The No. 4 surfman is Otis C. Eldredge. He was born in Chatham in
1856, and has been in the life-saving service for seven years. When
he entered the service he was assigned to the Jerry’s Point Station,
N. H., under Capt. Silas Harding, remaining there three years, when he
was transferred to this station. Before entering the service, Surfman
Eldredge was a boat fisherman and “beach comber” along the Chatham
shores, and his experience in the work especially fitted him for the
duties of a life saver. He married Margaret Bloomer, and is the father
of two daughters.
The No. 5 surfman is Dean W. Eldredge. He was born in Brewster, and is
forty-seven years of age. Surfman Eldredge has been in the life-saving
service for three years. Before entering the service he was a member
of the crew of the Handkerchief Lightship. For years he engaged in
boating, fishing, and wrecking along the shores of Cape Cod, and is a
skilled surfman and a faithful life saver. When he entered the service
he was assigned to the Plum Island Station, remaining there but a short
time before he was sent to the Orleans Station, from which he was
transferred to this station in August, 1902. He married Lena Hallet.
The No. 6 surfman is Francis H. Bassett. He was born in Harwich in
1863, and has been in the life-saving service for three years. He
served two years at the Cahoon’s Hollow Station, under Captain Cole,
becoming a member of this station Dec. 1, 1901. Surfman Bassett was a
boatman and fisherman on Chatham bars for a number of years and had
also been a grocery man. He had a wide experience as a boatman, and has
made an able and fearless life saver. He married Gertrude G. Allen, and
is the father of five daughters.
The No. 7 surfman is Zebina B. Chase. He was born in Chatham in 1862,
and has been in the life-saving service three years. He was first
a member of the Salisbury Beach Station, where he remained one and
one-half years, then joining the Floating Station at City Point,
South Boston. Before entering the service as a regular surfman he had
substituted at different periods for four years at the Monomoy Station.
Prior to this he was a member of the crew of the Shovelful Lightship
for five years. From the time that he was a boy he has been engaged
in boating, or fishing, or doing service of one kind or another on
the water along the shores of Cape Cod. He is the winter man at this
station, joining the City Point Station crew in the summer season. He
is a skilful boatman and an efficient life saver. He married Etta M.
Nickerson, and is the father of one daughter and four sons.