The No. 1 surfman is Robert F. Pierce. He was born in Harwich and is
thirty-six years of age. Surfman Pierce has been in the life-saving
service for twelve years, eight as a member of the Monomoy crew, under
the late Captain Tuttle, and four years at this station. When a young
man he engaged in boating and fishing, and later entered the coastwise
service. From his experience as a fisherman and boatman along the
shores of Cape Cod he was skilled in the art of handling boats in the
surf, and took naturally to the work he has been called upon to perform
since joining the life-saving service. While a member of the Monomoy
crew he was repeatedly called upon to face the greatest dangers, and
won for himself an enviable record as a life saver. Surfman Pierce
was out of the service one year, during which time he was engaged in
boating. He married Minnie A. Bearse, and is the father of a boy.
The No. 2 surfman is Edwin P. Ellis. He was born in Brewster and is
forty-five years of age. Surfman Ellis has been in the life-saving
service for twelve years. He was a boatman and fisherman before he
joined the service. When he entered the service he was assigned to
the Orleans Station, under Captain Charles, serving there for five
years, when he was transferred to Coskata Station on Nantucket. He
was a member of the Coskata Station crew for two years. At the end of
that time he was sent to join the crew at this station. At the Orleans
and Coskata stations Surfman Ellis received a thorough drilling and
performed much active work in life saving. He is a skilful boatman,
hardened to the rigors of a life saver’s life.
The No. 3 surfman is Benjamin O. Eldredge. He was born in Chatham, on
July 10, 1878, and has been in the life-saving service for five years.
Prior to his becoming a regular member of this station crew, he served
as a substitute at the Monomoy Station, under the late Captains Tuttle
and Eldredge. As a boatman and fisherman along the Chatham shore and a
substitute life saver he acquired a thorough knowledge of the art of
handling boats in the surf under the most trying conditions, and was
well qualified for the duties he has to perform as a life saver.
[Illustration:
Left to right: CAPTAIN DOANE. ROB’T F. PIERCE. EDWIN P. ELLIS.
BENJ. O. ELDREDGE. OTIS C. ELDREDGE. FRANCIS H. BASSETT.
ZEBINA B. CHASE.