This station derives its name from the Highlands of Cape Cod which are
in the immediate vicinity, and is one of the original nine stations
built on Cape Cod in 1872. It is seven-eighths of a mile west of Cape
Cod Highland Light, and about one and one-half miles from the North
Truro village.
[Illustration: HIGHLAND STATION.]
Its approximate position as obtained from the latest coast survey
charts is latitude north 42° 02′ 55″, longitude west 70° 04′ 20″.
Shoals run parallel with the shores at this station, and many appalling
disasters have occurred there since the station has been established.
The surfmen exchange checks with the surfmen from the High Head Station
on the west patrol, which is about one and three-quarter miles, and
with the surfmen from the Pamet River Station on the east patrol, which
is about two and one-half miles. On the east patrol the surfmen are
unable at times to follow the beach, the tides forcing them to grope
their way along the tops of the cliffs, which, in many places, rise
one hundred feet above the level of the sea. So steep are the cliffs
at points along the east patrol, that the surfmen have ropes extending
from the top to the bottom by which they are able to reach the top
when driven from the beach by the tides. In attempting to climb one of
these steep cliffs on a stormy night a few years ago, Henry Baldwin, a
substitute at this station, had the bank break under him, and falling
to the beach below, a distance of nearly fifty feet, fractured his
hip and received multiple injuries. When the unfortunate surfman did
not return to the station at the appointed time, a surfman was sent
out to search for him. No trace of him could be found, however, and
at four o’clock in the morning Captain Worthen called all hands, and
after a search of a few hours, the injured surfman was found on the
beach attempting to crawl to the station. This shows one of the perils
which confront the surfmen attached to this station. John Francis, a
surfman, who, after eighteen years of service at this station, was
forced to resign from it on account of injury to his eyesight, had a
narrow escape from death while a member of this station crew. Francis
was attempting to make his way along the beach to a point where he
could climb to the top of the cliffs. The sea was running high, and
the great undertow catching Francis, threw him down and carried him
far out from the shore. He struggled desperately, and by the merest
chance succeeded in making his way out of the surf, when thrown upon
the shore by a mountainous wave. He was more dead than alive when he
reached the station. Surfman William Paine, of this station, had a
fearful experience during a blinding snowstorm. Paine got lost, his
eyes becoming frostbitten so that he could not open them. He walked
about all night in a little grove of pine woods to keep from freezing,
and was found the following day by his comrades.
[Illustration: NEAR THE HIGHLAND STATION.]
There are three surf-boats at this station, two for active service, one
for drilling the crew, two beach carts with full sets of apparatus, and
a life-car. One of the surf-boats and a beach cart are kept in a house
near the shore. “Nellie,” a horse owned by Captain Worthen, is employed
at the station during the winter months. Cats and dogs are the pets of
the surfmen, a number of them living about the station.
Captain Worthen has been keeper of this station since it was placed in
commission, a period of over thirty years. During that time there is
a record of twenty-seven wrecks within the province of the station.
The records as to the number of persons taken ashore is not plain,
although it is certain that one hundred and fifty have been rescued by
Captain Worthen and his crew.
Only one crew in the whole history of the station has been rescued by
means of the breeches-buoy, the crew, ten in number, of the British
bark _Kate Harding_, from Barbadoes, which stranded during a fierce
gale and dangerous sea, were thus safely taken ashore. The bark became
a total wreck.