Island History: A spotlight on stories from the Outer Banks’ Life-Saving Service
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (CLSS) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, as one of the seven original Life-Saving Stations to be built in North Carolina in 1874.
As such, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station and Historic Site in Rodanthe will be sharing stories about the seven 1874 Outer Banks stations in the weeks ahead, leading up to the official October celebration of the United States Life-Saving Stations’ 150th anniversary in the state.
The following is the next of these Life-Saving Station feature articles to honor the #LegacyofLifeSaving, written by Jen Carlson for CLSS.
The Value of Teamwork at the Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station
On December 9, 1905, the south patrolman from the Kitty Hawk Life-Saving 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 Kill Devil Hills Station before heading to the scene with the beach cart. By the time the first line of communication was established, the crew of Station #13 had also arrived on scene to assist in the rescue.
An experienced crew averaged about a minute and a half per round trip for the breeches buoy to carry a person to safely. Twenty one survivors, as well as their baggage, were pulled to safety from the steamer, Aragon, making it a very long night for the two crews.
After everyone was safely onshore, they were escorted to the station where they ended up staying for four days. The wrecking crew arrived on the 13th and started trying to float the vessel. They were successful so the steamer was able to be towed to port.
All in a Day’s Work at the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station
Sometimes it’s about working overtime: On May, 1, 1889, a small schooner named Beulah Benton ran aground when entering the Oregon Inlet about two miles north of the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station.
The station had just closed for the summer months but some of the crew happened to still be at the station. Keeper Samuel J. Payne spotted the vessel so he and one other surfman took his personal sailboat out to assist.
The lifesavers ran out anchors and helped the three sailors onboard in an effort to float the craft. The tide was going out so it ended up being necessary to wait until the next high tide before the vessel could be floated and proceed on her journey.
For more stories like these, visit the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station where history is alive. The 150th Anniversary Celebration is open to the public and is next week! We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the heroics of our Forgotten Heroes.
