The 488-ton Richard S. Spofford was a three-masted schooner built in 1890 at Newberryport, MA. On December 22 she sailed in ballast from Boston, MA for Darien, GA under the command of Captain Richard R. Hawes with a crew of seven.
As they were passing off Cape Hatteras the afternoon of the 26th, they ran into gail force SSE winds. The captain ordered the crew to reduce sails and, in anticipation of a shift in wind, stayed as near to shore as possible until reaching shallow water where he planned to anchor until the storm passed. Instead of abating, the wind increased to hurricane force driving the vessel faster than Captain Hawes realized. He later noted, "... at midnight I would gladly have put the vessel on the offshore tack, but did not dare to make the attempt for fear of lising the mainsail."
At 3:30 a.m. the Spofford struck bottom without warning and her large centerboard soon became solidly wedged in sand. With sails flying, the vessel swung broadside, ripping the heavy centerboard from her belly. This allowed her to slowly drift over the outer bar. The crew quickly got anchors out but the doomed vessel soon found her final resting place about 300 yards from the beach.
The villagers gathered on the beach at daybreak, but nobody made a rescue attempt, nor did they send word to the fully manned Ocracoke Station 14 miles up the beach. However, across the inlet and 7 miles away, keeper Ferdinand G. Terrell was on duty at the Portsmouth Station. Although not yet operational, the station had only recently been completed and Terrel was in the lookout tower, where he spotted the Spofford. As visibility improved he could see their distress signal flying and was able to muster the help of six local volunteers: Joseph W. Robinson, George Dixon, Dennis Mason, Jacob Swindell, Joseph Styron and Martin Dixon.
In the meantime, the crew of the Spofford had decided that assistance was not coming and launched the ships yawl into the turbulent sea. The mate and four of the crew boarded the vessel and headed for shore, only to be swamped as soon as they got out of the lee of the vessel. Though they were thrown into the raging breakers, they all managed to reach shore.
Upon arrival keeper Terrell tried to enlist a crew to assist in the rescue. He had already sent three of his men by sailboat to the Ocracoke station for help. Donald S. Tolson was the only one to respond. Terrel made a complete failure in getting other volunteers from the onlookers, and in despair headed down the beach in order to meet keeper Howard and his crew. Howard had come on horseback and when the two keepers met, still three or four miles from the wreck, they resolved to hasten to the wreck sight in order to survey the scene by daylight.
The going was extremely hard with the beach almost impassable. One of the mules balked after a few miles and the lifesaving crew arrived pulling the beach apparatus themselves with the help of one completely fatigued animal.
By now it was 8 p.m., dark and cold, with the storm still raging. The remaining three men had long since taken refuge on the bowsprit, where they lashed the injured steward to the rigging, wrapped themselves in the jib and huddled together for warmth. The schooner was rolling bad and the surf was breaking all over her. It was decided to wait until morning.
At daybreak, on the second try, a line was successfully fired to the vessel and Captain Hawes and the remaining crewmen were run ashore in the breeches buoy. The steward, Sylvester H. Chase of Cape Cod, who had suffered a fall from the quarter-deck the previous afternoon, did not survive the night and was left, lashed to the capstan. During the following inquiry there was some question concerning his death but was dismissed. Captain Hawes remained long enough to see the recovery of Chase's remains and to sell a few items which were salvaged from the Spofford.
The following month Terrell chose his first lifesaving crew. One of the volunteers, Dennis Mason, was chosen to fill the important position of #1 Surfman.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Schooner Roger Moore ~ 30 October 1899
Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900:
Stranded about 1 mile ESE. of station during an ENE. gale with rain. Station crew hastened to a point on the beach abreast the wreck with the beach apparatus, and were soon joined by the crew from Little Kinnakeet Station. The wreck was so near the beach that they were able to get a line on board without using the beach apparatus. The crew of the wreck (7 men) came down the line, and the lifesavers waded out into the surf to receive them and helped them to the shore. They were all landed safely and taken to station, where they were supplied with dry clothing from the stores of the Women’s National Relief Association and succored for 5 days. The schooner became a total wreck.
