The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum sponsored a public showing of its recently updated video, “The Sinking of the Fenwick Island,” on Monday.
The menhaden boat Fenwick Island, with a crew of 14—all from the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula—left the port of Beaufort, N.C., to fish off the coast on Dec. 7, 1968. She sank in a storm that night while returning to port. Seven crewmen survived, thanks to the crew of another boat. The other seven perished. The boat was never recovered.
Among those attending the showing were relatives of three men who were on the scene of the tragedy 57 years ago.
Relatives of Fenwick Capt. Charles L. Forrest Jr. of Mathews, who survived the sinking, included cousins Franklin Forrest and Daniel Forrest and nephew Capt. Calvin Mason. He said his uncle inspired him to follow a career in the menhaden industry. He will be mate on a boat out of Moss Point, Miss., in April.
Relatives of Bobby L. Diggs of Mathews, a Fenwick crewman who perished, included Yolanda Fells, granddaughter, and Carla Diggs, daughter, who was one year old when her father died. She said that for many years Forrest spoke about the tragedy at Antioch Baptist Church on the Sunday closest to Dec. 7.
Sandra Delano also attended. Her father, Ernest Delano of Northumberland, was the captain of the menhaden boat W.T. James Jr., which came to the Fenwick’s aid. He arrived on scene just after the boat sank. His crew pulled seven survivors, and one man who was already deceased, from the rough sea onto his boat. The other six were found deceased a distance away from the boat the next morning.
Capt. Delano was awarded a plaque from the U.S. Coast Guard for his actions. He was always one to help, said his daughter. “It was who he was.”
Joey Walker, who organized the screening, reminded attendees that everyone who works on the water faces the same perils as the Fenwick Island and are not guaranteed to come home.
The video, produced by Dennis Dalpino, resulted from the museum’s oral history project, which was started to preserve the memories of changing times. Capt. Forrest, Capt. Delano and others were interviewed. Most were in their 80s and 90s when interviewed, and most if not all are deceased. The video is supplemented by maps, photographs, music and narration.
