History
United States
NameUSS Metha Nelson
BuilderH. D. Bendixsen, Eureka, California
Completed1896
Acquiredby purchase, 11 June 1942
Commissioned25 September 1943
Decommissioned25 September 1945
Stricken24 October 1945
FateSold to former owner
General characteristics
TypeSchooner
Displacement464 long tons (471 t)
Length156 ft (48 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draft11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
Speed7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph)

Metha Nelson (also USS Metha Nelson (IX‑74)) was built as a wooden‑hulled merchant schooner which was later used in historic movies as a full-rigged ship. During World War II, she served the United States Navy.

Under ship owner Charles Nelson

The three-masted top-sail schooner Metha Nelson was completed in 1896 by H. D. Bendixsen of Eureka, California[1] for the ship owner and wood merchant Captain Charles Nelson (1830-1909)[2] who named the vessel after his wife, Metha A. Nelson.[3] The schooner was the 25th sailing ship in his possession, in addition to five steam ships.[4] Her home port was then Eureka.[5] On return from her first voyage to Hawaii in 1897, Metha Nelson hauled sugar to San Francisco.[6]

1899, on a voyage to Tacoma, WA, Metha Nelson was the first ship of Captain Nelson to follow a settlement between unions and a ship owners' association by exclusively hiring union members.[4]

Metha Nelson sailed along the Pacific coast between Seattle and Los Angeles.[4][5] She also frequently sailed to Hawaii[7][8][9][10] and Latin America (Mexico[11][12][13][14] and Chile[15]). Due to Nelson's connections to the lumber industry of Eureka[2] frequent loads were wood, especially Redwood ties.[16] One freight of 1903 to Topolobampo (Mexico) was rated at about 7,700 $ (2023: 265,000 $).[17][18] Metha Nelson sailed to Australia more than once.[19][20] On a voyage to Siberia she hauled an unusual freight, codfish, to Eureka.[21]

Alaska Packers‘ Association

Following Captain Nelson's death (1909), the Alaska Packers' Association (APA) bought Metha Nelson early 1911.[22] APA was involved in Salmon canneries in Alaska, participating in the Alaska salmon fishery industry. They utilized sailing ships to transport the workers North in the spring and personnel plus produce back South in Autumn. In that context, the San Francisco Call, October 28, 1912, states that Metha Nelson had arrived from Kodiak (Alaska) with a load of Salmon barrels and halibut in tons.[23]

APA also chartered the schooner out, for example for lumber transport from Seattle to Talara Bay (Northern Peru) (1916),[24] and in 1919, she arrived in Seattle with unknown freight from Valparaíso.[25]

Over time, APA relied more and more on steam ships which could carry out two transports to Alaska and back in one season. Consequently, in 1927, when their fleat began their „Hegira“, as the newspaper named it, seven sailing ships were left in the yard, including Metha Nelson. Sales were discussed.[26]

In the film studios

Fox Film Corporation purchased Metha Nelson in June, 1930, as an „old sailship“.[27] and had her remodeled right away: In her first known movie, Seas Beneath (1931),[28] she incorporates the full-rigged sail ship Dolphin.[29] She was soon part of more movie productions, e.g. at The Painted Woman (Fox Film Corporation, 1932) with Spencer Tracy, as William Boyton's ship Southern Cross.[29] Later, she appeared in the movies Treasure Island (1934),[30] Captain Blood (1935),[31] as well as in Rulers of the Sea (1939)[32] and, as the historic ship Tonquin, in This Woman Is Mine (1941).[33]

Sometimes, Metha Nelson is incorrectly mentioned in context of the 1935 movie Mutiny on the Bounty. The two ships in this production were Lily as a replica of HMAV Bounty and Nanuk as HMS Pandora.[34]

In 1938, MGM rented out Metha Nelson to a party including the celebrity lady Dorothy Cadwell Dentice di Frasso and mobster Bugsy Siegel who undertook an unsuccessful treasure hunt on Cocos Island (Costa Rica).[35]

Service history

USS Metha Nelson (IX-74)

Metha Nelson was purchased by the US Navy from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on June 11, 1942, converted by the Craig Shipyard, Long Beach, California, and placed on service September 25, 1943. Charged with the identification of all ships trafficking in and out of Los Angeles, she lay in coastal waters off the city for the duration of her naval service, also acting as "pilots' boarding house".[36] Placed out of service on September 25, 1945, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on October 24, 1945 and turned over to War Shipping Administration a week later.

