The combination of the state-of-the-art vessel and the upper crust passengers
have led writers and historians to label the Pulaski the “Titanic of its time.”
Comparisons to one of history’s worst naval disasters might be overstated, but
like the famous luxury liner, the Pulaski was destined to end up at the bottom
of the sea.
The ship that appeared so strong was off the North Carolina coast when one of
its boilers exploded. She sank within 45 minutes, taking 128 people, including the
captain, with her. Just 59 survived.
The “Wilmington Examiner” published an account of the sinking of
the Pulaski on June 18, 1838.
“About 11 o’clock in the night, while off the North Carolina
coast, say 30 miles from land, weather moderate and night
dark, the starboard boiler exploded, and the vessel was
lost.”
The newspaper gave a firsthand account
from the first mate, identified as Mr.
Hibberd, who was briefly knocked out.
“… upon the return of consciousness,
he had a confused idea of having heard
an explosion, something like that of
gunpowder. He discovered that the
boat midships was blown entirely
to pieces, that the head of the starboard
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com
boiler was blown out, and
the top torn open; that the timbers
and plank on the starboard
were forced asunder and that the
boat took in water whenever she
rolled in that direction.”
Background: Blue Water Ventures, one of the two companies
working the Pulaski wreck, hopes to find treasure similar
to the pearl and gold jewelry it recovered from the Santa
Margarita, a Spanish ship that sank off Key West in 1622.
RON PIERSON/COURTESY OF BLUE WATER VENTURES
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WBM