The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Tuesday, June 30, 2026
In October 1896, the P.I. Island Life-Saving crew, led by Richard Etheridge, performed a remarkable rescue during a severe storm that washed away the beach. Unable to anchor their equipment in the sand, two crewmen bravely swam through the surf to deliver a line to a distressed ship, saving all 98 passengers.
“In order to fire the gun, they need to dig an anchor in the sand to keep everything stable. But remember, the beach was washed out. They can't plant the anchor. Which means they can't fire the gun.”
“Two men volunteer to brave the surf and take the line out to the boat.”
“In all, they make nine trips back and forth. And the P Island life-saving crew saves every single person on board.”