News & Tall Tales. 1800s.

Unclaimed Goods in San Francisco
Many ships were abandoned when their sailors ran off to try their luck in the gold fields. It was impossible to find crews, and quite a few rotted and sunk. However, wise entrepreneurs used them for other purposes, boarding houses and storeships being the most common.
The following is a list from the store ship Panama. The listing of unclaimed goods seems sad testimony of the fate of the people who left their few precious belongings in the hands of someone and then didn't or couldn't get back to claim them.
July 8, 1851, Daily Alta California, San Francisco
Miscellaneous
THE FOLLOWING CHESTS, TRUNKS, &c. on board store shipPanama, having been unclaimed for upwards of one year, the owners thereof are hereby notified that they will be sold at auction on the 10th day of July next, unless previously called for (Editor's Note: The following is a partial list):
Unclaimed Goods |
|
---|---|
J. Morton, 1 chest | Unknown, 1 chest |
J.L. McDurmot, 1 chest | Porter " Co., 1 chest |
E. Loyd, (H.V.), 1 quadrant | S.N. Martin, 1 chest |
Capt. W. Taylor, 2 chests | Joseph Gam, 1 box tobacco |
P.B.R., 1 chest | J.A. Chambers, 1 chest |
Dr. S.S. Seyna, 1 chest | Gibbs, 1 chest |
J.L.T.K., 1 trunk | S. Babbett, 1 trunk, 1 bag |
Traok, 1 box, 1 bag | J.O., 1 bag |
Lewes, J., 1 trunk | Danl Perry, 1 chest |
Ths. Scott, 1 chest | J.B. Chase, 3 boxes |
G.E. Delere, 1 chest | G.W. Blanchard, 1 bx bedding |
Jno Shreave, 1 chest | No mark, 1 bag |
W. Holdredge, 1 chest | H. Shalmon, 1 bag, 1 keg sugar |
Jas Angie, 1 chest | Jos Perkins, 1 chest |
Jas Burns, 1 chest | Celestine Barnsuce, 1 trunk |
Hiram Weeks, 1 chest | Francis Denny, 1 chest |
A.A. Co., 1 bx tobacco, 1 bx soap | Holley, 4 chests |
Eddy, 1 gun | H.P.C., 1 bag |
S.R. Eddy, 1 trunk | Capt. J. Bowers,, 1 chest, 1 violin |
HR.H. Chesley, RHC, 1 chest, 1 brl pork | J.J. Newman, 1 box, 1 mortar |
W. Tucker, 1 gold washer | Geo. Smith, 1 brl beef |
Holyhoke Co., 1 box clothing | Dr. Houp, 1 brl crucibles |

The Naval Order of the United States has a history dating from 1890. Membership includes a wide range of individuals, many with highly distinguished career paths.
The San Francisco Commandery meets the first Monday of each month at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in San Francisco, California and holds two formal dinners each year.