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 the NHLSS. Shortly afterwards, both the north and south patrolmen spotted the barge drifting towards shore. Keeper Etheridge telephoned the Kills Devil Hills Station for an assist before the crew headed to the beach with horses towing the beach cart. Due to the fact the barge wasn’t stationary, it took multiple tries to establish the first line of communication. The first two shots parted the lines but the third shot was a success. The sailors started hauling the line but the barge swung around fouling the whip line before finally striking the beach. Working together, the surfman and sailors were able to clear the whip line so the hawser could be run out. Five sailors were transported safely to shore via the breeches buoy and were escorted to the station. The men were provided with dry clothing from the Women’s National Relief Association while they remained at the station for at least four days. The master of the vessel remained several additional days hoping his vessel could be saved but the Thomas A. Goddard eventually succumbed to the waves and broke into pieces.

All in a Day’s Work

Sometimes it’s about protecting another’s livelihood: On January 4, 1893, the crew of Whales Head LifeSaving Station (formerly known as Jones Hill) lead by Keeper Jesse E. Ward rescued a sloop from an ice field. They were able to haul her to shore for the owner which allowed him to make the necessary repairs sustained from the ice.
For more stories like these, visit the Chicamacomico LifeSaving Station where history is alive.