Schooner Robert W. Dasey ~ 17 August 1899
Driven ashore by the terrible ENE. Storm ¾ mile S. of station, at 5.30 p.m. Life saving crew started for the wreck with the beach apparatus as soon as possible after its discovery by the patrolman, but the beach cart and horses became mired in the quicksand on the way, delaying them nearly an hour. They found the wreck, bows-on to the beach, with the outer jib stay, which had parted, hanging over the bow. They went into the surf and caught hold of the stay; then, while they held it fast, the crew of the schooner came down upon it, one by one, and surfmen carried them all safely up the beach. Taking them to station, the keeper gave them stimulants and food and provided them with dry clothing from the stores of the Women’s National Relief Association. On the next day the station crew went on board the wreck with the shipwrecked crew and aided them to search for their personal effects, finding very few, however. The crew were succored at the station until the 21st, when they were given transportation to Elizabeth City. The captain remained at station until the 30th, when, having sold the wreck, he left for his home. (See letter of acknowledgement.)
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| Robert W. Dasey |
LITTLE KINNAKEET LIFE-SAVING STATION, August 18, 1898
We the undersigned, captain and crew of the wrecked schooner Robert W. Dasey, which was driven ashore by the east-northeast hurricane with very high surf and tide on August 17, 1899, at 5.30 p.m., wish to make the following statement: At that time no person could have reached us, but as early as anything could possibly be done the life-saving crew were on hand with their beach apparatus ready to land us. Our vessel, however, had gone high up, so that the life-savers caught the outer jib stay, which was loose, and held it while we came down upon it, one at a time. Then they took us upon the beach clear of the surf. They arrived at the wreck about 6 a.m. on August 18, 1899. After landing us they took us to station three-quarters of a mile distant, and provided us with dry clothing, stimulants, and food; they gave us the very best treatment, and aided us in every possible way to save our effects so far as we could find them on board our vessel.
We also wish to say that these noble, gallant, and heroic life-savers do most dreadfully suffer the hardships of life to save, protect, and take care of sailors who may be cast into their care. There was nothing left undone by the acting keeper and crew of the above-amed station. They performed their duties most nobly. Respectfully submitted, JULIUS OLSEN, Master ; GEORGE W. LAYFIELD, Mate ; ADOLPH SCHICK, Cook ; GEORGE WILKINS ; CONRAD PRESCOD ; H.P. RUSSELL ; GEORGE BUSBY, Seamen
Steamer Rebecca Clyde ~ 17 September 1876
On September 15, 1876 the first hurricane of the season passed just off Miami, Florida, doing little damage. It continued on a northerly course until it came on shore at Wilmington the morning of the 17th. A military camp was destroyed and two people were drowned. As it passed over eastern North Carolina the entire coast felt the effects of the storm, but nowhere as severely as the 443-ton steamer Rebecca Clyde out of Wilmington, en route to Baltimore with a cargo of cotton, lumber and naval stores.The first reports came out of New Bern the morning of the 20th when the Newbernian hit the streets:
"At a late hour last evening the sad news reached this city that the REBECCA CLYDE, Capt. Childs, 2 mates, 2 engineers, 2 stewards, 2 firemen, 2 coal heavers and one passenger were drowned, and that the survivors had been sent to Beaufort. No further particulars were received up to the hour of going to press."
The Wilmington Morning Star reported on the tragedy after receiving an official telegram from Mr. B.L. Perry of Beaufort to Colonel J.W. Atkinson, Agent for the Underwriters:
"Our community was startled yesterday afternoon by the announcement that the steamship REBECCA CLYDE, of the Baltimore and Wilmington Steamship Line, had been wrecked in the terrible gale of Sunday morning last. What added intensity to the interest was the fact that three young gentlemen from this place were on the ill-fated vessel ... a telegram from Mr. B.L. Perry ... announced that the steamer was ashore and had gone to pieces near Ocracoke Inlet ... and that twelve souls in all, had perished by the disaster.
The young men from this city who were on board were Jos M. Cronly, son of Mr. Michael Cronley, Walter Parsley, son of Mr. O.G. Parsley, Jr., and Frederick Price, son of the late A.L. Price ... all three of the young gentle men alluded to were safe.
The REBECCA CLYDE cleared from this port for Baltimore on Friday last ... Mr. Price got on the steamer about four miles below this city, where she took in a portion of her cargo, and Messrs. Cronly and Parsley embarked at Smithville."
