The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-10-17
poured in, throwing all into con

knees only had time to COM
mence their prayers before they
were piled up and smothered and
pitched from one end of the cabin
to the other. We all had our life
belts on, awaiting our horrible
doom. everyone wore the picture
of utter despair, all were expected
to be lost; the night was intensely
dark; the seas were pouring over
us. They all deserve great credit
for their heroism and bravery.
"At IL o'clock the water reached
our engines and our only salvation
was to reach the shore by sail.
About Z o'clock the second mate
came to the hatch where we were
all holding onto ropes, fighting
salt water, and cried out: sMEN,
ALL SAVE YOURSELVES THE
BEST YOU CAN. WE ARE
WRECKED!" Then the scramble
commenced to get through the
skylight.
"Men who were utterly exhaust
ed did their best to climb out by
ropes, hanging onto each others
feet, etc, pulling some back, and
the weakest never got out at all.
Terrible Picture of Death
"The scene was beyond descrip-.
ton. The eyes alone can tell it
truthfully. One, lady persisted on
deck through fright. There were
not enough life buoys. Many poor
souls were vainly seeking them.
One lady was washed into the
forehatch and was never seen
again, and several men washed in
to it and never came up again, the
suction was too great. | did not
jump overheard until the last hope
was gone
"We stood on the lee side of the
ship, holding to anything that had
the least sign of safety about it.
The after part of the vessel wash
ed to pieces in two or three hours.
The main mast fell over, smoke
stack was gone-and every sea
surged over us all. Dozens were
in the water struggling for their
lives, and l saw many good
swimmer killed by the rough de-
bris rolling over them.
eve were about 200 yards from
the shore, and those that could
swim were often carried to sea
by the undercurrent. Many perish
ed from exhaustion, having eaten
nothing for twenty four hours and
being chilled through with cold
water. 1t is really a wonder to
me that so many were saved.
When | left for the shore, the
foremost was almost ready to go.
Our last hope had fled. Little as
sistance could be rendered from
those on shore; there being no life
boats. l reached shore utterly eX-
hausted, and but for few sturdy
seamen to pull me up, l would
have persisted there.
"After l left, the foremost fell,
sweeping about go souls overheard,
several getting killed by the fall.
None of those reached shore who
were swept into the sea, for a
strong current carried them farl
out. Their bodies have not yet beenl
found.
"The scene on the beach the
next day was beyond description.
A party of negroes had been there
during the night and carried off
anything of any value. The dead
We're rifled, pockets cut and men
even stripped of their clothing.
One lady, so states her husband,
washed ashore during the night.
Mrs. Captain Harrison had $3.50 in
a belt about her person. The pirates
robbed her of even the diamond
rings from her fingers. They stole
all property that could be carried
off.
II lost three valuable trunks and
three chests of instruments and
medicines. Parties were seen
breaking up a very valuable chest
of surgical instruments the day of
the wreck, long before | left the
ship. l can find no clue to the
vultures.
"The Captain, and purser's'
trunks were rifled and all valu-
ables stolen, and dozens of others
were served in like manner. ! saw
two thieves carrying a heavy trunk
far over the sand hills. The life
saving crew were of no service to
us. The most of our men persisted
for lack of assistance from the
United States Lighthouse Service.
Better assistance for wrecks is
badly needed here. We went all
day without any help from shore
and l believe many persisted from
cold and hunger that could have
been saved in the forenoon. / be-
lieve many who were washed
ashore could have been saved had
they been properly cared for, but
we were IL miles away from the
nearest house and the poor souls
were left to perish all along the
shore for miles. Many were wound