Seattle’s Tall Ship Presents: Phantoms of the Sea – The SS Dix Tragedy
As we continue our voyage through maritime mysteries, we turn to a tragic chapter in Seattle’s own history—the sinking of the SS Dix. Seattle ghost stories often include this local disaster, which took place over a century ago, remains one of the Puget Sound’s most haunting maritime events. In this installment of “Seattle’s Tall Ship Presents: Phantoms of the Sea,” we explore the ill-fated journey of the SS Dix, the eerie tales that followed in its wake, and the ghosts said to linger in the waters of Elliott Bay.
the SS DIX
A Fateful Night in 1906
One of the most famous Seattle ghost stories begins on the evening of November 18, 1906, as the SS Dix set off from Seattle, bound for Port Blakely, carrying 77 passengers and crew members. The Dix was a small wooden steamer, often used to transport workers to and from lumber mills around Puget Sound. The ship had made this journey countless times, and that night, despite the overcast sky, everything seemed routine as the vessel steamed across Elliott Bay.
However, what began as an ordinary voyage soon turned disastrous. Just 20 minutes into the trip, the Dix collided with the much larger steam schooner, Jeanie, which was anchored nearby. The impact was devastating. The SS Dix, built from wood and significantly smaller than the Jeanie, began to list immediately, taking on water faster than anyone aboard could react.
In the chaos that followed, the captain, who had been navigating from below deck, was unable to correct course in time. Within minutes, the SS Dix capsized and sank, plunging into the icy waters of Puget Sound. Of the 77 people aboard, only 32 survived, while 39 lives were lost to the depths. The sinking of the SS Dix would go down as one of Seattle’s deadliest maritime disasters.
Eyewitness Accounts and the Aftermath
Survivors of the SS Dix tragedy recounted the moments of sheer panic as the ship began to tilt violently. One survivor, a deckhand named William Beattie, described hearing the horrifying sound of wood splintering as the Dix struck the Jeanie. He recalled being thrown into the water, struggling to stay afloat as the cold Puget Sound enveloped him. Beattie managed to grab hold of debris floating nearby and was later rescued by a passing vessel.
Another survivor, a woman named Mary Carlson, spoke of the confusion and terror among the passengers as the ship began to sink. She recounted how many of the passengers, paralyzed by shock, failed to react quickly enough. “It was as though they were frozen in place,” Carlson said in a 1906 interview with the Seattle Daily Times. “People were screaming, but it all seemed to happen so fast. The ship was there one minute, and then it was gone.”
The tragedy of the SS Dix left the city of Seattle in mourning. News of the disaster spread quickly, and the search for bodies in the following days only added to the horror. Many of those lost had been local workers, their families waiting anxiously on the docks, hoping for news that never came. The waters of Puget Sound had claimed them, and their bodies were never recovered.
Ghostly Sightings in Elliott Bay
In the years that followed the sinking of the SS Dix, rumors began to circulate about strange occurrences in the waters where the ship went down. Fishermen reported seeing ghostly lights on the surface of Elliott Bay late at night, even when no other vessels were nearby. Some claimed to hear disembodied voices calling out in the darkness, the sounds of desperate passengers still trying to escape the sinking ship.
One of the eeriest accounts came from a tugboat captain named Henry Mitchell, who in 1912 reported seeing a shadowy outline of a small steamer drifting aimlessly through the bay. At first, he believed it to be another ship, perhaps in distress, but as he approached, the vessel disappeared without a trace. Mitchell, deeply shaken, swore that what he had seen was the ghost of the SS Dix, doomed to sail the waters of Puget Sound for eternity.
Other sightings followed. In 1923, a group of sailors aboard the fishing vessel Clover reported seeing a mysterious glow rising from the depths of Elliott Bay. As they drew closer, they noticed the outline of a submerged ship, illuminated by an unnatural light. The sailors later described feeling a sudden chill in the air, and the sense that they were being watched. Like Mitchell before them, they believed they had encountered the ghost of the SS Dix.
These ghostly encounters have continued into more recent times, with many claiming that the spirits of those lost aboard the SS Dix still haunt the waters where they perished. Whether it’s the eerie glow of phantom lights or the chilling whispers carried on the wind, Elliott Bay remains a place where the past refuses to be forgotten.
Elliott Bay’s Unquiet Waters
Seattle ghost stories, like the sinking of the SS Dix are a reminder of the dangers that have always lurked beneath the surface of Puget Sound. While the sea has provided Seattle with commerce and connection, it has also claimed its share of lives. The tragedy of the SS Dix left an indelible mark on the city’s history, but it’s the eerie aftermath that continues to captivate those who venture out onto the water.
If you’re curious to explore the mystery of Elliott Bay firsthand, consider joining Seattle’s Tall Ship for a Seattle sunset sail. While the Bay Lady’s voyages are far less treacherous, the waters of Puget Sound still carry the whispers of the past. As you sail into the evening, you might just feel a presence lingering in the air, a reminder that the ghosts of the SS Dix are never far away.
In our final article, we’ll turn our attention to the Ghost Boats of Puget Sound, a series of spectral vessels reportedly sighted across these waters for generations. Stay with us as we conclude our journey through the Phantoms of the Sea.
Dare to Sail into the Unknown?
This Halloween season, step aboard Seattle’s Tall Ship’s, the Bay Lady, for a voyage into mystery and legend. As the mist rolls in over Elliott Bay, you’ll sail through waters haunted by the echoes of history, where ghost ships like the Lady Lovibond and the Mary Celeste once prowled. Feel the chill of the open sea as you experience the eerie beauty of tall ship sailing, with the Seattle skyline fading into the fog.
Will you encounter a phantom of the sea? There’s only one way to find out…