Assateague Takes Tremendous Toll In Life And Ships In Forty Years

Figures Show Forty-Two Vessels Lost Off Virginia Coast Since 1886 -- Ten Times That Number Wrecked But Saved -- Tabulation Shows Ships And Cargoes Were Valued At More Than $4,000,000 -- All Wrecks Could Have Been Avoided With Harbor At Assateague

Forty-two vessels have been lost and ten times that number have been wrecked, but saved since 1886 in the vicinity of Assateague, Virginia, according to information compiled by the Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange in support of efforts to have the government establish a harbor of refuge at that point on the Atlantic Coast.

With the 42 ships went 22 lives, the tabulation shows, and ships and cargo were valued at more than $4,000,000. It is the contention of shipping interests on the Atlantic coast that the protection to be afforded justifies any expense the government might be put to to provide the harbor.

Approximately 4,000,000 tons of coal were shipped from Hampton Roads coastwise to New England points in 1923, causing property valued at millions of dollars to be passing Assateague throughout the year.

In preparing the data, Mr. Thompson has been able to list the vessels lost, beginning with the Julia A. Roe, a sloop, which was a total loss April 2, 1886. The vessel was valued at $2,500 and the cargo at that time $500. All of the wrecks probably could have been avoided had a harbor been available at Assateague, in the opinion of shipping experts. Following are the wrecks listed:

Julia A. Roe, sloop, lost April 2, 1886; value of vessel $2,500; value of cargo $500; both total loss.

Marra Semona, bark lost April 17, 1886; value of vessel $13,000; value of cargo $8,000; both total loss.

Edwin J. Palmer, schooner, lost August 5, 1886; value of vessel $30,000; value of cargo $12,000; both total loss.

Emela A. Barrett, schooner, lost December 15, 1886; value of vessel $3,000; total loss.

W. M. Wood, schooner, lost March 3, 1889; value of vessel $60,000; value of cargo $16,000; both total loss.

Despatch, steamship, U. S. N., lost October 10, 1891; value of vessel $80,000; total loss.

Emma W. Burton, schooner, lost May 4, 1893; value of vessel $15,000; value of cargo $1,000; both total loss.

Josie Smith, sloop, lost January 24, 1894; value of vessel $600; value of cargo $30; both total loss.

Water Lily, schooner, lost February 8, 1895; value of vessel $1,000; total loss.

Oakdene, steamship, lost March 2, 1895: value of vessel $30,000; value of cargo $16,000; both total loss.

L. A. Rose, schooner, lost October 25, 1897; value of vessel $1,000; value of cargo $600; both total loss.

Manson, brig, lost January 9, 1898; value of vessel $2,500; value of cargo $17,000; both total loss.

Tamese, steamship, lost March 5, 1899; value of vessel $12,000; total loss.

Mary Standish, schooner, lost March 11, 1901; value of vessel $55,000; total loss.

Unarite No. 4, Spanish steamship, lost July 11, 1901; value of vessel $50,000; value of cargo $30,000; both total loss.

Mohegan, schooner, lost July 6, 1901; value of vessel $40,000; total loss.

Florence, schooner, lost September 26, 1902; value of vessel $3,000; value of cargo $100; both total loss.

Pendleton Sisters, schooner, lost December 15, 1905; value of vessel $40,000; value of cargo $13,000; both total loss; one man lost.

Alice, schooner, lost May 7, 1906; value of vessel $2,000; value of cargo $1,500; both total loss.

Marion Grimes, schooner, lost May 7, 1906; value of vessel $3,600; value of cargo $200; both total loss.

Florence I. Lockwood, schooner, lost December 7, 1906; value of vessel $3,000; value of cargo $3,500; both total loss.

Corkey, sloop, lost December 16, 19096; value of vessel $150; value of cargo $140; both total loss.

Lizzie Godfrey, schooner, lost July 2, 1914; value of vessel $5,000; value of cargo $500; both total loss.

Consolidated Coal Company Nos. 6 and 9, schooner barges, lost April 3, 1915; value of vessels $150,000; both total loss; ten lives lost.

Trecarrell, British steamship, lost February 24, 1916; value of vessel $380,000; value of cargo $16,830; both total loss.

Joseph F. Clinton, schooner barge, lost May 7, 1917; value of vessel $30,000; value of cargo $5,000; both total loss.

Lottie, barge, lost December 8, 1917; value of vessel $30,000; value of cargo $4,500; both total loss.

Ruth, barge, lost December 8, 1917; value of vessel $30,000; value of cargo $4,000; both total loss.

Ruhamah Shaw, barge, lost December 8, 1917; value of vessel $75,000; value of cargo $5,000; both total loss.

Hermod, Norwegian steamship, lost April 10, 1918; value of vessel $1,000,000; value of cargo $1,000,000; both total loss,; two men lost.

Lancaster, barge, lost December 1918; value of vessel and cargo $150,000; both total loss; five men lost.

Georgie, schooner barge, lost December 10, 1918; cargo of coal, value of vessel and cargo not known.

Ella Dempsey, barge, lost August, 1919; value of vessel $15,000; value of cargo $3,000; both total loss.

Florence and Lillian, schooner, lost September 20, 1921; value of vessel $40,000; value of cargo $6,000; both total loss.

Larimer, schooner barge, lost May 22, 1922; value of vessel $125,000; value of cargo $15,000; both total loss; one life lost.

Elk Garden, schooner barge, lost May 22, 1922; value of vessel $50,000; value of cargo $8,000; both total loss.

One mud scow, lost October 8, 1922; value of vessel $8,000; total loss.

Fort Pierce, schooner barge, lost October 24, 1923; value of vessel $100,000; value of cargo $26,000; both total loss.

Marion O'Boyle, schooner barge, lost November 10, 1923; value of vessel $100,000; value of cargo $24,000; both total loss; three lives lost.

City of New Orleans, schooner barge, lost November 10, 1923; value of vessel $100,000; value of cargo $25,000; both total loss.