The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-02-15

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feet from its union with the
other. 1t is quite evident that the
line fired must have fallen across
some part of the wreck, probably
fthe mainmast, and was drawn off
when the spar went over the side.
1t was now between 10 and II
o'clock at night. The life-savers,
discouraged, unable to get even a
glimpse of the distressed vessel,
and hearing no sound from her,
were fearful that the fall of the
mainmast betokened a complete
collapse. Large quantities of
wreckage coming ashore south of
the scene of operations seemingly
confirmed this apprehension. ALI
the men except enough to success
fully work the apparatus if occa-
sion required, were sent down the
beach to render prompt assistance
to any that might possibly wash
in from the wreck. This patrol was
kept up for distance of two miles
during the entire night, without
result.
The keeper with his. chosen as
sistants remained opposite the spot
where the bark had disappeared,
vainly straining their eyes to OBJ
tain even a shadowy outline Of
her. Finally, at about two o'clock
in the MORNING (23rd), portion
of the after part Of the vessel
(which latter it appears, had by
this time broken into three pieces),
consisting largely Of the upper
works, suddenly doomed into view
within two hundred yards of the
beach. AS quickly as possible a
line was fired across it. The whip
was at once hauled off and made
fast to the stump of the mizzen-
mast, after which the hawser was
sent aboard and set up. Then the
six sailors who had taken refuge
on the top Of the cabin were con-
veyed ashore in the breaches buoy.
The first man rescued had his
throat cut, his head badly battered
by some blunt instrument, and his
feet gashed. It was subsequently
ascertained that the wounds were
self inflicted in a frenzy of fear of
death by drowning. The ship
wrecked men were conducted to
the station and cared for, while
the life-savers kept watch on the
beach in hope Of being able to sue
Icor others of the crew. This hope,
however, was dispelled as light of
day slowly brought into view all
the parts of the vessel, except a
portion Of the hull, strewn in
fragments along the shore. The
bottom of the hull, buried under
its load of chalk, remained where
the vessel had finally fetched up
and gone to pieces.
From the testimony of the sur
vivors it was learned that the bark
was bound from London, England,
to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by
the southern trade-wind passage,
with a cargo Of seventeen hundred
tons of chalk. Some days prior to
the disaster she had encountered
thick and stormy weather, the last
observation to determine her posi-
ton having been taken February
18th. Since that time she had been
run by dead reckoning. In the fore
noon of the 22nd, while the vessel
had been kept to the westward, the
captain thinking that he was near
ing the North Carolina coast, and
expecting by midnight to raise the
Cape Hatteras or some more north
erly light, took soundings which re-
suited in an ascertained depth of
twenty-five fathoms. The bark
was Immediately put about on the
off-shore tack and a course shaped
to the northeastward until some
time in the afternoon. During this
run she logged not more than
| twelve miles. The craft was then
worn round and steered to the
westward until she struck. The
lead had not been used while
standing inshore.
Orders had been given to tack
ship at eight o'clock in the even
ing, but forty minutes before that
hour she was in the breakers,
when, according to the captains
calculations, she would have been
thirty-six miles at sea. A tar bar
rel and some oakum were then
ignited, and as soon as the an
swering signals on shore were
seen the men were got aft to the
cabin by the first mate and stew
ard, who considered it the safest
part of the vessel and clear of the
seas that were sweeping the for
ward decks with great force.
Ten minutes after the bark
stranded she gave a heavy lurch
and the captain, who was trying
to clear away one of the boats,
was washed overheard. AS time
passed and none of the lines fired
by the life-savers came aboard,