Schooner Volcano Survives Mid-Ocean Storm Without a Compass
Captain William Kessel navigates 1,100 miles by sun and stars alone
A small trading schooner bound for Alaska lost its compass in a Pacific storm, and its captain steered home by the stars in a feat seafaring men called marvelous — a forgotten piece of maritime heroism.
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Mesa Free Press · November 19, 1897 · Page 2
1 min readThe schooner Volcano, only seventeen tons' burden, has arrived in San Francisco, after riding out a storm in mid-ocean during which her compass was lost. Captain William Kessel succeeded in making port after a voyage of 1100 miles, with no other guide than the sun, stars and the trend of the currents, until the Northern California coast was sighted. Then an occasional glimpse of the shore enabled the skillful mariner to determine his way to the Golden Gate.
The little vessel sailed from this port on October 2d with salt and coal for Unga Island, the intention being to leave the schooner in the north to ply between trading stations. On October 18th, when 1000 miles west of Cape Mendocino, a storm struck the vessel, nearly wrecking her and sweeping part of the cargo and compass overboard. The captain decided to return with her, and the manner in which he accomplished the feat is considered marvelous by seafaring men.
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