Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Delray Wreck
Photographed By Judith Barber, April 7, 2011
1. The Delray Wreck Marker
Inscription.
The Delray Wreck. . The old shipwreck know as the Delray Wreck rests at the bottom of the ocean in 25 feet of water about 150 yards offshore the south end of Delray’s municipal beach. The wreck is broken and scattered into five sections and has long been one of the most popular diving spots in South Florida.
The S.S. INCHULVA was grounded and wrecked by a fierce hurricane on September 11, 1903. Under the command of Captain G.W. Davis, the 386 foot steel hulled British steamship was bound for Newport News, Virginia from Galveston, Texas carrying wheat, cotton, lumber and a crew of 28 men.
The storm struck about 5 p.m., tossing the ship and causing the cargo to shift. Steering became impossible, so Captain Davis put out both anchors, but to no avail. The anchors parted and the INCHULVA grounded and was ripped apart. Nine crew members were lost.
Dawn revealed to the battered crew that land and a town were just a short distance away. By noon, all the men except Captain Davis and two mates had landed on shore in a small hastily-built raft. They found hot food and coffee at the Chapman House, a local hotel, where many of Delray’s residents had taken shelter during the storm.
The nine seamen who lost their lives were buried on the ridge overlooking the ocean where the ship had gone down. The surviving crew members were treated, paid and sent to New York.
Before leaving for their homes, each crew member signed the guest register of the Chapman House. Under their names they wrote, “Shipwrecked in the S.S. INCHULVA, September 11, 1903, landed on a raft September 12th and received every kindness and attention at the hands of Mrs. Chapman.”
Captain Davis, his Chief Officer, a 2nd Officer and a seaman from the ship were brought before the Naval Court held at the British Vice Consulate at Jacksonville on September 19th. The Court exonerated the Captain and the crew from all blame.
The old shipwreck know as the Delray Wreck rests at the bottom of the ocean in 25 feet of water about 150 yards offshore the south end of Delray’s municipal beach. The wreck is broken and scattered into five sections and has long been one of the most popular diving spots in South Florida.
The S.S. INCHULVA was grounded and wrecked by a fierce hurricane on September 11, 1903. Under the command of Captain G.W. Davis, the 386 foot steel hulled British steamship was bound for Newport News, Virginia from Galveston, Texas carrying wheat, cotton, lumber and a crew of 28 men.
The storm struck about 5 p.m., tossing the ship and causing the cargo to shift. Steering became impossible, so Captain Davis put out both anchors, but to no avail. The anchors parted and the INCHULVA grounded and was ripped apart. Nine crew members were lost.
Dawn revealed to the battered crew that land and a town were just a short distance away. By noon, all the men except Captain Davis and two mates had landed on shore in a small hastily-built raft. They found hot food and coffee at the Chapman House, a local hotel, where many of Delray’s residents had taken shelter during the storm.
The nine seamen who lost their lives were buried on the ridge overlooking the ocean where the ship had gone down. The surviving crew members were treated, paid and sent
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to New York.
Before leaving for their homes, each crew member signed the guest register of the Chapman House. Under their names they wrote, “Shipwrecked in the S.S. INCHULVA, September 11, 1903, landed on a raft September 12th and received every kindness and attention at the hands of Mrs. Chapman.”
Captain Davis, his Chief Officer, a 2nd Officer and a seaman from the ship were brought before the Naval Court held at the British Vice Consulate at Jacksonville on September 19th. The Court exonerated the Captain and the crew from all blame.
Erected 1980 by Historic Palm Beach County Preservation Board in cooperation with the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-327.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1922.
Location. 26° 27.267′ N, 80° 3.549′ W. Marker is in Delray Beach, Florida, in Palm Beach County. Marker is on Casuarina Rd. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1199 Casuarina Rd, Delray Beach FL 33483, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,694 times since then and 172 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
