The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-03-01
Gallant Deeds of By-Gone
Years in The Walter
Raleigh Coasfland.
SCHOONER ANNIE E. PIERCE


On February %, 1892, the
Schooner Annie E. Pierce of Som
mers Point, New Jersey, bound for
Bogue Inlet, North Carolina, from
New Bedford, Massachusetts,, was
beached by her master at point
two and one-quarter miles south
of Little Kinnakeet Station (Sixth
Distriet), North Carolina and the
death of Alonzo Driscoll, the mate
of the vessel, occurred in conse-
quence. AS the schooner came into
view from seward through the
rain and mist of that stormy Feb
ruary morning, she was espied by
a small boy, who called attention
to her.
At once the keeper saw from the
direction she was steering that the
vessel would soon be aground, and
he made immediate preparations to
render assistance. The adjoining
stations were spoken to by tele-
phone and in response, the keeper
and crew of the Gull Shoal Sta
ton Immediately repaired to the
spot indicated, while the keeper
of the Big Kinnakeet Station
came with horses to assist in
hauling the beach cart.
In about three-quarters of an
hour from the time the vessel was
first seen the three life-saving
crews were upon the beach near
the vessel, which had stranded
about one hundred anil fifty yards
out. Operations began forthwith,
under the direction of the keeper
of the Little Kinnakeet Station.
Communication was soon establish
ed, and in less than an hour the
entire crew were landed with the
beach apparatus, excepting the
mate, who had been killed by a
heavy sea before the vessel had
stranded.
1t appears from the testimony
of the master that in the forenoon
of the preceding day. when off
Cape Henry, Virginia, the weather
became thick and the wind came
out from the northeast, increasing
to the force of a gale and creating
a rough sea. The vessel was then
hove to under a close-reefed main
sail, and made good weather until
the straps of the main sheet block
suddenly departed, carrying away
the main boom. This unfortunate
accident made it necessary to run
back down the coast before the
wind, but finding that course clear
of the Hatteras Shoals could not
be made, as the surroundings on
the morning of February % indi-
Gated that current was sweeping
the vessel toward the land, the
master relayed to beach her as a
final means of safety.
The breakers were seen at about
II o'clock, although the land was
not then visible. Putting the helm
to port, so as to run head on, the
captain ordered all hands into the
cabin as the safest place when
passing through the breakers.
While going over the outer bar an
Immense sea broke over the stern,
smashing the yawl, and bursting
into the cabin with terrific force.
At this time the mate, Alonzo
Driscoll, of Atlantic City, New
Jersey, stood within the cabin hold
ing the doors together, and was
therefore directly in the path of
the wave, which tore away the
doors and sent one of them with
fatal violence against him, to all
appearances causing instant death.
The crew rushed out of the cabin
and climbed into the rigging. The
captain followed, after hastily ex-
amining the mate but while he was
making his way forward the ves-
sci was again swept by sea which
left him helpless with a broken
leg. By slow and painful move
mentS he crawled TO the cabin ard
remained there until two members
of his crew placed him in the buoy,
which by this time had been sent
off. Upon landing the captain was
carefully wrapped in blankets and
sent to the Little Kinnakeet sta
ton in the keepers cart, where he
received all possible attention. The
keeper doing the best he could