had done in the Yukon, the clubs to which they belonged, the clothing that they wore, the colour of their hair, the way they walked, the names of their relatives, their destinations, their plans for the future. These details endear the passengers to the reader, thus magnifying the emotional impact of their ultimate fate.

Details from a wide range of historical documents are compiled to tell the story not only of the passengers aboard the ill-fated steamship but of people up and down the northwest coast of North America who were involved in the larger story - in Juneau (Alaska) and Victoria and Vancouver (British Columbia), where rescue and recovery efforts were co-ordinated, and in courtrooms in Victoria, Seattle, and California, where hearings continued for many years after the sinking. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the entire book was when a ship carrying 150 bodies of Princess Sophia passengers arrived dock-side on Armistice Day at a city in the midst of jubilant celebrations.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who yearns for a book which is both educational and engaging. The story is an emotional one but it is balanced by the matter-of-fact presentation of the truth. There is no sensationalism, but there is emotion - hope, anticipation, determination, fear, frustration, grief. The story is set in a specific geographical location and yet it is international. It is a story about humans and about nature, and about the tension between the two. It is one story but it affected the lives of many people. It is both awe-inspiring and paralyzing. Like me, you will not regret having read it. Like me, you may want to start all over and read it again!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting nonfiction story of the worst maritime disaster to occur in the Northwest. 1918: The last ship before winter runs aground on Vanderbilt Reef, and the weather is too bad to take the people off. The people hoped and waited while the ship was stuck on the reef, then the storm got worse - the Sophia was lost and no one survived. This happened just north of Juneau and has haunted me since we moved here, I think of the wreck every October 25.

This book is well written, well researched and makes us know the real people.

My book group read this book a number of years ago and then contacted the Alaska State Museum to see the artifacts that are left from the wreck. The curator kindly had us in and showed us wallets, pocket change, pens and jewelry - personal effects from the bodies of the victins that no relative has ever claimed. That and one life ring is all that is left from the ship.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time. I find it very interesting to read about ship wrecks and why they happen. This book does not lay blame or make judgements, it just presents the story. And what a VERY interesting story. The people who perished on the Sophia were very important to the economy of the north and held many important positions in the community. When I was in Juneau I visited the cemetary where some of the victims were buried - the book finally explained for me what happened.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a shock to find out what a huge tragedy the Princess Sofia was. Some of the book seemed a little lengthy, but it was certainly worthwhile to learn what happened after the Sofia was grounded and why it wasn't possible to save the hundreds of people on it. Having read this has made the Princess Sofia more than a vague concept to me.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is sad that the Pacific coast does not know about this terrible tragedy. It is a very interesting account of the history of the time surrounding the sinking. Anyone interesting in PNW history will enjoy this.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting to me because the sinking of the steamship Sophia is not widely known, or known at all! On October 23, 1918 this was one of the last ships to leave Skagway for the ensuing winter months. It carried many passengers who were crucial to the Alaskan and Yukon society so was a heavy blow to that society. The ship ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef and because of extreme weather conditions, rescue attempts were impossible before her eventual sinking. All 353 passengers on board were lost. This book is a testament to the fragility of life for those who choose to live in our northernmost state.

[Pat Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Southeast Alaska, Alaskan history, or sea stories, this is for you. I read this a few pages at a time after I got into bed. Wonderful book.

[Samm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more interesting on National Park After Dark