Steamer Ea ~ 15 March 1902

“Everything went well until the morning of Saturday, the 15th, when in trying to feel our way through a thick fog we grounded on a sand bar off Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The sea was smooth at the time, and I immediately ordered full speed astern, but it was no use, and the Ea did not budge. At high tide we tried to get off again, but the attempt, as in the first case was to no avail, and the Ea remained hard and fast. Monday the gale was still raging with unabashed fury. On this day our water tanks burst and we were without any drinking water. The Alexander and Algonquin were still trying to get to us, but found the feat impossible owing to the rough sea and our perilous position.” ~Captain W.V. Garry



Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902:

Stranded during thick weather on Lookout Shoals, moderate SE. wind, rough sea. The vessel was dimly sighted through the mist by the lookout at 3.30 p.m., and the lifeboat at once pulled to the position indicated and searched for several hours, but owing to the thick weather prevailing could find nothing, and returned to the station at 1.35 a.m. of the 16th. The keeper had telegraphed the revenue cutter Algonquin, and she arrived early the morning of the 16th, towed the lifeboat out, and succeeded in locating the wreck. The tug Alexander Jones also arrived, and later the wrecking tug I.J. Merritt. The stranded steamer was surrounded for several hundred yards by high and dangerous breakers that rendered in impossible for any boat to reach her, and the steamers and life savers stood by through the night waiting for a chance to rescue the imperiled crew. On the morning of the 17th the lifeboat was towed by the wrecking tug as near as possible to the wreck, but council was held on board the tug and it was decided that no boat could live in the breakers. Another night was spent in anxious watching, and at daylight on the 18th it was seen that the Ea had broken in two. The sea still ran high, but the wind had shifted and was flowing from N., making the chance of boarding somewhat better. It being impossible to breast the wind and sea from leeward, the lifeboat was towed to windward and pulled through the weather breakers to the wreck. Meantime a boat had launched from the Ea and passed through the lee breakers in safety, carrying 17 of the crew. At the first trial the lifeboat missed the wreck, but a second attempt was made, and the remainder of the ship’s company, 10 men, was brought safely through the breakers, thus completing the rescue of all hands, 27 in number. The shipwrecked people were taken to Morehead City, NC, by the revenue cutter Algonquin. The steamer and cargo proved to be a total loss.

Wilmington Morning Star
Tuesday, March 18, 1902

Morehead, March 17, 1902 - The unknown steamship on Cape Lookout Shoals will probably go to pieces tonight. It is impossible to reach her on account of high seas and winds. The life saving crew have tried in vain to rescue the crew. While the Merritt tug was en route to Cape Lookout it picked up supposed famous yacht Columbia with mast and jib boom gone and stern broke in. The crew are all save and at Cape Lookout Shoals.

Wilmington Morning Star
Wednesday, March 19, 1902

A Spanish Steamer Off Cape Lookout Shoals

"Ea" is Name of Hitherto Unknown Vessel Which Went Ashore Near Beaufort Saturday Morning

Total Loss with Her Cargo (Special Star Telegram)

MOOREHEAD CITY, N.C. March 18 - The United States revenue cutter ALGONQUIN arrived here this evening with the crew of the Spanish steamer EA, 1694 tons, of Bilboa. Capt. Y. Garary. She sailed from Fernandina, Fla. on March 13th with 2,500 barrels rosin and 2,500 tons phosphate and was en route to New York to finish taking on cargo. When off Cape Lookout shoals she encountered a heavy fog and struck the outer Diamond on March 15th, at 9:30 a.m. On account of high seas and brisk winds, no assistance could be rendered by the life saving crew until this morning about 9 o'clock, when the crew was rescued by the life saving crew of Lookout station, with the assistance of the United States revenue cutter ALGONQUIN and several tugs.

The steamship broke in two yesterday and until this morning the crew was on the bridge with nothing to eat or drink, hoping to be rescued. In the meantime the sea fell and having but one boat, only managed to take part of the crew aboard the ALGONQUIN. Captain Gaskill of the life saving station rescuing the remainder. The twenty-seven men in the crew were all saved, but are badly weather beaten. The steamship and cargo are a total loss.

The above special received last night by the STAR is the latest news from the unknown steamer which has been ashore off Cape Lookout since Saturday, and about which there was so much inquiry in shipping circles yesterday. the EA appears to have had bad luck ever since she left her home port, Bilboa, on Jan. 26th. She arrived at Philadelphia Feb. 21st, after having encountered heavy weather during the voyage. The steering gear became deranged and slight damage was done to her decks. After repairing she left Philadelphia in charge of a new master, Capt. Garary, on March 3rd, and arrived in Fernandina March 7th. It was while returning to New York Saturday that she encountered the latest ill wind, which put her to pieces.