Wreck of the Indian: The Search for the Story 

Part I

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins, President 

IITR Truck Driving Schools, Inc 

Clackamas, OR 

I was on a 160 vessel, the Indian owned by Schenk Seafood's (spelling may be 

incorrect) out of Bellingham Washington that sank in either August, or Sept of 

1977 when we ran aground at Egg Island. Do you know how I can find any info 

on this sinking? 

Tuesday, June 17, 2003

e-mail reply from: 

Mike Burwell 

USDOI, Minerals Management Service 

Hi Dave: 

 

I take it your boat was the fairly famous 405 ton M/V Indian operated by the 

Puget Sound Freight Lines for many years, built in Portland in 1931? I found 

some pictures of the vessel during its earlier service and a number of mentions of 

it in H.W. McCurdy’s Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. BUT, I didn’t find 

anything in my newspaper files or database about the sinking in Aug/Sept 1977. 

 I take it the Egg Island you mean is the one off the mouth of the Copper River 

Delta. There are also Egg Islands in Bristol Bay, off Kodiak, in Prince William 

Sound, and a couple near the south end of Prince of Wales Island. Do you think 

the incident made the local Alaska papers? The Seattle papers? I get pretty 

interested when I don’t have a wreck incident in my master database. Let me 

know if there are any more details (other crewmen, the captain, details of the 

rescue, etc.) Sometimes the slightest detail will be just the clue I need to find 

more info. My first step will be to recheck the Alaska newspapers for Aug and 

Sept of 1977. 

 

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

I remember the name Shellicoff straights was somewhere between Kodiak and 

the mainline. I also think the boat was insured by Lloyds of London. When we 

sank it, we were following another boat owned by the same company. I think it 
see what happened to all those who were on board. 

 

Thanks. 

 

Dave 

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell, Minerals Management Service 

Dave: I attached a table I made about the boat from info from the Merchant 

Vessel volumes. It’s interesting that it was renamed the Fairweather in 1974 and 

then renamed back to the Indian in 1977. It’s also interesting that it didn’t pass 

out of registration until after 1981....I’ll be checking the AK papers.....Mike 

Indian Oil. s. Official # 230901 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons

Net 

Tons

Length Breadth Depth Service Crew HP Buil

Puget Sound 

Freight Lines, 

Wash. 

MV 

1965 

405 323 149.8 40.0 10.6 Frt. ? 500 1931

MV 

1966-

1971? 

Marine 

Construction 

and Design Co. 

2300 W. 

MV 

1972 

" " " " " " " " " 
Indian Oil. s. Official # 230901 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net Tons 

Length Breadth Depth Service Crew HP Built Built 

Location 

Puget Sound Freight Lines, Wash. 

MV 1965 

405 323 149.8 40.0 10.6 Frt. ? 500 1931 Portland, 

Oreg. 

MV 

1966-1971? 

Marine Construction and Design Co. 2300 W. Commodore Way, Seattle, WA 98199 

MV 1972 

" " " " " " " " " " 

" MV 

1973 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Vessel Renamed FAIRWEATHER Owner = Wayne J. Plumley Box 351, Petersburg, AK 99833 

MV 1974 

" " " " " Fish. " " " " 

" MV 

1975 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Schenk Seafoods Sales, Inc., P.O. Box 512 Bellingham, WA and Bethel, AK 99559 

MV 1976 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Vessel Renamed 

MV 1977 

" " " " " " " " " " 
INDIAN 

Same Owners Indian still registered Same Owners 

MV 1978 

" " " 

" MV 

1979 

" " " 

? MV 

1980? 

" MV 

1981 

" " " 

No MV Volumes during these years 

MV 1982-1988? 

Out of Registration 

MV 1989 
Wednesday, June 18, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell, Minerals Management Service 

Hi Dave: 

 

I just went through the Kodiak Mirror, the local Kodiak paper, for Aug, Sept, Oct, 

and Nov of 1977 and found a few incidents I didn’t have, but I didn’t find anything 

on the Indian, the Scout, or the tender. I wonder if we have the right year? 

 

--Mike 

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Without question it was 1977. I know because that was the year I graduated, 

and Elvis died when I was on the Yukon. 

Thursday, June 19, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell, Minerals Management Service 

You’re right, I saw the headlines in 1977 about Elvis..... 

 

So I take it the three vessels left Bellingham in August 1977 and proceeded 

across the Gulf of Alaska towards Kodiak. Then, you traveled through Shelikof 

Strait on your way to the mouth of the Yukon River. In Shelikof Strait, the Indian 

sank and you escaped to the tender. Then, I’m assuming the Scout got a line on 

the tender and saved you guys....Did you stop at Dutch Harbor, at St. Michael? 

I’m just trying to get a handle on where to look for more information. The 

Bellingham papers might have something, and I’ll check to see if there was a 

Dutch Harbor paper publishing then....Also, did the Coast Guard rescue you? 

Have you called the Schenks? 

Friday, June 20, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

We sailed from Bellingham in May, stopped and fueled in Ketchikan then again in 

Dutch Harbor then spent 3 months on the Yukon. Were were headed home with 

3/4 million pounds of frozen salmon when we sank. I'm not exactly sure the 

scout was saved. I recall someone telling me so. We all escaped to the Cowboy 

but it was tied to the Indian and the Coast Guard sent out a helicopter to drop us 

bolt cutters so we could free ourselves from the Indian. They had never heard of 

these boats so when we first called May Day, they sent out a plane to see if was 
for real and then sent the chopper. We somehow managed to motor around for a 

day or so and ended up in Cordova. I flew home from there. 

