The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-27
United States Life.Saying Service.

How greatly the chances of escape
from shipwreck along the coast have
been increased by this service will be
seen by a few figures. When the ser vice
was reorganized in 1871, it was stated,
again and again, by two members OF
Congress, that more than q thousand
lives were lost annually upon the coasts
of New Jersey and Long Island alone.
No doubt this was IN over-statemenG.
No careful account Of the losses upon
these coasts had ever been kept; it was
known, however, that during the twenty
five years previous to this time, five hum
dred and twelve persons had perished,
an average of twenty-five year; and IT
was also certain that many more had
been lost of whom no record had been
made. During the five years beginning
with 1871, only sixteen persons were lost
upon this coast, an average of but little
more than three q year. I'm other
Words" says the report, "where twenty
five persons were annually lost (and
doubtless thrice that number) there are
now only. y.three." Sucn q record as this.
the, general superintendent has a right
to say, "has never been surpassed in the
annals of efforts for the mitigation OF
marine disaster"
Such are some of the results; what are
the means employed to secure thcmp At
each of these life-saving stations are
keeper and a crew of six sur!men. BY
these the beach is steadily patrolled ut
night, men going out in both directions
from each station, until they meet the
patrols from the nearest station on either
side. Each patrol is furnished with a
red headlight, which lie burns on dis
covering a ship in danger, to alarm the
crew at the station and notify the wreck
that relief is at hand. Then he hastens
to the station to help in bringing up the
apparatus for the rescue. A metallic
life-boat and small cedar surf-boat are
waiting there to be used when the condi-
tions will admit; there is also neat lit
tie mortar (the pattern of which was de-
signed by Lieutenant Lyle, of the Spring
field Armory), by which a shot-line may
be sent over the wreck If it is not more
than five or six hundred yards from the
shore. The line carries out hawser,
and upon that the people on board the
vessel are carried ashore, when the water
is so rough that the boats cannot be
managed in it. The principal convey
ances that travel by the hawser are the.
breeches-buoy and the life.car. The
buoy is sufficiently described by its
name; tits suspended by a pulley to the
hawser, and one person at time is car
ried ashore by means of it. The life-car
is ga covered boat, having a few air.
holes in the top these pcrforations being
made from within to prevent, by their
raised edges, the water from readily en-
tering), an interior capacity for receiv-
ing from two to four persons for its load,
and ring at each to which are attached
the hauling lines that enable it to be
pulled to and fro through the water be-
tween the shore and the wreck" Besides
THESE are life-rafts and cork-buoys, and
those life-preserving suits in which Cap
tain Boyton has performed so many
wonderful exploits. A medicine chest
contains stimulants and restoratives, and
the crew are thoroughly trained in How
ards method Of resuscitating the
drowned Sunday afternoon.