Charles P. Smith

Terrible Drowning Accident.

The winter of 1873-4 will long be remembered in this section for its melancholy and startling train of sad local incidents which in all-ways inscrutable Providence has permitted to visit, and bring trouble and mourning to many of our firesides. Again, has the mysterious sword of the destroying angel descended in our midst, and in one fell sweep severed the life thread of four of Cape Mays stalwart sons. This awful disaster occurred Wednesday of last week by the foundering of the tender of the Five Fathom Lightship on Cold Spring bar, and the drowning of four of its crew. Captain Chas. P. Smith; Henry Hoffman; Virgil McKean; and Frank Willetts. The circumstances attending the accident as narrated by Captain John Reeves, the only survivor of the unfortunate boats crew, and captain of the Lightship, are briefly given in our report of the evidence taken before the coroners jury. It should be explained, however, in this connection, that three of the drowned men Captain Chas. P. Smith, Henry Hoffman, Virgil McKean did not belong to the crew of the Lightship, from which they were returning when the disaster occurred which resulted in their deaths. Mr. Smith is captain of the George G. Richardson, one of our Cape May Schooners, and had for a few weeks been supplying the place of the mate, Mr. Samuel Stilwell, onboard the Lightship, the latter being sick. The two other young men were friends of Willetts, the ships cook, who was off on a short leave of absence. All three were in the full flush of manhood active, hearty and industrious, and like most young people relished an occasional recreation, so that when it was proposed to them to join their friend on a trip to the Lightship, whither he was going to accompany the mate on the latters return to duty, they gladly consented and made preparations accordingly for a days pleasure, starting early Wednesday morning in the ill-fated tender of the Lightship. They made the trip to Five Fathom Bank in good time, and leaving the mate they took on board Capt. Smith all hands in happy anticipation of a favorable sail homeward. The sad termination of the voyage is related below in the language of the captain of the Lightship, Mr. John Reeves.

"I left the lightship Wednesday in the tender for the purpose of coming ashore. I was accompanied by Chas. P. Smith, who had charge of the boat. Henry Hoffman, Virgil McKean and Frank Willets, and everything was going on nicely until we reached Cold Spring Bar. Frank Willets was the only one of my crew. Mr. Smith had been aboard the lightship in place of my first mate, Mr. Stillwell, who had been home sick. Captain Smith was apparently well and in excellent spirits. The usual precautions in coming over the bar were adopted. We took in the after sail, unshipped the rudder and steering oar. Coming in we shipped a sea on the quarter bow, which caused the boat to fill and turn on her broadside. While clinging to the boat in this position, we were washed off several times; but managed to get onboard the boat again. The third time, I assisted Mr. Smith to regain his hold, which he did with difficulty. Another sea then struck us and the last I saw of him was his hand disappearing in the breakers. I judged Mr. Smith was drowned about twenty minutes after shipping the first sea."

The above account of the accident at Five Fathom Bank Lightship on April 22, 1874 comes from the local newspaper, The Cape May Ocean Wave. The article does not carry the author's name. It was published in Cape May City, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 30, 1874 on page 3.