The sinking of the steamship Pacific on November 4, 1875, shocked the community of Victoria, BC, resulting in a high death toll with only two survivors. The ship, carrying over 250 passengers and significant gold cargo, struck another vessel and sank due to late departure, inadequate lifeboats, and poor cargo loading. As the 150th anniversary approaches, interest in the Pacific’s wreck has been revived, especially after a salvage company located its presumed wreck site, highlighting the tragedy's enduring impact on maritime history in the Pacific Northwest.
When the Pacific finally departed, nearly an hour late, 'the multitude on the wharf gave three rousing cheers to speed departing friends on their way,' Higgins wrote in his 1904 memoir.
A century and a half after its sinking, the story of the Pacific remains a wrenching drama—and a witness to the perils of 19th-century sea travel.
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