The life savers of Cape Cod

by J. W. Dalton

MONOMOY STATION CREW.

The No. 1 surfman is Walter C. Bloomer. He was born in Chatham in 1867, and has been in the life-saving service for five years. Surfman Bloomer was a “Monomoy” fisherman, boatman, and wrecker before entering the service. When he joined the service he was assigned to the Brant Rock Station, where he remained three years, being transferred to this station. At this station, under the late Captain Eldredge, he saw much active service and proved himself a fearless and skilful surfman. On the occasion of the terrible Monomoy disaster, when his keeper and six of his comrades lost their lives, Surfman Bloomer was doing cook duty, and remained at the station. He married Velma Stevens, and is the father of two girls and two boys.

The No. 2 surfman is Thomas H. Kane. He was born in Manchester, N. H., in 1870, and has been in the life-saving service four years. Surfman Kane followed the sea from the time he was fifteen years of age until he entered the life-saving service. He was a “grand banker,” a mackerel fisherman, and had a wide and varied experience on the water. He was a member of the Rockport Life-Saving crew, and was with Captain Charles at the Orleans Station for one year. Surfman Kane joined the Monomoy Station, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of one of the crew who perished with Captain Eldredge at the Monomoy disaster.

He is an expert boatman, a brave and hardy surfman. He married Sarah Whellock, and is the father of a daughter and son.

The No. 3 surfman is Edwin A. Studley. He was born in North Harwich in 1864, and has been in the life-saving service for two years, one year at the Orleans Station and one year at this station. Surfman Studley followed the sea since he was a boy. For several years he was a member of the crew of the Pollock Rip Lightship, and later he joined the crew of the Shovelful Lightship. He was also a sailor in the coastwise trade, and engaged in boating and fishing along the Chatham shores for several years. He is an efficient boatman and a fearless life saver. He married Alice Phillips, and is the father of a son.

Standing: GEORGE CAHOON. WALTER F. WIXON.
Seated: THOMAS H. KANE. WALTER BLOOMER. CAPTAIN ELLIS. SURFMAN RESIGNED. EDWIN A. STUDLEY.

MONOMOY CREW.

The No. 4 surfman is George C. Cahoon. He was born in Harwich in 1872, and has been in the life-saving service but a year. When he entered the service he was assigned to the Race Point Station, under Capt. “Sam” Fisher, and was transferred here this year. Surfman Cahoon was a fisherman and boatman along the shores of Cape Cod from the time he was a boy until he entered the service. He is an able boatman and has already shown himself to be an efficient life saver. He married Emma Jones, and is the father of a daughter.

The No. 5 surfman is Walter F. Wixon. He was born in South Chatham in 1866, and is serving his first year in the life-saving service. Having been a boatman and fisherman along the shores “back of the Cape” for a number of years, he is skilled in handling a boat, and has a thorough knowledge of the rips and shoals that line the shore there. He married Minnie E. Chase.

The No. 6 surfman is Thomas W. Bearse. He was born in West Harwich in 1863, and is serving his first season as a life saver. Surfman Bearse was a boatman and fisherman along the Chatham shores before he entered the service, and was well prepared for the work he has been called upon to perform as a surfman. He married Annie Cahoon, and is the father of two boys.

The No. 7 surfman is Frank Thomas. He was born in Provincetown in 1874, and entered the life-saving service Dec. 1, 1902. Surfman Thomas went to the Grand Banks when he was but eleven years of age. He followed the sea from that time until he entered the service, engaging principally in dory fishing off Cape Cod. He is an expert boatman and gives promise of becoming an able life saver. He married Rosie Gracie, and is the father of two daughters.

The No. 8 surfman is Marcus N. Smith. He was born in West Chatham in 1865, and has been in the life-saving service one year. He followed the sea and was a boatman and fisherman along the shores of Cape Cod from the time he was a boy until he joined the service. He first served at the Muskeget Station, Nantucket, joining this station as the winter man Dec. 1, 1902. He has proved his efficiency as a life saver, and is a valuable addition to the crew at this station.

Owing to the great amount of work which the crew of this station was called upon to perform, and the long patrol that the surfmen were obliged to go over before the Monomoy Point Station was built, eight surfmen were employed at this station, and they are still retained. It is the only station on Cape Cod where that number of surfmen are employed.