u.s. lifesaving service life saving

u.s. lifesaving service station history

an excerpt from the Chicamacomico Station Logbook, August 16, 1918

4:00 p.m. to Mid. At 4:30 p.m. lookout reported seeing a great mass of water shoot up in the air which seemed to cover the after portion of a steamer that was about seven miles E by S of this Station and heading in a Northerly direction, a great quantity of smoke rising from the after part of the Steamer was noticed but continuing her course for a few minutes when she swung around for the beach and then heading off shore, the fire was now seen to shoot up from the stern of the Steamer and heavy explosions were heard. I called all hands including the liberty man and started with power Surfboat No. 1046, Wind N.E. moderate, heavy sea on beach, had difficulty in getting away from the beach, cleared the beach at about 5:00 p.m. and headed for the burning wreck, then about 5 miles off shore. I met one of the ship's boats with the captain and sixteen men in her; I was informed that their ship was a British tanker and that she was torpedoed which caused the loss of ship. I was informed that two other boats were in the vicinity of the burning gas and oil that was coming up from the sunken ship. I directed the captain of that boat where and how to go and wait my arrival, but not to attempt a landing as the sea was strong and there was danger of him capsizing his boat without assistance. I then headed for the burning gas and oil.

On arrival I found the sea a mass of wreckage and burning gas and oil, there were two great masses of flames about one hundred yards in places covered with the burning gas. And in between the two great flames at times when the smoke would clear away a little, a life boat could be seen bottom up six men clinging to it, the heavy swell washing over the boat. With difficulty I ran our boat through the smoke, floating wreckage and burning gas and oil, and managed to rescue the six men from the burning sea. Who informed me that at times they had to dive under the water to save themselves from being burned to death, all had burns but non serious. They informed me that they were sure that there were no men afloat except those in the boats. But this did not stop our searching in the vicinity of the fire for those missing men, but no more men could be found. These six men seemed to know nothing of the other boats, they being lost sight of in the fire and great clouds of smoke that were rising from the burning gas and oil. I headed our boat before the sea and wind in hopes of finding the missing boat, and in a short time the 3rd which was the missing boat with nineteen men was sighted about nine miles S.E. of station. I ran alongside took this boat in tow and proceeded to where I had directed the first boat to be, this boat was soon reached and taken in tow. I had in station boat six men rescued from the bottom of overturned boat. And one of the boats being towed containing seventeen and the other boat containing nineteen, the wind was beginning to freshen from the N.E. and sea rising on beach.

I was heading for my station when about two mile South of station it began to get dark and for safety I decided to make a landing. I anchored the two ship's boats about six hundred yards from the beach and transferred the men to station boat, landing all in station boat at four trips, and then put surfmen in the two ship's boats and had them landed. As fast as the men were landed they were carried to the station by my team of horses and the horse from station No. 180. The Keeper and crew from station No. 180 met me at the beach and assisted me in landing the crew. All boats including the station boat were pulled up on the beach out of danger of the sea. I landed last trip at 9:00 p.m. and arrived at station at 11:00 p.m., myself and crew very tired. I furnished the Captain and all his crew who needed it medical aid, and then with some dry clothing, and their supper, and with a place to sleep.

John A. Midgett, Keeper

source: Logbook, Chicamacomico Lifeboat Station, U.S. Coast Guard. August 16, 1918