After World War II

San Pedro News Pilot (Los Angeles) reported in 1947 that the owner, Jack Luden, planned to return Metha Nelson to lumber trade with Mexico. The two remaining masts were to be outfitted with sails, and an 800 HP motor was to be installed.[32] No information on the success of these plannings is available here.

The end of Metha Nelson was announced 1957 when she was stranded on the beach next to National City. According to the picture shown, the rigg hasn't changed from the former USS Metha Nelson (IX-74).[37]

References

  1. ↑ "Ship-Building in Humboldt. County". Del Norte Triplicate. Vol. XVIII, no. 38. Crescent City. 1897-01-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The vessels were launched as follows: […] Three-topmast schooner "Metha Nelson," for Captain Charles Nelson, San Francisco. Tonnage 460.23 gross, 399.41 net. Capacity 600 M feet.
  2. 1 2 "Sea Captains: San Francisco 1800s - Charles Nelson". The Maritime Heritage Project ~ San Francisco 1846-1899. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  3. ↑ "MRS. NELSON'S DEATH". San Francisco Call. Vol. 79, no. 177. 1896-05-25. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  4. 1 2 3 "Seamen Score Victory Over Shipmasters - Captain Nelson Takes Union Men". San Francisco Call. Vol. 86, no. 9. 1899-06-09. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  5. 1 2 "In Port". San Pedro Daily News. 1907-09-20. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  6. ↑ "CLOUD OF SAILS IN THE OFFING - Nearly Forty Vessels Passed In and Out in One Day. Half a Dozen of Them Were Sugar Laden From Honolulu". San Francisco Call. Vol. 81, no. 117. 1897-03-27. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  7. ↑ "News Of The Ocean". San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 4. 1902-06-04. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The schooner Metha Nelson loads lumber at Grays Harbor for Hilo.
  8. ↑ "Late Shipping Intelligence". San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 114. 1902-09-22. Retrieved 2023-05-22. ASTORlA— Arrived [...] Sept 6;. schr Metha Nelson, from Punaloa.
  9. ↑ "News Of The Ocean". San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 149. 1900-10-27. Retrieved 2023-05-22. the Metha Nelson, (loads) merchandise to Kahului
  10. ↑ "Metha Nelson Is Chartered". Humboldt Times. Vol. XLVI, no. 272. Eureka. 1909-12-09. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  11. ↑ "Comes For Cargo Of Ties". Humboldt Times. Vol. LX, no. 117. Eureka. 1903-05-26. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The schooner Metha Nelson, Captain Christensen, [...] will take a return cargo of ties to Topolobantpo, Mexico, and will be loaded by the Charles Nelson Company.
  12. ↑ "For The Frenzied Republic". Humboldt Times. Vol. XLVII, no. 282. Eureka. 1910-11-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-22. cargo [...] consigned to La Paz, Mexico
  13. ↑ "Metha Nelson finished". Humboldt Times. Eureka. 1907-09-04. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  14. ↑ "schooner Metha Nelson Touches at Frisco, for Food". Humboldt Times. Vol. XLIII, no. 7. Eureka. 1906-01-09. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  15. ↑ "Will Take Bull Donkeys". Humboldt Times. Vol. XLIV, no. 204. Eureka. 1907-08-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  16. ↑ "Waterfront News And Marine Gossip". Humboldt Times. 1908-11-28. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  17. ↑ purchasing power calculation of 7700 $ (1903) to 2023
  18. ↑ "Pomona Sails This Morning - Schooner Metha Nelson Clears for Topolobampo, Mexico". Humboldt Times. Vol. XL, no. 241. Eureka. 1903-11-03. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The schooner Metha Nelson, Captain John Jacobsen, cleared yesterday moring at the Customs House, for Topolobampo, Mexico. Her manifest shows that she has on board 17,209 No. 1 merchantable ties, containing 550,688 feet and valued at $7,709,63; and 1 case of electrical goods valued at $6,83. The cargo [...] is consigned to the Kansas City, Mexico and Oriental Railroad.
  19. ↑ "Shipping Intelligence". San Francisco Call. Vol. 82, no. 137. 1897-10-15. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The schr Metha Nelson loads lumber at Eureka for Sydney
