40,000 Curious Spectators Came to See the Wreckage
SCHOONER PARALLEL "BLOWN TO ATOMS" 1882
THE TWO-MASTED, 148-TON PARALLEL LEFT SAN
FRANCISCO FOR ASTORIA, OREGON WITH A MIXED
CARGO & 42 TONS OF BLACK POWDER & DYNAMITE.
CAPT. W.C. MILLER FOUGHT AGAINST DIFFICULT
WINDS FOR TWO DAYS & FINALLY GAVE UP. THE
ABANDON-SHIP ORDER PUT THE 7-MAN CREW INTO
A LIFEBOAT BEFORE THE SHIP WENT ON THE ROCKS
OFF PT. LOBOS & THE CLIFF HOUSE. THE CREW
ROWED TO SAUSALITO BUT TOLD NO ONE OF THE
DANGEROUS CARGO. MILLER LATER WAS CRITICIZED
FOR HIS ACTIONS.
A CREW FROM THE LIFE-SAVING STATION AT
GOLDEN GATE PARK WENT TO THE WRECK. THEY
FOUND NO CREW ON BOARD BUT DID SAVE A FOR-
GOTTEN DOG. ABOUT 1:30 A.M. 16 JANUARY 1887
THE SHIP EXPLODED. BADLY DAMAGED WERE THE
CLIFF HOUSE & COTTAGE; ADOLPH SUTRO'S RESI-
DENCE ON THE HEIGHTS; & OTHER STRUCTURES.
THE BLAST INJURED 3 OF THE LIFE-SAVERS, BLEW
DEBRIS FOR A MILE & WAS FELT 15 MILES AWAY
AT SEA. FORTUNATELY, NO LIVES WERE LOST. 40,000
CURIOUS SPECTATORS CAME TO SEE THE WRECKAGE.
THIS PLAQUES IS DEDICATED TO THE COURAGEOUS
MEN OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD (FORMERLY LIFE-
SAVING SERVICE).
DEDICATED 26 MARCH 5999 (1994) BY THE A & HO E CLAMPSUS VITUS
CABITULUS REDI[?] YERBA BUENA NO. 1
CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM
Submitted by @jqmcd