1898- During the Spanish-American War, Morrill, Hudson, and Hamilton, formerly Revenue Cutters and recently armed for service in the so-called 'Mosquito Fleet,' passed through Hampton Roads and after asking formal permission of the Commodore…
1880-Captain Jerome G. Kiah and his crew of six surfmen from the Point Aux Barques Life-Saving Station responded to a distress signal from a stranded scow in Lake Huron. They departed their station in their pulling surfboat but the boat capsized a number of times in the icy water…
The US Coast Guard is soliciting applications for membership on the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC). Applications should be received by May 21. 75 Fed. Reg. 20856 (April 21, 2010).(Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)
1790- Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, submitted a bill to Congress to create a 'system of cutters' to enforce tariff and customs laws along the nation's coastline. Congress passed his bill on 4 August of the same year.1944…
1838- The passenger steamboat Oronoko suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion while tied up at Princeton, Mississippi that killed over 100 passengers. This was one of three fatal steamboat boiler explosions within as many months that forced…
1871- Secretary of Treasury was authorized by Congress to employ crews of experienced surfmen at lifeboat stations at maximum rate of $40 per month, marking the end of the volunteer system. This was the beginning of direct Federal control over life-saving activities…
1813-A tremendous explosion aboard the cutter Gallatin, commanded by Master John H. Silliman (who was not aboard at the time) blew off her quarterdeck while the cutter was tied up in Charleston, South Carolina. The cutter was quickly engulfed in flames and then sank at anchor…
1805-The cutter Louisiana engaged two pirate vessels that had been fitted out at New Orleans. Twenty shots were exchanged but the pirate vessels escaped.1851- The Minots Ledge Lighthouse, the first one built in the United States that was exposed to the full force of the ocean…
1909- Point Judith, Rhode Island: The schooner G.A. Hayden grounded northeast of the station. The sea being too rough for surfboat, life-saving crew took the beach apparatus to the wreck and succeeded in reaching her with the second shot. The…
1876- An Act of Congress (19 Stat. L., 132, 139) provided that any person 'who shall willfully and unlawfully injure any pier, break-water, or other work of the United States for the improvement of rivers or harbors, on navigation in the United States…
1909- Cleveland, Ohio, Lake Erie. Two boys were unable to pull against the wind, were in danger of drifting on the breakwater. Life-saving crew at Cleveland went out, took the 2 boys in their power lifeboat, and towed their boat to East Ninth Street pier.(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)
1808- Subsistence for Army officers fixed at 20 cents per ration, later that year applied to all officers of the revenue cutters.1843- Captain Alexander V. Fraser, Revenue Cutter Service, appointed Chief of newly-created Revenue Marine Bureau of Treasury (he was…
1909- Race Point, Massachusetts-The sloop Keewaydin IV’s mast was carried away and the sloop anchored 2 miles SW of station, but dragged ashore. Station crew was on the beach when she struck and the keeper rowed out surf and threw a heaving line on board…
1909- Race Point, Massachusetts-The sloop Keewaydin IV’s mast was carried away and the sloop anchored 2 miles SW of station, but dragged ashore. Station crew was on the beach when she struck and the keeper rowed out surf and threw a heaving line on board…
1938- Congress passed HR 8982, an amendment to the Alien Fishing Act (50 Stat. 639). The amendment clarified the earlier laws on salmon fishing in Alaskan waters by limiting commercial salmon fishing in the vicinity of Bristol Bay, Alaska, to U…