  20. ↑ "Clears With Cargo For West Australia". Humboldt Times. Vol. LVI, no. 137. Eureka. 1901-06-09. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  21. ↑ "Storms In the North". San Francisco Call. Vol. 96, no. 134. 1904-10-12. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The schooner Metha Nelson, Captain Stensland arrived yesterday, 37 days from Siberia waters, with 223.000 codfish.
  22. ↑ "Oldest Patron To Sail On Newport". San Francisco Call. Vol. 109, no. 114. 1911-03-24. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  23. ↑ "News Gathered From Seven Seas". San Francisco Call. Vol. 112, no. 150. 1912-10-28. Retrieved 2023-05-22. 8:30 p.m., shr Metha Nelson, Firth, 16 days from Kodiak; 1,390 barrels salmon and 800 tons halibut io Alaska Packers' association.
  24. ↑ "Alaska Packer Chartered For Lumber Trade". San Francisco Call. Vol. 100, no. 59. 1916-09-07. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-05-22. Balfour, Guthrie & Co. also announced today the charter of the American schooner Metha Nelson, 399 tons, from Puget Sound to Talara Bay, It also will carry lumber
  25. ↑ "Power Changed, Ship Increases Its Speed". San Francisco Call. Vol. 105, no. 72. 1919-03-28. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-05-22. [...] the schooner Metha Nelson, which is en route to Puget Sound from Valparaiso.
  26. ↑ "Fleet Off On Fishing Trip North - Alaska Packer Schooners Begin Annual Hegira". Oakland Tribune. Vol. 106, no. 89. 1927-03-30. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-05-22. Those remaining behind this year will be [...] and the schooner Metha Nelson.
  27. ↑ "Fox Film Buys Old Alaska Sailing Ship". San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 3, no. 77. 1930-06-06. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-05-22. Fox Film Corporation is reported as the recent purchaser of the old sailing ship Metha Nelson, now moored in San Francisco Bay.
  28. ↑ Seas Beneath (Fox Film Corporation, 1931)
  29. 1 2 "At the movies - Capitol". Monroe Morning World. Monroe, Louisiana. 1932-09-04. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  30. ↑ "Second Bounty Launched Here". San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 7, no. 140. San Pedro, Los Angeles. 1934-08-15. Retrieved 2023-05-17. Formerly the Metha Nelson, the Pandora was reconditioned at Craig shipyard, Long Beach, originally for the filming of "Treasure Island."
  31. ↑ "Old Sailing Ship Handles War Job". San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 18, no. 63. 1945-05-17. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  32. 1 2 George Eres (1947-06-09). "Old Schooner Again to Haul Lumber". San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 20, no. 82. Retrieved 2023-05-22. Stanton later sold her to Paramount Pictures which outfitted her for a Douglas Fairbanks jr. film titled "Rulers of the Sea".
  33. ↑ "The Snark Redivivus". Oakland Tribune. Vol. 135, no. 125. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-05-22. The Metha Nelson […] was last seen in this city [Los Angeles] in "This Woman Is Mine,"
  34. ↑ JaySea (2023-01-29). "The First Bounty Replica". Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  35. ↑ Fogg, Clark; Schroeder, Barbara (2013-09-18). "The Countess, The Hunter, and The Scavenger Hunt". The Mob Museum, Las Vegas. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  36. ↑ "Old Sailing Ship Handles War Job". San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 18, no. 63. 1945-05-17. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-22. they languish at the end of an anchor just outside Breakwater Light, aboard what was the three-master Metha Nelson, now converted into an identification ship.[...]The navy didn't want a large modern ship. After all, it wasn't going anywhere. Now its main variety is when port pilots drop in, causing it to be known as the "pilots' boardinghouse."
  37. ↑ "'Ship Breaker' At Work". National City Star-News. Vol. LXXIV, no. 31. 1957-04-04. p. 3-A. Retrieved 2023-05-22.

Sources

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