The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-02-01

TO the passage on the lee Sue Oh
the boat, that leads from the after
to the forward decks, as if to be as
far as possible from the grasp Of
death.
The destruction of the boat and
loss of life was, doubtless, much
more rapid than it otherwise would
have been from the circumstance
of the boat keeling to windward,
and the deck which was nearly
level with the water, forming in
consequence, an inclined plane
upon which the waves broke with
their full force. A large portion of
those who rushed into this pas
sage, We're ladies and children,
with a few gentlemen who had
charge of them.
The crowd was so dense that
many were in danger of being
crushed by the irresistible pres
sure.
Here were, perhaps, some of the
most painful sights.
This passage contained perhaps
thirty or more persons, consisting
of men, women and children with
no apparent possibility of escape.
Enclosed within a narrow aperture
over which was the deck, and both
ends of which were completely
closed by the fragments of the
boat and the rushing of the waves.
While thus shut up death appeared
inevitable.
Already were both decks swept
of everything that was on them.
The dining cabin was entirely gone
and everything belonging to the
quarter deck was completely strip
ped away, leaving not even a STAN
chion, or particle of the bulwarks.
All this was the work of about
five minutes.
Paddle Wheel House Quickly
Demolished
The starboard wheelhouse, and
everything about it, was soon en-
tirely demolished.
AS so much of the ceiling for
ward of the starboard wheel had,
during the day fallen from it's
place, the waves soon found their
way through all that remained to
oppose them, and were in a few
minutes time forcing deluges into
the last retreat of those who had
taken shelter in the passage al
ready mentioned.
Every wave made a frightful en-
croachment on our narrow limits,
and seemed to threaten US with
immediate death.
Hopeless as was the condition of
those thus hemmed in, yet still not
shrek was heard from them. One
lady begged earnestly for someone
to save her. In a time of such
alarm it is not strange that a
helpless female should plead with
earnestness for assistance from
those who were about her.
Another scene witnessed at this
trying hour was still more painful,
A little boy, the son of Hardy B,
Groom of New Bern, N. c., was
pleading with his father to save
him. Father" said the boy, "You
can swim ashore with me, CAM
you Father?" But the unhappy
father was too deeply absorbed ir
the other charges that rested upor
him, even to notice the imploring
accents of his helpless child. Fol
at that time, as near as / coulC
see from the darkness of the place
his wife hung upon one arm, anC
his daughter of seventeen upor
! the other. He had one daughter be-
sides, near the age of this little
boy, but whether she had beer
washed overheard at that time
am not certain.
After remaining here some min
utes, the deck overhead was spill
open by the violence Of the waves
which allowed me an opportunit.
of climbing out. This / Instant.
did, and assisted my wife through
the same opening. AS / had nov
left those below, ! am unable Il
say how they were lost, as tina
part Of the boat was very sool
completely destroyed, their furthe
sufferings could not have beef