Schooner Ario Pardee ~ 29 December 1884

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885:

Just before midnight of the 28th the south patrol of the Wash Woods Station (6th District), North Carolina saw a schooner close in, about a quarter of a mile south of the station. The sea was running high, and the weather was thick and foggy. He hurried to the station and reported his discovery to the keeper, who at once turned out the crew and had the beach apparatus hauled down the shore to a point abreast of the vessel and placed in position. Several shots were fired, but they failed to effect communication. Her red and white running lights were burning, but no signals of distress were seen. The sea was so bad that it was deemed hazardous to launch the surf boat before morning. After daylight it was seen the vessel was anchored just outside of the breakers and badly crippled. The keeper tried to communicate with her by means of the International Code, but no answer came, for the reason, as was afterwards ascertained, that she had no signals on board. She, however, set her ensign union down, as a signal of distress. By this time the crews of the False Cape and the Currituck Beach Stations arrived on the ground to render assistance. The surf boat was soon successfully launched and the vessel boarded. The keeper provided each of the vessel’s crew with a cork life preserver and placed them and their baggage in the boat, and at 9 o’clock had them all safely landed. The schooner proved to be the Ario Pardee, of Perth Amboy, NJ, from Rondout, NY, bound to Chester, PA, with a cargo of cement and a crew of four men. An hour later she parted her chains and drove upon the bar, where she soon began to break up. The crew were sheltered and fed at the station 12 days. The captain, having lost his shoes, was provided with a pair from the stock donated by the Women’s National Relieve Association. The vessel and cargo were a total loss. The following statement was handed to Keeper Corbel by the captain of the schooner:

WASH WOODS, NORTH CAROLINA, December 31, 1884

I sailed December 8, 1884, from Perth Amboy, with a crew of five men, all told, on the schooner A. Pardee, of Perth Amboy, bound from the port of Rondout, New York, to Chester, Pennsylvania, with a cargo of cement. Sailed at 7 a.m. Wind northwest. Passed Sandy Hook 11 a.m. When abreast of Long Branch, the wind shifted to north, and commenced to snow. At 6 p.m., wind blowing a gale from the north, took in sail, and run the vessel before the wind under a reefed mainsail and jib. Gale lasted fifty-six hours, in which we had continuous high seas, washing everything movable from deck; stove water casks and split sails. Afterwards took a gale from south, lasting about twenty-four hours, and run before that. Then took a gale northwest, and run that out. Then, wind shifting to northeast, made what sail we could and run for land. Made lightship off Five-Fathom Bank. When about five miles off took westerly gale, lasting twelve hours. Hove vessel to. When wind abated, made sail again and stood for land. Made Indian River Inlet, Delaware. Wind hauled to north. We tried to beat to Delaware Breakwater. When about five miles southeast of Cape Henlopen, blew away jib. Hove the vessel to again, wind blowing a gale and snowing. The next day, our boat being stove and the vessel leaking badly, spoke to steam Chattahoochie and asked to be taken off. The steamer made two attempts to take us off. They got one man by life buoy and line. The sea running very high and night coming on, she left us. We lay hove-to about sixty hours, when gale abated. Made what sail we could and steered west for land. Weather very foggy. At midnight December 28 we sighted a bright red light ahead [probably Currituck Beach light] and saw breakers. Let go both anchors. In a short time saw lights on shore and heard guns fired at intervals during the night. Heard two shots pass over the vessel, but could not find any line. At daylight 2th we discovered that we were near a life saving station and saw signals by flags. We had no code to answer signals. Set our ensign in distress. Soon life boat was launched and we were rescued, (about 9 a.m.) Vessel still afloat, but sea running very high. At 10 a.m. vessel parted chains and came ashore, and soon began breaking up. Vessel was about a quarter of a mile from shore, in two and a half fathoms of water, when we were rescued by Captain Corbel and his brave crew, and only for their aid we would most likely have all been lost. We, the master and crew of the schooner Ario Pardee, desire to return our most sincere thanks to Captain Corbel and his men for their timely rescue of us from our perilous position and their kind treatment of us since. HENRY A. SMITH, Master ; JOHN W. COMER ; OLE JENSEN ; JOHN FORCE

Newspaper Article:
New York Times, December 28, 1884

Schooner Arleville H. Peary ~ 31 October 1908

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909:

