The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-02

The Life.saying Service.
There are thirty-nine life-saving stations
from Sandy HOOK 10 Cape May. compris-
ing District No. 4. Zach Ci,trict Is in
charge OF a superintendent; all are under
the supervision OF a captain In the revenue
marine service, and the entire service is in
the hands OF the Revenue Marine Bureau.
The stations are each In charge OF a keeper
selected by the superintendent. who is
held accountable for the property placed
In his charge and The management OF the
apparatus Six surfmen are attached TO
each station. who are elected BIZ the keeper
from the ablest wreckers and fishermen
along the coast. They live in the station
house from December ! TO April |. and
are subject TO call at any time during the
rest OF the year. The beach Is patrOlled ev-
cry night its entire length. the watch from
each station going half way in both direc-
tons 10 the next station, thus making one
continuous patrol. The houses are placed
as close TO the shore as i safe, and are fur
nished with the most efficient apparatus
for saving life. principal among which are
the life-bOat, lfe-car. mortar and balls,
hawser, lines, tackles. sigLal lanterns.
C0ston lights. life ~prcservcrs. etc. The
kitchen j. furnished with cooking stove,
AAltt rAtOA~ AAAAN AAN anu NAA~AAT~s ain III
bedroom with mattresses and blankets.
On these tempestuOus nights, when the
" northeaster' bowls along the coast like
a blast from Labrador. the greatest vigi-
lence Is necessary, for il il then when there
il likely 10 be a sore need for the services
of the wrecker. The latter draws on his
rubber clothing and starts OUT ON his pa
troll, lantern in hand, the driving sleet and
sand making il impossible 10 look in the
direction of the wind. he pushes on,
guarding has eyes with the visor of his cap,
and peering here and there into the dark
ness. His route is dangerous. for the
treschcrous surf has worn gullies and
deep Quicksands in unexpected places.
into which he Is liable to plunge al my
step. When he hears the sound Of q vessel
pounding on the beach. and the tapping
and Swapping If her sails. 30 soon as he
can make ont her outlines he instantly
burns a red light as a signal that il Is seem
The surfman makes all haste TO the sta
ton and reports 10 the keeper. who sum
mons all hands. The life-car and mortar
are loaded upon the wagon, with hawser
and lines and all that Is needed. and the
laborious task Of hauling through the
gullies and sand In the face of the storm is
begun. Reaching the scene OF the wreck
the keeper. with the aid OF his night-glass,
does his utmost to ascertain the position
OF the stranded vessel, and he selects a
spot In which TO place the mortar. Ii Is
bad time now 10 give orders. for the roar
81 the ocean and storm browns the strong
est voices, and a man can split his throat
without being heard six feet away. All,
however, know their part. and there is lit
tie necessity for Issuing commands. Rub
Der blankets are held by several OF the
men, while the charge Of powder and the
ball. five and three-quarter inches in diam
eter. are carefully put In place. The line
Is skillfully cooled to prevent its becoming
e~ntangled. and the end j. fastened TO the
ball by a spiral wire. The mortar is
| ranged and elevated, careful regard being
had to the force and direction Of the wind.
A white light is burned 10 warn those on
the vessel of what 10 coming, and the
match is applied. Then there Is a heavy
boom from the mortar. a ringing screech
from the line. as IL Is drawn out with
great velocity through the air and drops
! across the ship. The waiting seamen, by
the aid Of this line, draw on a second one
Of large size. and BY means Of the second
pull of the hawser, which Is made fast TO
the ship. The ~sand-anchor Is firmly i'm
bedded in the beach and a powerful tackle
i secnred.to IL. by which the hawser is
drawn as tight as the rolling OF the vessel
will permit. The life-car is suspended be-
meath, and drawn out TO the ship by the
second line and hauled back 10 the shore
by a rope attached for that purpose, which
process is continued until all are landed.
The car is boat-shaped and made of iron,
fitted with u tight cover, which an be Sc
cured by fastening both outside and within,
aud il will accommodate six men. al
though more may be crowded In. Only n
few minutes are required To make a pas
sage" As the air speedily becomes with
ted and unable to support life. quick work
IL necessary. After the passengers are
landed they are taken TO the station and
made "A comfortable as possible. During
the past year forty-eight vessels. valued
with their C .rgoes at - 2Sl. 606. and hay
ON board l.l66 persons, We're driven on
our shores. and 303 persons were rescued
by the Life-Saying Service last year
NeaC YorA World.