Intro of Series
In 1871, The United States Life-Saving Service, which is the predecessor of today’s United States Coast Guard Service, was established to aid victims in traditional shipwreck areas. Earlier means of assistance had failed so the USLSS had the task of restructuring the program to achieve their goal of saving lives. In 1874, the USLSS came [...]
Persistence is Key
On November 25, 1875, high winds and heavy sea caused the boat of four fishermen to capsize near the Caffey’s Inlet station. Captain Malachi Corbell lead a crew of men into the rough water towards the men who were clinging to their overturned boat. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, two of the men had [...]
Dedicated Devotion
One of the most tragic events during the United States LifeSaving Service time was the wreck of the Italian bark, the Nuova Ottavia. On March 1, 1876, the bark stranded itself near the Jones Hill station in bad weather and initially did not indicate that assistance was needed. However, the next evening the bark was [...]
Unwaivering Courage
In the wee hours of November 24, 1877, the steamer, Huron, stranded itself about two and a half miles from the Nags Head station. Rough seas caused the vessel to keel over so her crew valiantly tried to survive the storm by clinging to her remains. Unfortunately, the Nags Head station wasn’t open for the [...]
A Noble Community
On January 31, 1878, the wooden steamer, Metropolis, ran aground about 4 ½ miles south of the Jones Hill station. She was discovered by locals who happened to catch a glimpse of one of her masts in the fog. One local man hurried to the closest neighbor who lived about ½ a mile away to [...]
What’s in a Name
The history of the life-saving station known today as Oregon Inlet has a unique beginning. In 1846, a great hurricane created an inlet between Bodie Island and Pea Island. An unsuspecting vessel named Oregon was caught in the storm but escaped to the safety of the ocean by using the newly formed inlet. Because of [...]
The Indomitable Spirit
In the early morning hours of October 4, 1881, the schooner, Thomas J. Lancaster, was caught in a heavy squall and ended up grounding about three and a half miles north of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. There were thirteen all told on the vessel that included Captain Hunter’s wife and three children. The crew of [...]
A Patient Soul
On October 5, 1881, the same storm that caused the Thomas J. Lancaster to wreck near the Chicamacomico station, forced a small schooner named the Charles to scud down the coastline. When she neared the Little Kinnakeet station, she appeared to haul in towards land as if the captain of the vessel intended to purposefully [...]
A Resilient Mindset
On October 5, 1881, a second schooner was driven to the shore by the weather near the Little Kinnakeet station. The lifesaving crew had seen her heading to land while they assisted the crew of the Charles so they were already in the vicinity and was able to get to her as quickly as the [...]
Practice Makes Perfect
On February 5, 1882, the schooner Mary L. Vankirk found herself in storm and ended up losing her sails and sprung a leak. Quickly, she became water-logged and unmanageable. The initial plan by the five-man crew was to seek refuge in Hatteras Inlet but with fears rising that she would capsize at any moment, Captain [...]
A Flexible Manner
About 1:00 in the morning of January 9, 1883, the schooner, Thomas J. Martin, stranded about half a mile north of the Caffey’s Inlet station. The station patrolman found her on his return to the station. He lit his Coston light to notify the vessel that help was on the way and took off at [...]
A Moment’s Notice
In the morning of March 3, 1883, a small shad-boat named the Allie capsized due to strong winds about five miles north of the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station throwing two men into the rough waters. Nearby, two surfmen had begun their own journey to Manteo for station provisions but had turned back due to the [...]
Aware and Watchful
On September 21, 1883, the crew from the Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station discovered a schooner about six miles southeast of the station dismasted and flying colors of distress. The surf-boat was launched but due to rough weather, it took about 2 ½ hours for the crew to reach the vessel’s side. Only two sailors were [...]
The Long Game
In the wee hours of October 3, 1883, a patrolman for the Kitty Hawk station discovered the schooner Luola Murchison stranded close to the station. Keeper James R. Hobbs decided to launch the surfboat and about an hour after initial notification, the crew arrived and boarded the vessel. They immediately assisted the Murchison crew in [...]
