Friday, January 29, 2016

Rough Delivery

As most of our readers know, Ocracoke does not have a hospital. Island women are often asked what they do when they are about to have a baby. Usually women leave the island a week or so before their delivery date, but sometimes nature has a way of thwarting their plans. Following is a newspaper announcement from January 21, 1971:

"Mrs. Dorothy Williams [1944-2005] of Ocracoke had what could be called a very rough delivery. A 30-foot Coast Guard Boat, which had picked up Mrs. Williams to take her to Hatteras to have her baby, was immobilized in heavy seas after running onto shoals. An open 17-footer tried but was unable to get along side the boat due to heavy seas and wind. Finally, an amphibious vehicle of the Coast Guard rolled aboard the Coast Guard boat, bringing Dr. Dan Burroughs who delivered the baby in knee-deep water."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm


4 comments:

  1. Dr. Dan Burroughs still lives in Hatteras.

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  2. Debbie Leonard7:48 AM

    Who is the "baby"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The baby was named Beverly. She does not live on the island now. She has two older brothers, Nelson & Michael.

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  3. Anonymous8:22 AM

    If living, the "baby" would be approximately 45 years old today. So, this 45-year-old member of the Williams clan-- a possible internet sensation due to this fascinating story- could drop in for "Now the rest of the story....... Page two.."

    ReplyDelete