The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-25

The Slo0p Yatcht June Wrecked n
oregon Inlet Last Erfday-Thrfllfns
Adventure OF the Crew

Oregon Inlet Last Frfday-Thrillfng
Adventure oil the Crew
The sloop yacht June" bound from
New York for Charleston, was wrecked
at Oregon Inlet, on the North Carolina
coast last Friday. Capt. w. 0. Bur-
CESS and his crew Of two men were res
cued by III life saving crew. and they
came on to Wilmington on their way to
Charleston where they were taking the
yacht. She was bought in New York
by a Charleston party and was to have
been fitted UP as a fishing boat Capt.
Burgess yesterday gave The Messenger
the following account Of his thrilling
experience:
FOL nearly three days We had been
trying to make Oregon Inlet, beating on
and off, with the wind dead ahead, los
ing with one tide what little we gained
with the next. Our hopes were, after
entering the inlet, one mile n a quar-
ter south Of Bodie light, to find water
enough, by feeling our way with the
lead, to cross h Four Foot Swash into
Pamlico sound, which would enable US
to pass inside of Cape Hatteras and
also while in smooth water to make one
or two ~unimportant repairs.
"On Friday, August 18th, the wind
WduI6Q d llItle III CuT IdfOI. by uldh-
ing n short and n long tack, We
gained perceptibly. AS soon as abreast
Of the inlet the yacht was headed in,
with the wind on her port quarter.
steering about w. N. w, half W. There
were three of US altogether. Henry.
who was standing forward coming the
wheel. or directing the course, was act
ing as skipper. His brother, who was
steering, and I, standing by the main
sheet. AT half past four, as nearly as
we could judge, the breakers were all
sol US. In a mOnen a violent
shock, just as a big sea boarded us, in
dictated that she had struck the bar.
Immediately the peak halliards were
| let go by the run and a minute later,
all sail was taken in; but the little craft
a already fallen, decks to h sea.
Nothing could be done. The swinging
of the main boom knocked Henry over
board, where he remained clinging to
the rail. The helm, owing to the shock,
had given a jump; driving a spoke of
the wheel down onto William D-s leg.
injuring though not breaking it.
LAS the little vessel was working in
toward calmer water, hopes were enter
tanned that h might get across be-
fore going to pieces. To give her all
the chance possible, I too, jumped over
the side, joining Henry. But DON hope
was out of the question. Just how long
OeIOIc the Inc saving crew CdlIle LO OuT
assistance would be hare to estimate.
But when they did come, which was not
long, they did splendid work, to a man.
One after another plunged into the wa
| ter to our rescue.
| "On being assured that nothing could
be done for the boat, their aid was ac-
cepted. What loose clothing lay close
to hand, was hastily packed up and
transferred to the life boat, closely fol-
! lowed by ourselves.
THAT evening at about s O'Clock I
| walked down to the beach with one of
the men belonging to the life saving
station, but nothing whatever was to
be seen Of the pretty little fabric, which
had brought us from New York. Early
he next morning wreckage along the
I beach told the tale"