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

discovered, nearly ahead, which,
by many was supposed to be Fall
Sc Cape, on the Northern tip of
Hatteras.
Soon afteI. this discovery, the
course of the boa, was changed
from southerly to southeasterly,
which was the general course
through the day, though with
some occasional change. The con-
dition of the boat now was truly
alarming; it bent and twisted,
when struck by the waves, as If
the next one would rend it
asunder, the panels of the ceiling
were falling from their places
and the hull, as if united by
hinges, was bending against the
feet of the braces. Throughout
the day, the rolling and pitching
were so great that no cooking
could be done on board.
AS I have already stated the
boat was, during the day, on a
south-easterly course and con-
sequently in what is called the
trough of the sea, as the wind
was from the northeast. Late in
the afternoon, the boat was re-
I ported to be in tWenty-three
fathoms of water, when the
course was changed to a south
westerly. Soon after this it was
observed that the course was
again changed to north-westerly,
when the awful truth burst upon
us, that the boat must be filling,
for we could imagine no other
( cause for this sudden change.
This was but a momentary sus-
penSe, for within a few minutes
all the passengers were called
on to bail, in order to prevent
the boat from sinking.
Immediately all were employ
ed, but with little effect, for not
withstanding the greatest exer-
tons on the part of the passeng-
ers, including even many of the
ladies, the water was rapidly in
creasing, and gave the most con-
elusive evidence that, unless we
reached the shore within a few
hours, the boat must sink at sea,
and probably not a soul left to
communicate the heart-rending
intelligence to bereaved and dis
consulate friends.
Soon after the boat was headed
towards land, the water had in
creased so much, so as to reach
the fire under the boilers, which
We're soon extinguished.
Gloomy indeed was the pros
pect before us, with about one
hundred and thirty persons in
sinking boat, far out at sea, on a
dark and tempestuous night, with
no other dependence for reaching
the shore than a few small and
tattered sails; our condition
might be considered tragic But
with all these disheartening cir
cumstances, hope, delusive hope,
still supported us.
Although it was evident that
we must soon sink, and our prog
ress toward the land was slow,
still we cherished the expecta-
ton that the boat would finally
be run ashore, and thus most of
us be delivered from a watery
grave.
Early in the afternoon the
ladies had been provided with
strips of blanket, that they might
be lashed to such parts of the
boat as could afford the greatest
probability of saftey.
In this condition, and with
these expectations, we gradually,
but with motion nearly imper-
ceptible, approached what to
many of us was an untried and
almost unknown shore. At about
eleven o'clock those who had en-
ployed in bailing were compelled
to leave the cabin as the boat had
sunk until the deck was nearly
level with the waters, and it ap-
peared too probable that all
would soon be swallowed up by
the foaming waves. The heaving
of the lead indicated an approach
to the shore.
Soon was the cheering intelli-
gence of land, announced by
those on the lookout. This, for
moment aroused the sinking en-
ergies of all, when a general
hustle ensued, in the hasty, but
trifling preparations that could
be made, for safety as soon as
the boat should strike. But what
were the feelings of an anxious
multitude, when instead of land,
a range of angry breakers were
visible just ahead, and land, if
| it could be seen at all, was but
half perceptible in the distance
far beyond.
AS every particular is matter
of interest, especially to those of
us who had friends and relatives
on board, it may not be improper