Schooner Dorothea L. Brinkman ~ March 22, 1924

The Gazette (Montreal, Canada), March 24, 1924

Schooner Emma C. Cotton ~ 27 December 1895

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896:

Stranded at 2 a.m. during shift of wind, 200 yards from shore. Alarm was given and station crew hastened to wreck with beach apparatus. Prepared to fire shot line on board, but master of schooner hailed keeper and requested that action be deferred until daylight. While waiting, keeper sent for surfboat, and at daybreak an attempt was made to launch it, which was successful, and schooner was boarded. Took off the crew of 7 men and their baggage and landed them without mishap; carried them to station, where they were succored for three days. On January 2, saved the sails of the schooner, assisted by crew of Oregon Inlet Station. Vessel and cargo of coal were total loss.

Schooner Hattie L. Fuller ~ April 13, 1877

The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 24, 1877

Schooner Irene Thayer ~ 19 November 1892

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893:

Totally wrecked in heavy gale. Assisted by crew of Pea Island Station, landed crew of 6 men with breeches buoy, provided them with dry clothing and cared for them at station for two days. Crew of Pea Island Station also assisted in saving clothing and other effects of crew from wreck. (See letter of acknowledgement.)

OREGON INLET STATION, NORTH CAROLINA,  November 23, 1892

SIR: We came ashore on the night of the 19th in a heavy northwest gale, and I take great pleasure in writing this to inform you of the timely and heroic service that was rendered us by the crews of the Oregon Inlet and Pea Island Stations. They were abreast of the schooner with their gear in thirty minutes from the time we stranded. They did their work rapidly and bravely in saving us from our position, and landed us without any mishap. I also wish to tender sincere thanks to the captain and crews for this, and also for the kindness and care we have received at their hands while at the station. They have done all in their power and willingly in helping save what has been saved from the vessel, and they should receive the credit which truly belongs to them. I am also thankful to know that I belong to a nation that furnishes such men and houses of refuge for the benefit of seafaring men. Yours with much respect, S.H. WALL, Master of the Wrecked Schooner Irene Thayer

Schooner J.F. Becker ~ 26 April 1903

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903:

At midnight, during the prevalence of thick weather with a fresh NE. wind and rough sea, this vessel, a fishing smack of 50 tons, struck on the bar off Oregon Inles, 2-1/4 miles N. of station, and soon sank, the crew of 11 abandoning her in two boats. Five of the men were picked up by another smack and the others landed on the beach and were found by a patrolman, who took them to the station, where they were succored until the following day. The master, who had left his vessel very thinly clad, was provided with necessary clothing from the stores of the Women’s National Relief Association. (See letter of acknowledgment.)

STAPLETON, NEW YORK, May 1, 1903

FRIEND: I write to let you know that I arrived at home safe and wish to thank you and your men for what you did for me and my crew, and I hope to have the chance to return the favor. The other men got picked up by a smack and arrived safe at Old Point Comfort. I remain your friend, GEO. W. PERRY, Master American Schooner J.F. Becker

Schooner Jennie Lockwood ~ 13 February 1906

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906:

During a severe northerly gale, thick weather and high sea this vessel stranded at 5 a.m. 200 yards E. of the former station. The patrol discovered her and reported her to the keeper, who telephoned to the Oregon Inlet station to come down and lend a hand at the wreck. At 10 a.m. the Pea Island crew arrived abreast of the stranded craft and their beach apparatus and fired a shot from the Lyle gun, the line falling over the fore rigging. The crew from Oregon Inlet now arrived, and by means of the breeches buoy all hands—there were 7 in all—were safely landed and taken to the Pea Island station and succored for 6 days. The schooner was lost.

