The Portland daily press., 1879-02-03
THE LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
Some Facts in fsegard to the Maine Dis.
tricts.

The Life Saving Service of Maine constitutes
the first district and is divided into seven sta
tions. The first is that of West Quoddy Head,
locality Eastport Bay; the second Cross Island,
off Machiasport; the third Browney's Island,
off Jonesport; the fourth Cranberry Island, not
yet built; the fifth Whitehead Island, near
Whitehead Light; and the sixth Biddeford
Pool, at Fletcher's Neck. The seventh station
is lot in Maine, but Straw's Point, at Rye
Beach, N. FL The superintendent of the SER
vice is Captain Kimball at Washington. The
inspector of the eastern division is Capt, Merri-
man at New York, aud a number of assistant
inspectors and assistant superBterdents, one
for each district. Capt. Hodgdon OF the Rev
enue steamer "Dllas" is assistant inspector,
aud Capt. J. M. Richardson assistant supern-
tendent, for the Maine district.
The report for the past three months has just
been made up, and forwarded to Washington,
and we gather from it some interesting partic-
ulars. We ascertain that this service, SO lately
established, has been of great value to the
coasting trade and commerce of the state. A
thorough investigation has shown that each
station is in excellent condition and good work.
ing order, the men prompt aud eff ,ent, and
much valuable property and many lives saved
by their efforts.
Station No. 1. This station is commanded
by A j Myers. All the stations have force
of six men. Three vessels have been assisted,
with their crews, and two sailboats. As an
instance Of the vigilance of this station, on
November 4, Sergeant Guptil, while patrol
ing the beach, heard a faint hail of distress is
suing from the ocean. There was a thick snow
- f,o Itofo
The sergeant Immediately reported at the sta
ton, the life boat was manned, and after pull
ing mile and a half, man was found cling
log to a capsized sail-boat in an insensible COL
ditiOn. He was taken to the station and re-
suscitated by the rules of the life saving SER
vice, while a physician was sent for. Before
the physician arrived the man was brought to,
which would have been impossible without a
copy of the rules. The vessels and crews as
sisted were the schooner sGuiding Star" of ST.
and one whose name we did not get.
Stations No. 2 and No. g. f. M. Thornton
aud A. e. Bailey commandants. No wrecks
TeDorted
Station No. Not yet established.
Station No. 5. H. f. Norton cOmmandant
Six wrecks were aided and crews rescued. The
schooners Mary E Pearson of Islrsboro,
Wreath of Ellsworth, Ariana of St. John, N.
B., Polly OF Rockland, Mary A. Roland of
Bangor, anf Lucy Robinson of Deer Isle.
Stutl0n NO w. Nj. HusSeY c0mmaudanl.
Tne wrecks and crews of the S. q. Poole of
Wiscassei, Anpa Foye of p mbroke, and
schooner Empress, we're assisted. In the
case of the s. Fl. Poole, complaint has been
made by outsiders that the crew of the station
were rot vigilant The inspector and superin-
tendent in their report announce that, after
careful investigation, they fiod the crew Of the
station made every effort possible. We should
jadge from appearances the complaints were
similar to those made against the station at
Asbury Park, N. j., in the case of the Eta M.
Tucker of this port. A breeze started oy par
ties who desire to secure the position of COM
mandant the emselves, or who have been disap-
pointed in their effyrts to secure it in the past.
Station No z. Two vessels and crews have
been aided The schooner Sea Foam OF Frank
liu, and Caroline knight OF Rockland. Il. W.
Philorck Is commsLd ant.
All Dew stations are obtained By petition.
II would seem advisable that our merchants
should petition for station to be established
at White Head, Portland harbor. In that case
many vessels might be assisted and crews res
cued, in this immediate vicinity, who Other
wise have to await discovery by vessels the
morning after gale.