On August 24, 1899, the schooner Henrietta Hill was on passage from New Bern to New York City with a load of shingles valued at $225.00. She left Portsmouth late that afternoon to pass through the inlet and continue her voyage to New York. When about three miles southeast of the station, trouble struck.
Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900:
Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900:
Dragged anchors during a heavy squall and stranded 3 miles E. by S. of station. Foreseeing that she would drag into the breakers, the surfmen made ready and were alongside soon after she struck. They brought the crew of four men to station with their cloths, the captain’s sextant, charts, compass, and clock. On the next day the surfmen helped to strip the vessel. On the 28th they ran out anchors and tried to heave her afloat. On the 30th the revenue cutter Boutwell tried to release her, the surfmen running the lines, but the effort was unsuccessful. On September 7 the surfmen helped to take the pump ashore, and the master gave up the hull as a total loss. The shipwrecked crew were succored at station for 14 days.
Keeper Terrell reports:
"... a heavy sqwal from the westward struck her. Capt. let anchor go but could not hold her. We was sure she would get in the breakers and got ready for it when it lit up. Keeper was in lookout with William T. Willis, Surfman No. 5, saw man when he went aloft with color 6:07 p.m. arrived alongside 6:45 p.m. Brought Capt. and crew to station also there clothes, Capt. sexton and charts, vessel's coumpuss & clock. Friday Aug 25 helped Capt. strip vessel. Aug 28 helped Capt run anchors and chain, Capt. thinking he mite save his vessel. Aug 30 Revenue Cutter Geo S. Boutwell tryed to pull vessel off shoal but was unsuccessful. We run lines to cutter and carried messages from sch. to cutter. Sept. 7 helped Capt. to get vessel pump. Sept. 12 vessel mast fell - no chance to save hull."
The crew were Captain Ernest Golden of Cedar Island/New Bern; Geo. Ventus of Washington; Frank Hamilton of Baltimore, Maryland; and James Wilcox of New Bern. They spent 14 days at the station, consuming 169 meals. Only $150,000 worth of the cargo was saved before the vessel was given up a total loss.
Keeper Terrell reports:
"... a heavy sqwal from the westward struck her. Capt. let anchor go but could not hold her. We was sure she would get in the breakers and got ready for it when it lit up. Keeper was in lookout with William T. Willis, Surfman No. 5, saw man when he went aloft with color 6:07 p.m. arrived alongside 6:45 p.m. Brought Capt. and crew to station also there clothes, Capt. sexton and charts, vessel's coumpuss & clock. Friday Aug 25 helped Capt. strip vessel. Aug 28 helped Capt run anchors and chain, Capt. thinking he mite save his vessel. Aug 30 Revenue Cutter Geo S. Boutwell tryed to pull vessel off shoal but was unsuccessful. We run lines to cutter and carried messages from sch. to cutter. Sept. 7 helped Capt. to get vessel pump. Sept. 12 vessel mast fell - no chance to save hull."
The crew were Captain Ernest Golden of Cedar Island/New Bern; Geo. Ventus of Washington; Frank Hamilton of Baltimore, Maryland; and James Wilcox of New Bern. They spent 14 days at the station, consuming 169 meals. Only $150,000 worth of the cargo was saved before the vessel was given up a total loss.
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