The Jenny Lockwood was a three-masted schooner built in Thomaston, ME in 1882 by S.S. Gerry & Co. William Pierce Stubbs painted two portraits of the Lockwood between 1882 and 1894 ... one in calm waters and the other in stormy seas:

Schooner Jane C. Harris ~ 25 February 1900

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 3, 1900:

Stranded about 2 miles N. of station while trying to enter Oregon Inles for a harbor during a heavy NW. gale. Station crew launched surf boat, but could ot pull to windward owing to the force of the gale and strong tide. The beach apparatus was then taken abreast the wreck and set up, and the first shot laid the line on board, but the crew did not have strength enough to haul off the whip line against the strong current. As a last resort, the surfmen took a large sailboat which lay inside the inlet and, taking the drogue from the surfboat, started out to the wreck. Upon reaching it, the sailboat was anchored 100 yards to windward and dropped down with a drogue line until a heaving stick could be thrown on board; then the sailboat was hauled in near enough for the imperiled crew of three men to jump on board. The sailboat was now lying in a very dangerous position and no time could be lost in hoisting the anchor, so the anchor line was cut and the boat headed for the inlet. A landing was effected safely and the shipwrecked crew were succored at the station for three days. The crew from Pea Island Life-Saving Station rendered valuable assistance to the Oregon Inlet crew in making this rescue. The schooner was a total loss.

OREGON INLET LIFE-SAVING STATION, February 28, 1900

SIR: We desire to compliment Captain M.W. Etheridge and his crew, and also the crew of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station for their heroid efforts in rescuing us from the wreck of the schooner Jane C. Harris, under the most difficult circumstances, while we were trying to make harbor in Oregon Inlet on last Sunday morning during a northwest gale and very cold, freezing weather. We were very kindly treated at the station after being taken off the wreck about nightfall by the life-savers, who worked under the most trying conditions, and we thank them all for their noble work, which saved us from an untimely death. G. De WAAL, Master ; H. PARSONS, Mate ; GEO. T. BISHOP, Steward

Shooner Maggie J. Lawrence ~ 10 February 1896

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896:

The Maggie J. Lawrence stranded during a strong northwest wind, at 3:30 a.m. She was discovered by a patrolman and reported at the station, and also at the Oregon Inlet Station. The keeper and crew hauled beach apparatus and a surfboat abreast of the vessel and awaited daylight before beginning action, as the schooner was gradually working inshore, and in no immediate danger of going to pieces. As it grew light, it was found that the surfboat could be used to advantage. This was soon launched, and the wreck was reached. A crew of seven and their baggage were taken off and landed without mishap. The Oregon Inlet crew arrived in time to assist in landing and hauling the surfboat upon the beach. They sheltered the crew at their station for six days, while engaged in saving stores, rigging and sails of the wrecked vessel. Her master was cared for during fifteen days while this work was in progress, and was aided by the station crew. The schooner was a total loss.

Schooner Montana ~ 11 December 1904

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905:

Shortly before midnight, during a heavy NNW. Gale with thick snowstorm and rough sea, the Schooner Montana, a three-masted schooner laden with salt and carrying a crew of 7, all told, struck the beach ¼ mile N. of station and 300 yards from shore. Heavy seas swept over her, and the crew, after burning a torch for help, took refuge in the fore rigging. The N. patrol promptly reported the disaster, and keeper and crew, provided with beach apparatus, reached the shore abreast of the wreck at 12.10 a.m., the keeper having telephoned for assistance to Oregon Inlet and New Inlet stations, the former crew arriving at 1 a.m. and the later some time later. It was impossible to launch a boat through the heavy surf, and after lighting a bonfire the lifesavers placed the wreck gun and fired several lines, some of them going adrift and some to the wreck, but none in such position that the shipwrecked crew could reach it. At daylight the surfmen laid a line over the spring stay, which the crew succeeded in reaching, and after several hours of difficult work 6 men were landed. The seventh man, the ship’s cook, being of advanced years, was washed overboard during the night and lost. Four of the rescued men were sheltered at the station for 11 days, and two for 16 days. The Montana became a total wreck, and was sold by the master for a small sum. (For detailed account see caption “Loss of Life.”)

