The “Carroll A. Deering” Schooner

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January 29, 1921:  ” Carroll A. Deering” reported to have passed Cape Lookout Lightship, sailing at 5 mph.  A man on board got the attention of the passing ship and said the vessel had lost both anchors and asked if he could report it to its owners.  the crewman did not act or look like an officer.  Shortly after, a passing steamer was asked to stop by the Lightship to take the message for the schooner.  It is maritime law to respond to the whistles of the Lightship.  However, the steamer, whose name could not be seen, did not stop and continued sailing on.

January 31, 1921:  The “Carroll A. Deering” is spotted with all sails set riding a sandbar at Diamond Shoals.  According to the official report, “ she was driven high up on the shoal… in a boiling bed of breakers with all sails set as if abandon in a hurry.”  All personal effects belonging to crew is gone, along with all of the ship’s navigational instruments, and the lifeboats.

Rescue ships were unable to board the ship due to bad weather and it was not until February 4 that the ship was boarded. The Coast Guard attempted to salvage the vessel but was unable and the “Carroll A. Deering” was scuttled using dynamite on March 4.

Despite an extensive investigation by the U.S. Goverment that included the Commerce, Treasury, Justice, Navy, and State Departments, no explanation could be found for her disappearance.  It is interesting to note that at the same time of the schooner’s disappearance, nione other ships disappeared around the same time, in the same place.  None of the ship’s crew were ever found from any of the missing vessels.

So what happened to the “Carroll A. Deering?”

There were a number of theories considered by the U.S. Goverment during their investigation that included piracy, mutiny, a hurricane, a Russian/Communist piracy, Rum Runner’s, or a paranormal expression.

The investigation finally wound down and came to end in 1922 with no official explanation ever being found.

QUESTION

What do you think happened to this beautiful,  five masted schooner?  Share your comments and theories by posting them on our forum.

REFERENCES:
Newspapers: “Piracy Suspected In Disappearance Of 3 American Ships,” New York Times, June 21, 1921
External Link: C.A. Deering, Graveyard of the Atlantic, Bermuda-triangle.org, Wikipedia
Books: Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals: The Mystery of the Carroll A. Deering, The Ghost Ship of Carroll A. Deering (2002) Bland Simpson

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Madeleine Noa is a freelance writer from Honolulu, Hawaii who has published articles on a wide range of topics including spas, real estate development in Hawaii, entertainment, luxury yachts, and history. She is also a copywriter and creates sales collateral for small businesses and corporations. She has been an associate writer for "IN" Magazine and "Second City" Magazine, having been published 13 times between the two publications. She currently is involved in the alternative energy industry and in helping to sustain a symphonic orchestra in Hawaii.

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