At 6:30 a.m. July 29 Keeper Mitchell Hamilton of the Portsmouth Station called Keeper David Williams of the Ocracoke Station for assistance with a schooner on the beach 5 miles SSW. The vessel proved to be the three-masted schooner Luna, en route from Savannah, GA to New York City. Captain F.A. Allen had made an error in navigation to his chronometer being out of order. Wrote Williams:
W. Roberts, No. 1 surfman, on south patrol ... discovered three mast schooner ashore ... Arrived ... opposite the wreck at 7:00 a.m. and placed gear in proper position. The first shot was unsuccessful The second shot was a true hit. The Coast Guard crew of station No. 187 arrived this time and both crews were busily engaged until 9:15 a.m. when crew of five men were safely landed on the beach in the breeches buoy ... returned to station with gear and rescued crew at 11:45 a.m.
The following day keeper Hamilton took Captain Allen to his vessel where he abandoned all hope of saving it. The shipwrecked crew stayed at the station until August 1 when they were transported to Elizabeth City by a Coast Guard supply boat. The captain remained two more days and proceeded to Norfolk, VA. The vessel and the remains of its cargo were total losses and turned over to the insurance company.
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