On Sunday, April 2, 1989, Captain Harry S. Smith left Tangier Island, VA to return to Cape Charles, VA to pick up his boat that he used for crab dredging. He had left in in Cape Charles to have repairs ,made on his diesel engine. I was home with the flu and unable to accompany him there which he requested. When Harry started home the night of April 2, 1989 his engine started to over heat so he returned to Cape Charles.

After further repairs were completed late Monday evening , April 3rd, Harry called me by cell phone to keep my VHF adio on. As we talked his cell phone went dead. He spent the night at Cape Charles.

On Tuesday, April 4th he started back home, but as he got up the Chesapeake Bay his engine started to overheat again. The weather was very windy and rainy. He cut his engine off for a while and dropped his crab dredges over ro use as an anchor.

I did not not hear Harry on the VHF that morning as he traversed up the bay towards home. However Mr. Smith Marshall did to talk to him for a period of time as he lay anchored awaiting for his engine to cool off. Mr. Marshall attempted to get some one to go and maybe tow his boat to Tangier. None left since they did not know his Loran numbers and did not not know where he was located. Between 9:30 and 10:00 am on April 4th, I was able to talk to him on VHF radio and that was last time I heard his voice. No one else heard his voice anymore on VHF radio.

The following day, Wednesday, April 5th, several men from Tangier left to go and try to find Harry to tow hiim home but he could no where to be found. Captain Charles "Puge" Charnock got a man from Newport News, VA to with a rig to locate items on the bottom of the sea. Day by day searches continued for Harry but was not able to locate his boat.

Harry's boat has never been located, although some have said she may be sunk in deep water and have found pieces of the boat. However I have never seen one piece of the boat.

Then on April 29th, 1989 a fisherman was fishing at Smith Point and found a body floating. The Coast Guard called me and asked if I knew what kind of clothing he was wearing. The body was taken to Richmond, VA and Harry was identified by his dental records.

His body was released on May 6th and on May 8th (Harry's Birthday), he was brought home for burial. I was so hurt that after April 2nd, 1989 I never saw Harry alive anymore. Whenever I look at the Chesapeake Bay and see lighthouses, I am reminded of Harry and I hurt immensely of missing Harry. My life will never be the same.