FREEDMEN, SURFMEN, HEROES Richard Etheridge and Surfmen of the Pea Island Station
The story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island lifesavers is one of the most remarkable chapters in American maritime history. At a time when African Americans were denied basic rights, the surfmen of Pea Island built a culture of unity, discipline, and mutual respect. Black and white surfmen trained together, worked together, and risked their lives together in some of the most dangerous waters on the Atlantic coast.
Painting of US Lifesaving Station by James Melvin
Pea Island holds a singular place in U.S. history as the only lifesaving station to be manned by an all-Black crew. Under Keeper Richard Etheridge—formerly enslaved on Roanoke Island and a Civil War veteran—the station became known for its exceptional skill and unwavering commitment to saving lives.
Their most famous rescue occurred on October 11, 1896, when the crew saved all nine people aboard the schooner E.S. Newman during a violent storm. Although their heroism was widely recognized locally, the men received no official awards during their lifetimes.
Painting of the E.S. Newman rescue by Roy LaGrone titled, “Pea Island Crew Makes a Rescue.”
One hundred years later, in 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard finally awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal to Etheridge and his crew. This long-delayed honor was made possible by the persistence of a 14-year-old girl, two authors, a U.S. Congressman, and a dedicated Coast Guard officer.
The Pea Island Preservation Society (PIPSI) now shares this powerful history with students, visitors, and the community through its “Freedmen, Surfmen, Heroes” program and presentations at the North Carolina Aquarium, where Etheridge’s gravesite stands at the entrance.
