The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-11-08

coast, having sailed several years
in the packet ship.
eve left New York Saturday lat
"a pm. 9th October, having on
board 1913 passengers. After pass
ing Barnegat, we steered S by w
Sunday noon, 9th, we judged
ourselves in lat. 81, AZ. by dead
reckoning-no observation, sun
being obscured, and it was sup
posed by all that the boat was
moving at the rate of 10 miles per
hour, having a strong NE. wind,
and the engine making 20 and %
revolutions. Monday 10th, about
u past am. we had shoaled our
water to II fathoms. Our course
then ordered was S by W-the
lead hove every 10 or Is minutes
the line tended by Mr.. Andrews,
and we continued to have from II
to IL fathoms water until 2 mr..
SOm am. when a light was seen
bearing NV which was supposed
to be Cape Hatteras Light. The
lead was kept going and We grad
ually deepened the water to 10, II
and 10 fathoms, as reported by
Mr.. Andrews. At 8 hr. Som am.
he was looking thro' his spy glass,
and said he could distinctly see the
breakers of the outer point of Hat
teras Shoal. At 8 hr. as m he re-
ported no bottom, saying we must
have over 20 fathoms waters, and
that we had passed the shoal. At
4 am. he said we had better haul
up; my answer was, if you are sure
you have passed hte shoal :. "a
scrap torn from the paper at this
point, destroys approximately q
dozen lines of each of two parallel
columns carrying the story.)
one or two points, and if so was
making a S by E course, in place
of the S. by w course ordered, the
depth of water may be accounted
for. but in no other way. However,
there must have been an error in
the soundings. as we could not run
on shore from 20 fathoms in 40
nor from II, or even 15
fathoms of water. / have passed
Cape Hatteras not far short of 400
times, about 300 of which as mas
ter, and, as such, when passing the
shoal l invariably attend to the
soundings myself; but in this case
it was not my duty, particularly as
had had no reason to doubt the
of the man in charge. But
must return to the subject. At a
am. or few minutes past, Mr..
Winship took charge of the deck,
he was made acquainted with ali
the particulars and requested to-
keep sharp look out. About 40I
minutes past a. breakers were
seen; the wheel was order hard to
starboard and the engine stopped,
but before she could answer the
wheel she was fast ashore. We soon
it to be New Inlet, about
25 miles north of Cape Hatteras.
The engine was set to work to
back her off, but we found it i'm
possible; she, however, worked off,
being inside of the bar, and we
managed to get her around and
heading for the south channel,
when we started the engine ahead
with all its power, and she stopped
fast on the bar. Finding we could
not get out. our next and only al
tentative was to get up the Inlet.
We backed off and made every eff
fort to get in the channel; this also
failed, the rudder having been
knocked off and the boat became
unmanageable. 1t was now blowing
a heavy E.N.E. gale, and the tide
commenced ebbing, our only chance
Of safety was in forcing the boat
as hard on as possible, and pre-
pare for landing passengers.
every necessary arrangement
having been made, the boat was
sent on shore to try the practical
bility of landing, and to request
the men then on the beach to make
for the conveyance
and accommodation of passengers,
as we landed them. The boat re-
turned with word that all would be
to. On Pea Island, one
mile distant, were two houses in
good order. two wells and cistern
of fresh water. Four miles distant
from the landing, stands Mr.. John
Midyett's residence, coutaing a j
bountiful supply of provisions. At
noon we commenced landing, with
both quarter boats; taking 6 and 8
at a trip, and keeping