The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-05-17
THE coAsTLAND TIMES, MANTEo. N. c.

The {
/, about two hours after they start
ed, probably between seven and
eight o'clock. At times they were
up to their knees in the water
running across the beach from
sea to sound, which with the al
most constantly shifting sand un-
der the mortar-cart wheels made
the hauling extremely difficult
and exhausting.
"The Signal Service operator,
whose sworn statement was taken,
testified that the gale commenced
at Hatteras, about half-past three
in the morning. At five am. the
velocity of the wind was sixty
four miles per hour. At Kitty
Hawk it was blowing at the rate
of sixty-seven miles. At noon the
wind had moderated to forty miles.
From then until shutdown the aver
age velocity was about thirty-five
miles per hour. AS the wreck oc-
CURED about half way between
Kitty Hawk and Hatteras it is
presumable that the force of the
gale was about the same there. At
times on the way up the beach
the sea was washing pieces of the
wreck-stuff against the wheels of
the mortar-cart.
The First Gun is Fired
GAS soon as possible after reach
ing the scene of the wreck the gun
was placed in position and fired.
The vessel was lying nearly head
on to the beach at a distance esti-
mated to be about three hundred
yards from high-water mark. The
first shot took the line through
the mizzen rigging, and probably
dropped over the stern into the
sea. One of the men on the wreck
attempted to reach the shot-line,
but before he could work his way
aft the strong current setting to
leeward between the wreck and
the shore, acting on the blight of
the line, hauled the shot back
through the rigging into the sea.
The line was then hauled ashore,
the men taking it down in the box
and on the beach as it came in.
A second shot was then fired with
an eight-ounce charge of powder,
which parted the line close to the
shot. A third was then fired with
a six-ounce charge with a like re-
suit.
"The shot-line was then taken
to the cart to keep it clear of the
water on the beach, and faxed
down on the pins so as to leave
! the dry end up when ready for
use. A fourth shot was then fired
with a six-ounce charge which
threw the line across the head
the end of the jib-boom, where it
was caught by one of the men on
stays, the blight running down to
the wreck, who took turn with
it around the jib-boom, to hold it,
but not before the current had
swept the line down so that the
shot had been drawn up to the
top of the water under the jib-
boom. About this time the keeper
and crew of Station No. II arrived.
The wreck had been discovered
from the window of that station at
daylight by one of the surfmen.
"As soon as they could get
ready they started with their boat
wagon down the beach to New In
let, where they crossed on the in
side, landing at the fish-houses on
the sound side of the south point.
They waded across the low beach
,, through the water to the wreck,
carrying with them the station
medicine chest, seven cork jackets,
a Merriman suit, and two heaving
lines and sticks. Upon their arrival
they Joined the crew of No. 1S in
their efforts to establish commun-
ication with the wreck.
Rough Sea Too Heavy
"The men on the wreck hav-
ing succeeded in getting the
shot-line to the top-gallant fore
castle, the tail-block and whip-line
were bent on at the shore end, and
they attempted to haul it aboard.
AS soon as the two parts of the
whip-line reached the water, the
current swept them to leeward and
the men on the wreck were unable
through exhaustion, to haul the
whip-line off any further. The