 

I just noticed you live in Anchorage. I'm meeting a friend from Fairbanks on the 

19th of July to go Salmon and Halibut fishing in Homer and Kenai. 

 

I think I will attempt to contact the Schenks today. I just remembered I think the 

CG was dispatched from Kodiak Island if that helps. 

Friday, June 20, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: 

 

The Cowboy was the key; it came up in my database, and I found this in my 

newspaper files for 1981! 

 

Anchorage Times, [Saturday] Aug. 22. 1981:

“...the Coast Guard evacuated three people from the fishing vessel Cowboy and 

the barge Fort Yukon Thursday [Aug 20, 1981] night after they encountered 

rough weather in the Gulf of Alaska. Coast Guard Chief Ray Massey said the 

barge and the fishing boat were under tow by the tug Scout about 60 miles 

southeast of Yakutat when the Coast Guard got a report that the boat was taking 

on water and encountering rough seas. A Coast Guard helicopter from the Sitka 

Air Station was sent to the scene, and evacuated three people.” 

 

Anchorage Daily News, [Saturday] Aug. 22, 1981:

“Stormy seas also plagued seamen in Southeast Alaska Thursday [Aug. 20] and 

Friday [Aug. 21] as Coast Guardsmen evacuated a 67-year-old diabetic patient 

from Metlakatla to Ketchikan and sent a helicopter and cutter to assist a tugboat 

pulling a barge and fishing vessel near Yakutat...Stormy seas further to the north, 

near Yakutat, prompted a tugboat skipper’s ham radio call to his wife in Seattle 

Thursday—and through his wife, a call for help to the Coast Guard. 

Chief Ray Massey reported from Juneau Friday the tug Scout was taking on 

water in rough seas 60 miles south of Yakutat. The tug was towing the barge 

Fort Yukon and the fishing vessel Cowboy. 

After the man’s wife called the Coast Guard, a helicopter dispatched from the 

Sitka air station evacuated three people from the Cowboy Thursday night, 

leaving one on board. 

Massey said the three were evacuated. 

Thursday night, Massey said, the Cowboy slipped its towline in an attempt to cut 

the drag on the tug and Friday was still attempting to reach Yakutat on its own. 

 
The Coast Guard cutter Planetree, based in Juneau, was sent to assist the 

Scout and the barge. But late Friday, another Coast Guard spokesman said the 

Cowboy apparently became lost 10 miles southwest of Point Manby at the 

entrance to Yakutat Bay. The Planetree was then dispatched to aid the fishing 

vessel. 

A Coast Guard spokesman in Juneau late Friday night said the Planetree was 

escorting all three vessels into Yakutat Bay.” 

 

I can find out more now that I have hit on the date...I wonder why the Indian isn’t 

mentioned? 

 

Cheers, 

 

Mike 

Saturday, June 21, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Wow, what a coincidence. The reason I say so is the Cowboy we were pulling 

was not a fishing boat. We used it to go up and down the Yukon and buy fish 

from the Eskimos. It was called a tender. The Scout we had was a processor, 

so was the Indian. This was in 1981 and our incident was in 1977. The 

coastguard sent out a plane and a chopper but they rescued no one from either 

boat. I do not remember what happened to the crew on the Scout. Hopefully we 

can find this incident. The CG must have records of dispatching the plane and 

chopper doesn't it? 

Saturday, June 21, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Is this your hobby or what you do as a job? 

Monday, June 23, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: 

 

I write environmental impact statements for the Feds, The Dept. of Interior, and 

also just happen to have gotten interested in Alaska marine history. My agency, 

Minerals Management Service, is now the keeper of the Alaska Shipwrecks 

Database, and I keep it up to date. Like I said earlier, I think, I get pretty 
interested when something isn’t in it because right now it’s holding at 4,000 + 

records from 1741 to the present......Mike 

Monday, June 23, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: I left a message with Lt. Commander Diane Kalina at the Coast Guard 

Marine Safety Office here in Anchorage. She’s out of town for a few days but 

she’s a great source of information and has helped me out before and will 

probably come up with something....Mike 

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

I sure hope we find something. I can't believe it didn't get recorded somewhere. 

The more I think about this the more I recall and I believe the Indian was at one 

time a ferry boat. It was later converted into a freezer/processor. It seems like 

the Scout was an ex military boat of some kind. Many years ago to remember for 

me. 

 

I really appreciate your interest in this. Dave... 

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: I’m gone for a week. Will let you know what I find out from Diane Kalina 

when I return...Mike 

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

ok, have a good one... 

Monday, August 25, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hi Dave: 

 

I finally heard back from Diane Kalina at the Coast Guard. She says they have no 

information on file for the Indian, Cowboy, Scout incident in 1977. They don’t 

keep info back that far. She suggested you contact the Coast Guard Historian Dr. 
 

--Mike 

COWBOY Oil. s. Official # 573529 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net 

Tons

Length Breadth Depth Service Crew HP Built B

Lo

Schenk 

Seafood 

Sales, Inc., 

17 

Squalicum 

Fill, 

Bellingham, 

WA 98225 

MV 

1977 

73 63 58.2 24.0 4.7 Fsh. ? 450 1976 B

W

" MV 

1978 

" " " " " " " " " "

" MV 

1979 

" " " " " " " " " "

? MV 

1980 

Same as 

1979 

MV 

1981 

" " " " " " " " " "
Indian Oil. s. Official # 230901 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net Tons 

Length Breadth Depth Service Crew HP Built Built 

Locati

Puget Sound Freight Lines, Wash. 

