Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-08
On "WEDNESDAY. January 18Th. 1873.
From the New York Times
The Life-Saving Report.

Inc LI1e-SaNinS report.
The animal report of Mr. Sumner l.
Kimball. the General Superintendent of
the Life-Saving Service, shows that the
creditable record which this important SER
vice has made Tor itself under its present
management has suffered no detriment
during the last year. During that period
there were 1874 disasters to vessels upon
the coast coming within the protection OF
this service, in which 1900 lives were inn
periled and l ,461 saved. Thirty-four YES
sells and cargoes were totally lost. On
fifty occasions, by the use of the liiesav
ing apparatus. 81 persons in all were
landed. There were but four fatal disas-
tiers within the limits OF the operations OF
the service, in which SO persons persisted,
but it appears that in every case the loss
OF life was due to the imprudence or i'll
fortune of the victim, and not to the fault
Of the life-saving crews or any defect in
the means of deliverance employed. Or
the 80 persons, % were wreckers who lost
their lives by the wreck of the Circassian,
on the coast of Long Island in December,
1876. 1t will be remembered that by the
heroic exertions of the life-saving force at
Bridgehampton all OF the crew and pas
sengers had been rescued The stranded
ship was afterward placed in the charge
Of wreckers and was destroyed while in
their hands by terrific storm which rem.
dered the exeriions of the life-saving crew
futile. Had they accepted the urgent adj
vice Of the life-saying officers, and taken
line from shore at the outset of the storm.
the loss OF life would have been avoided
II Is plain that the lives lost under such
circumstances detract In no degree from
the efficiency OF the liie-saving service
The other losses of life are explained in
like manner, either by the rottenness of
the ships which sent them to the bottom
before help could be rendered or the folly
OF the victims in undertaking to land
through the surf in their own boats The
circumstances of each loss were fully and
promptly investigated, and the graphic ac-
count given in the report of the facts
brought out in the investigations presents
thrilling picture of the perils to which
the brave men who serve their country in
the life saving service are exposed The
recent wreck of the Huron, although it did
not take place within the period which the
report covers, Is referred to in a note.
from which it appears that but for the in
sufiiciency of the appropriations, which
prevented the opening Of the stations on
this portion of the coast till Dee. !, the loss
OF life by this sad disaster might have
been prevented. This fact gives peculiar
force to the accommodation of the re-
port that sufficient funds be appropriated
to keep the stations open from the LIST of
November to the LIST OF May, If not for the
entire year. instead Of from one TO two
months less than that time, as is now ,ba
case. In view mol only OF the distress but
OF the material loss oceasioned by this sin
gle disaster. we may we'll doubt the wis
dom of that economy which, while it per-
mits the continuance OF this service, pro
~ldes it with funds sufficient to make its
projection available during only portion
of the 1ipne when wrecks are likely to oc-
cur.
Since the reorganization of this service
90 1871. 10 400 disasters on those parts Of
the coast protected byit, in which the lives
of 4.7S0 persons were Imperfect, bat 50
lives were lost. When it is stated that inn