The following morning, after receiving further information, the Morning Star continued their report:
"Morehead City, N.C., Sept. 20 -- The steamer REBECCA CLYDE ... became disables off Ocracoke Inlet, twenty miles south of Hatteras, Sunday morning, from the rolling of the deck loads breaking the steering gear and the lashing ... getting tangled in her propeller. The wind blowing a perfect hurricane from the southeast. In the effort to heave the deck load overboard, Mr. Whilden, E. Elye, Fred Williams, Steward and two seaman, names unknown, were washed overboard and instantly disappeared ..."
On September 23 the Morning Star reported the following which was quoted from the Baltimore Sun:
"... Captain Childs was a veteran and popular coastwise steamship commander, and commanded in the Baltimore and Wilmington steamers from the inauguration of the line ten years ago. Previous to that time he was in the steamship WORCESTER, between Baltimore and Liverpool. Second officer Hennick was a brother of chief engineer Hennick of the Baltimore Fire Department. First engineer Oliver Jones was a brother of the late Capt. Thomas Jones of the Baltimore schooner SERENE, lost in the hurricane of September 12, 1875, at Navssa. The same paper says the REBECCA CLYDE was built at Chester, Pa., in 1863, her hull was of wood and of 443 tons. She was rebuilt in 1870 and was valued at $25,000; no insurance. The Baltimore and Southern Transportation Company, to which she belonged, was only recently reorganized, and the fatal voyage was her first in the line between Baltimore, Charleston and Wilmington."
In October the Morning Star contained the following items of interest concerning the aftermath of the storm:
"The Beaufort Eagle says two bodies and the leg of another body of the crew who drowned from the ill-fated steamer REBECCA CLYDE have washed ashore at Portsmouth.
Lieut. Travers, late of the U.S. Coast Survey, passed through Newbern on Thursday, in charge of the body of his deceased father-in-law, Capt. Childs, the unfortunate commander of the wrecked steamer REBECCA SLYDE. The body was taken to Baltimore for internment.
On October 7 the Morning Star ran a final item which was in the way of a plea from the Reverend B.W. Wilden, of Pleasant Hill, AL, father of DeLeon Wilden, asking for information about his son:
"... as to his conduct on the occasion, and any evidence he may have manifested of his readiness to meet the fearful doom which awaited him and preperation for the stern realities of the Great Hereafter."
The final tally was 12 lives lost and the vessel completely destroyed. A small portion of the cargo was saved.
"At a late hour last evening the sad news reached this city that the REBECCA CLYDE, Capt. Childs, 2 mates, 2 engineers, 2 stewards, 2 firemen, 2 coal heavers and one passenger were drowned, and that the survivors had been sent to Beaufort. No further particulars were received up to the hour of going to press."
The Wilmington Morning Star reported on the tragedy after receiving an official telegram from Mr. B.L. Perry of Beaufort to Colonel J.W. Atkinson, Agent for the Underwriters:
"Our community was startled yesterday afternoon by the announcement that the steamship REBECCA CLYDE, of the Baltimore and Wilmington Steamship Line, had been wrecked in the terrible gale of Sunday morning last. What added intensity to the interest was the fact that three young gentlemen from this place were on the ill-fated vessel ... a telegram from Mr. B.L. Perry ... announced that the steamer was ashore and had gone to pieces near Ocracoke Inlet ... and that twelve souls in all, had perished by the disaster.
The young men from this city who were on board were Jos M. Cronly, son of Mr. Michael Cronley, Walter Parsley, son of Mr. O.G. Parsley, Jr., and Frederick Price, son of the late A.L. Price ... all three of the young gentle men alluded to were safe.
The REBECCA CLYDE cleared from this port for Baltimore on Friday last ... Mr. Price got on the steamer about four miles below this city, where she took in a portion of her cargo, and Messrs. Cronly and Parsley embarked at Smithville."
The following morning, after receiving further information, the Morning Star continued their report:
"Morehead City, N.C., Sept. 20 -- The steamer REBECCA CLYDE ... became disables off Ocracoke Inlet, twenty miles south of Hatteras, Sunday morning, from the rolling of the deck loads breaking the steering gear and the lashing ... getting tangled in her propeller. The wind blowing a perfect hurricane from the southeast. In the effort to heave the deck load overboard, Mr. Whilden, E. Elye, Fred Williams, Steward and two seaman, names unknown, were washed overboard and instantly disappeared ..."
