The Clara Nevada

Gold, Greed, Murder and Alaska's Inside Passage

By: Steven C. Levi

Narrated by: William Dupuy

February 5, 1898. Witnesses report a giant orange fireball reflected in the glacial waters of Alaska's Lynn Canal. At the height of Klondike gold fever, the Clara Nevada disappeared into an epic storm - taking passengers and priceless cargo with it.

Was the explosion an accident or a robbery gone wrong? Did Captain C.H. Lewis make off with $165,000 ($13.6 million in today's currency) in raw gold? Or was the sinking a case of a sea-weary steamer meeting an untimely end?

Alaska historian Steven C. Levi combs the archives to piece together the true account of the Clara Nevada's final voyage, attempting to solve the riddle of the lost steamer that resurfaced 10 years after that tragic night and became known as Alaska's ghost ship.

©2011 Steven C. Levi (P)2019 Steven Levi

Historical Account of Ship's Loss

This was an interesting historical account of a ship lost during the gold rush in Alaska in the 1800s. The author did extensive research and it clearly shows. He gives an account of the era and how the discovery of gold changed things, notably shipping companies using vessels less than seaworthy to transport people and goods. Often those results were tragic. He tells the demise of the Clara Nevada and of several possible occurrences. He also focuses on the captain, whose mysterious past causes questions. He also expands the theory that the sinking of the ship was a possible cover up of theft of gold. This book also has an audiobook version, with dull narration by William DuPuy.