The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
DANGERS OF THE SURF.
Shpwreckad Humanity Rescued in the Face
Of Countless Obstacles.
BEAUTIES AND DEFECTS OF THE SYSTEM.
Suggestions Which The Government Would
Do Well TO Heed
poIsr PLEASANT. \. J.. Dec. u.

village extends a long succession OF low beaches,
tringing the surf and divided from each other by in
let's, some OF which are oi considerable magnitude
These beaches dotted thiekly with the blackened
tmbers of vessels which the relentless surf and
treacherous shoals have converted into shapeless
hunks. AT every step meets some CHASTITY me-
mento of this kind and readily understand the
dread that mariners had of the Jersey coast AT
the inlets bars extend out for miles stretching forth
their like the devil fish in quest of prey. With
dense miss and deep water either side of them
auxliaries they lie in wait for vessels and bewdered
masters within their grasp ship is pounded to
pieces beyond recognition and her mutated fragments
strewn along the beach. Their fangs are now
partially drawn and the terrors of the mariner
diminished by the Life Saving Service that the gov
eminent has established in their vicinity Every foot
at that extensive coast is constantly patroiled by
sleepess guardianship police of the surf-more
vigilant and trustworthy perhaps than the
blue coated officers of the great cities. vessel APP
proaching too the dangerous coast on dark
night receives instant warning from the Coston
light of the faithful sentry. At the first signal of
distress out PUSHES stanch boat into the foaming
breakers and stout hearts and sinewy arms speed
forward to the rescue. All admire the brave iremen
who ready at a moments warning to do battle
with their dread enemy when the lurd
is due the dauntless who fear not
the angry surge and risk their lives to
others. facing death in OF its terrible
forms The trum PMS of the National Lifeboat Asso-
citation of England have been chroniced in verse; and
volumes have been written about the battles waged
against the Goodwin sands by the Ramsgate. Mar
gate and Deal crews. But noble have been the
exertons ofthese men, agreaer need Of praise due
TO the surfmen of the Jersey coast In the widest
the English life boat men know that their craft
is self-rghting and self bailing and can live in
any The surf boat quite another thing: moth
Ing but the most consummate skill and long ex-
perence can keep it ahoat in broken water" 1t
differs only from the ordinary ship boat in
having less sharp lines. once capsizei it
cannot right ITSELF and the crew would
be obliged 10 get ashore the best way they
could. Here is one fatal defect in the Life Saving
Service. It is certainly possible TO construct and
equip craft combining the best qualities of the
English life boat and the surf boat-one that is self
righting and self-bailing and that be managed
readily in shoa water The majority Of the boats now
in endanger the lives of their in sea OF
excessive fury like that which beats the shoals
of this coast in northeast gale. The government
however, has evinced such lively interest in the
Life Saving Service and has made such commendable
progress toward the desired goal Of efficiency that
Is likely this question Of vital importance WILL in
course Of time be satisfactorily answered.
TH2 LIFE SAVING STATION.
Summer visitors to the seaside may frequently
pass by small. unpretendlng red building. placed
,ose the surf and may perhaps mistake il for an
ordinary boat house Tins is the home Of the storm
warriors for seven months Of the year-from sep
TENDER TO April. The house Is substantially built in
order to resist the fierce storms to which it is ex-
posed and within there is the order and clean
illness on board nan-of-war The lower floor il
divided into two rooms-one containing all the life
saving apparatus, the other being the kitchen dining
room, parlor, reception room and library. stair
case leads to the one sleeping apartment above. The
keeper selects the crew Of six men and is solely re-
sponsble for the faithful discharge OF their duties
Among these may be- found men accustomed
TO the surf from childhood, well yersed in all its
capricious moods OLD captains who nave made
voyages to every port in the world and grizzied fish
The strictest discipline j. required Of the
crew, and each has his dutes marked out for him
In boat the main object Of interest Is the
surf boat mounted on its carriage ready for
instant use. double set OF oars cork jackets for
the crew buckets and hatchets are constantly kept
in the boat on a hand wagon beside it is piled the
mortar apparatus-the breeches buoy the hawser
whip. mortar line. sand anchor and crotch. At one
end Of the the mortar and its box Of balls
and above them swings the metallic life car. Merriman
life suits are hung pegs TO be used principally
when il is necessary 70 send through the surf
70 establish communication with vessel. Closets
are filed with ammunition rockets Coston lights
spare lines, lamps and a medicine chest and all
around are grouped the signal iags Of the stations
and the International code small but we'll selected
library is the least interesting feature of the sta
ton. When the houses were first built the crews
suffered much discomfort from the cold az the keen
blast penetrated through tile numerous creyices and
chnks and they shiyered around the iire IL They
were IN tent instead II house Now the buildings
VIII protected aud sealed triple noor being an
uerneath aud the walls doors and windows free from
oil draught..
TIKI CREW at WORK
suppose II Is Wild stormy night with north
easter blowing raging snrf on shore, aud through
darness nothing cn he seen but the white foam
auna upon ~ beech The patrol peers anxiously
seward and wrap. his oilskin coat more closely
around him while the spray almost blinds hlm. sud-
denly there ~ tue gleam 81 rocket aud be catches
glimpse Of snip Lights lie answers the call with
nus red Coston light 90 notify the shipwreck ed prpl.
that ad = close ~ hand lie loses no time In reach
ing the station anu arausng the crew The following
questions are asked by the keeper How does the
vessel lie, inshore onshorc ~ In what position
btlged ttull 81 water on working on the sand n
Glow is the n II the vessel lies close to the
shore the first thought IS a. reach her with a line
from the mortar; but IL, a. i more generally tile
case. she strikes on an outer bar the doors Of the
boat room flung open aud the boat aud wagon are
ruu out II may bo that the vessel las come ashore
q mile or two from the station. Then there il a long
and weary pull Of the heavy wagon the wind threat
enng 10 oyerturn il aud the boat every moment and
the wheels sinking in the wet sand When, after
long struggle. they reach the point opposite the
Iab0ruU vessel, the boat IL lifted ont aud run down
~ the edge ~ the surf. The wagon comes apart in
the middle to enable the boat tu be easily taken
on The crew then buckle on their armur-the cork
Jackets; the two bow men jump IN aud take their
places and the captain watches q favorable oppor.
tunity 70 launch the boat He keeps his eye on the
outer rollers and when there a momeniarv iull he.
tween the huge breakers gives the signal The boat
H. out the rest OF the crew Chamber into their
places. and. last of all, the captain Is az
his post with the steering They have
passed the inner line ~ the surf IN an ~.
slant. Then the contest vi skill and
pluck against the broken seas. The captain
keeps watchtul eye his around
aud does not allow any Of them to Hank him lie
steers the boat to ceward II the distress and
holds her there until he approach enough 70
be protected from the extreme force ~ the by
tic vessel which acts sort 81 break water. n the
case should be- and il Is barely possible that the boat