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By Jen Carlson

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 to Keeper Edward O. Hooker.

After calling his sister stations of Big Kinnakeet and Gull Shoal, Keeper Hooker and the team headed out to the scene with the surfboat. Initially, Master C.M. Sawyer didn’t want to leave the S.G. Hart as he thought both she and the cargo might be saved but she was rapidly filling and on the advice from Keeper Hooker decided it was best to abandon the vessel.

Six sailors transferred all their belongings and climbed into the surfboat to be taken to shore. The surfmen then made a second trip to retrieve the ship’s master and mate along with their belongings and the schooner’s nautical equipment.

The sister station crews had now arrived onsite and the teams were also able to save a small boat from the wreckage. Using a team of horses, all property and the surfboat were carted to back to the station.

The following day, the surfmen and Master Sawyer were able to unload the wares using the schooner’s boat to transport the items back to shore. The sailors stayed at the station for six days until transportation was arranged for them to return home. After leaving, Master Sawyer sent a letter to the Superintendent’s office expressing his appreciation for the prompt assistance from the Little Kinnakeet crew and for the advice from Keeper Hooker for keeping both his crew and cargo safe.

All in a Day’s Work

Sometimes it’s about taking that extra step: On September 11, 1890, an off-duty surfman from the Oregon Inlet LifeSaving Station spotted a sloop anchored about two miles southwest of the station flying a signal of distress. There had been a heavy gale blowing for the past couple of days and the sea was still rough.

A sailboat belonging to another surfman was moored nearby so several surfmen went out to the sloop in the sailboat instead of returning to the station for the surfboat. The sloop, Elwyla, had been on a fishing trip and got caught in the storm and was unable to return to shore. The two men onboard were without water and other provisions so the vessel’s captain climbed into the sailboat where he was taken ashore. He was furnished with the necessary supplies before being taken back to his vessel.

For more stories like these, visit the Chicamacomico LifeSaving Station where history is alive.

We hope you will join us October 11-13, 2024 in celebration as we recognize the #LegacyofLifeSaving and the lasting impact of these often-unsung heroes. Go to chicamacomico.org for details of the events. 

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