The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-07-20
Liae-Saying service.


There are thirty nine life saving sta
tions from Sandy Hook to Cape May,
comprising District No. A. Each dis
trict is inrcare of a superintendent; ali
are under the, supervision of a captain
in the revenue marine service, and thel
entire service is in the hands of the
Revenue Marine Bureau. sc g sii'i 81"
The stations are each in charge of q
keeper selected by the superintendent,
who is held accountable for the prop
erty placed in his charge and the man.
agement Of the apparatus. Six surf.
men are attached 10 each station, who
are selected by the keeper from the
ablest wreckers and fishermen along the
coast. They live in the stationlhouse1
from DtcemberI, to April /, and are
subject to call any time during the rest
of the year. "a The beach is patrolled
every night its entire length, the watch
from each station 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 efficient apparatus for saving
life, principal among which are the life
boat, life. car, mortar and balls, hawser,
lines tackles, signal lanterns, Coston
lights, life-preservers, DC. The kitchen
is furnished with cooking stove, table,
tinware and dishes, and the bedroom
with mattresses and blankets.
On these tempestuous nights, when
the "northeaster" howls along the coast
like blast from Labrador, the greatest
vigilance is necessary, for it is then
when there is likely to be sore need of
the services of the wrecker. The lat
ter draws on his rubber. clothing and
starts out on his patrol, lantern in hand,
the driving sleet and sand making it
| Impossible to look in the direction of
the wind He pushes on, guarding his
eyes with the visor of his cap and peer.
ing here and there into the darkness =
His route is dangerous, for the treach
erous surf has worn gullies and formed
deep quicksands in unsuspected places,
into which he is liable to plunge at any
step. When he hears the sound of a
vessel pounding on the beach and the
| tapping and swapping of her sails, so
soon as he can make out her outlines he
INSTANTLY burns red light as a signal
that tits seen. The, surfman makes all
haste to the station and reports to the
keeper, who summons 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. i
Reaching the scene of the wreck the
keeper, with the aid Of his nightglass
does his utmost to ascertain the posi-
ton of the stranded vessel, and he Sc
lects spot in which to place the NOR
tar. tits a bad time now to give or.
ders, for the roar of the ocean and
storm drown the strongest voices, and
man can split his throat without being
heard six feet away. All, however,
know their part, and there is little ne
cessity for issuing commands. Rubber
blankets are held by several of the men
while the charge of powder and bal, five
and three quarter inches in diameter
are carefully put in place. The line is
skillfully coiled to prevent its becoming
entangled, and the end is fastened tc
the ball bya 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 tc
warn those on the vessel Of what is
C ,ming, and the match is applied. Their
there is heavy boom from the mortar
a ringing screech from the line. as itlis
drawn out with great velocity through
the air and drops across the ship. The
waiting seamen by the aid Of this line
draw off a second one of large size, and
by means Of the second pull off the
hawser, which is made fast to the ship
The sand anchor is firmly embedded ir
the beach and a powerful tackle is Sc
cured to it, by which the, hawser is
drawn as tight as the rolling of, the yes
sci will permit The life, car is suspen
Il lOCu OCuCa0u, ulO NloWu Ou1 w Ill6 Sill
+ by the second line and hauled back tx
shore ;bysa rope attached for that pur
pose, which process is continued unit
all are landed. i,a8 b..e sn--aH ~.
/ The car is boat,shaped and made, o
from fitted with tight cover, which car
be secured by fastening both outsid,
and within, and it will accommodate 81,
men, although more may be crowded in
| Only few minutes is required to maxi
a passage" AS the air speedily be
comes vitiated and unable to supper
life, quick work is necessary. After th'
passengers are landed they are taken tt
the station and made as comfortable al
possible. During the. past year forty
eight vessels, valued with their cargoe1
at 50, ,23l COG, and having on board l,
l66 persons, were driven on our shores
and 303 persons were rescued by th,
Life-Saying Service last year.
MTsTho fo 10 yno6orofo nov