James D. Charlet - Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic

James D. Charlet is an authority on the US Life-Saving Service on North Carolinas iconic Outer Banks and contributes to local and national media with articles on Outer Banks and nautical history. James taught North Carolina history for twenty-four years and authored a state-adopted textbook on the subject. He has worked with the Wright Brothers National Memorial, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, was Lead Interpreter at Roanoke Island Festival Park (celebrating the Roanoke Voyages), andmost importantlyhas been involved with the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum for twenty-one years and was the site manager of the Historic Site for ten years, retiring from there in 2015. In his spare time, James conducts tours, educational programs, and speaking engagements and live presentations as Keeper James.

This has been the most enjoyable work in my entire highly diverse career; a true labor of love. As with any success, qualified competent teamwork with others was an essential ingredient. Hugely important to this effort was the consistent assistance of my business partner and in-house editor and proofreadermy wife, Linda Molloy. She read every word many times, had numerous great suggestions, and typed most of the manuscript.

My friend, colleague, and inspiring author, Cheryl Shelton Roberts, was immensely helpful. She not only opened the door for me but continued to provide invaluable advice, suggestions, and guidance from her professional experiences.

I am extremely thankful for all of the folks at Globe Pequot, especially my editors, Katie ODell, Melissa Hayes, Ellen Urban, and Sarah Parke, for their patient guiding hand throughout, and for Amy Lyons, for accepting my proposal.

All of the graphics were perfected with extensive work by John Havel, who is not only a gifted graphic artist and computer genius, but also my good friend and neighbor.

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to artist Gary Gowans. I had an idea for the book cover and Gary graciously agreed to paint this original artwork, which in a single image captures the essence of the entire book. To anyone who I might have omitted, my grateful thanks to each and all.

Like our honorable and faithful surfmen, we have diligently aimed our shots at the facts for 100% accuracy... but like them, in spite of strenuous and repeated efforts, a few marks may inadvertently been missed.

Jones Hill (renamed Whale Head, then Currituck Beach)

Caffeys Inlet

Kitty Hawk

Nags Head

Bodie Inlet (renamed Oregon Inlet)

Chicamacomico

Little Kinnakeet

Deals Island (renamed Wash Woods)

Old Currituck Inlet (renamed Pennys Hill)

Poyners Hill

Paul Gamiels Hill

Kill Devil Hills

Tommys Hummock (renamed Bodie Island)

Pea Island

Cedar Hummock (renamed Gull Shoal)

Big Kinnakeet

Creeds Hill

Hatteras (renamed Durants)

Cape Hatteras (1880)

New Inlet (1882)

Ocracoke (1883, renamed Hatteras Inlet)

Cape Fear (1883)

Oak Island (1886)

Cape Lookout (1888)

Portsmouth (1894)

Core Banks (1896, renamed Atlantic)

Ocracoke (1904)

Fort Macon (1904)

Bogue Inlet (1905)

Sites where total wrecks occurred prior to stations existence, these all occurred during the period of 1750 to 1915. Partial wrecks at these sites have been omitted.

The & designation indicates a new station built to replace older station.

indicates that this location was quite far away from any station or potential station; location(s) listed are educated guess for probable closest station.

* indicates that some of these locations had another station built at/on the same site after 1915, and so it became a Coast Guard Station.

The purpose here is to demonstrate why USLSS stations were needed in those locations.

Wash Woods (1878)* 7 Total Wrecks

Schooner Hiram on January 19, 1837; zero lives lost.

Brig Ralph on December 22, 1837; zero lives lost.

Brig Kilgore on August 24, 1842; zero lives lost.

Bark Emilie on December 3, 1845; seven lives lost.

Schooner James T. Hatfield on January 18, 1846; zero lives lost.

Bark Eliza on November 28, 1853; one life lost.

Ship Jane Henderson on June 21, 1860; zero lives lost.

Pennys Hill (1878) No Total Wrecks

Currituck Beach (1874, 1904) 22 Total Wrecks

Sloop Betsy on September 6, 1797; lives lost unknown.

Brig Georgia on July 15, 1818; zero lives lost.

Sloop Revenue on December day unknown, 1818; zero lives lost.

Sloop Oran Sherwood on October 29, 1837; zero lives lost.

Schooner Wave on December 9, 1837; zero lives lost.

Schooner Horse on January 31, 1838; zero lives lost.

Schooner American Trader on August 24, 1841; zero lives lost.

Schooner Alonzo on August 24, 1841; zero lives lost.

Schooner Heroine on October day unknown, 1841; zero lives lost ( Whaleshead).

Ship Victoria on October 23, 1845; zero lives lost.

Schooner Evergreen on January 9, 1849; zero lives lost.

Steamer Franklin on September 14, 1850; lives lost unknown.

Schooner Edward Wood on November 23, 1850; zero lives lost.

Brig Mary Turcan on December 13, 1852; zero lives lost.

Clipper Rattler on December 8, 1853; zero lives lost.

Schooner Baltic on November day unknown, 1857; lives lost unknown.

Brig Amanda Coons on November 11, 1858; lives lost unknown.

Ship Agamemnon on March 25, 1859; lives lost unknown.

Federal Steamer R. B. Forbes on February 25, 1862; lives lost unknown.

Steamer Andrew Johnson on October 5, 1866; lives lost unknown.

Schooner Martha on January 10, 1867; zero lives lost.

Bark M. A. Forbes on May day unknown, 1870; lives lost unknown.

Poyners Hill (1878, 1913) No Total Wrecks

Caffeys Inlet (1874, 1899) 1 Total Wreck

[Unknown vessel type] Aid Harrington on May 23, 1851; zero lives lost.

Paul Gamiels Hill (1878, 1909) No Total Wrecks

Kitty Hawk (1874)* 18 Total Wrecks

Schooner Emulous on January 22, 1825; zero lives lost.

Schooner Diomede on January 23, 1825; lives lost unknown.

Schooner Victory in month and day unknown, 1825; lives lost unknown.

Schooner Hunter on August 19, 1837; two lives lost.

Schooner McDonough on June 13, 1844; zero lives lost.

Schooner John Boushell on January 28, 1851; four lives lost ( Albemarle Sound).

Steamer Mountaineer on December 25, 1852; zero lives lost.

Schooner Henrietta Pierce on January 16, 1853; zero lives lost.

Schooner Augustus Moore on April 15, 1853; zero lives lost.

Steamer Bladen McLaughlin on May 6, 1853; zero lives lost.

Schooner Chansfield on February day unknown, 1860; lives lost unknown ( Albemarle Sound).

Confederate Gunboat Sea Bird on February 10, 1862; lives lost unknown ( Elizabeth City).

Confederate Gunboat Appomattox on February 10, 1862; lives lost unknown ( Elizabeth City).

Confederate Gunboat Fanny on February 10, 1862; lives lost unknown ( Elizabeth City).

Confederate Gunboat Forrest on February 10, 1862; lives lost unknown ( Elizabeth City).

Confederate Gunboat Black Warrior on February 10, 1862; lives lost unknown ( Elizabeth City).