Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889:
About 4 o’clock in the morning of the first of these dates the Norwegian bark Wolseley, of Arendal, with one of her topmasts gone and in a sinking condition, was beached on the North Carolina coast some three miles south of the Big Kinnakeet Station and four and a half miles north of the Cape Hatteras Station (6th District). She was bound to Portland, ME, in ballast, from Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic. A few minutes after the accident and almost simultaneously the patrols from the two stations discovered her, flashed their Coston signals to let those on board know that they were seen, and hastened to give the alarm. The vessel being nearer Big Kinnakeet, news of her condition was first received by the surf men at that point. The keeper immediately telephoned the Cape Hatteras Station, mustered his crew, and started for the scene with the boat on its carriage. Arriving at a place abreast of the bark the launched their boat, pulled alongside, and took off her crew of 13 men. They then returned and got a boatload of the crew’s effects, after which they conducted the shipwrecked men to the station. Early in the afternoon, when they had obtained dry clothing and something to eat, the surf men made another trip to the bark, saving what they could, and later in the day they took the captain on board to make a survey, when she was found to be badly wrecked. Upon receiving news of the disaster the Cape Hatteras crew started for the scene with the apparatus, but did not arrive in time to be of material assistance. On the following day (12th) the crews from the stations named united their efforts to save the cabin furniture and whatever other articles of value they could transport. The vessel was subsequently sold at auction by a wreck commissioner. The sailors were succored at the station 7 days, when they left for Norfolk, first addressing the following letter to the General Superintendent of the Service:
BIG KINNAKEET, NORTH CAROLINA, April 17, 1889
SIRS: We hereby wish to thank the crew of the Big Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station for their prompt assistance. They lost no time in coming to us. We also wish to thank them for their kindness while at the station. Very respectfully, A. OLSEN, Master; J. JOHNSON, Mate, of the bark Wolseley of Norway
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