JOSEPH W. ETHEREDGE

SUPERINTENDENT OF 6^TH LIFE SAVING SERVICE DISTRICT

July 2, 1878 – June 16, 1885 and Jan 10, 1890 – Feb 15, 1893

Chesapeake Bay to Cape Fear River

Joseph W. Etheridge was a resident of the Roanoke Island when he posted bond of $35,000 to secure his position as Superintendent of o Life Saving of our area. The 1880 census list him as being 42 years of age and his occupation was listed as Supt. LSS. Living in his household were his wife, Martha J. age 45, daughter Minnie age 13, daughter Minnie age 8, his father Daniel age 70, (minister), and brother Daniel age 28, seaman USLSS.

The territory of which he was superintendent extended from Chesapeake Bay to Cape Fear River which included 29 stations, with distances between them 285 miles. These stations, which are situated upon an extremely wild and desolate coast, to traverse which, especially in winter, involved great preservation and hardship, his duty required him to visit at least every three months to inspect their condition and to pay their crews.

During one of these trips he contracted a disease from which he died. It was in January of 1893 that Superintendent Etheridge became stranded at Ocracoke and unable to proceed on his trip to inspect the stations and pay the crew because of a severe winter storm, and the freezing of Pamlico and Core Sound. By this time Etheridge had been widowed, married a 2^nd wife and had three small children who remained at home and were waiting for his return. His stay at Ocracoke was cold and lonesome but his visit to Portsmouth Island was only to get worse.

It was a bitter cold day in January when Joseph Gaskill anchored his schooner at Ocracoke intending to wait out this winter freeze. Upon hearing of his arrival, Etheridge, being anxious to proceed, approached Gaskill offering to pay him well if he would take him to New Bern, NC in his schooner. Gaskill agreed and after taking Etheridge aboard they took sail to cross Pamlico Sound and got only a short distance through the ice, and were blocked and then drifted back to Ocracoke with the tide. Supt. Etheridge, still being determined to proceed, instructed Joseph Gaskill to purchase a pony and road cart which they took in the schooner across Ocracoke Inlet, the ice in the inlet being broken by the current.

They landed at Portsmouth, NC on the afternoon of January 23, and made a start on the beach for Cape Lookout Station and made 10 miles of the journey that afternoon. Before night they stopped at the only dwelling on the route of 46 miles, and took dinner and then prepared to make another start but the horse got away from them pulling the cart as he went. After much to do they finally secured the horse but the cart was broken and beat to pieces and the horse was so much disabled that they were compelled to remain at the dwelling over night. The next morning they had hoped to procure a boat to take them over to the mainland but that was impossible because of the sound being frozen. Failing in this, they borrowed an ox cart from the dwelling and hitched it to the horse and proceeded, one walking while the other rode, the weather being so severe it was necessary to exercise to keep from freezing.

Night overtook them about 10 miles from Cape Lookout and they were compelled to stop at a deserted fish camp on the beach. Having no wood they had to tear the sides from the camp for firewood. The camp had no floor so they built a fire on the ground of the camp and cut rushes to cover the ground on which they sat. They had only one blanket with which Joseph Gaskill covered Etheridge while he (Gaskill) kept up the fire as best he could. Supt. Etheridge being very tired and worn out from exposure, dropped of to sleep about 8 o’clock only to awake at 9.40, asking what time it was and complaining that he was sick and they must move, declaring that he could not live until daylight if they stayed where they were then. He then had a chill, followed by a severe headache and fever. However they were compelled to stay, having no other place of refuge they could reach.

As soon as day broke they started for Cape Lookout Station and arrived there about 10 a.m. after walking 10 miles. The horse was worn out and unable to pull either of them. At the station they were supplied with food and taken in a cart to a small settlement on the banks near Beaufort.

There they were put in a boat and arrived at Beaufort at Beaufort the 25^th day of January at 5 p.m.

Supt. Etheridge continued sick through the whole trip and died just a few days after reaching Beaufort. Joseph Gaskill reported that his experience on this trip was more severe than any which he had encountered during twenty years as a seaman.

Note, there were two Joseph Gaskill’s in the area at this time, one a resident of Portsmouth, the other a resident of Hog Island. Have not yet determined which one this is.

Ellen F. Cloud