MV 1965 

405 323 149.8 40.0 10.6 Frt. ? 500 1931 Portla

Oreg. 

MV 

1966-1971? 

Marine Construction and Design Co. 2300 W. Commodore Way, Seattle, WA 98199 

MV 1972 

" " " " " " " " " " 

" MV 

1973 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Vessel Renamed FAIRWEATHER Owner = Wayne J. Plumley Box 351, Petersburg, AK 99833 

MV 1974 

" " " " " Fish. " " " " 

" MV 

1975 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Schenk Seafoods Sales, Inc., P.O. Box 512 Bellingham, WA and Bethel, AK 99559 

MV 1976 

" " " " " " " " " " 

Vessel Renamed INDIAN 

MV 1977 

" " " " " " " " " " 
Same Owners 

Indian still registered Same Owners 

MV 1978 

" " 

" MV 

1979 

" " 

? MV 

1980? 

" MV 

1981 

" " 

No MV Volumes during these years 

MV 1982-1988? 

Out of Registration 

MV 1989 
Ft. Yukon Off. # 291359 Barge Steel 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net Tons 

Length Breadth Depth Serv

Schenk Seafood Sales, Inc. P.O. Box 111 Alakanuk, AK 99554 Formerly the YB 24 

MV 1979 

1,403 1,403 197.0 30.0 40.1 Msc 

" MV 

1981 

" " " " " " 

" MV 

1989 

" " " " " " 
COWBOY Oil. s. Official # 573529 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net Tons 

Length Breadth Depth S

Schenk Seafood Sales, Inc., 17 Squalicum Fill, Bellingham, WA 98225 

MV 1977 

73 63 58.2 24.0 4.7 F

" MV 

1978 

" " " " " " 

" MV 

1979 

" " " " " " 

? MV 

1980 

Same as 1979 

MV 1981 

" " " " " " 

No Volumes Issued 

MV 1982-1988 

Same as 1981 

MV 1989 

" " " " " " 
SCOUT Off. # 582145 Oil s. Steel 

Owner Year Gr 

Tons 

Net Tons 

Length Breadth Depth Service Crew HP 

Schenk Seafood Sales, Inc. P.O. Box 111 Alakanuk, AK 99554 Renamed Scout in 1978 Previously YF 873 USN 

MV 1978 

425 327 124.6 30.0 12.3 Fsh ? 500 

" MV 

1979 

" " " " " " " " 

" 

MV 1981 

" " " " " " " " 

" MV 

1989 

" " " " " " " " 
Schenk's Vessels 

1979: 

Ft. Yukon 

Scout 

Indian 

Cowboy 

Muktuk 
1981: 

Almar 

Ft. Yukon 

Indian 

Scout 

Cowboy 

Muktuk 

1989: 

Almar 

Cowboy 

Drover 

Ft. Yukon 

Ranger 

Scout 

From this list compiled from the Merchant Vessel volumes, it looks like the Indian

survived the 1977 event, as did the Scout and the Cowboy. The Indian goes out 

of registration sometime between 1981 and 1989, but the Cowboy, Scout and 

the Ft. Yukon are still working vessels. The Cowboy is owned by Fields and 

Sons, Inc. in Kodiak, AK, the Ft. Yukon is owned by Inlet Fish Producers in 

Kenai, AK, and the Scout went out of documentation after 1998. 

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

I'll call the both and get back to you and yes, pictures would be terrific... 

 

Thanks Mike...

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

I'm not sure what to do to document the sinking of the Indian but I can assure you 

it was destroyed. We had 3/4 of a million pounds of frozen salmon on board and 

it as well as the entire boat was in the surf. I may call the Schenks and see what 

they say. I can't believe the CG doesn't have record when they send out a plane 

and a chopper. 

 

Thanks for the help on this situation. 

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

e-mail from: 
Dave Riggins 

Mike: 

We may have sunk after Elvis died. I thought it was in late Late Aug or early 

Sept we sank. I'm sure it wasn't in July but I guess it would make sense to 

search July, Aug, and Sept. 

This is really strange that nothing has been found since not only did the Indian 

sink, but the Scout was grounded and it was a 130' boat itself. 

Someone had to have towed it off Egg Island. Any other idea's? 

Dave... 

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hey Dave: 

 

I found an article in the SEA CHEST, the journal of the Puget Sound Maritime 

Historical Society in Seattle, on the Puget Sound Freight Lines by Capt. Ed. 

Shields. On the Last page it says for the INDIAN: “Built Portland, Ore. Purchased 

1937, sold 1971, Lost in Alaska 1977.” WOW. We made contact. So, like you, I 

really wonder why there is no mention in the local papers. I’ll keep digging.... 

 

I’ll send along this article and the other ones with the pictures..... Mike 

Thursday, September 4, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Excellent, I knew I wasn't crazy...It was either August or Sept I'm sure but I think 

it was August. 

 

Thanks for all your help on this..Dave... 

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: 

The Indian is still Driving Me NUTS.... 

