The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-07-18
Our 0lio.
From 81. Nicholas for June.
THE CoAsT.wREcKERs.

THE C0AST-WRECKERS.
In the days of old, before lighthouses
werc built, the coast of maritime nations
was lighted at night by beacon-frcs, which
blazed out on the steepest cliffs 10 show
the homeward-bound mariner his way into
port When their red flames were seen
through the mist and storm, the anxious
seamen were sure Of their position, and
steered fearlessly on their course TO the
safe haven that was thought to be near.
Not always wisely, for there were false
beacons as well as true, ue,---beacons that were
us fatal to the vessel trusting them as the
candle is to the moth beacons that were
kindled by villains to lead her astray and
on to the reefs and hidden rocks, that she
might be plundered of her cargo.
Wreckes these wicked men were called
and at one time they existed in such num-
bers, and were so bold, that the mariners
of England dreaded them as much as they
dreaded the noted buccaneers Of the Span
ish main. The more desperate of them
inhabited remote caves ON the toughest
part Of the coast, and were without laws
and without hearts. After alluring some
vessel into their stronghold, they never
!. attempted TO save the lives Of the poor
wrctches on board, for had they done so
their guilt might have been revealed and
the worst of them, with their own merci-
less hands, did not scruple even to hasten
the death of those struggling sufferers who
were washed ashore.
Many Of these wrecken lived in dis
guise as honest fishermen, like wolves in
lambs clothing, and at night went forth
from their slumbering villages to decoy
ships TO destruction Even in our day,
the people Of English fishing villages con-
sidered all wrecks that came to their
shores as their rightful prizes, and assisted
in despoiling the cargo. They complained
bitterly when new lighthouses were built;
and an anecdote is told, that one Of the
constructing engineers was travelling near
the Orkney Islands in small boat, and
observed to the captain that his sails were
in bad condition. "Had it not been
Gods will that you should come here with
your lighthouses" the old fellow answer
ed, eve should have had better sails TO
our boats aud more Of other things" Hap
PLY, all the wreckers Of this kind have
passed away only their name remains and
that is changed in meaning. Instead of
causing wrecks and robbing them, as of
old, the new wreckers prevent them, and,
failing in that, protect wrecked property
from the ravages Of the waves at sea and
from thieves on shore The cargo is not
all thcy aim ut. There are many vessels
ahoat now, staunch as the staunchest, that
have been engulfed in fathoms Of water
and raised, with their treasure, by the
wonderful appliances of modern wreckers.
The large wrccking companies have de-
pots at New York, Boston, New Orleans,
Norfolk, and at various ports on the great
Lakes, where they have vessels and appa-
ratus for raising sunken ships and remoy-
ing the cargo Some of them also employ
agents along the coast, whose duty ii is to
telegraph information Of all wrecks that
occur within their district to the chief Of
fees, from which assistance is sent You
wonder, no doubt, as you reach this point,
what motive tho wreckers have, and may
be accrediting them with unusual kind
ness; but, though many ofthen have very
kind hearts, theirs is really business en-
terprise, and, while it requires courage
and skill, it is only pursued for the sake
OF gain. The wreckers are entitled to sal
wage, which, as most Of you know, means
part Of the value Of whatever property
they may save. The amount is fixed by
tribunal called the Admiralty Court.
and is large or small, according to the risks
borne by the wrcckcrs 10 their work, the
value Of the property saved, the condi-
ton Of the Vessel or cargo when saved, the
skill displayed, and the time and labor
expended
But no claim is entertained unless the
wreckers prove that the passengers and
crew we're removed out of danger before
any attempt was made to rescue the YES
sci or her cargo Thus the wreckers are
encouraged to assist the life-saying men,
and many instances might be given of the
good work they have done in that way.
Sometimes the salvage amounts to one-half
the value Of the property saved, aud occa-
sionally 1t Is more. But often the claim
tor salvage is abandoned, and an agreement
made between the wreckers aud the own
ers Of the wrecked vessel that stated sum
Of money shall be paid for lifting her and
bringing her into harbor
II you heard that great ship, Of two
or three thousand tons burthcn, had gone
% the bottom Of the sea, several miles from
the shore, you would perhaps think it inn
possible that she could be recovered and
BROUGHT n tha surf.oo .o.;u flnf of