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Goldsboro Messenger, NC, Dec. 11, 1882
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Showing posts with label 1882. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1882. Show all posts
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Bark F.L. Carney ~ 22 January 1882
The body of one of the sailors of the bark F.L. Carney, the loss of which occurred on January 22 at a place outside of the scope of operations of the service, identified as that of Thomas Manning, of New York, was found on the south side of Hatteras Inlet, by the crew of Station No. 23 (6th District), North Carolina who brought it across the inlet, made a box, and had the corpse buried. (NOTE: 19 killed in this wreck.)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Schooner John Floyd ~ 14 December 1882
At about noon on this date the keeper of the Creeds Hill Station (6th District), near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, sighted a schooner apparently becalmed, as she had all sail set and was heading as though on the wind, although from her position he judged she must be on or very close to the outer edge of the inner shoals off the cape, four or five miles to the southeast of the station. She made no signal of distress, but after watching her closely with his glass for about three quarters of an hour he discovered that she had lowered a boat. This led him to suspect something wrong, and he at once ordered out the surf boat. The wind was light from the westward, with hazy weather. There was also quite a swell rolling in from seaward and breaking heavily on the shoals. An hour’s pull brought the life-saving crew alongside the schooner at about 2 o’clock. Sure enough she was hard and fast, the strong flood-tide toward Hatteras Inlet having set her onto the shoal.
She was the John Floyd, of Jacksonville, FL, from New York, with a load of coal, and there were 8 persons on board, one being a passenger. The captain had already laid out a kedge in the hope of heaving the vessel off. This explained the lowering of the yawl, as seen from the station. The life saving crew lent willing assistance to the sailors at the capstan in their efforts to get the schooner afloat, but after two hours of hard heaving (4 p.m.) it was found she had not budged in the least. On the contrary, she was settled in the sand, and was then leaking badly, there being over four feet of water in the hold when the pumps were sounded, although when the life saving crew arrived she was apparently as tight as a bottle. The keeper also observed that she was breaking in two amidships, and as it was getting dark he advised the captain to leave her. The latter refused at first, saying he should stay by his vessel as long as possible. He soon changed his mid, however, when the keeper pointed out the condition of the vessel and expressed the opinion that there was no prospect of having her, and consented to her abandonment. The sails were therefore lowered and rolled up and the men told to get their baggage into the surf boat. Then, with the passenger, the mate, and the cook in the surf boat, and the captain and four seamen in the yawl, a start was made for the shore, the surf boat taking the yawl in tow.
It was a long and dangerous pull, and as night set in before they had gone far the utmost caution was necessary. Upon nearing the beach, however, they were guided to the locality of the station by signal lights flashed by one of the station crew who had been left behind in charge of the house, and they were thus enabled to make a good landing by half past 7. As soon as the boats grated on the sand they were met by the crew of the Durant’s Station, some miles below, near Hatteras Inlet, who had come up, upon discovering the wreck at 4 o’clock, prepared to render assistance. The Creed’s Hill crew being quite tired out from their long pull of several miles with the deeply laden boat, the service of the Durant’s crew in hauling the boats up clear of the surf and assisting the shipwrecked men with their baggage to the station was very acceptable.
On the next day the two life saving crews attempted to reach the wreck to recover some more of the crew’s effects which had been left behind, but the schooner had then settled deep in the sand, and there was nothing but her masts in sight above water, the vessel and cargo becoming a total loss. The rescued crew remained at the station for three days and then were assisted in procuring passage to their homes.
She was the John Floyd, of Jacksonville, FL, from New York, with a load of coal, and there were 8 persons on board, one being a passenger. The captain had already laid out a kedge in the hope of heaving the vessel off. This explained the lowering of the yawl, as seen from the station. The life saving crew lent willing assistance to the sailors at the capstan in their efforts to get the schooner afloat, but after two hours of hard heaving (4 p.m.) it was found she had not budged in the least. On the contrary, she was settled in the sand, and was then leaking badly, there being over four feet of water in the hold when the pumps were sounded, although when the life saving crew arrived she was apparently as tight as a bottle. The keeper also observed that she was breaking in two amidships, and as it was getting dark he advised the captain to leave her. The latter refused at first, saying he should stay by his vessel as long as possible. He soon changed his mid, however, when the keeper pointed out the condition of the vessel and expressed the opinion that there was no prospect of having her, and consented to her abandonment. The sails were therefore lowered and rolled up and the men told to get their baggage into the surf boat. Then, with the passenger, the mate, and the cook in the surf boat, and the captain and four seamen in the yawl, a start was made for the shore, the surf boat taking the yawl in tow.
