Category:SS San Francisco Congressional Medal

During her maiden voyage from New York to San Francisco, the Steamship San Francisco encountered a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina and wrecked in December 1853. There were 750 people on board, many of whom were lost, but many others were rescued by the gallant crews of three nearby ships. Congress authorized three gold medals (39th Congress, 14 Stat. 365), one to Captain Creighton, one to Captain Low, and one to Captain Stouffer, together with a cash reward to them and their crews. Bronze duplicate medals were struck for sale to the public.