Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 2 1 12 BEACHCOMBER continued from page 11 met" and the most disastrous wreck of 1886. All three are buried at Barnegat Memorial Cemetery on Bay Avenue in Barnegat. One of the surfmen's bodies, that of Samuel Furman Perrine, drifted off in the current and was recovered an hour later by members of the Life- Saving Service in Loveladies. An ugly bruise across his face, which may have been the result of violent con- tact with wood from the boat or an oar, suggested he was killed instantly, although he is officially recorded as being drowned. Perrine went by his middle name, Furman, and left behind his wife, Ellen. They had two children, both of whom previously died very young, Stephen (January 1873 - August 1873) and Ida (May 1876 - October 1877). One side of his gravestone reads, S. FURMAN PERRINE LOST HIS LIFE WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE TO CREW OF THE BARK KRALJEVICA and the other reads, S. FURMAN PERRINE DROWNED FEB. 11. 1886. AGED 35 YEARS 11 MOS. & 20 DAYS THE SOUL HAS NOW TAKEN ITS FLIGHT TO MANSIONS OF GLORY ABOVE TO MINGLE WITH ANGELS OF LIGHT AND DWELL IN THE KINGDOM OF LOVE Another surfman, sixty-two- year-old Solomon Soper, lost con- sciousness as the boat capsized and drowned soon afterwards. He was most likely exhausted from fatiguing labor at the oar before the long- boat's demise. Solomon left behind his wife, Nancy Elizabeth. One side of his gravestone reads, SOLOMON SOPER LOST HIS LIFE WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE TO CREW OF THE BARK KRALJEVICA and the other reads, SOLOMON SOPER DROWNED FEB. 11. 1886. AGED 62 YEARS 7 MOS & 11 DAYS. Known for being an excellent swimmer, the third surfman, John I. Soper, was within fifty yards of shore when he was swept out by the current, ultimately succumbing to exhaustion then drowning. John was survived by his wife, Charity, and a daughter, Johnetta, who was born four months after his death in June 1886, but died in August 1887, at just over one year old. One side of John's tombstone reads, JOHN I. SOPER. LOST HIS LIFE WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE TO CREW OF THE BARK KRALJEVICA and the other reads, JOHN I SOPER DROWNED FEB 11, 1886. AGED 47 YEARS 3 MOS & 1 DAY. ALL IS DARK WITHIN OUR DWELLING LONELY ARE OUR HEARTS TODAY FOR THE ONE WE LOVED SO DEARLY HAS FOREVER PASSED AWAY. Jill Ocone Above: Gravestone of Solomon Soper at Barnegat Memorial Cemetery in Barnegat. Below: Gravestone of Samuel Furman Perrine, also at Barnegat Memorial Cemetery. Jill Ocone

• Cover