 

I Sent this to the Bellingham Public Library today 11/11/2003: 

 
I maintain the Alaska Shipwrecks Database for the Dept. of Interior here in 

Anchorage (It's been online and will be again whenever we fix our server 

problems at www.mms.gov/alaska/ref/ships/index.htm). I have had an e-mail 

from an ex-crewman of the fish processor INDIAN that ran aground and was lost 

on Egg Island, S of Kodiak Island in Aug/Sept 1977. It was towing the fish tender 

Cowboy and the crew of the Indian saved themselves by escaping to the 

Cowboy. Another processor the Scout (part of the same flotilla) went ashore at 

the same time but was later saved. The Cowboy managed to reach Cordova 

where the crew of the Indian flew home. Home was Bellingham. The Indian, 

Cowboy and Scout left Bellingham May 1977 for a season's fishing in Alaska. I 

have checked 10 Alaska newspapers and contacted the Coast Guard and can 

find no mention of the event. The only printed confirmation I can find is in a Sea 

Chest article by Ed. Shields that says nothing more than the Indian was lost in 

1977. Today I called the past owner of the Indian, George Schenk, and his widow 

Roberta confirmed the event but couldn't remember the year. She did believe 

there was local newspaper coverage of the event. Is it possible for you to confirm 

if there were any local newspaper stories? If you can, then I can interlibrary loan 

the microfilm and do more in-depth research. I assume the paper to get through 

ILL would be, if you find any leads, the Bellingham Herald? What makes this a 

big deal for me is that it's the first time in compiling the database, that now has 

over 4,000 records, where I've found an event of this magnitude mentioned by 

someone that has literally no written trail. 

 

Thanks for any assistance you can offer, 

 

Michael Burwell 

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

George's brother and partners name is Leroy. He was younger and may be 

alive. 

 

Thanks for all the work on this. Dave... 

Thursday, November 13, 2003

e-mail from: 

Bellingham Library 

We do not have anything in our clipping files about the event you describe, but 

clip files are very problematic! 

If you are pretty sure of the Aug/Sept. dates in 1977, I would suggest that you 

request Bellingham Herald microfilm for those dates through your local library 

and then scan the film. 
You mentioned an article by Ed Shields. If it is the same person, there is an Ed 

Shields who wrote a book (2001) called Salt of the Sea: The Pacific Coast Cod 

Fishery and the Last Days of Sail. The cover flap indicated that Mr. Shields lives 

in Poulsbo, Washington. I checked Ref USA database and find a listing for Ed 

Shields: 360-779-4649. You might try calling him. 

Sorry we couldn't be of more assistance. Good luck with your research. 

MZ 

Reference Librarian 

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Dead end after dead end. What a continuous bummer. 

Have you thought about contacting Leroy Schenk? George or Leroy had a son 

who fished with us that summer. I believe his name was Keith. I don't recall if he 

was on the Indian when it sank. 

Another idea was I remember it was insured by Lloyds of London and a couple 

insurance people were there when we got to Cordova. 

Monday, December 8, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

OK Dave you’re not crazy & Merry Christmas: 

 

Today I found two Cordova Times articles--one from Sept. 15 and the other from 

Sept. 23--on the Scout, Indian, and Cowboy mishap. Seems like it occurred on 

Sept. 7, 1977. I’ll send you the two articles. One has a picture of the Cowboy

docked in Cordova and mentions the skipper Floyd Warbus... 

 

Cheers, 

 

Mike 

 

Here’s the summary I put in the database: 

 

For the Indian: 

After spending 3 months on the lower Yukon River, The 170’ Indian, an exWashington State ferry towing the 65’ riverboat tender Cowboy, and following the 

130' freezer ship Scout, beached on Egg Island S of Cordova in rough seas and 
heavy rain. The Cowboy managed to severe itself from the Indian's 500-ft tow 

chain after a helicopter from Kodiak dropped cable cutters. The shallow-draft 

Cowboy was able to come alongside the Indian without grounding, get the 9 men 

aboard, and take them to Cordova. Within hours, the pounding waves had 

opened up and gutted the Indian, and its entire $2.5 million worth of salmon and 

gear were lost. The Indian became a landmark and a hazard to navigation on the 

Mousetrap. 

 

For the Scout: 

The 130' freezer ship Scout, beached on Egg Island S of Cordova in rough seas 

and heavy rain while leading the Indian, another freezer boat and the riverboat 

tender Cowboy that the Indian had in tow. The Indian grounded, as well, and 

broke up after its 9-man crew was taken off by the Cowboy. Nine days after 

grounding, the vessels Kushtika and Forty Mile from Cordova, the tugs Trojan 

from Whittier, and George S from Hoonah finally pulled the Scout free and saved 

its 300,000 lb salmon cargo. Earlier, Beaver pilot, Tom Madsen, managed to 

drop a 340-lb tow cable to the Scout's crew on a 15-ft by 10-ft area on the stern 

in 60 mph winds. 

 

For the Cowboy: 

The riverboat tender Cowboy escaped grounding after it managed to severe itself 

from the tow chain of the freezer ship Indian that had grounded in high seas and 

heavy rain on Egg Island. The Cowboy's crew managed to cut the Indian's 500-ft 

tow chain after a helicopter from Kodiak dropped cable cutters. It was able to pull 

alongside the Indian and rescue all 9 men aboard and take them safely to 

Cordova. Another freezer ship in the convoy, the Scout, also grounded on Egg 

Island but was later successfully pulled off. 

 

P.S. I also sent the following e-mail to a friend in Cordova: 

 

“I’ve been trying off and on for the last few months to track down the wreck of the 

freezer ship Indian (an ex-Washington State ferry) that I finally confirmed today 

had beached in the sands of Egg Island on the Mousetrap in the Copper River 

Delta, Sept 7, 1977. 

