The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-02-19
WRECK
Continued from Page Six

then lashed to a large piece of
timber, by the side of another
lady. The only remaining place
that afforded any prospect of
safety. The former lady, Mrs.
Shredder, was washed ashore ON
this piece of the wreckage beside
me. l had previously relenquish-
ed my place on the piece Of
wreckage and was compelled to
get upon a large piece of the
boat that lay near. This was al
most Immediately almost driven
from its place into the breakers,
which instantly swept me from it
and plunged me deep into the
water.
With some difficulty I gained
the raft and continued to cling
to this fragment as well as 1
could, but was repeatedly wash
ed from it, sometimes plunging
deep into the water and coming
up under it.
After encountering all the diff
ficulties that seemed possible to
be borne, I was, at length,
thrown on shore in an exhausted
condition.
At the time I was driven from
the boat, there were but few
left. Of these four washed ashore
with me, were Mrs. Shredder and
Mr.. Lovegreen of Charleston, Mr..
Cohen of Columbia, Sc, and
Mr.. Vanderzee of New York.
On reaching the beach, here
was no appearance of inhabi-
tants, but after wandering some
distance, I saw your light and
followed it.
II left the four I have mention
ed sitting on the beach while 1
came to look for help" And thus
Mr.. Hussey finished his story.
while this man was tellig us
his story" Kade continued,
Someone in my family sneaked
out of the house and gave the
alarm that a steamer was ashore.
1t wasn't very long before
everybody knew about it and the
whole population of the Island
(about 300 people, turned out.
Men began to run by with
lanterns and torches, screaming
Wreck on the Beach" and
vessel Ashore" All the menfolk
went down to the wreck that
night.
1t happened about five miles
up the beach at spot called the
Hammock.
AS soon as the men arrived at
the scene, they started to pull
the drowned out of the water.
My father said that the first
thing he found was a drowned
child, the same he had seen in
his dream that very night.
The following day, was a sad
day for this Island as well as for
the survivors. The menfolk had
worked from four o'clock that
morning until shutdown. Every
piece of canvas was used to sew
up the dead in for burial, as well
as all the bed quilts that were
donated by the people here on
the Island.
Most of the dead could not be
identified, and were buried Just
as they had been washed ashore
with their clothing and jewelry
on. Their hands had swollen so,
it was impossible to get the rings
and bracelets off. Diamonds,
pearl necklaces, and jewelry of
all descriptions were buried with
the bodies and still remain in
the sand until this day.
"These earrings" pointing with
pride to her ears with the end
of her toothbrush, "were taken
fuom the body of one of the
ladies who had washed up on the
beach,"
my mother had a complete
outfit salvaged from an old trunk
on the boat. 1t was the prettiest
thing / had ever seen. The owner
must have been a very wealthy
lady. My mother never would
wear it. She hung it up stairs
where she would look at it now
and then until it rotted away"
Having now finished her story
kade removed the toothbrush
from her mouth, fired one part
ing at the spitoon, toddled over
to the window, looked out into
the darkness and said in a voice