The New York herald., 1877-11-29
all day. Tho sea is getting rough and the breakers
run high Divers are ready TO so 10 work as soon ~
calmer weather Is had.

THE LITE-sAvINo sERvIcE-How CONGRESS
CRIPPLED IT By FALSE EcoNoMY-MoRE
MONEY TO BE GRANTED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.1
WAsnSGros, d. c., Nov. 2s 1871
The lfe-saving service OF tho government cannot be
held responsible for tho neglect TO the stations
near The scene OF the wreck OF The Huron Within
few years tho extent OF the service has been very
much increased and the annual estimates have become
quite large Congress nevertheless has, for several
sessions, been sparing and parng the amount asked
for, SO that the Treasury Department has becn
PEELED 10 husband It's resources IN making
tho liic-saving service effective. Tho terri
bio necessity for having nn Increased patrol
on the Atlantic coast now forces itself upon
the attention OF Congress, and the estimates VIII,
therefore, be increased To the exigcncos OF
enlarged service. During the past fiscal year there
were ia disasters 10 shipping within reach OF lite
saving stations, upon which vessels there 500
persons. oithis number only 80 were lost During
the same time 3dS persons sheltered In the build
ings provided Tor the service and 963 days protection
gwen 70 them. The amount or property imperilod
Nearly every wreck received aid OF some sort. From
hity OF the wrecks tho lilo saving apparatus landed 81
persons.
WHAT AN OLD SAILOR rHINKs-DIFFIcuLTY OF
WORKING A SHIP WITH AN INCOMPETENT
AND INEFFICIENT CREW
No. TIA TENTH AtRyuE,
NEW YORK, Nov 81, 1871
To ruE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
We arc all grieved at the loss OF the HI uron cs-
pecialy on point that Is generally given wide berth
In blow. and many conjccurcs to tho cause OF her
loss have been started and entertained by various be-
lcvera
There Is no doubt that o steam veascl with her
anchors gone and machinery smashed is In u pretty
bad hx Gu lee shore in a heavy gale. but many .
sailing vessel has dropped into just such position
on IN mi af nni md
men has clawed OF and fetched up safely.
II is not enough for ship, especially man.ofwar
to have good officers who perfect seamen and nav
gator-, but she must have to the orders of
those good seamen, other seamon In the crew with
equal or perhaps better knowledge OF seamanship-
LOT all tnv book learning IN tho world would ever
enable a landsman TO run noit in heavy blow and
pass an earring while reenng Neither wuud it teach
the dark aud at an angle OF 40 degrees reef ast
rope and sena .opsailan,mast down on dcck.
II appears the poor old Huron '' was '' V;sf WsIi
proviaed with most questionable crew.
company Of the lost Huron may. without reckon
ing the officers, nnd about thirty seven petty officers
seamen snd ordinary scamen. AT sea generally, early
at night these are divided into two watches which
would leave, say nineteen seancn ON deck Ol thcso
there may be- on suspicious coast, in a blow, four
on the look out, two al the leads two nt tho wheel
and the quartermaster coming This leaves ten sea-
mon 70 y around ana do tho work OF about fifty men
u Unlci States ma OIL war-hardy enough 10 man
canal boat In a fresh breeze on the Eric
Inc crews OF our naval vessels arc sometimes mos;
icariully and wonderfully made. l remember-l
think II In 1868 the Vermont lint -oi sh,n
took the bit between her teeth and went bobbi no
around III very Lively style for number OF weeks
until shc was fnalIy picked up and towed In 10 u.s.
whenwo learned that her crew principally shoe.
makers from Salon anu Lynn who offer 10 half
In their place.
II the poor Huron knocking around that fearful
soas rt IN IN sus1 M heavy bow with SO lew seamen 10
anchors on such treacherous shore, pity her; If
she was humping and grinding her bottom out smush.
ing her boats and murdoring her ON those well
known shores. pity her; but most OF all l sympa-
thizo with those, who, with 80 apparently incou,-
petcDt crew are expected TO conduct Uned States
manofwar all round tho world without loss OF lis or
property TO tho crew thov command
WILLIAM WILKERSON
xh WaL