Probably the first commander of the steamer A. P. Hurt. By 1870, he was captain of the Governor Worth.
An account of the fall of Fayetteville, NC, states that there was a serious food shortage because the railroad was cut off and steamboats were being detained in Wilmington.
Captain Hurt and five others volunteered to go to Wilmington to get supplies and proceeded down the river. General J. C. Abbott, in temporary command, promised to aid them, but when General Hawley returned, the assassination of Lincoln took place along with Johnston's surrender to Sherman being rejected. Hawley ordered them to return to Fayetteville.
One of the group, Ralph P. Buxton, pleaded to remain,even if he were jailed, to continue seeking relief. A week later, Johnston has surrendedered and the war was over. The steamer A. P. Hurt was given to him and loaded with provisions, went to Fayetteville.
Captain Hurt came to Wilmington and the Cape Fear River from Virginia in 1851. He supervised the building of the A. P. Hurt, Flora McDonald and other steamers and was a favorite captain on the river. He later tried his hand in the mercantile trade, but retired.
On June 10, 1883 the Wilmington Morning Star reported that he was found dead in his room at the Fayetteville Hotel.
Information from The Steamboats of the Cape Fear Blog.
An Interesting Story. Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
