The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-28
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
Captain r. D. Graham's Account of
the Storm at Beaufort.

AAeHiy COuSIctOu as peTlSllnS In an attempt
to save his boat. He was a boatman, but
there was no thought in his mine of "sav.
ing his BOAT" on that terrible morning of
the 18th inst. may medestly say that I
was an eyewitness of his behavior until
the last woman and child, and disabled
soldier had been carried ashore. Of the
many acts of heroism displayed upon the
occasion, there were none excelling his own.
The main building of the Atlantic Hotel
stood upon piers some hundred yards out
over the tide-water, and had braved the
storms of twenty years. The way of re-
treat lay over a bridge from the hotel office,
through the billiard-house, to the main
land.
On the night of the 18th, the weather
prophets and the tide-reckoners, were con.
suited, and it was agreed that the crisis
would hardly come before 8 or 9 o'clock a.
M, as that would be high-tide. But at
daybreak we began to realize that the wat
er, forced in by an east wind that had been
playing upon it in itful squalls for several
hours, was already at "high-water mark"
and the rear bridge becoming ~sLppe,v.
Quietly the guests were called from their
rooms and told to leave baggage behind
them and come below. At the suggestion
of Congleton a hand-rope was stretched
from the office to a post near the billiard
room, the fshing-tackle of Capt. Porter,
merchant, of Raleigh, and King fisher, of
Beaufort, being improvised for the emer-
gency.
Two men would assist each lady, giving
one arm to their delicate charge, and slid
ing the other along the line. The greatest
peril seemed to be where the pa engers
left the rope, on the bridge, to enter this
billiard-room. 1t was at this point the gal
liant Congleton was ever found, bracing
himself against the storm, often lifting the
fallen and directing them over the only
safe path Of retreat.
Of those who passed the ladies and
children, carrying many by main force to
the hotel, along the line to the mainland,
none rendered better services than the
lamented John D. Hughes, Jr. The writer
remarked to his bereaved father, who arriv-
ed before the body had been finally recover
ed. that there could then be no hope of
finding him alive, but if he had had three
score years and ten. in which to choose the
hour of his death, he could not have made
a happier selection.
1t is our privilege with fearful eyes to lay
upon his early grave our sweetest garlands of
praise, but how Incompatible are they to
that crown that fadeth not away which he,
together with the holy apostle who in his
day had also braved the perils of the deep,
has now received at the hands of the righte-
Gus Judge. With him he could say: 90,
is thy victory |" He and Congleton doubt
less persisted side by side, without a pang,
crushed by the falling billiard house, which
was the first to succumb. They had rushed
back upon an alarm that some ladies were
still in the main building. This report seemed
to be verified upon seeing the forms of
Guion and Dissosway at a third-story win
dow. The two young men above mention
ed, had been called in full time, but consid-
ering it a joke of their friends, turned in
again for another nap. They leaped into
the water and were, as by a miracle, washed
ashore unhurt, while the billiard room came
down killing the gallant rescuers, and
painfully, though not seriously. wounding
Joseph Styron, white, and Alfred Sparrow,
cOlOIed. The latter, with James Davis,
also colored, and many others, of both com
plexions, have earned names that will be
gratefully cherished as long as there is a
memory left of Beaufort.
1t is impossible to do justice to all who
are deserving of special mention. and there
are but few who would be called before a
court-martial had the scene been a field of
''man's iGhumanity to man, The old
Confederate soldiers were we'll represented
from priU0te to naajor-generaI, and all con-
u CIldO nv coihS W hoNO
been managed with more consummate tact
and GOODNESS, from the moment the situa-
ton was fully realized, to the end.
Much praise is justly awarded to those
who with strong arms bore the weak and
timid to a point of safety. Service of anoth-
err kind was also needed, and a volunteer
from the old 9TH N. G. Regiment, cheerful
lv accepted the post of honor. Those who
followed the fortunes of the Branch-Lane
Brigade through the late war from New
Berne to the last day of Gettysburg, will
recall that splendid type of manly strength
who at the head of the sharp-shooters was
ever first in the fight and last on the re-
treat.
The first service he had often performed
the latter but seldom. At Gettysburg the
deadly missile a second time went crashing
through his body, and his days of active
duty were nded. ~
At Beaufort he was offered an opportuni-
4-I hrr r1nnI nv