On July 22, 1895 the American bark J. W. Dresser was wrecked on Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The captain mistook the lighthouse at Hatteras for the lighthouse at Bodie Island during a storm as he was attempting to take to shore to avoid damage to his ship. Unfortunately most of the men from the lifesaving service were on vacation and the keeper of the lighthouse was asleep. The ship however was finally seen and the crew were rescued.

Painting of a bark by Thomas Somerscales 1910.