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Event

Sundew rescues High Island caretakers Ray Bills and John Drum, 1956

Draft — sources verified, prose evolving

TypeEvent
Date1956-05-31
WithinBeaver Island
ErasModern era
On this page
Event
Date
1956-05-31
Kind
Rescue
Participants
Ray Bills (survivor) · John Drum (survivor) · Al Phillips (witness) · Sundew (rescuer)
Eras
Modern era
Concepts
maritimecommunityhealthcare
Within
Beaver Island

Summary

On May 31, 1956, Sundew rescued High Island caretakers Ray Bills and John Drum after a 20-hour drift and exposure near Beaver Island.

Evidence and limits

The 1956 report is the primary contemporary newspaper account; the 1961 item is a later retrospective. Neither provides a formal Coast Guard report, complete search log, or full rescuers’ roster.

Sources

  1. The contemporary June report identifies Ray Bills and John Drum as Townsend Cattle Ranch caretakers, reports their May 31 supply trip from High Island, the fouled propeller and 20-hour drift, Al Phillips’s notification, the Coast Guard search, Sundew’s sighting at Cross’s Point, their cold and exposure, and treatment at the Medical Center. It does not provide the official Coast Guard report, complete search log, or a formal boat record. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1956-06_Beaver-Beacon
  2. The held five-page issue scan is paired with the contemporary OCR source and confirms the published rescue report; it does not expand the official search or medical record.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1956-06_Beaver-Beacon
  3. The June 1961 retrospective reports that High Island caretakers Ray Bills and John Drum drifted for 20 hours returning from Beaver. Al Phillips alerted the life boat station; Coast Guard Cutter Sundew found them on rocks at Cross’s Point and they were taken to the Medical Center for cold and exposure. The retrospective does not provide the boat’s name, the rescuers’ roster, or a formal Coast Guard report.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1961-06_Beaver-Beacon
  4. The held six-page issue scan is paired with the OCR source and confirms the published notice or report; it does not expand the source-specific identity, event, or outcome claims.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1961-06_Beaver-Beacon

Added 1 August 2026 · revised 3 August 2026. Recent changes

Cite this article

Beaver Island Archive, “Sundew rescues High Island caretakers Ray Bills and John Drum, 1956”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/rescue-of-ray-bills-and-john-drum-1956/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, June 1956, “Coast Guard Rescue.” (and 3 further sources listed on the page).

Last revised 2026-08-03. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.

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