The USRC Wolcott, also sometimes called USRC Oliver Wolcott, was a schooner-rigged revenue cutter constructed in 1873 by Risden Iron Works in San Francisco, California. She featured a hull built from white oak and yellow fir sourced from Oregon and Washington, providing a sturdy foundation for her service in the challenging Alaskan waters. Powered by a vertical-cylinder, surface-condensing steam engine, Wolcott combined sail and steam propulsion, with iron-wire standing rigging supporting her schooner rig. Commissioned on 30 July 1873, Wolcott was accepted into service by Revenue Captain White and initially operated out of Port Townsend, Washington. Her primary mission was patrolling the waters of the Territory of Alaska, especially in the Bering Sea. She was part of the U.S. Revenue-Marine, later renamed the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service in 1894. Throughout her career, she was notable for her role in frontier enforcement, including guarding against Native American uprisings in British Columbia in 1883 at the request of Canadian authorities. Wolcott’s service was marked by her resilience amid staffing challenges, such as her crew deserting in 1882 due to low wages—specifically, Captain Stodder was ordered to keep wages below $40 per month. Among her notable rescues was the saving of survivors from the wrecked schooner Elwood in 1895 off Southeast Alaska, showcasing her role in maritime rescue operations. In 1897, she was sold to Seattle merchant Joshua Green for $3,050 but retained her name and transitioned into merchant service. By 1899, her home port was San Francisco. Her final voyage began on 29 January 1900, leaving Unga Island with passengers, crew, and a cargo of gold bullion. Two days later, she struck a submerged reef near Kodiak Island, becoming a total loss at Rocky Point. The crew all safely reached shore, and the gold was salvaged. Valued at $15,000, Wolcott’s wreck marked the end of her maritime service, but her operational history reflects her importance in U.S. maritime frontier enforcement and rescue efforts during her 27-year service life.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.