[Fayetteville Observer - Wednesday, November 7, 1917]

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Washington, Feb. 20.--The final draft of the appropriation bill by the rivers and harbors committee today incorporates a total of $614, 200 for maintenance and extension of waterway projects in North Carolina. The appropriations for the Tar Heel State waterways are largely restricted to the upkeep of channels and harbors already in operation. The exceptions are noted only in two instances--$500,000 will be appropriated for the completion of the inland waterway from Norfolk to Beaufort inlet, and $40,000 will be allotted for the further improvement of the Cape Fear river above Wilmington.

The Pamlico and Tar rivers, in the Wilmington district, have been apportioned $9,000 for maintenance and a like sum will be expended for the upkeep of Neuse river. Contentinea Creek will get $1,200 and Beaufort harbor has been allotted $4,000 for maintenance. The waterway connecting Core Sound and Beaufort will receive $2,000 for its upkeep while that portion of the waterway between Beaufort and Swansboro has been apportioned $4,500. The Morehead City harbor will share in the appropriations to the extent of $2,500 for maintenance. Cape Fear river, at and below Wilmington will receive an appropriation of $30,000 for maintenance. The Cape Fear river above Wilmington shares liberally in the appropriation bill being allotted $40,000 for further improvement and $12,000 for maintenance.
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COST OF THE CANALIZATION OF THE CAPE FEAR

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WILMINGTON.   March 7.  During the heavy southwest gale, which swept the Cape Fear river and this vicinity last night, the freight and passenger steamer A. P. Hurt operated between this port and Fayetteville by the New York – Wilmington - Fayetteville Steamboat company, sank at her terminal at the foot of Orange street.  No lives were lost, but the steamer is seriously damaged and the large cargo aboard is a practical loss.

Heavily laden with general merchandise and fertilizer loaded at the Clyde Line terminals and local fertilizer plants, the Hurt arrived at her dock last night about 7:30 o’clock.  Because of the vessel’s low free board and being laden deep with freight the big swells then running in the river soon began to break over the stern of the boat into the engine room, causing her to fill faster than her steam pumps could remove the water.

In Twenty-five Feet

  After more than a half hour of valiant effort on the part of the [team] members of the Hurt’s crew which were aboard at the time to keep her afloat with the pumps.  The hull filled and the craft went down in 25 feet of water.  The bottom of the steamer now lies on the river bottom, but owing to the action of the waves last night much of the boat’s upper works including her second deck, began to break away.

At the time of the sinking but four men were aboard the Hurt.  Captain Blizzard and the pilot having gone ashore.  Those aboard, however, did everything to save the craft but their efforts proved fruitless.

When the Hurt went down she had aboard approximately 80 tons of freight destined  to Fayetteville and intermediate river landings.  Twelve tons of the cargo was general merchandise loaded at the Clyde terminals and the remainder was fertilizer in sacks.  All will be a practical loss, it is understood.  The steamer, however, can be raised and repaired.

  The Hurt is a stern wheel steamer of 90 gross tons, is 115 feet in length, 12 feet in breadth, and has a hold depth of four feet.  She is equipped to accommodate quite a few passengers.  Capt. W. C. Manson is president and general manager of the company operating the vessel, and M. M. Riley is local agent.

Originally, the Hurt was built more than 60 years ago.  However, in 1915 she was completely rebuilt.  She is valued at several thousand dollars, but it is not known just how much insurance was carried.  There was insurance on some part of the cargo.

The steamer is the oldest on the Cape Fear river, and has been operated practically since her original construction between Wilmington and Fayetteville as a freight and passenger steamer.  Her hull is of steel.

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Causes Regret Here

   For sentimental reasons, announcement of the sinking of the steamer A. P. Hurt has brought regret to the older citizens of Fayetteville, for they feel that one of the last links has been broken in the chain that binds them to the days of their fathers.  In the times before and during the Civil War, the “Hurt” was looked upon by the “simple folk” as a palatial steamer, and the sight  of her steaming up to the wharf with big bluff, dependable Captain Hurt standing on deck, was a very welcome one.

The “Hurt” transported to and from Fayetteville thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of freight, and in the “off” times, on moonlight nights, gay parties of the beauty and chivalry of the town, went on excursions down the river. 

[Fayetteville Observer - March 7, 1923]

Rejuvenated Thelma

Takes Maiden Trip

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The stern wheen{l} steamer Thelma, rebuilt and with a new smokestack, steamed up the Cape Fear yesterday on her maiden voyage to Fayetteville and intermediate landings, including Elizabethton, which she was expected to reach last night. She carried several passengers and a full cargo of general merchandise supplied by Wilmington wholesale merchants. She will reach Fayetteville tonight.

The new line, which is to make one round trip a week, is expected to develop trade for local jobbers by furnishing completion in rates with the railroads and demonstration the soundness of Governor Morrison’s port and water transportation development program.
[Wilmington Star – February 29, 1924]


REBUILT FOR OWNER

STEAMER THELMA TO

MAKE FAYETTEVILLE

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The Thelma was built by J. W. Brooks and was bought by the Planters’ Steamboat company to put her out of competition. For two years she has been tied up. Then Capt. H. Hart, who has worked up a profitable business to Elizabethtown, with the old Oaste, bought her January 1. He took her over to the R. F. Hamme marine railway on Eagle Island and had her hull repaired and her blunt bow sharpened. The Wilmington Iron Works repaired the engines and boiler, while the work on the hull was going forward. The upper works were painted, but the hull will not get its coat until later. A new stack will give the 60-horse power engine plenty of steam. The boat is 150 feet over all.

The Thelma draws 15 inches of water light and will run on a heavy dew, but loaded she has a four-foot displacement. Until the new lock is built between Fayetteville and Elizabethtown to give water all the year round the Thelma will run only to Elizabethtown in time of low water. But now she will make Fayetteville, stopping at Elizabethtown the firs night out of Wilmington and making the round trip once a week. She will get back to Wilmington, Tuesday mornings, discharge and load cargo Tuesday and sail at 6 a. m. Wednesdays.

The Thelma carries 53 tons of freight and is licensed for 40 passengers. There is one lifeboat and one working boat and plenty of life preservers. There is a crew of 10 men. The Oaste is to be dismantled and made into a barge which will be towed alongside the Thelma when freight warrants it.

The maiden voyage of the stern-wheel steamer THELMA, under the ownership of Captain H. Hunt, was tempestuous. High water beyond all recent records, was responsible for abandonment of the trip to Fayetteville.

The high water filled the Cape Fear with deadwood which almost wrecked the THELMA’s wheel. The crank shaft was cracked but held until the return trip from Elizabethtown was finished at 9 o’clock Monday night. Then it was welded electrically and is stronger than ever. New paddles have been added to the wheel.

Old landings were under water and the steamer had to unload her freight in the woods in some cases.

Another try will be made for Fayetteville next Tuesday night at 6 o’clock. The THELMA sails for Elizabethtown this morning at 6 o’clock and the indications are that all the room she has for freight will be occupied.

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Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock for Captain Henry Hunt, of Elizabethtown, who died early Sunday morning at the Highsmith hospital in Fayetteville. The rites will be conducted at the graveside in Sherman cemetery, near Atkinson.

For twenty years, Captain Hunt operated the steamers Thelma and Annabee on the Cape Fear river.

He is survived by his widow, two daughters, Miss Annabell Hunt and Miss Henrietta Hunt, of Elizabethtown; a sister, Mrs. E. U. Horrell, of Atkinson, and a brother, George Franklin Hunt, of Wilmington.