The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-20
MAN THE LlFEBOA7r'
Unsatisfactory Features Of the Life
Saving Service.
REFORMS NEED ED.
New Orders Recently Issued to the
Keepers
BLOCK ISLAND. Dec. 10, 1877.

while tho service 10 In many respeCts '"cfo
is still room Tor Improvement in others Previous TO
1871 there were only few scattered stations along
the coas, under direction OF tho Treasury Department.
md no regular system md been inauguratcd In tho
wear mentioned mo present lifo saving service was
sorranized. with Mr. Sumner l. Kmball. Chief OF
Revenue Marine. us Superintendent. and Captain
lanes H. Mcrryman. OF the Revenue Marine, as In
spsc,or Under these gentlemen the number oil sta
tions has from about forty TO 49, the coast
line OF tho country has pcen divided into eleven dis
tricts ana improvements have been mado from time
10 time until reached It's present form.
Each district Is under tho OF superintendent.
amounted IRON civil life by tho Secretary OF the
Treasury who receives a salary of $1,000 or 81, 500
year.
Here comes in a bad feature. These supcrinten.
dents are generally appointed through political! infu
cncc rather than with regard their fitness for tho
position, and If many gentlemen now holding that
position are competent not because ofthc system,
but rather despite OF These superntendents navo
in.tbeir hands the nomination OF men for keepers,
and their nominees IRE all appointed by tho
Secretary OF the Treasury II Will readily DO soon that
political preferences govern tho appointment OF the
keepers, and thcy in turn cosrced In many cases
into employing for their crews who have no
other than their political usefulness
The superini endents the disbursing officers OF
their respective uistTlctS ana siVo pouus W
the government tor the faithful performance
OF their duties. Whom the service was organized
several officers the Revenue Marine were detailed
10 servo us inspectors under Captain Merryman, and
one or two OF these with physician from the Marine
Hospital SERVICE appointed to go along the
coast inspect all the stations and report upon their
condition. The first tour made by this Board, IN
1871, revealed a great many weak points In the SER
vice. AS hintei at above. many persons were found
employed as surimen who had been brought up
inland and had been appointed through politicians.
There was general impression in the vicinity OF the
stations that the whole thing a sort OF political
machine In one district, on tho coast VI Maryland.
the Board found a station in charge OF set OF very
unseamaniike negroes, VINO proved, upon cxamna-
ton 10 know more about wedding potato patches than
riding surf
"How came you hercg Who appointed you p" said
the inspectors.
"Golly, massa, wc was 'lected," tho response
"What do you meanY"
.why We had lection up to DO viuge TO SEQ
whose gwine to get do job, an wo was dono gone
got dc most votes"
These gentlemen lost .de Job" that very night and
competent men took their places. This was an ex-
trcme case, but IL was found that almost every
crew were moro men who, through inexperi-
snce or physical nhrmity. were not adapted to tho
work; and one weak spoils The keepers
appoint their own surimcn and held responsible
for my want OF ability on the part OF the latter and
the inspectors discover rrcguiarity or In
competency tho delinquent Is dismis cd at once.
Charges have frequently been made that keepers
have received bonuses from surfmcn for the employ
ment but invest igaton has proved all such ACCUSE
tions thus far TO be uniounded. Tho men who CON-
pose the are, SO lar as possible selected from
tho residents OF the immediate vicinity OF the sta
hay hctta nte d vi ctea
OF the coast, the direction Of tho currents, it's
rocks and so than living fow miles DIS
tant Besides they potter acquainted and more
apt TO work tremendously together than VINO had
met before. And now appears great defect in
tho sys,cm The Keepers get only S2oJ year for
Stunning the OF tho station and apparatus tie
whole year round. and for serving con'nu-
ousiy with tho crew and steering the boat
while tho station Is manned This Is
small that difficulty Is found in getting good and Of
have accepted they prize It so slightly that they
small pains strive for the GOOD opinion OF their SUI
under no bond or contract Of any kna with sne gov
ernmens they iecl that they are independents Then
the surimen being generally old acquaintanccs OF the
keeper and receiving az high pay US he-thcy getting
$40 month while on duty-regard his orders Nehtly
and consequently he finds great difficulty in enforcing
discipliDe. The men know the government IN the
matter only remotely. They are under contract,
uniform TO distinguish them from their fellow
fishermen along Tho beach, and they feel Al perfect
liberty whenever an opportunity OF bettcring them
solves offers 10 leave the service and 60 TO
eminent Is every yoar taxing fishermen, training
tbem only TO have them conc away during the rum-
mer. or sometimes in the very season. and leave she
service to and recruits 10 train. In The Ut
this station there ie only one msn who served It
last year Mr. Kmon IN CHI charge OF the service, Is
the for a torn OF years, 80 that they would be
moro aud efficient from year 10 year, feel
more amenaoe TO discipline. lilo would have tho
keepers paid $500 year each, and havo them sworn
IN as inspectors Of customs. 10 clothe them with
authority. When wreck came ashore they
could then protect the revenue and The
time lost and tho expense incurred in scndng GUS
toms officials from tho large cities.
Whom tho service was arst organized In 1871 physi
clan from tho Marine Hospital service was detailed 10
mon the pb ysoa fitness OF the engaged to man
the staii0uG Tho necessity OF such al examination
Is evident from tho fact tuat one weak or ibnrm man
Ia lifcboat renders tho other five almost helpless so
necessary Is that zach shall perform his part ialh
fully sKiliully. Every year since 1871 physician,
detailed as above, mas accompanied the inspectors,
and tho examinations mado by hm'and the instruc-
gwen have come 10 be regarded as one Of
the features Of tho annual inspection.
IMPORTANT OMISSION
Tho bill introduced the House OF Representatives
on the TIN inst. by Hon s. Cox, providing Tor the
establishment OF the Lie saving Service ugon inde
pendent basis has many good features butts deficient
10 ono very important particular. IL makes no pro-
vision whatever for the services OF medical inspector
the crews and instruct them in the use OF
tho modicine chest aud IN the revival OF unfortunate
persons who may be rescued from wrecked vessels in
partially drowned condition.
OTHER bad FEATURES
Another matter tnat should Dc attended TO ut
The keeper Six men low attached TO each station
lust suffice the lifeboa, aud whenever they go
out Tor practice or to ad vessel IN distress the 81.
tion WIN all It's properly IS LETT wholly unprotected,
and the people who i've along the coast unfortunately
not all strictly honest But aside IRON the expo
property thus caused there should be ut least
one man shore signal tho crew aud render as
s,siance in any emergency which may arise, and in
OF shpwrcck 10 direct operations upon the beach,
As -, N u the falls III the boat
not be manned unless volunteer can be found, and
shat always easy task. Still another feature
seeds correction AT some oil the stations, including
he whole four this Stac, there ~ no arrangement
Tor COOK ny and consequ ence the men are obliged
10 take their meals lat home As they frequently
distance OF several miles tho loss OF Time ~
Cured gong to and iro three times day
can DO easily estimated. Under such circum.
stances they must be. absent from their
post almost the whole day, Tor man has little moro
than enough time TO reach the station and get back
between meals, and II would be very rash TO ncr
that Instances the matter vs. adjusted by THAR
staying At home until all tho meals have becp Disposed