 

The last thing the Cordova Times (9-23-1977) said was that it had “become a 

landmark on the Mousetrap and can’t be moved. It is in a prime fishing area and 

is a potential hazard to boat traffic...The only way the Indian can be removed is if 

the Army Corps of Engineers declares the Indian a hazard to surface navigation 

and blows it off the sand...[and such an action] “by the Army engineers won’t be 

taken unless Cordova fishermen encourage them to do so.” 

 

My questions are: (1) Where is the Mousetrap in relation to Egg Island? (2) Did 

Cordova fishermen ask the Corps to remove the Indian? and (3) Was it 

removed?” 
Monday, December 8, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell to Gabriel Scott 

Hi Gabe: 

 

I’ve been trying off and on for the last few months to track down the wreck of the 

freezer ship Indian (an ex-Washington State ferry) that I finally confirmed today 

had beached in the sands of Egg Island on the Mousetrap in the Copper River 

Delta, Sept 7, 1977. 

 

The last thing the Cordova Times (9-23-1977) said was that it had “become a 

landmark on the Mousetrap and can’t be moved. It is in a prime fishing area and 

is a potential hazard to boat traffic...The only way the Indian can be removed is if 

the Army Corps of Engineers declares the Indian a hazard to surface navigation 

and blows it off the sand...[and such an action] “by the Army engineers won’t be 

taken unless Cordova fishermen encourage them to do so.” 

 

My questions are: (1) Where is the Mousetrap in relation to Egg Island? (2) Did 

Cordova fishermen ask the Corps to remove the Indian? and (3) Was it 

removed? 

 

Thanks, 

 

Mike 

 

P.S. Here’s a synopses of the event: After spending 3 months on the lower 

Yukon River, The 170’ Indian, an ex-Washington State ferry towing the 65’ 

riverboat tender Cowboy, and following the 130' freezer ship Scout, beached on 

Egg Island S of Cordova in rough seas and heavy rain. The Cowboy managed to 

severe itself from the Indian's 500-ft tow chain after a helicopter from Kodiak 

dropped cable cutters. The shallow-draft Cowboy was able to come alongside 

the Indian without grounding, get the 9 men aboard, and take them to Cordova. 

Within hours, the pounding waves had opened up and gutted the Indian, and its 

entire $2.5 million worth of salmon and gear were lost. The Indian became a 

landmark and a hazard to navigation on the Mousetrap. 

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Mike: 

I also be interested in your friends responses to the 3 questions you asked. I'm 

curious to know if the Indian hull is still there at all and if so, it would be cool to 

get a pic. Thanks again... 
Friday, December 12, 2003

e-mail from: 

Gabriel Scott 

I'm asking around, but no luck yet. Surely some fishermen knows, but lots of 

people out of town. I'll let you know. 

Also found a great account of the Portland wreck in the Cordova Daily Alaskan, 

from the skipper and passengers just after it happened. Could fax it to you, or 

send it if you like. What's your fax or address? Matches up perfectly with where 

the wreck is now. Aground at the mouth of the river, broad to the waves got 

broken up and washed ashore. 10 ft. of uplift in the '64 earthquake, that's exactly 

right. They also had to get boats over to Katalla, whereas if they came ashore on 

the other side of the river they could have just walked to town. 

Also, do you have any ideas if/where there are records from the board of marine 

inspectors in Seattle, in 1910? I'll check with maritime history folks down there, 

going to be in the area around Xmas and would like to find whatever I can while 

I'm there. 

--gabe 

Sunday, December 14, 2003

e-mail from: 

Gabriel Scott 

O.K.--The "moustrap" is the outside beach of Egg Island--west of Egg Island 

channel, east of Strawberry channel. Both these channels are moving west, a 

couple hundred yards a year, so what used to be Egg Island, is now Egg Island 

channel. 

Story I heard from a well-informed tender operator is the Cowboy and the Indian 

thought the Egg Island light was Cape Hinchinbrook--thought they were entering 

the sound but drove up on the beach. Oops. Story was they both wrecked, but 

your synopsis probably is right--people just remember the "Cowboy and Indian." 

They were never moved. Wave action very heavy there, and I guess they were 

more or less gone within a few months. 

Some four of five years ago there was a snag in Egg Island channel, which some 

fishermen supposed might have resulted from the Indian's big loading booms and 

stuff. 

Hope that helps, 

Gabe 

Monday, December 15, 2003

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: 
 

Great stuff from my colleague in Cordova.....Mike 

Tuesday, January 6, 2004

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hi Dave: 

 

Today, I found one small article in the Bellingham Herald on the Indian, Scout, 

Cowboy incident. With this find, I’m officially calling the search for information 

closed. 

I’ll send you a copy of the Herald article. 

 

Maybe this could turn into an article for a maritime journal like the Sea Chest in 

Seattle, but I’d have to come up with some pictures. Do you have any? 

 

Let me know if for some reason you didn’t get Gabe Scott’s e-mail explanation of 

the “Mousetrap” and the Scout’s present situation. 

 

Cheers and Happy 2004, 

 

 

Mike 

Wednesday, January 7, 2004

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 

Mike: 

I got the article and the email regarding the mousetrap. I wonder if the hull is still 

visible? 

 

All my pictures are somewhere in the ocean as I lost everything when she sank. 

I sure wish I knew a way to contact those on board when we sank but I don't 

even remember their names. 

