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

cabin in the manner already de-
scribed.
All the evidence gathered by the
Investigating officer concerning
this affair, which included sworn
statements of the survivors, the
keepers and the station crews, and
a number of citizen eye-witnesses,
shows that everything was done
that human ingenuity could devise
to save the lives so unnecessarily
sacrificed that night off Chica-
micomico. Had the lead been used
continuously from the time the
vessel was first found to be in
twenty-five fathoms of water un-
til the light of which they were in
search had been sighted, it would
not now be necessary to record in
these columns the wreck of the
Josie Troop and the melancholy
loss of the captain and ten of her
crew. 1t is probable that to the
neglect of this, the most important
duty of the navigator when APP
preaching land, is attributable the
loss of more life and property than
to any other of the many causes of
shipwreck by stranding.
AS soon as possible after the
men were taken from the wreck,
the keeper of Mays Head Station
was requested by telephone to
send boat at once to Manteo for
physician. This was done, and by
using a relay of station horses he
was enabled to reach Chicamicomi-
co early in the afternoon. The
wounded mans throat was sewed
up, and his bruises dressed, as
were those of the other men. The
sailors were kept at the station
and cared for as well as the facili-
ties of the place admitted of until
the morning of March Bird, eight
days-when they were put aboard
small schooner chartered by the
superintendent of the district, act
ing for the British consul at Nor
folk, Virginia, for transportation
to that city.
It was learned that the wounded
seaman bore the trip without dis
advantage and that there was ev-
cry promise of his ultimate re-
covery. All attested the unvarying
kindness shown them while at the
station. The following statement,
expressing their gratitude and
praise of the work of the life-sav-
ing crew, was handed to the keep
er:
"This is to certify that in my
opinion the captain and crew of
this station, assisted by the cap
tains and crews of New Inlet and
Gull Shoal Stations, did all in their
power to save the lives of myself
and crew of the bark Josie Troop
which went ashore here on the
night of February %. It would
have been impossible for any crew
of men to have done more. Also
for the kind treatment we have re-
ceived from Captain ]. H. Wes-
colt and his crew during our stay
here, their kind attention to the
injured men 1.-THE steward and
seamen) being beyond praise. In
fact, the kindness of all the Off
GERS is beyond description and a
credit to the nation they are serv-
ing. Their conduct throughout is
beyond commentator and will
never be effaced from our men,
DRY.
Yours truly,
Barque Josie Troop,
Robert E. Hunter, First Mate.
"Saint John, New Brunswick.
"Chicamicomico Station,
March 2, 1885,"
The clothing donated by the
Women's National Relief Associa-
ton was used on this occasion for
the benefit of the distressed men
and contributed needed comfort
and relief.
Several days after the disaster
a number of the dead were found
on the beach by the patrolmen and
were properly cared for. The
names and residences of the lost,
as near as can be ascertained are
as follows: W. G. Cook (captain),
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; H. r.
Christofsen, Norway; Thomas Nc
Coy, Dublin, Ireland; John Rogers,
Wexford, Ireland; G. Johannsen,
Norway; George Williams, London,
England; Herman Andersen, Ham
burg, Germany; John Coffee,
Portsmouth, England; G. S. Scib-
lad, Sweden; Charles Medeke, Bre-
men, Germany; ]. Cuthbertson,
Carmunnock, Scotland.
The subjoined letter, conveying
the thanks of Her Majesty's Gov
eminent to the life-saving crews,
was subsequently received at the
Department of State, from the
British charge d'affairs:
washington, August 5, 1889.
"Sir; l have the honor to state
ALoA H. NFosoc4x,So No,,o,.,, -, o,,4