Chilean ship Maria Helena wrecked according to the newspaper The Polynesian dated 4 March 1848

 The New Pictorial and Illustrated Family Magazine established for the diffusion of useful knowledge, vol. III. Robert Sears editor, New York 1846

An item reported that the Chilean ship Maria Helena master Curphy of Valparaiso hence 14 days wrecked on 4 January at Christmas Island and lost including the cargo. She was loaded with 465 barrels sperm oil, 1.700 barrels whale oil and 118.700 pound bone partly owned by the owners mostly owned by whalers and further more merchandise with a value of 19.000 US dollars partly insured. The whalers which were involved were Olive Branch 1.200 barrels whale oil 17.000 lbs bone, Samuel Robertson 150 barrels sperm oil 16.000 lbs bone, Ceres 50 barrels sperm oil 17.000 lbs bone, Inez 500 barrels whale oil 1600 lbs bone, John Jay 17.000 lbs bone, Harriston 40 barrels sperm oil 3.700 lbs bone and Josephine 16.000 lbs bone. Total loss estimated 83.000 US dollars, ship was insured for 10.000 US dollars.