A Thankful Heart
Near midnight on November 30, 1885, a patrolman from the Caffey’s Inlet station discovered a vessel stranded about a quarter of a mile northeast of the station. The night was so dark and stormy that her lights were barely visible, and the fog made it difficult to discern what type of vessel was in distress. [...]
A Protective Nature
On the morning of February 26, 1888, the south patrolman for the Whales Head Station (originally known as Jones Hill) observed a longboat full of people about a mile past the breakers near the station. After learning of the situation, Keeper Andrew Scarborough instructed the surfboat be launched to go to their assistance. They turned [...]
A Hero’s Response
Just before daybreak on December 22, 1888, the south patrolman of the Oregon Inlet station discovered a stranded schooner about a mile and a half southeast of the station. He signaled to the vessel that help was on the way and hurried back towards the station to sound the alarm. In the meantime, the station [...]
A Grateful Soul
On a stormy night, February 22, 1889, a British bark, The Josie Troop, foundered just south of the Chicamacomico station. Spotted around 7:30pm by the north patrolman on his return to the station, he galloped back to sound the alarm and returned to the beach to alert the people on board the bark assistance was [...]
Careful Concern
On August 11, 1889, a small sloop named June became stranded on a sandbar while trying to enter the Oregon Inlet. By the time the Oregon Inlet station crew got to her side, she was in a bad condition being swamped by the waves and the continuous surf breaking over her. Three men were carefully [...]
Diligent Duty
On October 23, 1889, a rapidly growing storm caught the crew of the schooner, Frank M. McGear, off guard and due to her being empty of cargo, the schooner was quickly driven ashore by the increasing winds and rough tides. A patrolman from the Whale’s Head Station (formerly Jones Hill) discovered her about two miles [...]
Cool and Courageous
In the early morning hours of March 28, 1890, a coal-laden schooner, the William H. Keeney, ran aground just southeast of the Little Kinnakeet station. One of the station crew happened upon her as the patrolman was further along his route and hadn’t passed the vessel yet along his return route. Keeper Edward O. Hooker [...]
Quietly Efficient
On December 11, 1890 a small yawl found herself in trouble about a mile off shore near the Oregon Inlet Station. The four man crew of the Mollie J. Saunders was brought safely to shore due to the prompt response of the Keeper Samuel J. Payne and the rest of the lifesavers. As a thank [...]
Admirable Actions
On January 17, 1891, a Norwegian steamship, Banan, stranded on the beach about two miles south of the Currituck Lighthouse. The steamship had been full speed astern for a couple of minutes before landing as the crew tried to keep her from striking land but the foggy conditions and rough waters prevented their success. After [...]
Brave Determination
On March 24, 1891, what was later deemed to be the most disastrous wreck of the year, happened a little over a mile south of the Chicamacomico LifeSaving Station. In the early hours of the foggy morning, just before sunrise, the British steamer, Strathairly, ran aground about 500 yards from the beach. The sailors blew [...]
Gentle Kindness
On February 22, 1892, a schooner was spotted through the wind and fog by a small boy who lived near the Little Kinnakeet LifeSaving Station. He alerted John A. Midgett and the experienced Keeper realized while the schooner hadn’t grounded yet, the trajectory of her course indicated it wouldn’t be long. He immediately called the [...]
A Place of Refuge
On November 19, 1892, a northwest gale drove a schooner named Irene Thayer up onto the beach about half a mile southeast of the Oregon Inlet LifeSaving Station. Within thirty minutes, not one but two stations responded to the wreck and were on site ready to assist those on the stranded vessel. In addition to [...]
Whatever Means Necessary
Just after midnight on February 20, 1893, the north patrolman from the Little Kinnakeet LifeSaving Station discovered a large schooner about 2 ½ miles north of the station. While not a stormy night, the darkness made it hard to see and the Nathan Esterbrook, Jr.’s master had miscalculated causing the vessel to run aground about [...]
Above and Beyond
On January 20, 1895, a barge had broken free from its towline and ended up being stranded about a mile north of the Kill Devil Hills LifeSaving Station. She was discovered, however, by the south patrolman from the Kitty Hawk LifeSaving Station. After not meeting his counterpart from Station #13 while on beach patrol, the [...]
