August 21, 1921: The Canadian Exporter, a 400 foot freighter ran hard aground on the shoals at Willapa Harbor, Washington. All forty one of the crew were rescued from the ship, but the ship broke up on the shoal. During the break up the bow section shifted just enough to pull on the cord that sounded the ship's whistle. The ship's eerie death nell lasted until the cord was released or the steam was exhausted.

© 2005 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com