Schooner Carroll A. Deering ~ 31 January 1921

Click HERE for the Mystery of the Carroll A. Deering

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The Ghost Ship
Posted by Philip

In August, 1921 the five-masted schooner, Carroll A Deering, wrecked under mysterious circumstances on Diamond Shoals off the coast of Cape Hatteras. The sails were set and food was in the galley stove, but only a cat prowled below decks. No other living soul was aboard. The Deering soon became known as the "Ghost Ship of the Outer Banks."

The schooner broke apart, and much of the wreckage washed ashore on Ocracoke, where it remained visible for more than 30 years. The Deering's windlass provided an iconic image for many a professional and amateur photographer. In 1955 a storm carried the remains of this once grand ship to Hatteras. For years it rested in front of Wheeler Ballance's Texaco station in Hatteras village, where it was when my mother made this snapshot. 

Today, the remains of the Deering are on display in the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras.

6-toed cats ...

On January 21, 1921 the five-masted schooner, Caroll A. Deering (one of the largest schooners ever built), foundered on Diamond Shoals.

When the weather finally cleared and the US Coast Guard was able to board the vessel they discovered all sails set, galley tables set with dinnerware, food in the galley stove....and not a living soul aboard the Deering -- with the exception of one cat. To this day no one knows what happened to the crew. Not a trace of any of them has ever been found.

The story goes that the cat, with six toes on each paw, was taken ashore. Before long six-toed cats started to show up on Hatteras Island, and later, on Ocracoke. Just a couple of years ago, at dusk, Amy noticed a six-toed feral cat skulking about near her house. Perhaps the crew of the Ghost Ship continues to haunt the Outer Banks.

Sloop John Wesley ~ 5 December 1921

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1921:

On the evening of December 5, 1921 the sloop John Wesley drug anchor during a winter storm and went aground at 5:00 a.m. She was four miles NW of the Hatteras Inlet station.
     At first light Surfman W.H. Gaskins reported the incident to Officer in Charge Barnett. The lifesavers arrived at the scene at 8:20 a.m. to discover the vessel with the water too shallow and the seas running so high that they could not approach the sloop in the lifeboat. They returned to the station for a smaller boat and were finally able to get through the breakers to the sloop.
     Upon their arrival they found the Wesley, commanded by Mr. J.J. Gannon, of Old Point Comfort, VA, fast aground on the reef, pounding very hard with every wave and leaking. The lifesavers worked unsuccessfully to float the vessel before returning to the station so the captain could send a telegram and for Barnett to notify the superintendent to request the assistance of the Coast Guard cutter Pamlico.
     When the wind began to increase, making it extremely unsafe for the other men to remain on the sloop, the lifesavers returned and brought them to the station. The following morning the crew went out to investigate the condition of the sloop. Barnett reported:

"... on arrival found - that she had gone further on reef, also there was about 18-inches of water in the hole. Cutter arrived at 10 a.m. but could be of no assistance ... I brought all of the personal effects of the crew to the station, after an unsuccessful effort to pull the sloop with the windlass. Dec 12 ... make a trial to float it on high water. On Dec 14, there being a higher tide than usual, made another effort to float it, but after many hours of strenuous work and unsuccessful efforts had to give it up for this day. On Dec 15 ... on arrival found that it was filled with water and sand. On investigating found it was working to pieces and no chance to save her. Give her up as a wreck, the owner selling it."

The Wesley was en route to Tampa, FL from Hampton, VA. The five crewmen spent 15 days at the station, where they furnished their own meals.

Schooner Louise Howard ~ 14 April 1921

On this day in 1921 the fishing schooner Louise Howard of New York stranded on the bar entrance to Beaufort Harbor during a strong southwest gale. She was a 173 gross, 116 net ton wooden-hulled schooner built in 1917 at East Boothbay, ME. She was 126.8' in length, 26.5' in beam and 12.3' in depth of hold. Her home port was New York. 

On August 14, 1921 the New York Times reported: “The fishing schooner Louise Howard, from New York, went aground today in a half gale off Beaufort Bar. The crew of ten men was taken off by the Coast Guard, despite the heavy sea. The schooner was to have engaged in shark fishing and carried nearly a ton of dynamite, her commander said."

The ship was eventually destroyed on the Beaufort bar. The following is from an article reported in The Independent out of Elizabeth City:

Schooner Laura A. Barnes ~ 1 June 1921

Built in 1918, the Laura A. Barnes was a 120-foot wooden four-masted schooner out of Camden, ME. She set sail without cargo from New York en route to South Carolina and stranded in breakers off Bodie Island during a Nor'easter on June 1, 1921. Her crew of 8 men, which included owner/master C.H. Barnes, was rescued by the men at the Bodie Island Coast Guard Station.

Schooner Mary J. Hanie ~ 24 May 1921

United States Life-Saving Service Report

Captain James Montague of Manteo, of the 15-ton schooner Mary J. Hanie, was en route to Hatteras from Elizabeth City with a cargo of musical instruments.He made a mistake in the channel and stranded on Inlet Shoals at 6 p.. on April 28. A distress signal was made and was spotted immediately by lookout surfman G.B. Gaskins at the Hatteras Inlet Station and by surfman J.B. Stowe across the inlet at the Durants Station.

Keeper Garrish, being closer to the vessel, arrived first. He was joined by Stowe a few minutes later, "... the master of the schooner requested that both boats remain by him as the schooner was leaking very badly and in a dangerous condition. ... after working continuously for eight hours succeeded in floating the schooner at 3:30 a.m., April 29, and towed her to Hatteras.

Less than a month later the Mary J. Hanie, with her sails blown away in a heavy nor'easter, was in trouble once again. Keeper James H. Garrish's report follows:

At 7:15 a.m., May 24, 1921, watchman (Surfman H.H. Howard) reported a schooner flying distress signals, about five miles NNW from this station; I at once manded power surf-boat and started scene ... found the schooner Mary J. Hanie fast aground on Howards Reef in Pamlico Sound, took crew ... landed them safely at this station and furnished them with food and clothing. At 10:30 a.m. left ... the second time to assist in saving cargo, as the schooner was breaking up. Succeeded in saving about $2,000 worth of musical instruments, with great dificulty, the sea and the force of wind and the breaking up on the schooner compelled us to leave the schooner, as there was great danger of the mast falling and of some person getting killed. Returned to station at 2:30 p.m. At 5 a.m. ... manded power surf-boat and put out to assist in saving balance of cargo, succeeded in saving five pianos which was all of cargo that could possibly be saved ... These pianos were damaged badly and worth approximately $1,000. Sails blown away, went aground, took off crew carried them to station for three days. Succeeded in saving about $3,000 worth of cargo.

The incident was closed with Captain Montague turned the schooner over to private individuals. The clothing furnished the three crewmen had been donated by the Blue Jacket Society.