Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-01
Life-SaVing on Our Coast.

lue ApTll nuuDeT VI 81. NICuOIdS nus
graphic article in description of the opera
tons OF the lfe-saving stations along the
ocean shore. We make a slightly condens-
ed extract below, detailing the movements
of the crew from the time when a night
patrolman has discovered and signalled a
ship on the beach:
AS he hurries homeward he sees the
brightly colored Coston lights illuminat-
ing the isolated refuge on the sands, as
they bear their messages 10 the adjoining
stations. 4 fine display OF fireworks, you
would think them but to the life saving
men they are imperative orders. First
a red, white and green light are burn
cd in quick succession, to attract the watch
at the next station, and as soon as one
white light is seen in answer series of or
dels are given by the same beautiful means.
Thus red light announces danger, and
green light that aid is required from the
next station By the station signaling. a
red and green light in succession mean,
Bring your boat and equipments" A
green and red light-the previous signal re-
versed-mean, bring your life-car and
lines" 4 red and white light, Bring
your rocket apparatus" and so on; differ
ent combinations Of colors conveying diff.
ferent instructions.
The boat carriage has very broad wheels,
to prevent ii from sinking in the sand, and
two stout horses gallop with it along the
beach until they are opposite the wreck.
Lifecar, rocket apparatus and lines are
ready. The men assemble. The vessel is
tossing and Sroaning in the sand, and
every moment may be worth dozen lives.
Quickly the boat is rolled off the shore.
Her brave crew gather around her gun
vale. All our admiration is called forth
by the strength they display as they
bend 10 push their boat into the water, at
the word of their commander. They do
not tremble or hold back yet the terrors
of death are before them. The surf roar
ing at their feet, tauDis them with its pow
er. AS far as the eye can reach, the only
prospect is n foaming waste, from which
the spray rises in a thick mist. Can the
boat live in such a surf? Undaunted, the
men wait for a sea that will launch her.
On it comes, prou lily, defiantly, nightly.
Its curling head is raised high. 1t leaps
wildly forward, with the weight and force
of an iron wall. The majestic crest bub-
bles in white wrath. II towers high above
The ranks, like an invincible general lead
ing his army TO battle. The men hold
their breath as it advances, and watch its
motions with a steady eye, Onward il
hurls itself, gaining volume in its path
onward into the death-slruggle on the
shore, until, struck by savage gust OF
wind, il breaks and drives the boat away
from it with an impetuous roar of scorn.
The men are thrown bruised and sore on
the beach. Still their courage remains,
And they renew their attempts, until the
| commander decides that 1t is hopeless to
contend longer. The life car alone, must
be used.
The rocket apparatus has been arranged,
and is firmly planted in the sand. 1t is a
long tube, mounted on tripod, and Is fired
| by percussion cap. About four hundred
| yards of very light cord are smoothly coil
ed at the base, and one end is attached to
the rocket. A small trigger is pulled, and
the rocket leaps through the air, and over
the distressed ship, bearing the line with it,
Happily, 1t falls across the deck, and is
hauled in by the sailors on board. When
the shore end is reached, block holding a
stouter rope and board containing the fol-
lowing words, in English and French, are
found attached:
snake the tail of the block fast to the
lower-mast, well up. If the masts are
gone, then fasten ii TO the best place you
can find. Cast off small line. See that the
rope in the block runs free, and show sig
nal to the Shore"
The men on the beach wait patiently un.
Ill rocket or light is displayed in answer
and the ife.car is then dispatched on its
journey. II is suspended to the ropes by
rings, and is hauled across the waters by
men on tue shore. In ten or fifteen minutes
II Is alongside the vessel and is filled with
wrecked people. Again signal is display
ed, and the lile-car makes its return jour
Representatives riding over the waters
sometimes high and dry, and sometimes
submerged by the heavy sea. 1t is so con-
structed that 1t contains enough air to give
four people breath for at least fifteen min
utes, but otherwise 1t Is not ventilated.
Here II comes gliding nearer the shore.
"Steadyp the commander cries 10 his
men, who are pulling with all their might
and main. "Steadyp' The car touches