Note: This interview first appeared in the October 2021 issue of  Southport Magazine 

What is the history of the Pilots’ Monument? When was it erected? Can you tell me about the two accidents that led to its creation?

The Pilots’ Monument was erected in 1879 by the citizens of Smithville (as Southport was known until 1887). The townspeople were mourning the deaths of ten pilots who had been lost at sea. The men were lost in two separate storms, occurring five years apart, in 1872 and 1877.

The first tragedy took the lives of five pilots: Thomas W. Brinkman (34) and Joseph W. Bensell (48) who had been Blockade runners during the Civil War, as well as John D. Trout (24), James R. Sellers (21), and Robert St. George (22). Accompanying the pilots, was Bensell’s 16-year-old son, Joseph Bensell, Jr. who was also lost.

The second tragedy occurred five years later when the Mary K Sprunt went down in a storm that was described as one of the fiercest storms that ever visited the coast of North Carolina. It lasted three full days. When it was over, the pilots and crew of the Sprunt were all lost: Thomas B.Grissom (39), Robert S.Walker (32), Christoper C. Penner (25), Charles Dosher, Jr. (26) and Lawrence Gillespie (23).  

Funds for the erection of the monument were raised by donations and benefits held in Smithville. Colonel Pennington of Fort Johnston held several nights of entertainment to raise funds so that “those who live after us may find the virtues and gallant deeds of their ancestors recorded on the imperishable stone”.

The monument was dedicated in a ceremony in May of 1879 held at the Smithville Burying Ground and attended by many of the citizens of Smithville. Dignitaries from Wilmington, including the Harbor Master and the Commissioners of Navigation, came downriver on the steamship Passport to attend. They were met by the Committee of Pilots in Smithville, where flags were being flown at half-mast in honor of the fallen men. Wilmington’s Front St. Methodist Episcopal Choir sang several hymns, accompanied by Mrs. S.O. Poisson on the organ.   Smithville’s Reverend Wily gave a prayer which was followed by more speeches and songs. It was estimated that it was the largest assemblage ever congregated in Smithville.    

Can you speak a little to the history of the pilots here in Southport? How long have they been here?

Pilots existed in the Lower Cape Fear before Smithville was even established as a town. Captains who were comfortable guiding their ships across the Atlantic, were at a loss when it came to navigating the shifting shoals of the Cape Fear River. They relied on experienced pilots who could take their ships across the bar and up the river to Wilmington. In the mid-1800s these same pilots put their skills and knowledge to work for the Confederacy by helping blockade runners evade the Union blockade.

Often, early pilots worked individually, competing with one another to be the first to reach a ship and retain the pilotage fee. In 1921, the North Carolina General Assembly placed stricter regulations on the Cape Fear River Navigation and Pilotage Commission.  A mandatory Wilmington-Cape Fear Pilots Association was instituted.  All accepted licensed pilots were required to be members of the Association.  Since that time Pilots have coordinated their efforts, providing professional and consistent support to ships that need to travel up and down the Cape Fear.  

Much more detailed history of the Cape Fear pilots can be found in the book Masters of the Shoals, written by Southport’s Jim McNeil, available at the Southport Historical Society website and at the Southport Visitor Center in Fort Johnston.

Where did the idea of refurbishing this monument come from? How long has it been in the works?

The Wilmington Cape Fear River Pilots Association is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. Southport Historical Society (SHS) thought it would be an appropriate time to clean the monument and to host a Ceremony of Remembrance. The monument has been cleaned several times in its 142-year history. Due to tannins and other biological materials in the cemetery, periodic maintenance is required to help preserve the stones.   

Where did funding come from?

Funding for the cleaning and for the ceremony came from donations, the largest of which was from the Wilmington Cape Fear River Pilots Association.    

Who does this kind of work, how did you find them and what makes it specialized?

The monument was professionally cleaned by Dawn Taylor and Dave Padgett of Carved in Stone Cemetery Preservation Services located in Avon, North Carolina. Dawn is an expert in cemetery preservation. She is very focused on the care of the stones and will not clean a stone that is too fragile or unstable. She and Dave remove lichens, algae, mold, tannins and other biological matter from the stones. They use the same trusted cleanser that is used by the National Park Service, in the National Cemeteries, and by fellow professionals in the field. All their cleaning is done by hand with soft brushes, plastic scrapers, and wooden picks. They never use bleach or power washing which can damage the stone and remove years from its life in a matter of minutes.

Smithville Burying Ground is home to many live oak and magnolia trees that add beauty and grace to the setting. Unfortunately, these trees also add tannin and other matter to the air that stain the gravestones and give them an orange or brown tinge. Dawn and Dave were successful in lightening the memorial and making the inscription easier to read. Even more importantly, they removed the tannins and lichens that were damaging the stone, thereby helping to preserve it for future generations. The recent cleaning should last approximately ten years, depending on the surrounding vegetation.

Although not a resident of Southport, SHS Member Dawn Taylor has a special family connection to the area. Her great grandfather, Devaney Jennette was an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper (1919-1932) working with Captain Charlie Swan on Bald Head Island. He suffered a heart attack and passed away while at work in the lighthouse. Dawn dedicates much of her work in the Southport area to her great-grandfather.  She believes that as a Lightkeeper, he would approve of her calling to preserve the gravestones of those who were lost at sea.   

Tell me about the re-dedication ceremony. When will it be, what will be involved? Who will participate?

Southport Historical Society is hosting a Ceremony of Remembrance on October 30, 2021 2 – 3 pm. Southport Historical Society Board Member, Mary Ellen Watts Poole who is the sister of retired River Pilot Basil Watts, will be the Master of Ceremonies at the event. Mayor Hatem and Pilot Tommy Brendle will be guest speakers.  Tommy Harrelson, great-grandson of River Pilot Thomas Brinkman, lost in the storm of 1872, will deliver the prayer. Cindy Sellers will sing “Peace, Be Still”, the same hymn sung during the original dedication ceremony. Everyone is invited to bring a flower to lay on the memorial. No formal seating will be provided, so we suggest bringing lawn chairs.

Any other memorial resorptions in the works now that this one is under your belt? Did you learn anything valuable from the experience?

We were reminded once again how important the Pilots Monument and the Old Smithville Burying Ground is to the people of Southport. There has been a lot of enthusiasm for the project and an outpouring of support. Dawn taught two classes in headstone cleaning while she was in Southport, and we had an overwhelming response. Dawn provided a great deal of useful information and hands-on demonstrations. She focused on the need to prioritize safety for the headstones as well as for the people cleaning the stones.

Together the class cleaned the Benjamin Smith and Robert Howe memorials in the Burying Ground. While the Southport Historical Society does not own the Burying Ground and we are not responsible for its care, we do hope to encourage ongoing responsible maintenance of the stones and the grounds.

SHS will also be hosting our annual Living Voices of the Past in the Old Smithville Burying Ground on October 23^rd, 2 pm to 4 pm. Ten Southport historic citizens will come to life to share stories of their time in Southport. All are encouraged to attend.