Became water-logged, and drifted ashore 2-1/2 miles S. of False Cape and 2-1/4 miles N. of Wash Woods stations. Her distress signal was discovered by the patrols from both stations, who burned a Coston in answer and gave the alarm. The Wash Woods crew hauled their apparatus to a point on the beach abreast of the wreck, where they were met by the surfmen from the False Cape station. The first shot line went beyond the reach of the imperiled seamen, but a second line landed directly on the schooner’s cabin. The whip and hawser were then hauled off with little difficulty, and the crew of 6 men were taken off. By this time the boat wagon from the False Cape station had arrived and the lifesavers went aboard the schooner for the men’s clothing and personal effects. The shipwrecked crew was cared for at the Wash Woods station until November 3, when they were furnished transportation to Knotts Island to obtain passage to Norfolk. The schooner was a total loss.



Whip Line

Whip Line & Hawser

Schooner John S. Wood ~ 7 April 1889

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889:

About 8 o’clock in the morning of the earliest of these dates a three-masted schooner was discovered ashore two miles south of the Wash Woods Station (6th District) North Carolina. The wind was blowing a hurricane*, as already stated in the record of the days’ operations at other stations in this district. The surf man first seeing the vessel at once gave the alarm, and the life-saving crew started out as quickly as possible, taking with them the beach apparatus. The tide was over the beach far beyond the ordinary high-water mark, and the rain fell in torrents, making all the work especially difficult. It was 9 o’clock when the surf men reached a point abreast of the wreck and began the attempt to establish communication.  They were assisted in this work by Mr. James Evans, who was fortunately present. The vessel was about 200 yards from the shore, but the first fire from the Lyle gun lodged the shot line in her main rigging. The strong current forcibly sagging the lines rendered the task of hauling off and setting up the gear and also of landing the crew extremely difficult, and it was half past 2 o’clock in the afternoon when the last of the 7 men reached the shore. The schooner was the John S. Wood, of Camden, NJ, bound to Philadelphia with a cargo of lumber, which she had taken on board at Pensacola, FL. The rescued men, accompanying the surfmen to the station, received dry clothing from the stock supplied for that purpose by the Women’s National Relief Association, and in every way were made as comfortable as possible. Three days later, the storm having passed, the life saving crew took the seamen to the schooner and assisted them to reclaim the clothing and other movable articles of value on board. They also lent their aid in subsequent efforts to save the cargo, upon which the ultimate loss was about one half. On the 13th, the vessel having been condemned, was sold at public auction. Six of the men were at the station four days after the accident, but the captain remained until the schooner was disposed of, leaving for home on the 14th. The agent of the underwriters while superintending the saving of the cargo was also entertained for some time at the station. The following account briefly details the circumstances attending the wreck and expresses the gratitude of the rescued:
    
While blowing a hurricane, with mountainous seas, vessel lying badly, we lost control of her, and could do nothing but let her go on port tack at midnight (6th). All hands at the pumps since 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Wind east-northeast. At 3.30 a.m. (7th) we tried to wear ship, but failed, and the mainsail blew away. At 7 a.m., in 14 fathoms water, tried again to wear around, but on slacking off spanker it blew to ribbons, and the vessel would not wear. Sounded, and got 10 fathoms. The sea had begun to break, and it became evidently impossible to keep the vessel off the beach. We struck the outer bar at 8 o’clock and remained half an hour, when we saw the life saving crew coming to the rescue. They made a successful shot, and with hard and dangerous work—as they were compelled to work in water sometimes to their waists—succeeded in landing all hands, exhausted, half drowned and chilled. We wish to express our sincere thanks to Captain Corbel and his brave crew, also to Mr. Evans, for the prompt and courteous treatment we received at the station. But for their persevering and timely assistance we would all have perished. J.B. MORRIS, Master ; JAMES MASKELL, Mate ; JOHN B. DEMARIS, Steward.

(NOTE: *Hurricane known as the Gale of April 7, 1889.)

