The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-04-04

immense sea broke over the stern,
smashing the yawl, and bursting
into the cabin with terrific force.
i At this time the mate, Alonzc
Driscoll, of Atlantic City, New Jer-
sey, stood within the cabin holding
the doors together, and was there
fore directly in the path of the
wave, which tore away the doors
and sent one of them with fatal
violence against him, to all ap-
pearances causing instant death
The crew rushed out of the cabin
and climbed into the rigging. The
captain followed, after hastily ex-
amining the mate; but while he
was making his way forward the
vessel was again swept by see
which left him helpless with 8
broken leg. By slow and painful
movements he crawled to the cabir
and remained there until two mem
bers of his crew placed him in tho
buoy, which by this time had bee,
sent off. Upon landing the capital
was carefully wrapped in blankets
and sent to the Little Kinnakee'
station in the keepers cart, where
he received all possible attention
The keeper doing the best he could
with the appliances and remedies
of the station medicine chest il
dressing the injured limb and al
leviating it's pain.
The crew were also cared for a
the station, where they remained
for period of nine days, until the
state of the weather permitte6
their departure across the SCUM
to the mainland. The isolation O.
the narrow strip of land on which
the life-saving station is situated
is such that no physician could be
secured to give the captain needed
treatment. Efforts were made tt
obtain surgical aid from the main.
land, but the severe gale and higl
sea which continued several DAYS
prevented until March LIST, when
the revenue cutter Winona, fror
New Bern, bearing a surgeon of
the Marine Hospital service, reach
ing the station in response to dis
patch from the Department. The
master then received proper pro-
feSsional care, and on the following
day was conveyed to New Bern or
the cutter.
The high surf prevented the
Launching of the boat until the
third day after the occurrence of
the wreck, when a successful trip
was made to her, and the mates
body and the clothing of the crew
were brought on shore. The body
vas prepared for burial at the sta
lion, and then carefully laid to rest
in the cemetery of the neighbor-
hood, after funeral ceremonies be-
fitting the sad occasion in the pres
ence of his late comrades. The
clothing supplied by the Women s
National Relief Association was
drawn upon for the urgent neces-
sites of the master, as well as in
preparing for burial of the remains
of the mate.
In addition to the many verbal
expressions of gratitude for the
kind attentions received while So
journing at the station, written
statements were made by the mas
ter and crew of the lost vessel. A
deposition, executed February 25,
1892, before Samuel r. Hazen, a
notary public, previous of the Off
cial Investigation of the unhappy
accident is given below:
eve, the undersigned, captain
and crew of the schooner Annie E.
Pierce, which was wrecked near
Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Sta
ton, depose and say that the mate,
Alonzo Driscoll, was instantly kill
ed by the sea as the schooner was
crossing the outer bar; also, just
before the vessel stranded, the cap
tain's leg was broken by the vio-
lence of the sea. This loss of life
and injury to limb happened before
the vessel struck the shore, and
was nowise the fault of the life
saving crew. We also state that the
crew of the Little Kinnakeet Sta
ton were promptly on hand and
rendered all possible assistance.
Joseph R. Somers,
"Risley Somers,
George J. Doder
Edward Driscoll,
"Of the Schooner Annie E. Pierce. "