The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-12
oAPK NAY, N. j., July 10, 1871.


ss IL may seem, was not originated by the govern.
ment aad Tor several years the saving Of life and
property, during the winter months, aony the dan
gerous cossrs OF Long Island and New Jersey. was
entrusted to the care Of the Humane Society.
without government aid or influence. There
were then fourteen stations along the Jersey
coast which extends q distance OF 40 miles,
and thirteen on the Long Island coast,
. distance Of about one hundred and twenty
mics. How Inadequate these few stations were TO
give protection to the great shipping interests Of
New York was no apparent that government begin
nrng to recognize the absolute need there was for
an organized system OF protection at the entrance
20 New forK haroor-tnai daily becoming more and
more the destination OF vessels from al parts OF the
wor,d-ass1ufed the guardianship Of the coast and
adopted the lIesavtng stations, such they were,
which had been erected by the Humane Society. In
1855 the United States government caused she cree
ton Of thirteen more stations along the Long Island
coast and OF fourteen a,ong the Jersey coast,
thus doabiiug the number at each. But here the
governmcnt rested, ana after supplying these
lew miserable sheds left the further care OF life and
property to the philanthropy or residents along the
coast SO far as the means within their reach
allowed them the seaman ON both coasts ever acted
uobly toward any vessel distressed on the neghoor.
tnQ beach, But there have occurred from time to
time ON both coasts remarkable instances Of The
utter ine1cency OF the stations. Vessels have been
broken pieces by the surf and scores OF lives have
been iost within sound OF the Shore while the cap
tain OF the station vainly signalling for help to
oetghboring stations that were miles away from
him. The latest example of such catastrophe as
this occurred IN January last. when the bark Kate
Smith came ashore as Long Beach, at which place
there was station, supplied with the life saving
up atatus. but without crew. Nine out Of the
fifteen lives Oh board the bark lost, and there
was no doubt whatever thar had there oeen a crew
a che Long Beach station all hands would have
been saved. Alter this disaster the HERALD fully
ext osed tie negligence Of the government in this
branch OF The marine service, and attention thus
being called 10 the importance of the department
the New Jersey Leaisiature instructed Senator
Stockton to bring the subject before Congress,
which was done. The result was that an
appropriation OF 500. 900 was made to put the
department on the Jersey coast in proper state Of
eneciveaess ana Long Islanu. a. the suggestion OF
MI. ;. J. Kmcali, chief or the Revenue Marine
Bureau. was subsequently INCLUDED under the ap-
preparation. SO much having been gained, the next
step Was TO insure a thorough inspection Of both
coasts, with view to the judiclous expenditure of
the money and TO place the departments ON a basis
90 organized that no cause for complaint should
arise in the future. For this purpose Capta
Faunce, perhaps the most skilled and experienced
ofticer In tie revenue service and gentleman Of
sound judgment on nautical SUBJECTS was selected
Is chef OF COMMISSION 30 inspect both coasts hav-
Ing as his ASSISTANTS Lieutenant Sioider VINO has
nne record as naval oficer during the war, and
Mr.. Hickford Conner, a smart Intelligent and care
fnl mechanic wac Is inspector OF the buildings.
The business OF this commission necesstates slow
progress Tor the department Is really such q bad
condition that the most minute details have to be
entered into. so that in little things, well as In
the more important, discipline shall lie the rule in
future, and not the exception 1t Is Eacn house
r. or ought TO De, Supplied with q complete set Of
apparatus among which are 4S-lnch manila
hawser, 2hnch manila hauling lines. crotch and
rAnge for throwing rockets, sand anchor with sharp
hook thlmbe and bulls eye. blue lights, port fire,
iron eprouUette mortar, l0-1A FOUNDER shot, pow
der iron case rockets, boat metallic life car, &c.
Ali these are taken from their dusty places, mear
sured and examined thoroughly.
On Long Island Inc apparatus was found to be gen.
orally imperfect. In stations little 8tteniio
has been paid 70 the property portioos OF 1t mad
been stolen. and there were evidences in several
stations that the houses had been Ken inio and
robbed. On that coast, though II Is Superintendent
by an Officer Of acknowe aged integrity and energy,
. total overnaUing Is required. The fault u not the
Auperintendent's Tor without the means to DO the
work 1t Is impossible to do it. or the twenty-six
other Locations they Deing perfectly useless where
the one staJion-tnat At Coney Isaud--has been
altogether Condemned But TINS Inspection vi the
Long isand coast was merely preparatory TO that Of
the Jersey which - VI the greater appearances
the winter months Is treacnerous. Tue
com issiCn before starting on tails expedition To
Jersey was Joined oy Mr.. klmDail, CDief OF the
Blu eau, and colonel sawyer, Superintendent or tue
jersey coast There are three eaang poilis 10 tnIs
ins pecIion FIRST the houses; second, The dlstances
IN H. he crews. 1t IL easy To supply he hfe-savng
appa, atus IN use, though IL Is OF great Importance
30 Ina Out 10 what extent, under me M as IL
has been, the Indispensable parapnernaIa have
been attended 10 at each station.
We have ALREADY visited The two stations
Sandy Hook and some other stat mere al the END
OF the coast 30 Ia. "A The buildings are concerned
they are OF course ali Ci timber; but they
shells, with gateway at ei.ner end large enough TO
allow the carriage upon wlicn the boat rests 10 be
drawn out The average l.mensions VI escn are II
feel by -, with 10 1eet posts.
There 10 neither ceiling plaster in any and
cIeyices through VIM, The wi1d yeas IN are nuner
ous IN eacn. Tie uDOer ol when these houses are
Composed Oh sand, hook ~ almost rotten, and, IL
nDdeIsloOd, mat the same must be sao OF most OF
the Olncr houses along the coast. There is want
oil cleanliness ID each and the boxes Ill wnlcn are
the tools, &C., he scattered around without any
Gtbempt at order. All important qdestlun for the
CLm.nisslon 10 decide-tn0ugn stated here it may
seem trYlal-i5 the mode adopted CT coiling the
ropes for where the damp sets III the ropes become
knked around the plns and are then than USE
less Tor Immediate use. TO heat a house OF The
dimensions gly en- ABOVE there Is stove rusty with
age AND neglect ABOUT a. large ~ tenement house
siOyel. wE4cn IS expecbeu 10 supply va Dil enough
for The crew ana or arlisnilg persons wno may
have been rescued The mel d THIS nnds vent
through The WOODEN rCOi above ans, o. course tne
building ~ saved nom burning bi tne friendly assist
aBce Oh Tie snow aha rain hltOgctnerrl Tie houses
Sandy Hook are utterly unit Tor me parpusSs OF
lie station. private citizen wOald not Think OF
housing cattle IN lheiu. NcS II NJ proDAJie mat,
win lne nonet previously spprJpT Gted Dg the gor
eminent los tDer erection Trey could mol nave been
mucn better pui ~. HMi9 on t1is coast these
houses are unliOrml, IN du2p dated condition aud
mint or use ior crews, II should moi ne iorsouea
that the crews nave borne the hards1ips and
but liiIe Complaint The n, uses Ou Long Island
are Ia much better condition than those the Jersey
coast The men CONFUSING tNe crews are Tor the
most part experienced sea!neu LIVING near the sta
lions 10 when they are attached. They are. as
might be expected. near aud soul Ia their worK,
And THIS explains now uncoInplnningly they have
submitted TO Tie rtivalons incidental 10 tue SORT or
life they have led IN The station houses. during tue
summer mouths tLey generally ioliow some other
ocrunatlOn alor4 Inc cOdsi, ana tlls D.COme scat