It was a long and dangerous pull, and as night set in before they had gone far the utmost caution was necessary. Upon nearing the beach, however, they were guided to the locality of the station by signal lights flashed by one of the station crew who had been left behind in charge of the house, and they were thus enabled to make a good landing by half past 7. As soon as the boats grated on the sand they were met by the crew of the Durant’s Station, some miles below, near Hatteras Inlet, who had come up, upon discovering the wreck at 4 o’clock, prepared to render assistance. The Creed’s Hill crew being quite tired out from their long pull of several miles with the deeply laden boat, the service of the Durant’s crew in hauling the boats up clear of the surf and assisting the shipwrecked men with their baggage to the station was very acceptable.
On the next day the two life saving crews attempted to reach the wreck to recover some more of the crew’s effects which had been left behind, but the schooner had then settled deep in the sand, and there was nothing but her masts in sight above water, the vessel and cargo becoming a total loss. The rescued crew remained at the station for three days and then were assisted in procuring passage to their homes.
It should be mentioned as showing the spirit which animated the men in going off to the wreck, that while the boat was being drawn down to the surf on its carriage one of the surfmen (A.B. Midgett) at the drag rope stumbled and fell, the wheels of the carriage passing over one of his legs. He told his comrades not to wait for him, that he would overtake them. He was as good as his word, for by the time the boat was ready to launch he came up nearly out of breath and took his place at the oar, as though nothing had happened. When, however, the people were safely landed and the excitement was passed, the poor fellow found he had been more hurt than he at first supposed. He was laid up, unfit for duty, for several days by it.
Schooner J.W. Haig ~ 26 September 1882
The schooner J. W. Haig (perhaps James W. Haig), of and from Philadelphia, for South Creek, NC, with a cargo of hay and salt and carrying a crew of 5 men, went ashore at dusk in the evening of the 26th on the Middle Ground near Bird Island, in Hatteras Inlet, about 7 miles west southwest of the Durants Station (6th District), North Carolina. She was discovered by one of the station men when he reached the southerly limit of his patrol at daylight (27th), and reported as soon as possible to the keeper. The surf boat was launched, and, after a long and arduous pull the life-saving crew reached the vessel, but their offer of assistance was declined with thanks, the people being in no danger and busily at work stripping her. Although no service was rendered in this case, the station crew deserves credit for their vigilance and activity in pulling so great a distance, the journey to the vessel and back being fully 15 miles.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Schooner Mercy T. Trundy ~ 24 April 1882
The schooner Mercy T. Trundy, of Calais, ME, bound from Philadelphia, PA, to Wilmington, NC, with a cargo of railroad iron, and carrying a crew of 6 men, ran ashore on Frying Pan Shoals, Cape Fear, NC, at half past four in the morning, during prevalence of thick weather, the captain having mistaken his position in supposing he was outside the Frying Pan Shoals light-ship, as in the case of the Minnie, wrecked a few days previous on the same shoals. The schooner was discovered soon after daylight by the patrol from Station No. 25 (6th District), 8 miles distant (Smith’s Island), and as quickly as possible the life saving crew put off to her. With a favoring wind from the north they made good progress, and when about halfway out to the schooner spoke the tug Italian, bound in, which reported passing the wreck, and that the crew were still on board with a signal of distress flying. The vessel was reached at 8 o’clock. She lay, as the keeper described it in his report, in a bed of breakers, with the seas dashing completely over her, and there was no one on board. It was evident that the crew had either been washed away, or that they had sought refuge in their boat, the absence of the latter from its davits creating this presumption. The schooner had commenced breaking up, and as nothing could be done in way of salvage, and they had about all they could do to prevent their boat from swamping in the heavy sea, it was resolved to turn back and keep a sharp lookout for the missing crew.
Upon heading about, the wind was full in their teeth, and after pulling steadily for three hours, during which time they made but four miles headway, the wrecking schooner Charlotte Ann Pigott, of Wilmington, was fallen in with on her way to the wreck. Anxious for the safety of the wrecked crew, the life savers boarded the Pigott and accompanied her out, believing such a course would afford them a better chance of finding the missing boat. This action was fully justified, for upon arriving the second time in the vicinity of the stranded vessel, their search was rewarded by the discovery of the yawl in tow of pilot boat No. 6, which was standing in, on the wind, towards Cape Fear. They at once shoved off from the Pigott, and upon reaching the pilot boat found the wrecked crew safe on board of her, the yawl having been picked up some miles to leeward. Upon comparing notes it was learned that the sailors must have abandoned their vessel but a few minutes before the station crew arrived, the roughness of the sea, no doubt, preventing their seeing one another. They were at one transferred to the surf boat and taken ashore to the station to await an opportunity to save their effect, the men having brought nothing but what they stood in. An unsuccessful attempt was made the following day (25th to board the vessel, but the sea was still too rough and breaking clean over her. The weather moderated, however, during the following night, and on the 26th the life saving crew again went out, hoping to save something. The vessel had then become a complete wreck, and everything belonging to the crew was swept away. Under these circumstances there was no need of the wrecked crew remaining longer at the station, and they were therefore conducted the same day in the surfboat to Smithfield, several miles distant, whence they could take passage to their home.
