The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-02-23

UuEluS BOOu WcaLkker 70 save Iltk
long sailiout and around the shoals
while many attempt to do so In
heavy weather to more quickly
reach lee and smooth water.
It was evident that the Captain
intended to seek shelter by trying
to go through the Inner Slue, fol
if he had wanted to beach the
schooner he could have easily done
so when she first came in sight Of
the station. The fact that the jibs
were the only sails set after head
| ing down the coast supports this
theory. Besides, whenever. the YES
sci showed a tendency to head up
toward the land the jib sheet would
at once be drawn to windward 1.-THE
wind being q little off shore) when
she would Immediately resume hel
course. The Captain seems, how.
ever, to have finally changed his
mind, and abandoned the under
taking, for after a while the main
sail was again hoisted and the
schooner was steered for the beach.
She struck, as near as could be
judged, some five or six hundred
yards off, at a point about three
miles north Of Cape Hatteras.
When the cart became disabled
and there was no prospect Of get
ting it over the beach, orders were
given for the men to hurry along
and meet the crew Of the Hatteras
Station, on whose beach it was now
obvious the vessel would strike If
she was headed for the shore. The
keeper rode one of the horses as
fast as he could for half mile or
so in advance, when he dismounted
and tied the horse to a telephone
pole, so that some member of his
crew following after could secure a
rest by riding the animal and also
hurry the quicker to the scene Of
operations. The keeper then ran
down along the beach, passing the
vessel just as she struck the bar,
until the surfmen on the horse over
took him, when he remounted and
galloped on until he met the crew
Of the Hatteras Station, who were
hurrying to the schooner's assis-
lance as fast as the condition of
the beach, the beating rain and
strong head wind would permit.
The vessel struck at about twenty
minutes. of 6 o'clock.
The work of the life saving men
now proceeded under the direction
of the keeper of the Hatteras Sta
ton, the latter, as soon as he re-
ceived word that the vessel was in
distress in the vicinity of the Big
Kinnakeet Station, ordered out the
apparatus cart. Some ponies be-
longing to the surfmen were caught
and hitched to it, and all hands,
pushing and helping as best they
could, started up the beach with the
gear. Before the two crews could
join forces the mainmast Of the
craft was seen to ply and the fore
mast almost Immediately did the
same. Both kept gradually going
over, and finally fell together into
the sea, the vessel entirely disap-
Ipearing.
1t was a sudden and unlocked for
collapse and a moment afterwards
nothing could be seen in the waves
but a confusion of wreckage, most
of which began to drift toward the
cape. The keeper Of the lighthouse,
who witnessed the occurrence, testi-
fled that the schooner went to
pieces just seventeen minutes after
she struck. The expectation of res
cuing the entire crew, which had
stimulated the life savers to put
forth their utmost endeavors, now
vanished, but they were yet hope
fun of saving at least some of them.
Their efforts, therefore were not
once relaxed. When they reached a
favorable spot the gun was quickly
placed in position and a line fired
over the floating wreckage. The
Keeper thought that he could make
out two Of the sailors amongst the
debris and bystander testified
that the line fell across one OF them,
but that he made no effort to Sc
cure it. AS soon as it was found
that the line was not made fast the
surfmen bent on several cork jack
cts and attempted to float them
by the action Of the current within
reach Of some Of the shipwrecked
people, but the surf was SO high
that the life preservers could not De
sent offshore
Just at this time one Of the
schooner's crew was discovered on
the cabin. The gun was, therefore,
hurried TO new position and quick
w loaded and fired - No. four
line (the smallest size) being used
ON account Of the great distance.
This went true to the mark and fell
within easy grasp Of the man, who
immediately made it fast and
waved his hands to those on shore.
The line was then carried by the
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