Rescue Men: The Story of Pea Island Lifesavers

The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will be streaming the film “Rescue Men: The Story of Pea Island Lifesavers” on Sunday, February 27th. The link to the film will be available from 12:00-4:00.

The Story of Pea Island Station

“The U.S. Life-Saving Service was formed in 1871 to assure the safe passage of Americans and International shipping and to save lives and salvage cargo. Station 17 located on the desolate beaches of Pea Island, North Carolina and manned by a crew of seven, bore the brunt of this dangerous but vital duty.

A former slave and Civil War veteran, Richard Etheridge, the only black man to lead a lifesaving crew - was its captain. He recruited and trained a crew of African Americans to man Station 17. Benjamin Bowser, Louis Wescott, William Irving, George Pruden, Maxie Berry and Herbert Collins made up part of this team and formed the only all-black station in the Nation. Although civilian attitudes towards Etheridge and his men ranged from curiosity to outrage, they figured among the most courageous surfmen in the service, performing many daring rescues from 1880 to the closing of the station in 1947.”

To learn more about the film, visit rescuemenfilm.com