H.B. Archibald, the keeper of the Bethel Creek House of Refuge, was casually traveling along the Indian River early on the morning of Oct. 28, 1887, when he noticed the masts of a ship in obvious distress, just 400 yards offshore. The ship, the S.S. Panama, a barkentine steamer of 1,300 tons bound from New York to Havana, was carrying a cargo of lard and general merchandise. Also on board were some 500 passengers, most of whom were Italian immigrants headed for Cuba.
When he reached the beach, Archibald was met by Paul Kroegel (future keeper of the Pelican Island reserve) and several other onlookers who had already begun picking up the numerous cargo containers the crew had heaved overboard in an attempt to dislodge the stranded ship. After organizing the men into salvage parties, Archibald attended to the landings of the ship’s launch, which was struggling to save the Panama’s terrified passengers.
Read the entire article in the Summer 1999 issue
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