Upon heading about, the wind was full in their teeth, and after pulling steadily for three hours, during which time they made but four miles headway, the wrecking schooner Charlotte Ann Pigott, of Wilmington, was fallen in with on her way to the wreck. Anxious for the safety of the wrecked crew, the life savers boarded the Pigott and accompanied her out, believing such a course would afford them a better chance of finding the missing boat. This action was fully justified, for upon arriving the second time in the vicinity of the stranded vessel, their search was rewarded by the discovery of the yawl in tow of pilot boat No. 6, which was standing in, on the wind, towards Cape Fear. They at once shoved off from the Pigott, and upon reaching the pilot boat found the wrecked crew safe on board of her, the yawl having been picked up some miles to leeward. Upon comparing notes it was learned that the sailors must have abandoned their vessel but a few minutes before the station crew arrived, the roughness of the sea, no doubt, preventing their seeing one another. They were at one transferred to the surf boat and taken ashore to the station to await an opportunity to save their effect, the men having brought nothing but what they stood in. An unsuccessful attempt was made the following day (25th to board the vessel, but the sea was still too rough and breaking clean over her. The weather moderated, however, during the following night, and on the 26th the life saving crew again went out, hoping to save something. The vessel had then become a complete wreck, and everything belonging to the crew was swept away. Under these circumstances there was no need of the wrecked crew remaining longer at the station, and they were therefore conducted the same day in the surfboat to Smithfield, several miles distant, whence they could take passage to their home.
Schooner Minnie ~ 12 April 1882
The schooner Minnie, of and from New York for Charleston, SC, with a cargo of guano and empty barrels, stranded on Frying Pan Shoals, Cape Fear at 3 o’clock in the morning, during the prevalence of a severe northeast rain storm. It was high water on the shoals when she struck and the sea was very rough. There were 8 persons all told on board the schooner, including the captain’s wife. The captain had mistaken his position by supposing he was to the southward of the Frying Pan Shoals lightship and did not discover his error until the vessel grounded in the breakers about five miles south of Smith’s Island. The crew of Station No. 25 (6th District), Smith’s Island, North Carolina, discovered the vessel at daylight (5:30), and at once went off in the surf boat to render assistance, reaching her at 7 o’clock. It was at first thought that by throwing cargo overboard the vessel might be saved. The men, therefore, bent their energies in that direction, keeping the pumps going to free the vessel of water. They soon found, however, that she had bilged and that all efforts to relieve her would be futile. Her abandonment was therefore reluctantly determined upon by the captain, who was part owner of the vessel. After consultation as to the safest way of reaching the island, it was decided to use the schooner’s yawl in conjunction with the surf boat. The former was therefore hoisted overboard and five men took passage in it, while the rest, including the captain’s wife, went in the surf boat, and after a hard and dangerous pull for nearly three hours all hands raced the shore in safety, the life savers beaching their boat first and then assisting the other boat to land. The rescued party were sheltered at the station until the next day (13th), when the weather having moderated they were conducted to Smithville, Cape Far River. A wrecking company was employed by the captain to save all the property possible, but beyond the recovery of the sails and rigging and some empty barrels nothing could be done, the vessel and the rest of the cargo becoming a total loss. This simple narrative of the rescue of the Minnie would be incomplete were the statement omitted that the entire affair, in the opinion of seafaring men in the vicinity, reflected much credit on the crew of the station, some of the bar pilots at Smithville marveling greatly that such a gallant feat as reaching the vessel through so rough a sea and boarding her in the midst of the breakers during the severity of the tempest could be accomplished.
