Richard Etheridge

Captain Richard Etheridge, a Union Army veteran, (someone sho has served in an army) was the first Aftican American to be in control of a Life-Saving Station when the service appointed him as the keeper of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station. That was in North Carolina 1880. Wow! He became the keeper of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station because in 1879 there was a keeper who was a white man who had a crew of white and black men. Well there was a rescue effort on November 18879 but it as completely messed up. Some of the crew members and the keeper were help responsible. The Revenue Cutter service reviewed the case, and and fired the white man, and guess who was put in his place, Richard Etheridge. The First Lieutenant Charles E. Shoemaker made a note that Richard was one of the best surfman on this part of the coast in N.C. Soon after Etheridge's appointment, the Pea Island Life-Saving Station burned down. Determined to do his duties with expert commitment (to ut yourself to the task.._ Etheridge watched over the construction of the new station on the one and only site. He also developed tough Life-Saving drills that helped his crew tackle all Life-Saving tasks. His station earned the reputation (what people think you are) of "one of the tightest on the Carolina Coast" with Richard well known as one of the most courageous and ingenious life saver's.

October 11, 1896 Richard's tough training drills proved to be invaluable. The three masted sailboat, the E.S. Newman, was caught in a strong storm. The vessel was blown 100 miles south off course it was supposed to be on and placed itself on the beach two miles south of the lifesaving station Etheridge warked at. The horrible storm was so dangerous that Richard had made the normal beach patrols go home that day. But the keen eyes of surfman Theodore Meekins saw the first danger flare and he quickly made Richard aware of it Richard collected his crew and started off on the surfboat. battling the mighty tides and sweeping currents the lifesavers had a hard time to make their way to a poit opposite the sailboat, only to find there was no dry land. Richard tied two of his strongest surfmen side by side and connected them to shore by a long line. They fought their way through the loud breakers and finally reached the stranded sailboat. The Pea Island crew members journeyed through the dangerous waters about ten time! The entire crew was rescued from the sailboat. Richard and his crew were awarded the Gold lifesaving Medal by the Coast Guard, for this rescue.

By: Kiera S.