The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1961-07-14
te evident that the line fired

must have fallen across some part
of the wreck, probably the main
mast, and was drawn off when the
spar went over the side.
1t was now between 10 and II
o'clock at night. The life-savers
discouraged, unable to get even
glimpse of the distressed vessel,
and hearing no sound from her,
were fearful that the fall Of the
mainmast betokened a complete
collapse. Large quantities of wreck
age coming ashore south of the
scene of operations seemingly con-
firmed this apprehension. All the
men except enough to successfully
work the apparatus if occasion re-
quired, were sent down the beach
to render prompt assistance to any
that might possibly wash in from
the wreck. This patrol was kept
up for a distance of two miles dur
ing the entire night, without result.
The keeper with chosen assistants
Remained opposite the spot where
the bark had disappeared vainly
straining their eyes to obtain even Il
shadowy outline of her. Finally.
at about two o'clock in the morning
(23rd), portion of the after part
of the vessel (Which latter it ap-
pears, had by this time broken into
three pieces), consisting largely of
the upper works, suddenly loomed
into view within two hundred yards |
of the beach. AS quickly as possible
aline was fired across it. The whip
was at once hauled off and made
fast to the stump of the mizzen-
mast, after which the hawser was
sent aboard and set up. Then the
six sailors who had taken refuge
on the top of the cabin were con-
veyed ashore in the breaches buoy
The first man rescued had his
throat cut, his head badly battered
by some blunt instrument, and his
feet gashed. 1t was subsequently
ascertained that the wounds were
, self inflicted in a frenzy of fear
of death by drowning. The shipI
wrecked men were conducted to the
station and cared for, while the
life savers kept watch on the beach
in hope of being able to succor
others of the crew. This hope, how
ever, was dispelled as light Of day
slowly brought into view all the
parts of the vessel, except portion
of the hull, strewn in fragments
along the shore. The bottom If the
hull, buried under it's load of chalk,
remained where the vessel had fin
ally fetched up and gone to pieces.
From the testimony of the sur
vivors it was learned that the bark
was bound from London, England.
to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by
the southern trade-wind passage.
with a cargo of seventeen hundred
tons of chalk. Some days prior to
the disaster she encountered thick
ard stormy weather, the last obser-
walton to determine her position
having been taken February 18th.
Since that time she had been run
by dead reckoning. In the forenoon
of the 22nd, while the vessel had
been kept to the westward, the
captain thinking that he was near
ing the North Carolina coast, and
expecting by midnight to raise the
Cape Hatteras or some more north
;Iy light, took soundings which re-
suited in an ascertained depth of
twenty-five fathoms. The bark
was Immediately put about on the
off shore tack and a course shaped
to the northeastward until some
time in the afternoon. During this
run she logged not more than
twelve miles. The craft was then
worn round and steered to the west
ward until she struck. The lead had
not been used while standing in
shore.
Orders had been given to tack
ship at eight o'clock in the evening,
but forty minutes before that hour
she was in the breakers, when, ac-
Icording to the captains calcula-
tions, she would have been thirty
six miles at sea. A tar barrel and
some oakum were then ignited, and
las soon as the answering signals
on shore were seen the men were
got aft to the cabin by the first
mate and steward, who considered
lit the safest part of the vessel and
clear of the seas that were sweep
ling the forward decks with great
lforce.
Ten minutes after the bark
stranded she gave a heavy lurch
and the captain, who was trying
to clear away one of the boats,
was washed overheard. AS time
passed and none Of the lines fired
lby the life-savers came aboard,
Item of the crew stole forward,
where the large open boats were
kept. No sooner had they done SO
than the mainmast went over the