The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-25
WORTHLEss LIFE-sarING CREWS.
The Service on the New Jersey Coast as seen
by % Kcs!dent,

SQUAN BEACH, Dee. 2i-The correspond
cncc Of THE Sun on the subject Of the misman-
ogei.cnt OF our life-saving service has awak-
encd deep interest along this coast. and 1t il
hoped that THE Sun will continue its good
work. Long before the organization of the
lifc-saving service the surfmcn Of Squan Beach
earned high reputation for daring. courage.
and efficiency. and they yet maintain H. This
is attcstcd by the fact that when there is wreck
on this coast tho Coast Wrccking Company's
steamers halt here and take aboard n volunteer
crow Of surfmcn Why is it. then. that men
with such we-known regulations have not
been offered positions in the life-saving SER
virc2 II Is assorted that positions are battered
II Is required Of members Of the service that
they be competent surfmen. Let us look Mt Sta
ton No. / at Sandy Hook. The keeper is
Charles Patterson, who also holds the important
position of Lighthouse Keeper at that point.
III acting Captain during his absence is John
{, Patterson his brother, q carpenter by trade,
who until recently was United States Gaugor.
pIrevinus to THIS season carpenter or two from
Blue Ball, y. j., Patterson's native plnce. wore
employed in the crew, ON the 20th Of March,
1876 the schooner VI. VI. Weaver was wrecked
between stations and 2. Lieut.. J. j, Walker
saws The vessel was ilrst seen from the south
window Of Station No. by Suriman Williams
and also that no patrol was on the beach. Keep
er Patterson was, attending to his duties at the
lighthouses. and SO much CONFUSION existed
mat, although tho vessel was discovered Two
hours before dark. the mortar and apparatus
did not reach the scene until II was too dark to
use them. One man was seen in the rigging.
who with the others Of the crew persisted that
night when the vessel broke up.
This winter station No. Is commanded by
John G. Patterson. the carpenter. the light
house keeper having resigned in his favor Is
II not Of the utmost importance that this sta
ton. on ono of the most dangerous points on
the Atlantic seaboard. should be commanded
10y thorough surfman. and tina, q crew be en-
ployed whose efficiency is unyuestiOned?
On the south boundary OF Monmouth county
station No. stands. The muster runs thus:
VIM. Jackson. keeper is n railroad employee.
Surimcn-JOQn c. Cook. Is q painter: Newman.
a mason's lahorer: Frank Lonestreet, farm
hand; John Stiles, sailor; John Tabor. for
m"rlp in the service OF the Coast Wreck ing
Company; Lewis Curtis. formerly in COM
mand OF coastlng vessel None Of these
mon are entitled TO be- called surfmcn.
IL IL true these men passed creditable cx-
animation before the Government inspectors n
few days ago but the sea was as Hat as an IRON
ing board. Even under these favorable cir
cumstanccs the keeper in getting on the stern
OF the liirboat made misstep. which. had the
sea been little rough must have thrown him
over the bonts side. So thoroughly are the fish
ermen in this vicinity impressed with the in
competency Of this crew that volunteer crow.
under the command of Capt Samuel L. Curtis,
has been organized. who. in case Of IN cmcr-
gcncy. will certainly take the lead In lfc-savng
measures. SQUAN.