St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-04-03

Oh lne sanu>. as IltN btdl lntll mes
sages to the adjoining stations. y tine
display of fireworks, YOU would think
them but to the litc-sa ing men they
are imperative orders. First. Il red, Il
white and II green light are burned i'll
quick succession. to attract the watch
at the next station. and as soon as one
white light is seen i'll answer. IL series
of orders are given by the same beauti-
tul means Thus. Il red light anu"uuc-s
danger. aud Il green. light that aid is
required from the next station by the
station signaling. y red and green
light i'll succession mtam. Bring your
boat and equipments" \ green and Il
red light the previous signal reversed
mean. Bring your life car and lines"
red and white light. Bring your
rocket apparatus. and :" on different
combinations of color> conveying differ
ent instructions.
The b"at-carIiage has very broad
wheels. to prevent il from sinking i'll
the sand. and two stout horses gallOp
with il along the beach until they are
opposite the wreck. Lite-car, rocket
apparatus and lines are ready. The
men assemble. eager for service and
urged on 10y their commander. All
| their nerves are strung, aud all their
devotion is stirred The vessel is toss
ing and grOaning in the sand. and every
moment may he worth Il dozen lives.
| Quickly the boat is rolled off the ear
riage on the shore. Her brave crew
gather around her gunwale. They are
dressed i'll heavy oil-skin clothes, from
which the water rolls harmlcssly and
some of them have lite-preservrrs
around their waists. But these things
3 IL
and they throw them aside and face the
gale in their thick tiahnel>. Most of
them are i'll the prime of life. There is
not IN understood man among them.
Each is fitted by nature to contend with
Il giant. and beat him. Seven such fel-
lows are not often seen together; and.
as they brace themselves for work. You
may we'll wonder if they can he match
ed. All our admiration is called forth
10y the strength they display as they
bend to push their boat into the water,
at the word of their commander. They
do not ucmhle OF hold back. vet the
trrrols of death are before them. The
surf. roaring at their feet. taunts them
with its power As far the eye can
reach. the only prospect is ii foamiug
waste, from which the spray rises in Il
thick mist. Can the boat live III such Il
surf? Gndaunted. the men wait foT IL
sea that will launch her. On it comes,
proudly, detiantlH. nightly. Its curl
ing head is raised high. 1t leaps Wild
lN forward. with the wait and force of
. an iron wall. The majestic crest bub-
hes i'll white wrath. 1t towers high
above the ranks, like an invincible gen
eral leading his army to battle. The
men hold their breath as it advances,
and watch its motions with Il steady
eye. Onward it hurls itself. gaining
volume i'll its path: onward into the
death-stIuggle Oh the shore. until. struck
10y Il savage gust of wind. it breaks and
drives the boat away from 1t 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 com
mander decides that it is hopeless to
contend longer. The life-car. alone,
must be used.
The rocket apparatus has been ar
ranged. and Is firmly planted in the
sand. 1t is Il long tube. mounted "n Il
tripod. and Is fired by percussion cap.
About four hundred yards of very light
cord ale smoothly cuiled at the base,
I and one end is attached to the rocket.
y small trigger is pulled. and the rocket
IoaPe t'ii"nsli me an ana over 'ne us
: trrSsed ship. bearing the line with il.
. Happily. ii falls across the deck, and is
NAV ni,'Ieo Ill ny 'hc sailors on h"'in'
! nSli '''e Hi'"'e Ell" y ''a'''to' ,'""h'
h"lull'S Il >'"",e' rope an" Il no'ro con
'"'I'i,S 'il' ioil"N my "ol"s, III EhSiiH'i
an" + ieii'n' are i""ii" '''HTneu
, MAKE Tue TAN "i 'he ni""h las' l"
= 'he lower -IiaS' wen up. II iiic h'as's
die gone. men la>ttn II l" 'it ne>' Pia'e
20" can hili' o'>I OH small nue. see
INA, ,'' ioP' III 'iiT "lo'h n''i's lie''
anu ", SiioN Sishai =" 'ne S'i"'e.
=, " w NV "i' -
:. ,''''n q w. 'I N "i'Pi"N Z" ="
4
:. NV" WI 'H ,"'H S.'Sl'eno'u
: shore. In ten ~ fifteen minutes 1t Is
aiohgSlue the Vessel. ana Is hlltd WITH
Nrccheu people. agar Il signal Is dis
PlaH'd' ana 'ht llle-car makes lis return
= Journey sometimes llulhS over the
! waters sometimes nlSh ana drN' ana
S"''ie 'i''''s submerged ny 'he heaNH st''
1t l. :" constructed 'ha' u contains
! cn'"S, al 10 give lo!'i people pie''h
"'i "' '">' hi''eii "''n'''c>' "", "'h'f-
- Ni>c 1t Is h"t Neli'Ili't"' here II COMES
Sli'i'S nearer .ht shoif, @teadE
i 'ne '"',,n'''l"lIl, CRIES I" MS men, VINO
"'V P'''hnS "'',a ''iI , ''''' 'h'Sn' an"
= h''i'' ''''"'tN ht ''ii 'ou'HtS IIlc