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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

 

 

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