The Morning Astorian, Oct. 27, 1906, was in an uproar over “one of the most dastardly outrages ever committed in Clatsop County,” the looting of the Peter Iredale by a “gang of Westside Toughs.” Twelve of them, to be precise.

The culprits, who apparently knew what time the ship’s guards changed, walked down the railroad track to get to the wreck. The four men guarding the ship soon left for Point Adams to alert the next four-man crew that it was their turn. As soon as the coast was clear, the looters boarded the ship and “commenced their depredations.”

“Not being satisfied with stealing everything loose about the vessel,” the paper announced, “they broke into the stores of the ship, ransacked the trunks of the officers, broke open the trunk of Captain Lawrence, took out photographs and private letters and papers and scattered them over the deck. After ransacking the private desks and the lockers of the ship, and carrying over $1,000 (about $35,000 now) worth of valuables, they left the ship.”

While greed made them tarry too long aboard, the tide came in, so it was quite a struggle reaching shore carrying all they had pilfered. One man, who was crippled, couldn’t keep up and drowned because his companions ignored (or couldn’t hear) his piteous cries for help.

Because the thieves were Clatsop County locals, the entire escapade was adjudicated quickly. To avoid federal prison, the men returned what they stole the next day, and the charges were dropped.