Idaho sailed from Port Townsend bound for Portland at 3 AM on November 29, 1889.
 The fog in the Strait of Juan de Fuca was heavy, and Captain L. E. Angerstein steered toward the sound of the fog signal at the Race Rocks lighthouse.
 Sadly, at some point the fog signal stopped sounding.
 When it resumed, the ship was too close to avoid Rosedale Reef and she hit the rocks roughly amidships.
 The hull was pierced and the ship began to flood.

At the time of the grounding, her cargo was 150 barrels of fish oil, 370 barrels of salmon, 65 bales of hops, 200 tons of coal, and most problematically, 800 barrels of lime.
 The lime began to react with the seawater and burst into flame.
 The crew threw many of the barrels overboard and drilled holes in the hull to let in more water to drown the rest.
 The entire cargo deck was flooded to extinguish the fire.

While the fire was out, Idaho remained firmly grounded.
 The extensive flooding and exposed location of the ship suggested that she could not be saved.
 Formal salvage efforts began on December 1, 1889 and 892 separate items were removed including her anchors, chain, boats, windlass, a cannon, a piano, and various bits of furniture, crockery, and bedding.
 The wreck of the Idaho itself, was sold to the Pacific Coast Steamship Company for $500.

She was dislodged by a strong gale and floated free.
 Ironically, she may have gained enough buoyancy to escape the rocks because everyone assumed she could not.
 The tons of anchors, chain, and other materials that were taken off might have made the difference.
 She was spotted drifting in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the morning of  December 20, 1889.
 She was taken in tow by a succession of vessels and finally reached Port Townsend where she sank.
Idaho sailed from Port Townsend bound for Portland at 3 AM on November 29, 1889.  The fog in the Strait of Juan de Fuca was heavy, and Captain L. E. Angerstein steered toward the sound of the fog signal at the Race Rocks lighthouse.  Sadly, at some point the fog signal stopped sounding.  When it resumed, the ship was too close to avoid Rosedale Reef and she hit the rocks roughly amidships.  The hull was pierced and the ship began to flood.
At the time of the grounding, her cargo was 150 barrels of fish oil, 370 barrels of salmon, 65 bales of hops, 200 tons of coal, and most problematically, 800 barrels of lime.  The lime began to react with the seawater and burst into flame.  The crew threw many of the barrels overboard and drilled holes in the hull to let in more water to drown the rest.  The entire cargo deck was flooded to extinguish the fire.
While the fire was out, Idaho remained firmly grounded.  The extensive flooding and exposed location of the ship suggested that she could not be saved.  Formal salvage efforts began on December 1, 1889 and 892 separate items were removed including her anchors, chain, boats, windlass, a cannon, a piano, and various bits of furniture, crockery, and bedding.  The wreck of the Idaho itself, was sold to the Pacific Coast Steamship Company for $500.
She was dislodged by a strong gale and floated free.  Ironically, she may have gained enough buoyancy to escape the rocks because everyone assumed she could not.  The tons of anchors, chain, and other materials that were taken off might have made the difference.  She was spotted drifting in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the morning of  December 20, 1889.  She was taken in tow by a succession of vessels and finally reached Port Townsend where she sank.
Idaho (1866 ship)