Captains Charles, of Orleans Station, and Bearse, of Nauset Station,
with their picked crews of life savers who, at the risk of their lives,
brought the disabled schooner _Andrew Adams_ and crew into port. This,
the first instance in the history of the life-saving service on Cape
Cod, in which two life-saving captains went to a rescue in the same
life-boat, occurred during the winter of 1903.]
Nauset bars extend along the shore at this station, and many terrible
wrecks have taken place there. When the station was opened Capt.
Marcus M. Pierce was appointed keeper. Later he was transferred to the
Orleans Station, and Capt. Walter D. Knowles was placed in charge.
Keeper Knowles was succeeded by the present keeper Captain Bearse.
There are two surf-boats of the Monomoy model, two beach carts with
breeches-buoy, etc., and a life-car at this station.
“Brad,” a horse owned by Captain Bearse, is on duty at the station
during the winter season.
Captain Bearse and his crew of life savers have rescued seventeen
persons in their surf-boat and seventeen shipwrecked sailors in the
breeches-buoy since Captain Bearse has been keeper, while thirty-eight
persons were rescued from the surf by ropes and small boats. Of the
total number of vessels stranded on the bars near the station eight
schooners and one cat-boat were a total loss. Not a life has been lost
within the province of this station since Captain Bearse has been in
charge.