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7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Entertaining History! Jan 07, 2002
By ADAM D DUNBAR
I am admittedly not a history buff. I do however treasure the three years I was lucky enough to live on North Carolina's Outer Banks. "Fire on the Beach" was recommended to me & now I would like to pass that gift on to anyone who reads these reviews. This book tells a fantastic tale of a man & a period of time that are both truly inspiring. It does not read like a "historical text", but more like a well plotted out novel. If you have any interest in Post Civil War South, Turn of the century maritime history, North Carolina's Outer Banks, or the US Coast Guard, do not pass this book up!
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Bravery At The Beach Sep 17, 2001
By The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
I have been a resident of North Carolina for over 12 years and had never heard of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Life Savers. The book Fire On The Beach by authors David Wright and David Zoby is a very important history lesson not just for those of us living in North Carolina but also for people living all over the world. Richard Etheridge began life as a slave in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, he was property of the Etheridge family and was considered a part of the family. At the age of 21 Richard, without asking the permission of his owners, joined the army and became a Union soldier. Richard was proud to be fighting to try to end slavery. He was prepared to fight to the death to make life better for himself and those around him. While in the Army, Etheridge and other Black soldiers were known as the "African Brigade." These men fought valiently and after the war they all went back home to some of the same problems and issues they had before the war. The Outer Banks of North Carolina had always been a problem for ships;they often ran aground on the North Carolina shores. As a result, in 1874, life saving stations were opened all over the Outer Banks. Initially most of the crews were checkered or made up of Black and White men. The Lifesavers of the Outer Banks had a troubled history of haphazardly run patrols, poorly trained lifesavers, and stations that were run erracticly. Many lifesavers got positions because of who they knew and were related to. The Lifesavers of the Outer Banks were in desparate need of an image change. In February 1880, that image changed radically, Richard Etheridge was named keeper of Pea Island Station 17, and what made it even more special is that he had an all Black crew. A Keeper is a man who could keep stroke with an oar, knew the local currents and had a disposition that allowed for high risks at low pay. This appointment was historic and even as racially divided as the United States was at that time, everyone agreed that Richard Etheridge was more than qualified for the position. Being a member of the Life Saving Service was not an easy task, add to that being Black and that makes for a lot of drama. This book is very informative and important for people of all races and all over the world. The dates,the facts,and the many stories told are put together well. On the RAW scale it is a 4. Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
suberbly written, well researched Oct 03, 2002
This history of the Pea Island Lifesavers is beautifully written so that the story captivates from start to finish. In fact, I wasn't sure that this was my kind of book, but the early, vivid description of the dangerous coast and the duties of the men who walked the Outer Banks looking for shipwrecks hour after hour convinced me that I had to read the whole book. Clearly well researched, this book taught me a great deal about the Civil War and U.S. maritime history but, more importantly, explored the humanity in our country's history. It takes saavy authors to recognize that the real beginning of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station begins not with its inception but with the lives of the men, namely Richard Etheridge, who served there. Because of the emphasis on people and place, the book reads quite like a novel and, therefore, can be appreciated by a wide audience. Fire on the Beach deserves to be read, for it demonstrates that history must be revealed and retold with all its contradictions, complications, and individuals.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Ethe Nov 14, 2001
David Zoby and David Wright take us through the breathtaking life journey of former slave Richard Etheridge in the late 1800's. Unlike many other historical accounts, Zoby and Wright reveal an intricately woven tale that flows brilliantly through the Civil War, the Reconstruction and on through the formation of the U.S. Live-Saving Service. This is a compelling story about a man who retains his dignity and integrity during a time when black people had no voice. The hardships endured by those early lifesavers that willingly put their lives at risk to save the victims of shipwrecks are memorably expressed in the detailed descriptions of the land and the power of the sea. I now have this compelling urge to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
A wonderful maritime history! Aug 04, 2001
Not only does this book recapture an important moment lost in history, but recreates it for us through a sea-faring adventure of the highest order. This is a fantastic books for those interested in the southern history like, April 1865, or nautical adventure stories like, In The Heart of the Sea.
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