Schooner Florence C. Magee ~ 25 February 1894

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894:

Stranded and sunk on the evening of the 25th instant. Called Nags Head crew by telephone, and went to her with beach apparatus about 1 a.m. Crew of 10 persons were in the rigging. Tried to use the beach gear, but although three shot lines were placed on board, the swift current prevented the successful working of the apparatus. Finally launched the surfboat, the keeper of the Nags Head Station accompanying the Bodie Island crew. At about the same time a fishing smack ran down the beach outside the breakers and had taken off four of the crew when the surfboat reached the schooner. The life savers took off the remaining 6 persons and received into the surfboat the four men who had got into the smack. Landed them safely, and succored them two days at the station and provided clothing. The captain remained at the station 9 days. (See letter of acknowledgement.)

BODIE ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, February 28, 1894

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: We, the undersigned, master and mariners of the schooner Florence E. Magee, wrecked on this beach on the night of the 25th instant, desire to testify to the great bravery and exertion exhibited by Captain Jesse T. Etheridge and his gallant crew of Life-Saving Station No. 15 (Bodie Island) in rescuing us from our perilous position on the wreck. They worked from the time the wreck was discovered, at 12.40 a.m. the 26th, until 4 p.m., when we were landed. Having used every effort to shoot a line across the wreck, and succeeding in this, found it impossible to land us on account of the long distance the vessel was stranded from the beach; launched the surfboat, and at great peril of his life and crew came to us and rescued us. For this rescue and the efforts put forth to accomplish it we desire to express in this matter our appreciation of his kindness in rescuing us and the very kind treatment which we have received during our stay at the station. Yours, truly, HENRY C. ROGERS, Master ; SAMUEL G. BLACK, Mate ; JOHN RUBY, Second Mate ; FRANK KNIGHT, Cook ; ANDREW STRIGH, Engineer, MICAL ANTON, Seaman ; GUNDER KISTENSEN, Seaman ; JOHN MARTINSEN, Seaman ; HARRY HANSEN, Seaman ; THOS. MESSENA, Seaman