Richard Etheridge was the first in a long line of Black keepers of the U.S. Life-Saving Station at Pea Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He served during the Civil War and was appointed to his position in 1880. Etheridge hired local black men from the community to serve. They were trained as dedicated watermen who rescued victims from the dangerous waters known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Under his leadership, the crew earned a reputation for its discipline and professionalism. In 1896, he and his team rescued every crew member of the E.S. Newman during a catastrophic hurricane. Sadly, Etheridge died in 1900, but the Pea Island station remained an all-black unit until 1947, when it was decommissioned.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
