The daily gazette., 1875-03-16
The Life-S0vsnD Service.
THE WORK OF THE wREcKERs ON THE
COAST OF NEW JERSEY.

THE WORK OF THE wRECKERs ON THE
COAST OF NEW JERSEY
i There are tnirty nine life-saving st A.
tions from Sunday Hook to Cape May,
comprising District No. f. Each dis
trict is in charge of superintendent =
all are under the supervision of cap
tain in the revenue marine service, and
the entire service is in the hands of the
Levense Marine Bureau. The stations
are each in charge OF Il keeper selected
by the superintendent, who is held ac-
countable for the property placed in
his charge and the management of the
apparatus. Six surfmen are attached
to each station, who are elected by the
keeper from the ablest wreckers and
fishermen along the coast. They live
in the station-house from December
to April |, and are subjected to call at
any time du'ing the rest of the year.
The beach is patrolled every night its
entire length, the watch from each sta
ton going half way in both directions
to the next station, thus making one
continuous patrol. The houses are
placed as close to the shore as is safe,
and are furnished with the most effi-
lcient apparatus for saving life, princi-
lpal among which are the life-boat, life
car, mortar and balls, hawser, lines,
ltackels, signal-lanters, Costoh lights,
life-preservers, &c. The kitchen is
furnished with cooking-stovc table,
stools, tinware and dishes, and the
bedroom with mattresses and blan-
lketss -. ..-.-. -.
nt, fhaGa famnacf1Inna ninhfa IN han
I the "north-easter" howls along the
coast like blast from Labrador the
greatest vigilence is necessary, for it Is
then when there is sore need of the
services of the wrecker. The latter
draws on his rubber clothing and starts
, out on his patrol, lantern in hand, the
driving sleet and sand making it i'm
possible to look in the direction of the
wind. He pushes on guarding his
eyes with the visor of his cap, and peer
: ing into the darkness. His route is
dangerous for the treacherous surf
t has worn gullies and formed deep
e eeIquicksands in unexpected places,
' into which he is liable to plunge at
I any step.
When he hears the sound of vessel
4 pounding opthe beach, and the flap
d ping and swapping of her sails, so soon
9 as he can make out her outlines he In
y y stantly burns a red light, as signal
that it Is seen. The surfman makes all
1t haste to the station and reports to the
keeper, who summons all hands. The
llife-car and mortar are loaded upon the
wagon, with hawser and lines and al
'' that is needed, and the laborIous tash
of hauling through the gullies and sane
in the face of the storm Is begun
IL Reaching the scenes of the wreck, til,
r keeper. with the aid of his night-glass
does his utmost to ascertain the position
of the stranded vessel, and he selects
IL spot in which to place the mortar. l
Is bad time now to give orders, TO
the roar Of the ocean and storm drown
T. the strongest voices, and man cal
N split his throat and cannot be heard sil
r. feet away. All, however, know thei
part, and their is little necessity for is
suiug commands. Rubber blankets
re..held by several of the men, while
the charge of powder and tho ball, fiv'
and three. quarter incher in diameter
are carefully put in place. The lin
il skillfully eeiled to prevent its becom
ing cntangled, and tho end is fastene
is to tho ball by spiral wire. The MOI
tar is ranged and elevated, careful n
=, card being had to the force and diret
tion of the wind. A white light
burned to warn those on board of VIII,
Is coming, and the match is applied
Then there is heavy boom from til
- mortar, q ringing screech from the lir
as it is drawn out with great velocit
through the air and drops across tt
= ship. The waiting seamcn, by the al
Up of this line, draw off second one
large size, and by means of the secor
pull off the hawser, which is made ia
l., to the ship. The sand-anchor Is firm
imbedded in tho beach and powerf
DO tackle is secured to it, by which IL
my hawser is drawn as tight as the rollir
of the vessel will permit. The life-c
is suspended beneath, and drawn o
TO the ship by the second line ar
hauled back to shore by II rope attach
for that purpose, which process Is CO
r. 7 tinued until all are landed The car
on: boat-shaped and made of iron, fit
!, with tight cover, which can be secur
:. by fastening both outside and with
and it will accommodate six me
lid although more may be crowded
ita- Only few minutes are required
ity. make passage" the air speed
sty. becomes vitiated and unable to supp
4 In, life, quick work is necessary. Aft
.aSs aoy the passengers are landed theyare tax
,ody to the station and made as comforta
as possible. a.-
!. During the past year forty-eight =
Nd. lsels, valued, with thoir cargoes, at