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The Wreck of the Schooner Mary Louisa
16 July 2026 · 4 min · 78 views
What this video covers
The video contains an original ballad, not sailing instruction or passage narrative. The song recounts the 1800s wreck of the schooner Mary Louisa near Ocracoke, North Carolina, during a nor'easter.0:56 Captain Stephen D. Barnett, 26, was sailing from Hatteras with a cargo of guano bound for Baltimore; his wife Rebecca and their infant were aboard.0:02 A crew member failed to wake him at four to come about, and by five the nor'easter had driven the vessel onto the Ocracoke breakers.0:28 Life-saving boats launched but could not hold position in the surf.1:37 Rebecca survived two separations from the baby before a third wave carried the child beyond reach.2:00 Both Rebecca and Captain Barnett died before or shortly after reaching shore.3:02 They are buried side by side near Austin Creek.3:16 The song is performed in full, with no navigation, seamanship, or technical sailing content.
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