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

breaker STRUCK IL, swept IL from
the davits and carried with it a
seaman who was instantly lost.
A similar attempt was made
to launch the long-boat from the
upper deck, by the chief mate,
Mr.. Mathews and others. It was
filled with several passengers,
and some of the crew. But as we
were already within the verge of
the breakers, this boat shared the
fate of the other, and all on
board, about ten in number per-
ished.
Now commenced the most
heart-rending scene. Wives cling
ing to husbands, children to par
ents, and women who were with
out protectors, seeking aid from
the arm of stranger, all waiting
the results of the moment, which
would bring with it either life or
death. Though an intense feeling
of anxiety must, at this time,
have filled every breast, yet, not
a shrek was heard, nor was
there any extraordinary eXclam-
alton of excitement or alarm.
A slight agitation was, how
ever apparent in the general cir
Gle Some few hurried from one
part of the boat to another, seek
ing a place of greater safety. Yet
most, and particularly those who
had the melancholy charge of
wives and children, remained
quiet and calm observers of the
scene before them. The boat at
length, strikes, - it stops - and
as motionless as a bar of lead.
A momentary pause follows -
as if the angel of death shrunk
from so dreadful a work of
slaughter. But soon the work of
destruction commenced. A break
er with a deafening crash swept
over the boat carrying its un-
fortunate into the deep. At the
same time a simultaneous rush
was made towards the bow of
the boat. The forward deck was
! covered. Another breaker came,
with irresistible force and all
within its sweep disappeared.
Our number was now frightfully
reduced. The roaring of the
waters, together with the dread
full crash of breaking timbers,
surpassed the power of descrip-
ton.
Some of the remaining passen-
gers sought shelter from the en-
croaching dangers, by retreating
to the passage on the lee side of
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 cir
cumstance of the boat keeling to
windward, and the deck which
was nearly level with the water
forming in consequence, an in
clined plane upon which the
waves broke with their full force.
A large portion of those who
rushed into this passage, were
ladies and children, with 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 es-
cape. Enclosed within 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 newt
able.
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 com
pletely stripped off, leaving not
even stanchion, or particle of
the bulwarks. All this was the
work of about five minutes.
The starboard wheeIhouse. and
everything about it, was soon
entirely demolished.
AS so much of the ceiling for
ward of the starboard wheel had,
during the day fallen from its
place, the waves soon found their
way through all that remained
to oppose them, and were in a
few minutes time forcing into
the las. retreat of those who had
taken shelter in the passage al
ready mentioned.
Every wave made a frightful
encroachment on our narrow
A.