"saranac" continued to protect american commerce and interests until ending her longest period in commission on 25 january 1869. recommissioned on 27 january 1870, the veteran ship resumed operations along the united states west coast. she operated in that region until she was wrecked at 8.40 a.m. on 18 june 1875 on the submerged ripple rock in seymour narrows off campbell river, british columbia, while on a mission to collect natural curiosities for the philadelphia centennial exposition. her bow was immediately run into the vancouver island shore and made fast with a hawser to a tree, but within an hour she had sunk completely from sight. lieutenant commander sanders, with the pilot and thirteen men, made their way on foot to victoria. the 173 officers and men of "saranac" were brought from victoria to san francisco by the . they arrived 1 july 1875 and were landed at mare island.