New-York tribune., 1879-03-27
THE CASE OF KEEPER LUDLOW.

THE CASE or hEEPER LUDLOW.
The bark Homeward Bound, from Amster-
dam, stranded at Ocean Beach on Friday last.
The crew from Life-Saving Station No. 8 were
promptly on hand, and the vessels crew were
all landed in safety. 1t is asserted, however,
that Captain Samuel Ludlow, keeper of the
station, was at Weehawken Establishing, and
arrived, when telegraphed for, eight hours
after the vessel stranded. 1t is also stated
that he has spent most of his time of attend
ing to private business. and paid only Occa-
sional visits to the station.
Superintendent Kimball will, we are conf
dent, examine closely into the truth of this
charge, and if it is correct, promptly discharge
Ludlow, and make his case an example to
other keepers who are inclined to shirk their
work. No apology short of case of life
and death should be received for the alb
sence of the keepers from the stations. The
salary paid thcm while it is no more than a
Just remuneration for their work when prop
erly done, is certainly now amply sufficient to
command their whole time from September
until May. The country has of late shown
every disposition TO support this service liber
ally, and to sustain superintendent Kimball in
his long and faithful efforts to make OuIs the
most thorough and trustworthy Life-Saving
coast organization in the world; and
neither the superintendent nor the cOun-
try can afford to have their efforts
thwarted by the laziDess or carelesness OF in
dividual officials. The difficulty hitherto has
been to root out from the service small poll
ticians who knew no more of the water than
Sir Joseph Porter, X. c. b., and to appoint
skilled surfmen in their place. Even these
water-dOgs, as it seems, are not always to be
trusted without sharp watching. The temp
tation, no doubt, is strong, during months of
useless patrOlling the coast, to earn slyy
pennies by other means elsewhere. No better
time will offer than the present for teaching
them that this cannot be done with impunity.
In this case no lives were lost through such
delinquency, but that was prOvidential
chance which may not occur again. God
helps those who help themselves. Not only
was the keeper culpable who was absent, but
the superintendent of that part OF the coast
Havens-who must (Or ought toy have been
cOgnzant of such absences. Chief Kimball
has heretofore dealt with uncomprOmlsing
severity with such delinquents, and such Sc
verify is the only policy to maintain the SER
vice either IN reputation or usefulness. We
hope however, that the charges can be dis
proved.
Wemay mention as of interest in this cOnnec-
ton, that the Life-Saving Service in England
is not, as here, branch of the Government,
but is maintained by voluntary contributions.
The boats are manned by volunteers who
are rewarded by medals or votes of thanks on
vellum. The boats, houses and apparatus are
provided, and it is left to the humanity and
skill of volunteers to use them. a case OF
inhumanity or neglect cannot, of course, be
punished in any way. A brief comparison of
the reports of the two services Tor last year
will show how much more efficient Is that
where the duty is compulsory and paid for.
On the coast of Great Britain GIG lives were
saved, while the human freight of great ves-
sells (the Princess Alice being the last notable
example) were suffered to go down almost un-
aided in crowded roadways. On our coast
5,9S1 lives were saved, and not life was
lost within practicable reach of a station,
where human effort could have saved it. We
may remark, too, in view of the grumbing
which the expense of our Service has lately called
forth, that the English pay for guarding their
small extent of coast $190,540, which fur
nishes only boats and appliances, while we
give only $50, ,S44 more for the protection of
the whole Atlantic and Lake shores, including
full corps Of superintendents, keepers and
surfmen.