Seashore State Park to hold Shipwreck Rescue Drill re-enactment June 16
The staff of Delaware Seashore State Park will be re-enacting a 19th century shipwreck rescue drill at the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum Saturday, June 16, at 10 a.m. Delaware Seashore State Park is just one of three locations in the entire country that re-enact this fascinating drill of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which was the precursor to the modern-day U.S. Coast Guard.
The U.S. Life-Saving Service was established in 1871 in response to the tremendous loss of life that was occurring due to shipwrecks up and down the Atlantic coast and on the Great Lakes. The service consisted of an entire network of life-saving stations that housed "surfmen" who would patrol beaches every night and respond to ships in distress. Delaware had six stations - Lewes, Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth Beach, Indian River Inlet, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island.
The Indian River Life-Saving Station is the only station still standing in its original location, and it is now managed by Delaware Seashore State Park. State park staff will be teaming up with dedicated volunteers to perform one of the life-saving service's rescue techniques known as the breeches buoy system or beach apparatus drill. This ingenious 19th century rescue drill allowed the surfmen to save shipwreck victims without the need to launch the surfboat and enter the water themselves.
The re-enactment will begin with the firing of a Lyle gun, a small cannon, which fires a line out to the mock ship mast known as the wreck pole, nearly 20 feet in the air! From there, a series of lines are sent up to the wreck pole and several staff will be "saved" and brought safely down to the ground. Members of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary will also be attending the event.
"We are just thrilled that the Coast Guard Auxiliary is able and willing to be present for the re-enactment," says Laura Scharle, site manager of the Indian River Life-Saving Station. "It really all comes together when our park visitors get to see people in 19th century life-saving uniform, performing this rescue drill right next to our local Coast Guardsmen Auxiliary members, in modern-day uniform. I really brings the history lesson full circle for people."
The cost for this program (including museum tour) is $6.50 for adults, $4 for youth (ages 6-12), $5 for seniors (age 62 and older), and free for children ages 5 and under. Preregistration is not necessary. The museum is located 1.5 miles north of the Indian River Inlet.
