On an early morning patrol following a hurricane in August 1899, Surfman Rasmus S. Midgett arrived at the scene of the 643-ton barkentine Priscilla, which had been broken in two and grounded three miles south of Gull Shoal U. S. Lifesaving Service Station. Ten surviving crewmembers clinged to the wreckage. Midgett made a critical decision to make the rescue alone rather than make the three-mile trip back to the station for assistance. Seven of the crewmembers were able to assist in their rescue, but the remaining three were too weak and Rasmus rescued them by struggling to the ship in the heavy surf, placing a crewman on his shoulder and carrying him through the pounding surf. He repeated this action two more times until all were safe. The tradition of humanitarianism established by such rescues is carried on in the Coast Guard's modern network of search and rescue facilities. He was later awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal, the highest award bestowed by the Secretary of the Treasury. (Permission to reprint this work must be obtained from the artist. For information, contact Mary Ann Bader at Mary.A.Bader@uscg.mil.)
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