Life Savers Rescue Two Lights’ Keeper…Was
Fishing Off the Life Saving Station When Heavy Sea Smashed Boat
News Article From: Portland Evening Express, October 30, 1911
The sudden breaking of the sea, which was
running heavy at the time, dashed against the rocks the row boat in
which William P. Richardson, one of the keepers of the lighthouses at
Two Lights, while he was fishing near the point opposite the United
States life saving station Saturday, demolishing
USCG Photo
Vintage view of Cape Elizabeth
Lighthouse, east tower
the boat and forcing the sturdy keeper to
make a desperate effort to save himself from drowning. Mr. Richardson had
rowed out to the point while the sea was running somewhat nearby for the
purpose of fishing. While the sea was running somewhat heavy he continued to
fish, the boat being tossed by the rolling sea.
Everything continued favorably until suddenly a sea broke, striking the
rowboat broadside and dashing it against the rocks. So heavy was the
USCG Photo
Cape Elizabeth Lifesaving Station
onslaught of the waves that the boat was
dashed to pieces, and Richardson was obliged to jump into the water to
save himself from being thrown against the rocks. The water was not deep
at this point, and the lighthouse keeper, after seeing that his boat was
going to pieces, started for the shore some few hundred feet distant.
Members of the life saving crew at the station nearby saw Mr. Richardson’s
plight, and immediately put out in a boat, meeting him halfway to the shore.
Although drenched by the breaking of the waves and his plunge into the water
to save himself, Keeper Richardson did not suffer any serious results from
his exciting experience.
