Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-01
The Life-saving Station.


We made brief mention, recently, that
the crew had organized and taken posses
sion of the life-saying station which is 10
Gated near the end of the west pier. The
building proper contains one self-righting
boat which will carry about 10 persons,
besides the crew of eight men. This boat
has an air-tight apartment at each end and
a cork hustle on each side, making it i'm
possible to sink her. There is also a surf
boat, intended to be used when vessels are
driven ashore in a gale. 1t can also be
ported by horses up or down the beach to
the scene Of a wreck which might occur at
any distance from the harbor. The third
is a metallic car, and intended more par
ticularly for rescuing women and children.
This car is perfectly water-tight as well as
air-tight, and person once placed in it
can be safely hauled ashore, no matter how
severe the storm.
The mode of connecting this life car
with wrecked vessel is by shooting 30
pound ball, to which is fastened small
rope, directly over the wrecked vessel. A
neat little brass cannon, called the 'Lyle
Gun," is used for that purpose. As the
| ball descends to the water the rope is
brought across the vessel so that the men
on board can secure it. This they draw in
until they receive larger rope to which is
attached instructions as to the manner they
must proceed to secure the necessary aid
| from the life-saving crew. Over this large
rope the metallic car is hauled to the
wreck, if needed to rescue women or chill
dren, and If not needed for that purpose,
"breeches buoy, to rescue one man at
time, is sent out. This is operated quick
| ly and it would not take the life-crew very
long time to rescue the entire crew from
| the largest boats that sail our lakes.
The station is supplied with ''COston
| lights" which are used as signal at night
by the men who patrol the beach for a dis
tance of about three miles. They are so
made that light tap of the hand will ig-
mite them, which is Immediately seen by
| the watchman at the station and the crew
are at once prepared for action. By means
of red, white and blue lights, the patrolman
signals the stations the nature of the dis
aster. They are also supplied with signal
rockets cf various colors, of course for use
only at night. For daylight use they are
supplied with the International code of
distress signals, consisting Of flags OF va
rious colors and devices by means of which
conversation can be carried on, provided
the vessel in distress has the signals on
run up from the station which asks these
questions: "Have you the Signal Service
Sea-coast Danger or Distress Code of Sig
nails, and do you know how to use them?"
If the vessel has them, they Immediately
respond by raising a flag which indicates
ayes, we have the signals and know how
to use them" In case the vessel has not
the signals, there are other signals that can
be used, not as good, however, but which
are known to all mariners. Rubber suits
are also provided to be used after line is
made fast to the vessel in distress, by which
means man can pass from shore to the
wreck and superintend the work there till
all are rescued.
The crew consists of the following NAM
ed men, who are all firstclass and fully
competent for the important duties as
signed them.
GEO. F. BABcocK, Captain.
A Lewis, No 1. E. Wicks, No. 5.
]. McGwinn, No 2. H. Lamar, No. g.
Geo. Owens, No. 3. Dan'l Krebs, No. T.
D. Scribner, No. 4. D. Colwell, No. g.
At present the men cross the river to
take their meals, but in few days, as
soon as the new building, now inclOsed,
is completed, they will not be allowed to
leave the Station. The men are constant
| ly on the watch, in rough weather espec-
tally, both night and day. Their salaries
are as follows Captain BabcOck, S40O
per year; the crew, $40 each per month.
The service ends Dec. 18th and cOmmenc-
es with the opening of navigation in the
| Spring.
Commencing with next week the regu-
| lar DAYS for practice will be Tuesdays
and Thursdays The boat practice from
8 to 10 in the forenoon, and the mortar
practice, shooting the rope over an imag-
mary wreck, from 2 to 8 o'clock in the
afternoon. Captain BabcOck will be
pleased to see his friends and all others
who desire to witness the working of the
crew, on these occasions, as well as at any
other time they may wish to call,
PainesViHe Telegraph