Rasmus Midgett
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Rasmus S. Midgett (1851-1926) was a United States Life-Saving Service surfman in North Carolina who single-handedly rescued ten men from the sinking barkentine Priscilla and was thereafter awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal from the Secretary of the Treasury on October 18, 1899.
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[edit] Account of the rescue
Rasmus Midgett, one of a long line of surfmen, was on patrol for the Gull Shores Lifesaving Station on August 18, 1899. He left for the southward patrol at 3:00 am; approximately three-fourths of a mile from the station, he saw items newly washed ashore, which indicated a shipwreck. After traveling two more miles, finding much more debris, he heard faint voices. It was still dark, and Midgett could not see far. However, he managed to make out the remains of a shipwrecked vessel that had run aground, with men clutching to remaining wood approximately 100 yards from him.
Midgett then had to make a difficult decision—to spend three hours bringing assistance from the station, or to attempt a rescue without any aid. Furthermore, if Midgett was incapacitated while attempting an individual rescue, another patrol would not find the men for hours. By then, it would probably be too late. However, Midgett decided to try rescuing the men immediately.
The surf was violent, breaching the narrow stretch of sand between the ocean and Pamlico Sound. Midgett waited until a wave had receded, then ran as close as he dared, yelling instructions to the shipwrecked men. He told them that when he called, one man should jump off the floating debris and head towards shore, with Midgett assisting him. As soon as Midgett had a chance, he again ran forward, calling for a man to jump. He then helped the man reach the shore, pulling him through the waves.
Midgett repeated this six more times, but then faced another problem. There were three men remaining in the water, but they were too exhausted to swim towards shore. Midgett fearlessly entered the sea, and one by one, carried each remaining man to the beach.
The seven men who were still able to walk began heading towards the station at Midgett's direction, while he himself cared for the remaining three, including the Captain of the Priscilla, Benjamin E. Springsteen. After Midgett was certain that the three men would be safe, he rode his horse back to the station to summon aid. After Midgett told his story, two carts were sent to carry the exhausted men.
A month later, Midgett received his Gold Lifesaving Medal from the Secretary of the Treasury, along with a letter of commendation recognizing his extraordinary bravery in saving the ten sailors.
[edit] Personal life
Midgett was born Erasmus S. Midgett in 1851 on Hatteras Island. At that time, Hatteras Island was part of Hyde County (it is now part of Dare County.) He stayed on Hatteras Island for most of his life. He was father to Arthur Midgett by Matilda Midgett. He died on Hatteras Island in 1926.
His house was recently restored by Hatteras Realty, and will be turned into a museum. [1]
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