The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-01


RErORrEn-YOu have been attached to a stationP
SURFMAN--Ravtner; last winter l helped In
getting or that light schooner from Boston. and
then there was the emma Fowler In l69-crew
saved but the vessel Is below, on the beach; ana
then there was, the year alore the schooner Daniel
Townsend aud The owen Petet and the saran NJ.
Sherman-crews all save'.
REPORTER And the vessesS
SURFMAN-Below ON the beach. or the winds know
where: don't.
REpoRrER-t must be an exciting time for crew
when IN The act OF saving q vesself
Wnen the Fowler 9e EOS. "or
we thought We heard woman's cry from the
beach, but IL mus ma been the crews cry borne
the regar stiff nor easter that was bOwin never
seen such surf as come IN that night but we sent
out the boat aud hauled em In, every man OF ZEN.
Tney wern't hungry, bat they were lamshing with
the cold. ley come around tn ugh l tell you,
after we warmed 'em and pat EN- asleep.
REPORrER-AOw Is II with yourselves mean the
crew. at nightsY
sURFMAN-waa sir. tits pretty rough no doubt.
] amt gon' TO complain but u ears to me when a
man has Deen out Tor hours In the deep snow along
the beach he ougher have a fire to warm MN when
he'd come in to get some rest and sleep Bu sir
You know, most everybody knows, that 'tIsn't
what Ougnter be always Is
Several other interviews with sur'nfen 10 the
vicinity were much to the same effect as those given
above.
Between Cape May and Long Beach there is not
Long Beach to fom's River. In fact this latter
part OF the coast tnere IS a bold beach that Is
CERTAIN DESTRUCTION
to come upon. AT the .ariher eni Tor rather the
nearer when coming from Cape May OF Long Beach,
Kate smith came ashore last winter with the loss Of
nine lives. In speaking TO the surfmen OF that un-
fortunate occurrence there was Of course only
additional argument Afforded by the conversations
for an increase OF stations and crews along the
beach Along this beach, as mas been said, portions
OF wrecks are frequently visible. No pains have
been spared In planning the guardianship Of This
part OF the coast We have travelled 1t all over on
the beach by wagon in order to measure 1t, the
mIes be M a certained by counting the revolutions
OF one OF the wagon wheeis.
At the other end Of The beach is another house,
ma Of no nj IN ri IN
keeper of which also runs the hotel ana has not had
much experience IN lilesaving apparatus.
ABOUT the place was one Old man who was really the
only person OF reasonable memory to be found in
THIS lower region. The following conversation was
helu Win him.
HERALD KEpoRrER-Do you remember the names
OF Inc vessels that nave come ashore on Long Beach
during five years paStp
sURFMAN-l may remember some of them. There
was the AdOa, the Moses Van Name. the ship Joseph
Weir ana the Kate Smith last winter; can re-
member any In 1870 but Ia 1868 we had the James
Carslans and the Jacob Vaughan; In 1885, tue James
Porter: IN 1861 the q. Barter; IN 1885, the Samuel
Lock WOOD; In 1865. seven vessels all came ashore
together The crews were saved Ill every instance,
as lar as can recolleci, except IN the case Ct the
KEPoRrER-Have there been no shpwrecks within
your reco lection attended by loss OF lie, except the
SURFMAN-Yes. sir; there have been many but
some OF them cant remember. l remember the
wreck Of the emigrant snip
In 1855. when over three hundred lives were lost.
yohler. opposite the house. The morning alter the
wreck one poor fellow was found dead in the bushes
up on n me oea an ne nn t nave
saved had there been any help at all near. re.
member, too the
In 1850. when nve ives were lost. A curious cir
cumstanc0 about that shipwreck was this, that the
captains daughter was saved. A the story goes,
She. with her brother. had been standing on tbs
deck Just as
THE GALE
4
when sne did. The vessel. unable TO weather the
storm tnrne over and IN such positlon was
found next morning by gentleman residing on the
beach. This gentleman, while surveying the |
wreck
In the bottom OF the shattered SNIP and, procuring
a haudsaw. immediately cut open that part OF the
labor searching inside be saw the flaming FORM Of
beautiful youn girl, whom, OF course, he at once
NAV Re Seem ' often IA sne.e parts awe
RRroaTEa- Have you had any experience in
workIav iie-saving apparatusY
but have not had mucn practice In the winter
months three or four men reside Tor miles around,
and as there Is no crew man can't afford TO live on
nOtnlng.
RRrORTER What do you think of the surf boat at
SURFMAN-Hard to manage IN q rough sea- she
might be built on bet er model.
lie ORTER-Are YOU a democrat or republican,
SrRFNAN-A democrat. I understand that is q |
barr er to getting work In the station least II has
The interview here en1ed. the old man hoping
that he might lie one Of next winters crew.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE- MADE.
The result OF THIS Commissions labor Will he to
nut the Iie saving stations on this coast In such
Condition there shall he no cause tor complaint
Ill the future.
win IN many instances be changed TO better loca-
house viii be enarQed by about ten fcei. a com.
Portable room fitted up for the crew 10 We in, and
the ceiling and SIDES 81 me building made proof
Inc apparatus used now on the stations has been
The boats were considered IN general
unit Tor the surf Tweve new houses will pc
erected. thus making total numDer Of iOrty ON the
coast AT Sandy Hook there Will he, as now. two
iations, one Of them to be moved. on beach
Jour aud hall miles IN extent, near Shark River.
new house Will De erected: on Squan beach there
ones also; between Tucker. and BriganIlne beaches
Dne new one. aud another on irigantne beach,
pecks aGda@s Tptaam I, and Five
will cover the whole Jersey coast, distance OF lao
miles,
between the staIIols Wi he about three miles ana
q halt Hitherto there mas been distance OF eight
mi es between some Of them, and few were nearer
than miles To each other Tn object OF putting
the houses at convenient distances from each o her
anbor VIII en- required and TO leave no part of the
Coast unguarjed even WITH each crew 70 Work alone
ATOMS As THEY HAVE BEEN
was proved long ago. There was crew OF seven
men al every alternate statlon only aud this neces
STATED miles of the Deacn being lett without pro-
lection. In some places along the coast the beaches
are entirely deserted during the WINTER so That 1t
would De impossible TO vel o crew anyhow. With
Dut organ ZaLlOD and discipline the coast could not
b. guarded with safely and the organization bt.ertO
been very imperfect, without any discipline. II
he recommendations o the Commission pe adopted
at Washing. all TINS will I've changed. ana at
nearly every one OF the forty stations there VIII be-
during the winter months,
CREW OF SEVEN MEN,
paid a SUFFICIENT amount for their labor and comfort.
,Uly housed ration VIII also be supplied. as there
IS dinculty owing 10 the Isolation OF many or the
houses. IN getting meals. 1t VIII be Imperative on
each crew TO remain during the winter at their
houses. and they are also liable to be called on for
luty any time during the year. The crews VIII have
pati the beach at all hours, that immediate
may be rendered distressed vessels. The
salaries OF
KEEPERS OF Houses
will also be advanced and they are to be held re.
spUnsiDte ir the property entrusted TO them and
he roper cleanliness OF The houses hitherto there
has teen one superintendent for the Long Island
coast and another Tor the Jersey coast. IL Will be
rec commended TO appoint
TWO SUPERrNTENDENrS
or each coast and that both shall also have charge
)r the customs partnent IN Their districts. Stated