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

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the floating wreckage. The keeper
thought that he could make out
two of the sailors amongst the
debris and bystander testified
that the line fell across one of
them, but that he made no effort
to secure it. AS soon as it was
found that the line was not made
fast the surfmen bent on several
cork jackets and attempted to
float them by the action of the
current within reach of some of
the shipwrecked people, but the
surf was so high that the life pre-
servers could not be sent offshore.
Just at this time one of the
schooner's crew was discovered on
the cabin. The gun was, therefore,
hurried to a new position and
quickly loaded and fired-a No.
four line (the smallest size) being
used on account of the great dis
lance. This went true to the mark
and fell within easy grasp of the
man, who Immediately made it
fast and waved his hands to those
on shore. The line was then carried
by the beach party to windward
and held taut so that the wash of
the sea might bear the cabin to
land, plan that was considered
safer than putting an undue strain
on the line which might break it.
Notwithstanding the great care
that was exercised, however, the
line parted. The gun was now re-
loaded and No. nine line fired.
The heavier line was used because
those which had already been
thrown were still in the surf and
for the reason also that the cabin
had drifted nearer the shore while
the bulk of wreckage had worked
farther off and beyond range. The
line fell to leeward of the house
and had to be hauled in and fired
again. 1t this time fell just out of
the mans reach.
1t must be borne in mind that
much of the time the cabin, which
was but a small portion of the
schooner, was entirely hid from
view by the furious seas which
constantly swept over it. The gath
ering darkness and the varying
force of the wind also added to the
difficulty of accurately firing the
line. Furthermore the object was
so small that the line had to fall
within very narrow limits to in,
sure the mans getting it. The
wonder is that any line at all was
successfully thrown within its
reach. The house being unable to
long resist the heavy seas was
quickly demolished on entering
the inner breakers. It is doubtful
whether the man was seen after
the cabin went to pieces. One of
the surfmen, nevertheless, hastily
buckled on cork jacket and fast
ening a line around his waist
plunged into the surf to his rescue,
but the heroic effort proved futile.
The wreckage of the cabin was
carefully examined after it reach
ed the shore but no trace of the
man could be found. Meanwhile the
rest of the drifting wreckage had
been swept to sea and out of sight.
The keeper and crew of the
Creed's Hill Station (six miles to
the westward of Cape Hatteras
Station) had arrived during the
operations and joined in the work.
Darkness had now shut down and
nothing remained but to watch the
shore. An effective patrol was
maintained throughout the night
and the following two days, but
nothing came on the beach. Many
persons of the vicinity had render
ed willing and efficient aid in the
efforts to rescue the ship-wrecked,
and a number of them remained
on into the night keeping vigil
with the life-savers. On the 18th
the sea had gone down sufficiently
to enable the station men, together
with a party of wreckers, to go off
in boat to the wreck. The stern
of the vessel which was found fast
to debris was cut loose and towed
ashore. By saving out some of the
planks, her name was ascertained.
From a careful investigation of
this case, in which exhaustive tes-
timony was taken, there can be
drawn no other conclusion than
that the Service did all in their
power to save life. The long con-
tinued blow from the east and
northeast had produced fearful
sea and surf, the latter being al
most if not quite as dangerous as
any time before experienced on
this exposed portion of the coast.
1t was utterly impossible for an
open boat to live, or even to be
successfully launched from the
beach, and so there was no way by
which the surfmen could reach the
schooner when she first came to
anchor off the Big Kinnakeet Sta