 

Hey, thanks again for your efforts and PI work on this. I truly appreciate it. 

 

Dave... 

Wreck of the Indian: The Search for the Story 

Part II

Thursday, December 30, 2004
e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie, Keuka College 

Mike, 

 

I believe your records are incomplete. I believe the ship "Indian" went down off 

the Alaska coast on September 12, 1977, but I don't see any record of it on this 

website. Did it go down off the BC coast? Thanks. 

 

Mike McKenzie 

Keuka College 

315-279-5601 

Thursday, December 30, 2004

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hi Mike: 

 

You’re right. I have it in my master Access database that has yet to be updated 

and reposted on the Web. When this happens there will be about 2,500 more 

records available online to search. Last year I was trying to run this wreck down 

for Dave Riggins in Oregon who was on the vessel when it grounded on Egg 

Island Sept. 7, 1977. Here’s what I have in my database: “After spending 3 

months on the lower Yukon River, The 170' Indian, an ex-Washington State ferry 

towing the 65' riverboat tender Cowboy, and following the 130' freezer ship 

Scout, beached on Egg Island S of Cordova in rough seas and heavy rain. The 

Cowboy managed to sever itself from the Indian's 500-ft tow chain after a 

helicopter from Kodiak dropped cable cutters. The shallow-draft Cowboy was 

able to come alongside the Indian without grounding, get the 9 men aboard, and 

take them to Cordova. Within hours, the pounding waves had opened up and 

gutted the Indian, and its entire $2.5 million worth of salmon and gear were lost. 

The Indian became a landmark and a hazard to navigation on the Mousetrap.” 

 

The Mousetrap is the outside beach of Egg Island—west of Egg Island Channel 

and east of Strawberry Channel. Both of these channels are moving west a 

couple of hundred yards a year, so what used to be Egg Island is now Egg Island 

Channel. The Indian was never recovered or moved and was guessed to have 

been broken up within a few months. Four or five years ago there was a snag in 

Egg Island Channel which some fishermen supposed might have been the 

Indian’s big loading booms. 

 

I’m curious what you relationship is to the wreck. I can send you copies of the 

Cordova Times news articles and give you Riggins’ e-mail if you want to contact 

him.... 

 
Cheers, 

 

Mike 

 

Michael Burwell 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Minerals Management Service (MMS) 

Alaska OCS Region 

Friday, December 31, 2004

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Mike, 

Wow. OK, here's my story. I was on the Indian that summer, having sailed up 

with her and worked on her all that summer, and missed the wreck only because 

I had flown home! I found out about the wreck this way: I was grocery shopping 

in Yakima, Washington in the spring of 1978, and I saw a guy wearing the shirt: 

"Where the heck is Alukanuk, Alaska." Well, since that's the very obscure place 

where the Indian spent the summer of 1977, I started talking to the guy, and he 

was actually on the bridge of the Cowboy when the Indian radioed back that she 

was sinking! So he--without any training as a mate, etc.--had to pilot the Cowboy 

back up to the Indian where, as the story mentions, the transfer of men took 

place as the two ships careened up and down. As I remember his story, this took 

place in the dark as well. Yes, I do believe I remember Dave, I think he was from 

Redmond, Oregon at the time, so please send me his email address. 

A couple more things you'll like. The ship was owned by Schenk Bros. 

Seafoods out of Bellingham, and they advertised for crew members in all 

INLAND papers (Bend, Oregon Bulletin, etc.) because they knew that the low 

wages they paid and the high work requirements they had would probably be 

spurned by "westside" (experienced) guys out of Seattle, Portland, etc. As I 

remember, all the guys I remember on the ships were from East of the Cascades 

(or most of them). And as I heard the story, our captain had been drinking when 

the accident took place, which I remember didn't surprise me when I heard it. He 

WAS experienced, but known for a fondness for the bottle. It was hard work but I 

do remember playing a tackle football game on the grass delta plains of the 

Yukon against crew members from a boat from Everett. I spent most of that 

summer working on both the Indian (in the freezers and slime lines) and on the 

Cowboy, as a tender buying fish from the Eskimos. 

I have some decent pictures back in Oregon of some of the guys on the ship, the 

ship, etc. So I would definitely appreciate any information you can send or mail 

me on the circumstances of the wreck. My mailing address is below (and that's 

enough to get stuff to me just fine). 
Thanks for all your help in this! Have a great New Years, 

Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion Keuka College Keuka Park, NY 

Friday, December 31, 2004

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

PS. I got your point about the shifting channels, etc. but is it actually impossible 

to find any remnant of the wreck, or even know the exact location of the wreck 

today? (GPS, etc.). I know no private parties had GPS in those days but I 

assume the Coast Guard marked the location? Thanks, Mike 

Monday, January 3, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Mike: 

As far as I can tell, unless a vessel is a spill or navigation hazard the Coast 

Guard doesn't really keep track of old wrecks. The Army Corps of Engineers gets 

involved if they find a wreck when dredging harbors or shipping lanes. You could 

contact my friend Gabe Scott in Cordova at cascadia@alaska.com who got me 

the info. on the Mousetrap from local fishermen and see if he can help you get a 

location for it. Generally, fishermen are pretty closed mouthed about [net] "snag" 

locations. 

You could also contact Sue Jorgensen at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office 

in Juneau at sjorgensen@cgalaska.uscg.mil and see if she can help. Generally 

wrecks this old are not in their database. 

If you find out anything let me know and I'll put it in my database... 

