Smyrna times., 1878-07-24

LIFE SAVING STATIoN-ExnIBITIoN OF ITS
WORKINGS AND APPLIANCEs.-On Wednes-
day last at the dinner table at the Surf
House, Rehoboth, it was announced that
an exhibition of the services at the Life
Saving Station, near the Cape Henlopen
Light House, three miles from the "Surf
House" would be given, and that Senator
Bayard and others would be in attendance.
The recent painful memories of the wrecks
of the Huron and Metropolis made such an
exhibition more interesting, and soon the
Surf boat was filled while great many
more on foot and in carriages started for
the station. Among the number were six
from this town four men and two ladies,
the latter in carriages and the former on
foot. The hour announced was o'clock,
at which time the spectators had arrived,
but Senator Bayard and Major Gen. Alex.
McCook, on the principal that large bodies
move slowly, did not get there until about
4 o'clock. Capt. Clampitt in charge of the
station was occupied in the mean time in
showing the different apparatus and how
they were applied in saving wrecks. The
station is manned by seven men eight
months in the year, the house, q con-
venient one, being used as home while at
the same time containing all the wrecking
appurtenances. These consist of a life boat
about so feet long, a life car which is con-
veyed to and from the wreck after cable
has been secured Intending to carry five
persons who are fastened inside), the
balsa, the Boynton life preserving suit,
cork Jackets, rockets, torches, flags,
several coils of cables and finally
the main instrument of all in attempt
ing to save wrecks, the mortar. The first
| thin fr ohiOtY n chin in HicfpneQ Inv
the men of the station is to make connec-
ton with it from the land. If this can be
done, the men, with the aid Of the life car
can usually save all the sufferers even when
the surf is so strong that the life boat can
not "live" in it. The mortar is put in
position and six inch ball to which is
attached line about the size of an ordi.
nary clothes line is shot directly across its
deck. If successful, and the line falls
| across the deck of the stranded ship, those
on the latter can soon draw a heavier cable,
| and in a very little while the life boat can
| be run up and down and soon all hands
saved. The captain fired the mortar twice,
once before and once after Senator Bayard's
arrival. The ball was thrown distance OF
between three and four hundred yards, the
distance being varied by the charge oil
powder. CoXswain TruXton in the Boynton
life preserving suit sported on the top OF
the waves like feather, and could render
valuable service in approaching wreck OIL
saving those washed overheard. The last
| performance was the launching Of the life
boat, carried down to the surf on wheels
| The strong east wind made the breakers
rather formidable, but she plunged in, one
moment poised on the crest of rolling
wave and the next looking as if she would
| be filled and swamped, but with six steady
oars and the captain at the helm, she shot
out into the broad waters and returned in
| triumph. Senator Bayard and his com
panions witnessed the exercises with deer
interest, and not the least interested spec
tator was the venerable Bishop Scott and
a dozen or more fellow ministers.
| All were impressed with the efforts o.
| the Government to save the lives of ou
| people imperiled on the high seas. The
rules and regulations to govern the station
are very strict. But one thing Capt Clampi
says is needed pair of mules to carry tn,
appliances to the point of danger, withou
the delay of sending to farm house or t.
Lewes for team.
| There are four stations now on the Della
ware coast, three in Maryland and two il
Eastern Virginia. The Government ha
determined to erect another station abou
| 200 yards from the Douglass House and tn,
site was surveyed last week by order o
| Secretary Sherman and will be under tn,
command of Thos. rruxton named above,
nephew of Commodore Truxton. Thes
stations cost about $1,000.
1t was an exceedingly interesting after
noon to the visitors, but one of fatigue
being on their feet from > to nearly
o'clock.