Wreck of the Schooner Montana

The total wreck of the three-masted schooner Montana, of Somers Point, NJ, near the Pea Island Station, a few miles above New Inlet, NC, on December 11, 1904, resulted in the loss of one man, Harry Edwards, the cook of the vessel. It is not definitely known, even by his shipmates, at what time he met his death, as he either fell or was washed from the rigging during the night unseen by anyone, and when no aid could possibly reach him. The rest of the crew, 6 in all, were rescued by the crews of the Pea Island, Oregon Inlet, and New Inlet stations. The Montana was a vessel of about 377 tons register, built and owned in Somers Point, and carried a crew of 7 men. She was commanded by Captain Japhat Booye, and was from New York, NY, with a cargo of salt, bound to Charleston, SC. Soon after leaving port she encountered bad weather, which continued all the way down the coast and eventually wrought her destruction. At the time of her stranding, about 11 o’clock in the night, a fresh gale was blowing from the NNW., with a thick snowstorm, and unusually rough sea. The schooner was running before the wind under double-reefed mainsail and fore staysail. Soundings of 17 fathoms had been obtained, and it seems but a short time elapsed after that when she struck in the outer breakers, one-fourth of a mile NE. of the station, and filled in 20 minutes. Signals of distress were displayed, the crew seeking refuge in the fore rigging from the heavy seas which swept her decks fore and aft. The signal of distress from the stranded schooner was discovered through the gloom by the north patrol, who, after replying with a Coston light to assure her crew that their helpless situation was observed, ran to the station and immediately gave the alarm. Fifteen minutes later the Pea Island crew were on the scene with the beach apparatus. The surfboat was also brought down to be used if required. Owing to the darkness ad thick, blinding snow, those on board could not see the shore nor the life-savers see the wreck. A bonfire was built on the beach, by which the dim outlines of the hull became faintly discernible. No signals of any kind on board could be distinguished nor cries for help be heard above the constant thunder of the surf.

     The Lyle gun having been placed in position, a shot was fired with 6 ounces of powder and a No. 9 line, which latter being hauled upon from the shore without any response, was allowed to remain out, with the hope that it might have fallen aboard and be discovered by the sailors as the day approached. By 1 a.m. the crew from the Oregon Inlet Station, having previously been advised of the disaster by telephone, arrived upon the scene, reinforced a little later on by the men from the New Inlet Station. At intervals the dark shadow of the hull, at which they had vaguely fired, would disappear, lost amidst sleet and snow, which now fell wit unabated severity. Still there was no strain on the line to indicate that it had been found. At daylight the vessel could again be seen, and a second shot was fired, which landed over the headstay. By this time some of the crew could be made out in the fore rigging and on the crosstrees, but apparently were unable to reach the line from their position. A number of shots followed, whenever circumstances seemed most favorable, but owing to the great distance of the vessel from the shore all of them fell short and were swept to leeward by the sea and current. Just before midday a No. 9 line was sent out with an 8-ounce charge, which went over the main topmast stay and slid down almost into the hands of the men in the crosstrees, great care and judgment, however, being exercised to avoid hitting them. Benumbed by the cold, it was some time before they succeeded in hauling off the whip and securing the tailblock to the foremast head. The hawser was then sent aboard and made fast, and, the gear having been set up on shore, it was the work of only a few minutes to heave the hawser taut and establish communications with the breeches buoy.

     The first man was landed at 1.30 p.m., and the last—there were 6 in all—nearly an hour later. The rescued men, all of whom were more or less exhausted and frost-bitten from long exposure in freezing weather, were speedily removed to the station, where everything was done to alleviate their condition. They were sheltered and comfortably cared for by the surfmen for 11 days, having recovered sufficiently by that time to start for their homes. All had been rescued save one. It appears, from what could be learned from the survivors, that Edwards, being a man of advanced years and a cripple, was only able to reach the sidelight screen when the vessel filled and the others took refuge aloft to save themselves. Here he had lashed himself to the lower shroud, and when last seen by those above him seemed to be secure, but at dawn he was missing. Torn from his lashings and swept away by the sea, he was never again seen. The Montana became a total wreck, and was sold by the master for a small sum.

Schooner Montana

Newspaper Article:

New York Times, December 12, 1904