Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904:
Stranded at 12:30 p.m. on Lookout Shoals about 8 miles S. by E. from station, while en route from Jacksonville, FL, to Portland, ME, with a cargo of cross ties. The lookout soon discovered the stranded craft, and the surfmen manned the lifeboat and got alongside the vessel at 5:30 p.m. As she had filled and the weather appeared threatening, the life savers took the crew, 8 all told, into the lifeboat, then took the ship’s longboat, loaded with the personal effects of the crew, in tow, and returned to the station. The master was supplied with needed clothing from the stores of the Women’s National Relief Association and all of the shipwrecked men were succored until the afternoon of the 30th. Several tugs visited the Hamlen but she could not be floated, and ship and cargo were lost.
New Bern Daily Journal
September 2, 1903
Capt. C. Harding, Master of the barkentine JAMES H. HAMLEN, which was wrecked Friday, on Cape Lookout shoals arrived in the city yesterday from Beaufort, along with the two mates and five seaman of the stranded ship.
The HAMLEN was of Portland, Me. and had cleared from Jacksonville, Fla. laden with railroad cross-ties and was bound for New York City.
Capt. Harding stated to the Journal that Friday morning the wind was very light, that his ship was no more than drifting and that off Cape Lookout, with a flood tide standing ten miles off shore with nothing to indicate shoals, he was surprised to find the water rapidly shoaling.
Orders were immediately given to put the ship about, but the wind being so light, the efforts to do so were unavailing. At noon she struck, being soon hard and fast aground.
Distress signals were made, and at 4:30 the crew from the life saving station answered. The captain and crew were taken off at 8 o'clock, but owing to the head sea and distance they didn't get to Beaufort until 3 o'clock Sunday morning.
Eight souls were aboard at the time of stranding and all were saved, but the ship is a complete wreck. The cargo was valued at $6,000, while the barkentine was worth $16,000. There was no insurance.
The captain insisted that if there had been a light ship off the shoals, or some other indication as there should have been, the accident could not have accounted.
It is said that a light ship has been appointed for that dangerous cape some time ago, but for cause known only to red tape officials, has never been stationed.
The shipwrecked captain and crew will leave here today for Norfolk, and will make their way from there to Portland, Me.
 |
| 1900 Chart of Area |
New Bern Daily Journal
September 2, 1903
WRECKED BARKENTINE
The HAMLEN was of Portland, Me. and had cleared from Jacksonville, Fla. laden with railroad cross-ties and was bound for New York City.
Capt. Harding stated to the Journal that Friday morning the wind was very light, that his ship was no more than drifting and that off Cape Lookout, with a flood tide standing ten miles off shore with nothing to indicate shoals, he was surprised to find the water rapidly shoaling.
Orders were immediately given to put the ship about, but the wind being so light, the efforts to do so were unavailing. At noon she struck, being soon hard and fast aground.
Distress signals were made, and at 4:30 the crew from the life saving station answered. The captain and crew were taken off at 8 o'clock, but owing to the head sea and distance they didn't get to Beaufort until 3 o'clock Sunday morning.
Eight souls were aboard at the time of stranding and all were saved, but the ship is a complete wreck. The cargo was valued at $6,000, while the barkentine was worth $16,000. There was no insurance.
The captain insisted that if there had been a light ship off the shoals, or some other indication as there should have been, the accident could not have accounted.
It is said that a light ship has been appointed for that dangerous cape some time ago, but for cause known only to red tape officials, has never been stationed.
The shipwrecked captain and crew will leave here today for Norfolk, and will make their way from there to Portland, Me.
No comments:
Post a Comment