Schooner C.G. Cranmer ~ 6 December 1901

The 211-ton schooner C.G. Cranmer was on passage from New York City to James River, VA when she ran into a gale off Briginteen Shoal, NJ. She split her mainsail, opened her bottom and blew off shore. Keeper Terrell's report follows and is transcribed as found:

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901:

"On the morning of December 6, 1901, at sunrise H.J. Austin reported to keeper that a vessel anchored north of Ocracok Inlet under Ocracoke beach had a color to the for topmast head for a pilot. The pilot went out to her and boarded her. The vessel was leaking badley and the Capt wanted to get inside but the flood tide made so late and the wind ahead they concluded to water until morning. When the pilots came ashore the crew came with them, would not stay abord with Capt, so the Capt came too. Gave his vessel up to the pilots to get her inside. On the 7th Capt and pilots boarded vessel and said she had seven feet of water in  the hold. Striped vessel and brought materal a shore. Sunday Dec 8th Fishing Steamer Beatrices toued the vessel inside and up to Ocracoke wharf she now lies sunk. The material that was saved was soled at Portsmouth, N.C. Jan 15, 1902, and brought $129.00. I herd that the vessel was to be sold at Marshal sail Feb 28, 1902."

Schooner General S.E. Merwin ~ 4 March 1901

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901:

Stranded ½ mile SSE. of station at 3:15 a.m. Station crew hauled the surfboat to the beach abreast the wreck, launched it, and boarded the wreck at 4:30 a.m., the crews from the Little Kinnakeet and Chicamacomico stations assisting. The schooner’s crew of 7 men were safely landed in the surfboat, and afterwards their personal property and the schooner’s boat were taken ashore. The master was succored at the station for 5 days, in order that he might look after the wreck which became a total loss. (See letter of acknowledgement.)

GULL SHOAL LIFE-SAVING STATION, March 9, 1901

DEAR SIR: I wish, through you, to extend the thanks of my crew and myself to the brave keeper and crew of this station for their prompt and valuable services in rescuing us through the heavy surf with surfboat, as the schooner lay too far from shore to use the beach apparatus, and she was fast filling up. Keeper D.M. Pugh would have come to our assistance sooner if he had not had to wait for two men from the crew of one of the adjacent stations to help man his boat. We also wish to thank them, one and all, for their generous treatment while we stayed at their station; and I personally wish to thank Captain Pugh for the personal aid which he rendered me while I remained there. I remain yours, very respectfully, J.F. RUTLEDGE, Master of the Schooner Gen’l S.E. Merwin

Schooner George R. Congdon ~ 31 January 1901

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901:

About 3 a.m. this schooner stranded at the point on the beach about 3 miles NNE. from Cape Hatteras Life Saving Station, the master having mistaken Cape Hatteras light for the lightship. It was a dark and foggy night with a strong N. by W. wind and a rough surf. The station patrolman discovered the wreck at 4 a.m. and quickly returned to the station and gave the alarm. Keeper notified the keepers of the adjacent life saving stations of the casualty, and then hastened to the scene with the beach apparatus, arriving there at 5 a.m. The Big Kinnakeet and Creeds Hill crews arrived soon afterward, the former bringing their surfboat on a boat wagon drawn by horses. The first shot of the Lyle gun placed a line across the wreck. The beach apparatus was set up and before sunrise the crew of 7 men and their personal effects were safely landed in the breeches buoy. They were taken to the Cape Hatteras Station, where it was necessary to succor them for 15 days, owing to stress of weather. The schooner became a total loss. (See letter of acknowledgement.)

CAPE HATTER LIFE-SAVING STATION, February 13, 1901

SIR: I wish to thank the Cape Hatteras, Creeds Hill, and Big Kinnakeet life-saving crews for rescuing the captain and crew of the schooner George R. Congdon, which stranded about 3 a.m. on January 31, 1901. Before sunrise the entire crew was landed on the beach in the breeches buoy. A heavy sea was running at the time of the rescue, and the vessel was about 250 yards from the beach. I also wish to express my thanks for the kindness showed me by the keeper of the Cape Hatteras Life-Saving station. E.E. BAYLES, Master of the schooner George R. Congdon

Newspaper Article:
New York Times, February 1, 1901

Schooner Leading Breeze ~ 23 November 1901

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902:

Stranded during a southerly gale on Dry Shoal Point, 2-1/4 miles ESE. from station. Station crew promptly manned surfboat and started for scene of disaster. Meantime, the schooner had broken up, and the life savers found the crew of four men adrift on the vessel’s cabin, to which they had lashed themselves. The shipwrecked men were taken to the station in the surfboat and were given food and shelter, also dry clothing from the stores of the Women’s National Relief Association. Later the keeper provided them with transportation to their homes. The vessel was a total loss. (See letter of acknowledgment.)

PORTSMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA, November 25, 1901

DEAR SIR: I desire to call your notice the great service that the keeper and crew of the life-saving station at this place rendered myself and crew by taking us off of the wreck of the schooner Leading Breeze, when stranded off Ocracoke Inlet on the afternoon of November 23 and immediately broke up. Caught in a heavy south-east gale with sails split, we were unable to weather the breakers, and were driven ashore by the wind and sea at a place where the surf was the heaviest. Our boat were soon stove in by the big-seas that boarded us. With tremendous seas breaking over her, our schooner soon commenced to break up, and the thick fog hanging over us made it impossible for us to see the land or to see the way through the surf. We lashed ourselves to the cabin top and drifted clear of the wreck as she went to pieces, the breakers washing us shoreward with only what we stood in. We had small prospect of reaching land and were abandoning all hope when, just before dark, we sighted the life-savers in their surfboat making their way through the shoals and breakers, winding through narrow channels and heavy surf, and with difficulty avoiding the floating wreckage which was drifting n their way and adding more danger to the difficult task of taking us off. Despite all obstacles, their object was successfully accomplished just as it was growing dark, and we were speedily landed and at once taken to the station, where we were furnished with dry clothing, every want attended to, and made to feel that we were among friends whose attentions were heartfelt and sincere. We wish to thank you and the head of the service which saved our lives and placed us under so great an obligation. Yours truly, BRADISH W. JOHNSON, Master American Schooner Leading Breeze ; CHARLES W. ANTONSON, Mate ; OLAF FASMER, Seaman ; T.S. TRUMBLE, Seaman

Steamer Seabright ~ 18 September 1901

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902:

Grounded off entrance to Baldhead Creek, while towing a scow, and set signals for assistance. Surfmen went to her in the lifeboat and took the master to Southport, so that he might communicate with her owners. Then they returned to the steamer with provisions for the crew, the supply on board having become exhausted.