--Mike 

Monday, January 3, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Mike: 

The Cowboy & Indian narrative keeps getting better! I'll send you all the stuff I 

sent Dave and feel free to send me anything you have that would round out my 
file. Somewhere in the search process I called Schenk's widow in Bellingham 

trying to figure find out the story of this wreck.... 

Below is what I put in my database for the Scout & the Cowboy: 

For the Scout: 

The 130' freezer ship Scout, beached on Egg Island S of Cordova in rough seas 

and heavy rain while leading the Indian, another freezer boat and the riverboat 

tender Cowboy that the Indian had in tow. The Indian grounded, as well, and 

broke up after its 9-man crew was taken off by the Cowboy. Nine days after 

grounding, the vessels Kushtika and Forty Mile from Cordova, the tugs Trojan 

from Whittier, and George S from Hoonah finally pulled the Scout free and saved 

its 300,000 lb salmon cargo. Earlier, Beaver pilot, Tom Madsen, managed to 

drop a 340-lb tow cable to the Scout's crew on a 15-ft by 10-ft area on the stern 

in 60 mph winds. 

For the Cowboy: 

The riverboat tender Cowboy escaped grounding after it managed to severe itself 

from the tow chain of the freezer ship Indian that had grounded in high seas and 

heavy rain on Egg Island. The Cowboy's crew managed to cut the Indian's 500-ft 

tow chain after a helicopter from Kodiak dropped cable cutters. It was able to pull 

alongside the Indian and rescue all 9 men aboard and take them safely to 

Cordova. Another freezer ship in the convoy, the Scout, also grounded on Egg 

Island but was later successfully pulled off. 

Dave really wanted to get in touch with other crew members, so I think you'll 

really make his New Year brighter. 

Monday, January 3, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Dave: Happy New Year 2005! See E-mail from Michael McKenzie below: 

--Mike Burwell 

-----Original Message----- 

From: Michael McKenzie [mailto:MMCKENZI@mail.keuka.edu] 

Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 8:34 AM 

To: Burwell, Michael 

Cc: Allison McKenzie 

Subject: RE: Missing Shipwreck 

Mike, 
Wow. OK, here's my story. I was on the Indian that summer, having sailed up 

with her and worked on her all that summer, and missed the wreck only because 

I had flown home! I found out about the wreck this way: I was grocery shopping 

in Yakima, Washington in the spring of 1978, and I saw a guy wearing the shirt: 

"Where the heck is Alukanuk, Alaska." Well, since that's the very obscure place 

where the Indian spent the summer of 1977, I started talking to the guy, and he 

was actually on the bridge of the Cowboy when the Indian radioed back that she 

was sinking! So he--without any training as a mate, etc.--had to pilot the Cowboy 

back up to the Indian where, as the story mentions, the transfer of men took 

place as the two ships careened up and down. As I remember his story, this took 

place in the dark as well. Yes, I do believe I remember Dave, I think he was from 

Redmond, Oregon at the time, so please send me his email address. 

A couple more things you'll like. The ship was owned by Schenk Bros. 

Seafoods out of Bellingham, and they advertised for crew members in all 

INLAND papers (Bend, Oregon Bulletin, etc.) because they knew that the low 

wages they paid and the high work requirements they had would probably be 

spurned by "westside" (experienced) guys out of Seattle, Portland, etc. As I 

remember, all the guys I remember on the ships were from East of the Cascades 

(or most of them). And as I heard the story, our captain had been drinking when 

the accident took place, which I remember didn't surprise me when I heard it. He 

WAS experienced, but known for a fondness for the bottle. It was hard work but I 

do remember playing a tackle football game on the grass delta plains of the 

Yukon against crew members from a boat from Everett. I spent most of that 

summer working on both the Indian (in the freezers and slime lines) and on the 

Cowboy, as a tender buying fish from the Eskimos. 

I have some decent pictures back in Oregon of some of the guys on the ship, the 

ship, etc. So I would definitely appreciate any information you can send or mail 

me on the circumstances of the wreck. My mailing address is below (and that's 

enough to get stuff to me just fine). 

Thanks for all your help in this! Have a great New Years, 

Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Monday, January 3, 2005 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

One of the funny things about this is that both Schenk brothers did not like to sail 

(and the one who came up, flew). I emailed Dave, and, like I told him, as I recall, 

they worked us about 25 hours a day. (It wasn't the work we minded it was the 

fact that we were on salary, with no incentive for working our butts off!!). Thanks 

for all this, Mike. 
Monday, January 3, 2005 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Thanks, Mike. BTW, do you know what happened to the Cowboy? It was my 

understanding that it ended up near/at La Conner, Washington. I really liked that 

ship. There were three of us on that ship during most of the summer, another 

hand and the captain (the one who later piloted the Indian to disaster). But it 

sure didn't draw much, and it was clean. 

Small world, Rochester is only about an hour away. BBTW, I attended U of 

Alaska--Fairbanks for a while in the late 1970s. 

Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Monday, January 3, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Mike: From 

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/commercial/landings/cg_vessel2.html it looks 

like and outfit in Kodiak owns the Cowboy....Mike 

Data found in current database. Vessel Name: COWBOY USCG Doc. No.: 

573529 

Vessel Service: COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL IMO Number: * Trade 

Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Fishery, Registry Call Sign: WYL4152 Hull 

Material: STEEL Hull Number: 123 Shipyard and Address: HOLZ TRAILER CO 

* Year Built: 1976 

Hullyard 

and Address: * 

BELLINGHAM WA Length (ft.): 58.2 

Hailing Port: KODIAK Hull Depth (ft.): 5 

Owner: FIELDS & SONS INC 

2530 SPRUCE CAPE RD PO BOX 1691 

KODIAK, AK 99615 Hull Breadth (ft.): 24 Gross Tonnage: 73 Net Tonnage: 63 

Documentation Issuance Date: November 02, 2004 Documentation Expiration 

Date: November 30, 2005 

Previous Vessel Names: No Vessel Name Changes Previous Vessel Owners: 

FIELDS AND SONS INC 

Tuesday, January 4, 2005

e-mail from: 

Dave Riggins 
This is awesome. Thanks so much...Happy New Year to you as well. 

Monday, January 31, 2005 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Hi Mike, 

I've exchanged several neat emails with Dave, re: our experiences on the Indian. 

Did you get a chance to copy any of the materials on the Indian that you had? 

My mailing address is that which follows (there's not much to Keuka Park and 

mail sent to me with that address works fine). 

Thanks. Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

I guess I said I'd send it and then never did. I'll get it off to you soon....Mike 

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hi Mike: 

 

I copied pretty much everything intelligible in my file on the Indian—e-mails, 

xeroxes, tables on the ships’ ownership history. I’ll send it off today. Any more 

nuggets on the story from your discourse with Dave R.? 

 

Cheers, 

 

Mike 

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Not really. He is very interested in getting copies of my pictures, and I'm glad to 

comply, but they're all in my folks' house in Oregon so it will likely be this summer 

before I can make copies. I only wish I had taken more, and with a better 

camera! Thanks for these copies, Mike. 

Best, Mike 
Saturday, February 19, 2005 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Mike, Just got the materials yesterday--thanks much for this! Brings back a lot of 

memories....! I'm also glad that Dave will finally get some pictures....Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Wreck of the Indian: The Search for the Story 

Part III

Thursday, October 19, 2006 

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Hi Mike, 

I am one of the crewman of the Indian, that ship we've talked about that went 

down in 1977. I was researching another Pacific wreck and happened across the 

Alaska NOAA shipwreck site but still didn't see the Indian listed. With all my 

memories now stirred up, I was surprised--did I miss it? Thanks, 

Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Thursday, October 19, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Attached is what's in the database..... 

 

Alaska Shipwrecks Database 

Detailed Wreck Account 

Vessel: Indian Registration 

Vessel Type: Freezer boat Length/Tons: 170' 

Where Lost: On the "Mousetrap," Egg Island, S of Cordova. Date Built: 1932 

Where Built:Date of Wreck: 9/7/1977 

Master: Lth/Brdth/Dth 

Owner: Hull Type: Steel 

Home Port: Number of Crew: 9 

Destination: Bellingham, WA Number of Passengers: 0 

Cargo Type: Salmon Number Lost: 0 
Vessel Value: Cargo Weight: 750,000 lb 

Vessel Cargo Value: $2.5 million 

Last Port: 

Cargo 

Note: No latitude/longitude coordinates established 

Cause of Wreck: After spending 3 months on the lower Yukon River, The 170' 

Indian, an ex-Washington State ferry towing the 65' riverboat tender Cowboy, 

and following the 130' freezer ship Scout, beached on Egg Island S of Cordova in 

rough seas and heavy rain. The Cowboy managed to sever itself from the 

Indian's 500-ft tow chain after a helicopter from Kodiak dropped cable cutters. 

The shallow-draft Cowboy was able to come alongside the Indian without 

grounding, get the 9 men aboard, and take them to Cordova. Within hours, the 

pounding waves had opened up and gutted the Indian, and its entire $2.5 million 

worth of salmon and gear were lost. The Indian became a landmark and a 

hazard to navigation on the Mousetrap. 

Sources: Cordova Times 9/15/1977 

Photo(s): 

Tuesday, October 31, 2006 Page 1 of 1 

Tuesday, October 31, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Hi Mike: 

 

I am doing quality control on my entire database and I am up to WWII. When I 

get through the whole thing (by the end of the year?) I will repost it to the Web 

and the Indian will be on it. Until then, you are stuck with the same old 1,200 

wrecks that have been on the Web for years. 

 

Ciao, 

 

Mike 

 

Michael Burwell 

Sociocultural Specialist 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Minerals Management Service (MMS) 

Tuesday, October 31, 2005

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

I understand. Thanks, 
Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Wreck of the Indian: The Search for the Story 

Part IV 

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

e-mail from: 

Mike McKenzie 

Hi Mike, 

I'm one of the crew of the Indian, the ship that sank in September, 1977. 

Perhaps you remember my contacting you and getting ahold of the other 

crewmember? Anyway, I noticed that the Indian is still not listed, and I'd like to 

use it as part of a clue for a research contest I run for my students each 

semester. Any chance that it can be added? 

Thanks, 

Mike 

Michael McKenzie, Ph.D. 

Monday, April 7, 2008

e-mail from: 

Mike Burwell 

Mike: 

Mike Burwell here. I have the same old sad story about quality control lagging 

behind. This shipwreck project always comes after writing environmental impact 

statements, etc. I have my quality control up to 1940 but that doesn't help folks 

like you who want new data on the site. I am seeing if I can attach a special link 

for the Indian story right to the Shipwreck home page. I'll know tomorrow..... 

Mike Burwell 

This E-mail Narrative posted to the Net in April 2008