The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-06-26
WRECK OF THE BRITISH
STEAMSHIP KIMBERLEY

The British steamship Kim
berly, of Port Glasgow, Scot
land, from New Orleans, Louis
lana, bound to Liverpool, Eng
land, by way of Norfolk, Vir-
ginia, with freight valued at
half a million dollars, consist
ing of corn, wheat and cotton,
stranded at a quarter past IL
o'clock at night, three fourths
of a mile S. S-East of Wash
Woods Station, Sixth DistricD,
coast of North Carolina, De-
cember l, 1887.
She was discovered immed-
lately by the station patrol, who
speedily notified the keeper.
There were at the time strong
northeast winds and a high
surf, making it impossible to
use the boat. The life-saving
crew therefore took the beach
apparatus to a point abreast of
the vessel, arriving at midnight.
They fired the Lyle gun re-
peatedly, but the vessel was
,, more than a quarter of a mile
from the beach; the projectile
invariably fell short.
The keepers and men of the
neighboring False Cape and
Currituck Inlet Stations, who
had been informed by tele-
phone of the affair, reached the
place ready for service, shortly
after l o'clock (morning of the
2nd). However, nothing further
beyond displaying an occasion
al signal could be done until
daybreak, at which time the
firing was resumed but with
out success. They signaled to
the people on board that it
would be necessary to wait for
ebb tide, but a portion of the
vessels own crew soon set out
to land in their own boat. The
surf was so high, however, that
they gave up the attempt and
went back on board. On the
flood tide the vessel had work
ed in somewhat nearer to the
beach, but she was still out of
range, as futile shots from the
Lyle gun proved.
At low water the lifesavers
were enabled to gain a few
yards toward the vessel, and a
shot at this time struck her
side. At the next trial the pro-
jectile fell on deck and the
whip-line and hawser were sent
off. About an hour before noon
the work of landing began and
twenty-four of the men were
taken ashore, the breeches-buoy
making twenty trips. The other
seven members of the crew pre-
ferred to remain on board. The
gear was left set up, maintain
ing communication with the
vessel in case of emergency.
The life-saving crews returned
to their respective stations
about sunset, well-nigh exhaust.
ed by their continued exertions
and by lack of food.
The rescued men went to the
Wash Wood Station, where
those who needed it received
dry clothing from the supply
kept at the station by the
Women's National Relief As
ISOLATION. One man was very
sick and was expected to die,
but he was provided with med
icines from the station chest
and after a time rallied and
grew better. The following day
(3rdD the life-saving crew land
ed the baggage belonging to the
seamen, and on the night of the
4th the sick man and four
others left the station for Nor
folk, the British consul having
made provision for them.
Two days later (6th) five men
were landed from the steamer
by the breeches-buoy, leaving
only the captain and chief Of
ficer on board. There were now
twenty-three of the steamers
men at the station. These re-
manned until the 9th, when with
the exception of three who
went on board their vessel for
duty, they were transferred to
a steamer for conveyance to
Norfolk.
In the meantime the vessel
had been placed in the hands
OF a wrecking company who
were at work discharging her
cargo. Many delays were oc-
casioned by storm, and the YES
sci was not floated until the
9th of January, 1883, at which
time she was lowed to Norfolk.
The damage to the vessel
amounted to about one-third
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