Just Another Day
On February 8, 1895, a small skiff with one passenger became stuck in the ice in the Albemarle Sound. Three local men tried to help but were unable to pull their own vessel back to the shore due to a strong gale that was starting to blow. The Kitty Hawk LifeSaving Station Keeper, Samuel J. [...]
Willing Risk-Takers
On February 14, 1895, H. C. Miller, the master of the sloop, Inez, found himself caught up in ice off of Hatteras Banks. He was about three miles off shore and was in a dangerous situation as he was sailing alone. He hoisted his flag signaling for assistance and began a long wait. About an [...]
Coolness Amidst Chaos
On September 26, 1896, three days after the steamer Fred’k de’ Barry stranded off shore near the Kitty Hawk LifeSaving Station, tragedy struck involving the steamer. Her crew of seventeen sailors had reached shore safely and stayed at the station while waiting to be transported back to Norfolk. While most of the crew had departed [...]
Knowledgeable Advisors
In the early morning hours of May 1, 1897, the south patrolman from the Nags Head LifeSaving Station discovered the schooner, George M. Adams, stranded about 75 yards offshore about a mile south of the station. Keeper Van Buren Etheridge telephoned the Bodie Island Station for assistance before leading his team towards the scene. Within [...]
Valuable Services
On February 17, 1898, the schooner, Samuel L. Tilton, stranded in the heavy surf about a mile southeast of the Chicamacomico LifeSaving Station. Keeper Banister L. Midgett, Jr. requested assistance from both sister stations of Gull Shoal and New Inlet before heading to the beach with the beach apparatus. It took a couple of shots [...]
Experts in Heroism
On April 26, 1898, Surfman E. S. Midgett from the Chicamacomico LifeSaving Station spotted a schooner about eight miles off shore and watched as she slowly made her way towards the shoreline before anchoring about four miles northeast of the station. She had obvious damage with both her foremast damaged and her main topmast missing [...]
Sage Wisdom
In the early morning hours of August 10, 1898, a surfman on patrol from the Little Kinnakeet LifeSaving Station found a stranded schooner about three fourths of a mile north of the station. He immediately burned a Coston signal indicating help was on the way and hurried back to the station to report the case [...]
Right Time, Right Place
On April 24, 1899, two fishermen found themselves in a bind as they were attempting to come to shore. The small dory overturned in the breaks and trapped one man underneath as the tide began to pull him and the dory out to sea. Keeper Jesse W. Ward from the Jones Hill LifeSaving Station just [...]
Never Give Up
On February 25, 1900, a small schooner was caught in a heavy gale and stranded about two miles north of the Oregon Inlet LifeSaving Station as they were trying to find harbor in the inlet from the storm. The surfmen launched the surfboat but could not pull to the side of the schooner due to [...]
A Family Legacy
On October 8, 1903, a small sailboat named the Leon Bruce capsized about a mile and a half south of the Caffey’s Inlet LifeSaving Station. The sailboat belonged to Keeper Thaddeus Snow and the rest of the crew at the station and was actually heading to the station itself before being caught in a squall. [...]
The Wright Effect
On December 3, 1903, a surfman from the Currituck Beach LifeSaving Station (formerly known as Jones Hill) spotted a vessel stranded about 500 yards northeast of the station. Keeper W. F. Parker immediately reported the discovery by wire to the Department before leading the crew out to the beach. The Lyle Gun was quickly set [...]
The Value of Teamwork
On December 9, 1905, the south patrolman from the Kitty Hawk LifeSaving Station discovered a steamer perilously close to the beach. He was near the end of his three mile route so he turned to hurry back towards the station. After being notified of the case, Keeper Avery B. L. Tillett requested assistance from the [...]
Communication is Key
On December 9, 1905, Keeper Van Buren Etheridge of the Nags Head LifeSaving Station received a telephone call from the Kitty Hawk station keeper, alerting him they had just completed a rescue involving a steamer that had been towing a barge before running aground. The barge was now adrift and currents were moving it towards [...]