Ship Jane Henderson ~ June 21, 1860

The Daily Exchange, Baltimore, June 27, 1860

Steamer Kimberley ~ 1 December 1888

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888:

The British steamship, Kimberley, of Port Glasgow, Scotland, from New Orleans, Louisiana, bound to Liverpool, England, by way of Norfolk, Virginia, with a freight valued at half a million dollars, consisting of corn, wheat, and cotton, stranded at quarter past 11 o’clock at night three fourths of a mile south-southeast of Wash Woods Station (Sixth District) coast of North Carolina. She was discovered immediately by the station patrol, who speedily notified the keeper. There were at the time strong northeast winds and high surf, making it impossible to use the boat. The lifesaving crew therefore took the beach apparatus to a point abreast of the vessel, arriving at midnight. They fired the Lyle gun repeatedly, but as the vessel was more than a quarter of a mile from the beach the projectile invariably fell short. The keepers and men of the neighboring False Cape and Currituck Inlet Stations, who had been informed by telephone of the affair, reached the place, ready for service, shortly after 1 o’clock (morning of the (2d). However, nothing further, beyond displaying an occasional signal could be done till daybreak, at which time the firing was resumed, but without success. They signaled to the people on board that it would be necessary to wait for the ebb tide, but a portion of the vessel’s crew soon set out to land in their own boat. The surf was so high, however, that they shortly gave up the attempt and went back on board. On the flood tide the vessel had worked in somewhat nearer the beach, but she was still out of range, as several futile shots from the Lyle gun proved. At low water the lifesavers were enabled to gain a few yards towards the vessel, and a shot at this time struck her side. At the next trial the projectile fell on deck and the whip line and hawser were sent off. About an hour before noon the work of landing began, and twenty four of the men were taken ashore, the breeches buoy making twenty trips. The other seven members of the crew preferred to remain on board. The gear was left set up, maintaining communication with the vessel in case of emergency. The lifesaving crews returned to their respective stations about sunset, well-nigh exhausted by their continued exertions and by lack of food. The rescued men went to the Wash Woods Station, where those who needed it received dry clothing from the supply kept at the station by the Women’s National Relief Association. One man was very sick and was expected to die, but he was provided with medicines from the station chest and after a time rallied and grew better. The following day (3rd) the lifesaving crew landed the baggage belonging to the seamen, and on the night of the 4th the sick man and five others left the station for Norfolk, the British consul having made provision for them. Two days later (6th) five men were landed from the steamer by the breeches buoy, leaving only the captain and chief officer on board. These remained until the 9th, when, with the exception of three who went on board their vessel for duty, they were transferred to a steamer for conveyance to Norfolk. In the meantime the vessel had been placed in the hands of a wrecking company, who were at work discharging her cargo. Many delays were occasioned by storm, and the vessel was not floated until the 26th of January, 1888, at which time she was towed to Norfolk. The damage to the vessel amounted to about one third of her value. Two thirds of the cargo was lost. The station crew conveyed messages and rendered assistance in many ways throughout the time the vessel was ashore. They subsequently received several grateful letters from different member of the crew of the Kimberley. The following is published as an exponent of the esteem in which their services were held:

STEAMSHIP KIMBERLEY,
Norfolk, Virginia, February 28, 1888
“SIR: We, the undersigned, before leaving Norfolk, desire to offer our sincere thanks to you for the many attentions shown us while on the beach off your station, and to testify to the skill with which you and your crew worked the lifesaving apparatus on the occasion of the stranding of this steamer. We would more especially thank you for the care bestowed on the sick until opportunity offered for a removal to hospital. Wishing you every success and hoping you may long be spared to serve in the gallant Service to which you belong. We beg to remain, yours sincerely, J. HIGGINS, Commander, L.A. HARTLEY, Chief Officer.”

Steamer Sardinian Prince ~ 1 January 1896

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897:

During a rift in the fog, at 6 a.m., the Wash Woods surfman on the south patrol discovered the Sardinian Prince aground about 2-1/2 miles SSE of he station and ¾ miles offshore. Having burned his Coston signal, he returned and called his mates. After summoning towboats the surfboat proceeded to the scene, reaching the steamer at 7:30, and at once assisted to carry out a kedge. Having been shortly joined by the lifesavers from Currituck Inlet a second anchor was run out, but the tide had fallen too much to admit of releasing the craft. The deck load of lumber was now thrown off, and at 3 p.m. four tugs, which had reached the spot, took hold of the stranded vessel and succeeded at 5 p.m. in floating her. On the 4^th inst. 2,000 feet of the jettisoned lumber, which had come ashore near Wash Woods, was saved by outside parties employed through the efforts of the keeper, who notified the insurance agents and wreck commissioner, the latter disposing of the same by public auction on Jan. 9.

(Note: It's not clear to me that the Sardinian Prince was actually wrecked. JH)