ORLEANS STATION.
This station is another of the original nine stations erected on the shores of Cape Cod in 1872. It is located on what is called Little Ponchet Island, back of the Nauset Beach, about two and one-half miles south of Nauset Harbor, and about five miles from the Orleans village. Its approximate position, as obtained from the latest coast survey charts, is latitude north 41° 45′ 35″, longitude west 69° 56′ 00″.
The first keeper of the station was the late Captain Solomon Linnell, who was succeeded by Capt. Marcus Pierce. Captain Pierce was keeper of the station for fifteen years, and upon his retiring from the service, Capt. James H. Charles was placed in command.
ORLEANS STATION.
The station is located at one of the most dangerous sections of the coast, sunken bars stretching along the coast there for miles. The patrol north from this station extends as far as Nauset Harbor, two and one-half miles, the surfmen using time clocks. The south patrol covers two and one-half miles of beach, the surfmen meeting and exchanging checks with the surfmen from the Old Harbor Station. Before the Old Harbor Station was built, the surfmen from this station were obliged to cover the entire beach south as far as Chatham Harbor, a distance of five miles.
At this station there are three surf-boats, two beach carts with guns, breeches-buoys, etc., and a torch light, the latter which gives a tremendously powerful light and is of great benefit to the life savers while working at wrecks in the night. Captain Charles has a horse at this station which the government employs during the winter season.
ALONG THE SHORE AT ORLEANS STATION.
Since Captain Charles has been keeper of the Orleans Station nearly one hundred lives have been saved by his crew from wrecked vessels. From the schooner Lizzie M. Center sixteen men were taken ashore in the surf-boat by his crew, the schooner being saved. From the steam launch Etta ten men were taken ashore in the surf-boat. Two men were rescued from a dory by the surf-boat, and from the schooner Ann three men were saved by the surf-boat and the vessel floated. From the schooner Lottie L. Haskins fourteen men were taken ashore in the surf-boat and the vessel saved. Two men were taken ashore from a cat-boat, but the life savers could not save the craft. From the schooner Walter Miller the crew of five and one woman were taken ashore in the breeches-buoy and the vessel saved. The schooner Iva Laffrinier, with crew of five men, was boarded by the life savers, who took the crew ashore, the vessel becoming a total loss. From the steam launch Zilpha three men were saved, and from the schooner Zenobia the crew of three men were rescued by the surf-boat, and the latter craft saved. From the sloop Carrol three men were taken ashore by the surf-boat and the craft saved. From the cat-boat Mary C three men were taken ashore in surf-boat. One man from a dory and one from a small cat-boat were also brought ashore in the surf-boat. From the schooner John L. Parker, which became a total loss, the crew of six men were taken off by the breeches-buoy. From the schooner Elsie M. Smith, which also became a total loss, sixteen men were taken ashore by the breeches-buoy, while from the steam launch No Name two men and a woman and child were taken ashore in the surf-boat.
STRANDED ON THE OUTER BAR AT ORLEANS, LATER BECOMING A TOTAL WRECK.
While Captain Charles and his crew have made many daring rescues both by surf-boat and breeches-buoy, the hardest and most perilous tasks they have are going offshore to the assistance of distressed vessels. These jobs mean long and hard pulls with the perils multiplied, as after boarding the crafts they are often compelled to work them into port. No matter how far offshore the distressed vessel may be, once she is sighted with colors flying at half-mast, Captain Charles and his crew are off to her assistance. Frequently it happens that the vessels they board, after pulling in the teeth of a gale for hours, are in a sinking condition and the crews exhausted. It is then a race for life to port, and many times have the life savers felt the vessels which they have started to take into port sinking under them, before they had gotten under way.
Captain Charles and his crew have had many narrow escapes in going to the assistance of distressed vessels, and have often suffered untold hardship in the work, but that they are ever ready to battle with the wind or wave is evidenced by the great number of heroic rescues they have made.