The pilot schooner J. C. Cousins, once a luxury yacht, then a Columbia River bar pilot boat, was competing with Capt. George Flavel’s bar piloting monopoly, according to Lewis & Dryden’s marine history, when it mysteriously wrecked on Oct. 7, 1883, south of the now long-gone Point Adams Lighthouse in Warrenton.

On Oct. 9, The Daily Astorian reported that instead of the usual four bar pilots being aboard when the wreck occurred, it was the boat keeper, steward and two sailors.

The Point Adams lighthouse keeper saw the schooner run onto Clatsop Spit at dusk on Oct. 6, swing off, and head for Sand Island. As night fell, the vessel disappeared from sight, still under sail.

On Oct. 7, the Cousins was spotted about 2 miles out at sea, heading straight for land. When the schooner ran up onto Clatsop Beach, two men ran down and attempted to board, but to no avail in the heavy surf. However, they did observe that there was no crew, and the schooner’s two lifeboats were gone.

One of the lifeboats washed up later, empty and with oars lashed. Tugs searched for the other lifeboat, and possible survivors, without success. It was assumed the crew had left the Cousins in the second lifeboat and had capsized or washed overboard. No one was ever found. (There’s even a song about the tragic outcome at Maritime Folknet.)

Lewis & Dryden’s reports there was a “fanciful” rumor that the boat keeper had been hired to wreck the schooner and skedaddle. Even years later, stories reached Astoria that he’d been spotted in “different parts of the world.”

Of course, the rumors could never be verified, and the mystery of what happened to the crew of the J.C. Cousins abides. (Painting: James E. Buttersworth)