Schooner Mary L. Vankirk ~ 5 February 1882
The schooner Mary L. Vankirk, of Philadelphia, PA, to which port she was bound from South Creek, Pamlico Sound, NC, with a cargo of pine lumber and carrying a crew of 5 men, encountered heavy weather during the trip, and lost sails and sprung a leak, so that before long she became water-logged and almost unmanageable. In this condition it was determined to run to leeward and seek refuge in Hatteras Inlet. Before that point could be reached, however, matters became so much worse that it was decided to beach the vessel to save the lives of those on board, her crew being apprehensive of her capsizing at any moment. She was discovered heading for the land by the crew of Station No. 18 (6th district), Chicamicomico, North Carolina, with her colors in the rigging, union down, at about seven in the morning (February 5). The surf boat was at once run out on its carriage for service, but the life saving crew finding there was little prospect of getting off to the vessel against the heavy surf then tumbling in upon the beach, returned to the station for the breeches buoy apparatus, the latter arriving abreast of the schooner at a quarter past eight, fifteen minutes after she struck the bar about half a mile north of the station. The schooner came so close in that the keeper was able, by wading out into the water, waist deep, to cast a heaving line to the people who were huddled together in te rigging. The sea at that time was breaking all over the ill-fated craft, and the situation was critical.
As quickly as possible the men in the rigging hauled off the whip line, and that being followed by the hawser, the breeches buoy was soon rigged and went spinning out to the vessel. From that onward the work was comparatively easy, the 5 men being safely landed within 15 minutes after the hawser was set up; all being profoundly thankful for their escape. It was extremely fortunate that the tide was high, the vessel coming in over the bar and much nearer the beach than would have been the case with the receding tide. The rescued men were conducted at once to the station and made comfortable, the life saving crew going on board at low water and saving their effects. From the time the men arrived with the apparatus abreast of the vessel not a hitch occurred to mar the success of their operations, the entire affair being very skillfully managed. A portion of the schooner’s cargo was subsequently saved, but the vessel became a total wreck. It is due to the crew of the adjacent station north (No. 17) to state that as soon as the wreck was discovered they proceeded down the beach to the assistance of their comrades of No. 18, with all the dispatch possible, although the soft and yielding condition of the beach rendered travel so difficult that participation in the work of rescue was impossible, the sailors being snugly housed at the station long before their arrival on the ground. The captain of the vessel sent the following statement to the general superintendent, in acknowledgement of the services of the life saving crew:
As quickly as possible the men in the rigging hauled off the whip line, and that being followed by the hawser, the breeches buoy was soon rigged and went spinning out to the vessel. From that onward the work was comparatively easy, the 5 men being safely landed within 15 minutes after the hawser was set up; all being profoundly thankful for their escape. It was extremely fortunate that the tide was high, the vessel coming in over the bar and much nearer the beach than would have been the case with the receding tide. The rescued men were conducted at once to the station and made comfortable, the life saving crew going on board at low water and saving their effects. From the time the men arrived with the apparatus abreast of the vessel not a hitch occurred to mar the success of their operations, the entire affair being very skillfully managed. A portion of the schooner’s cargo was subsequently saved, but the vessel became a total wreck. It is due to the crew of the adjacent station north (No. 17) to state that as soon as the wreck was discovered they proceeded down the beach to the assistance of their comrades of No. 18, with all the dispatch possible, although the soft and yielding condition of the beach rendered travel so difficult that participation in the work of rescue was impossible, the sailors being snugly housed at the station long before their arrival on the ground. The captain of the vessel sent the following statement to the general superintendent, in acknowledgement of the services of the life saving crew:
FEBRUARY 5, 1882
When a little north of Winter Quarter Shoals I lost my sails and vessel sprung a lead and became unmanageable, and about 8 a.m. stranded about half a mile north of Station No. 18, when there was the promptest assistance rendered by the keeper and crew in landing me and my crew. They were abreast of the wreck in a few minutes after she struck, and in fifteen minutes after they arrived we were all safely landed on the beach and taken to the station and cared for. J.G. BALANCE, Master Schooner M. Vankirk
Friday, February 10, 2012
Schooner O.P. Binns ~ 15 April 1882
At 9 in the morning the crew of the schooner O.P. Binns, of New York, six in number, arrived at Station No. 23 Sixth District (Hatteras, North Carolina) and reported the sinking of their vessel during the previous night (14th), while lying at anchor inside Hatteras Inlet, at a point about five miles distant from the station. Fortunately the weather was fine and the men managed to remain on the wreck until rescued soon after daylight by a pilot named Willis who had gone out to pilot the schooner to sea, she having put in for a harbor while on voyage from Georgetown, South Caroline, to Philadelphia, with a cargo of shingles. The place where the vessel sunk was hidden from the beach by a clump of woods, which accounts for her not being seen by the station patrol. The men were hospitably sheltered and subsisted at the station for three days, or until able to obtain transportation from the beach, their vessel having become a total wreck.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sloop Unqua ~ 15 August 1882
The sloop Unqua, of Augustine, Florida, broke anchor in Bogue Sound and came ashore at Ft. Macon where the vessel was torn apart by waves. She had already been saved earlier this year off Bodie Island in an attempt to enter Oregon Inlet, and again in early November after parting her mooring in Roanoke Sound.
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