$48.00
1874 Chicamacomico is an etching by David Hunter. It is in an edition of 85 & 8 a/p and measures 4″ x 6″. This piece is signed, titled and numbered in pencil.
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Built and manned in 1874, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station was one of the first life-saving stations in North Carolina. It was dedicated to rescuing lives in peril in the Atlantic Ocean. Even after the U.S. life-saving service evolved into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the station remained in operation until 1954.
The Chicamacomico Coast Guard was part of one of the greatest rescues in the country's history. In 1918, the crew successfully rescued 42 members of the Mirlo, a British tanker. In recognition of their heroic actions, the six crew members were awarded the Silver Cup from the British Trade Commission and the Gold Life Saving Medal from the U.S. Treasury Department. Perhaps the greatest honor bestowed upon them was the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor. This is one of the nation's highest awards for valor, and six of the 11 medals that have been awarded went to this small life-saving team.
In the 44-year service of the Chicamacomico U.S. Life-Saving station, 177,286 lives were saved of the 178,741 lives in peril, a record unmatched even today. In addition to saving countless lives, no crew member ever lost his life during his service in Chicamacomico's 80-year history. Their commendable service and superior training led Chicamacomico to be a flagship of life-saving stations nationwide.