On September 23 the Morning Star reported the following which was quoted from the Baltimore Sun:
"... Captain Childs was a veteran and popular coastwise steamship commander, and commanded in the Baltimore and Wilmington steamers from the inauguration of the line ten years ago. Previous to that time he was in the steamship WORCESTER, between Baltimore and Liverpool. Second officer Hennick was a brother of chief engineer Hennick of the Baltimore Fire Department. First engineer Oliver Jones was a brother of the late Capt. Thomas Jones of the Baltimore schooner SERENE, lost in the hurricane of September 12, 1875, at Navssa. The same paper says the REBECCA CLYDE was built at Chester, Pa., in 1863, her hull was of wood and of 443 tons. She was rebuilt in 1870 and was valued at $25,000; no insurance. The Baltimore and Southern Transportation Company, to which she belonged, was only recently reorganized, and the fatal voyage was her first in the line between Baltimore, Charleston and Wilmington."
In October the Morning Star contained the following items of interest concerning the aftermath of the storm:
"The Beaufort Eagle says two bodies and the leg of another body of the crew who drowned from the ill-fated steamer REBECCA CLYDE have washed ashore at Portsmouth.
Lieut. Travers, late of the U.S. Coast Survey, passed through Newbern on Thursday, in charge of the body of his deceased father-in-law, Capt. Childs, the unfortunate commander of the wrecked steamer REBECCA SLYDE. The body was taken to Baltimore for internment.
On October 7 the Morning Star ran a final item which was in the way of a plea from the Reverend B.W. Wilden, of Pleasant Hill, AL, father of DeLeon Wilden, asking for information about his son:
"... as to his conduct on the occasion, and any evidence he may have manifested of his readiness to meet the fearful doom which awaited him and preperation for the stern realities of the Great Hereafter."
The final tally was 12 lives lost and the vessel completely destroyed. A small portion of the cargo was saved.
But What Happened to the Rowena? ~ 12 August 1887
At about half past 2 o’clock the small schooner Rowena, with a load of wood, ran ashore off the Gull Shoal Station (Sixth District) coast of North Carolina. The keeper, who was on his way to pilot her in to the station, where she was to discharge a part of her cargo, found, after getting on board, that it would be necessary to lighten the vessel to float her. Accordingly a large canoe belonging to the schooner was loaded with wood, and the captain, David C. Midgett, a regular surfman of the Chicamicomico Station in the active season, and his brother, a boy about twelve years old, started for the shore. When near the middle of Gull Shoal Channel the latter, in reaching over the side of the boat for the jib sheet, which was trailing in the water, fell overboard. Captain Midgett at once brought the canoe to the wind, and quickly divesting himself of his shoes and superfluous clothing, sprant to his brother’s rescue. The keeper, who was in his own skiff, several hundred yards in advance of the others, seeing the mishap, speedily went about and put back, but before he could reach the scene the boy in his struggles had drawn the surfman under twice, causing him to lose his hold. Just as he was going down the third time, the keeper succeeded in grasping him and pulled him, apparently lifeless, into the boat, but the boy being unfortunately out of reach sank and did not rise again. No time was lost in getting the rescued man ashore, where the methods employed in the service to restore vitality were immediately put in practice. The keeper of the Chicamicomico Station had arrived and diligently assisted in the work. The case at first seemed hopeless, but after three hours of most vigorous and perservering effort, the prescribed treatment being carefully adhered to, the patient was completely resuscitated. The body of the boy was recovered the following morning and delivered to the parents.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROWENA?
Schooner Robbie L. Foster ~ 14 October 1883
At daylight the crew of the Cape Fear Station (Sixth District) Smith’s Island, North Carolina, discovered a large three-masted schooner ashore on Frying Pan Shoals, about nine miles south-southeast of the station. The boat was launched as soon as possible, and after a hard pull for two hours they reached the vessel to find her abandoned, her people having been taken off by a steamer which passed them on the way out. The schooner proved to be the Robbie L. Foster, of Saint George, Maine, bound from New York to Savannah with a cargo of railroad iron. She was full of water, with the sea breaking over her, and it was apparent she could not be saved. The life-saving crew returned to their station, reaching there at 3 in the afternoon, much fatigued from the trip, which had taken over eight hours. The keeper afterward learned from the captain of the steamer which took the people off, that nine men were rescued, including a passenger, and that he had landed them at Smithville, at the mouth of Cape Fear River. Although no assistance was rendered in this case, the life saving drew deserve the credit of making a gallant effort by undertaking a long and dangerous journey to the stranded vessel. The schooner became a total loss.
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