The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13

with his back to the door. the surfmen answered
readily each question: the answer being right oeore
their eyes. The Board also summons the crew out
for surfboat practice regardless OF the condition or
the 1t would be well such occasions II one OF
these lieutenants to go i'll the boat with the
crew. The book gives rules for going to seward.
approaching wreck and coming ashore through the
why" said an old surfman 'if reliance could be
placed on that book any greenhorn could stand in
the stern of boat with the steering oar in one hand
ana the book in the other and do well as the best
OF u.s. DO they pretend to reduce the SURF TO rule
and measure and to guide boat according to set
regulations? When take the steering oar in hand
cannot tell precisely what I'm going to do. 1t all
depends on the sea. and very reacherous customer
she is. At times almost instinct that guides
through broken waters-the instinct that lifelong
experience in the surf brings with it,.
1t is the same thing in the of the mortar appa
ratus. The surfmen know when. where and how TO
apply it, and take advantage every favorable cir
cumstance. AT one station the Board of Examiners
detained the crew for examination although a wreck
was reported, and, when the of the adjoining
house arrived they were ordered to go the assist
of the endangered mariners, while the men in
whose district the wreck occurred were obliged to re-
main and foolish questions. A Board OF Ex-
trict and q few experienced surfmen would be of
more benefit to the service than those sent from
Washington.
1t would be difficult to find finer body Of mon
than those comprising the crews OF the government
houses along the Long Island coast They more
intelligent than would be expected of men whose
lives have been spent IN the surf sober in the strict
est sense of the word and fearless in any danger.
That their religious principles have not been
neglected may be seen from the fact that
every time they sit down to meal
of the crew. They employ their leisure hours during
the day. when the weather is fine. in decorating their
houses with fanciful adornmens. or in tshing gum
ming making pretty devices out OF wood with the
aid of turning lathe. At Fire Island is siirfman
gifted with pair of legs of such preposterous length
that the keeper is seriously contemplating the MAX
ing of taking box to coil his legs in when he gets
into the surfboat. The live i'll the most perfect
harmony and give the most implicit obedience to the
keeper.
TRAVELLING ON THE BEACH.
From Montank Point to Coney Island. in midwin-
ter, the journey along the beach is anything but
pleasant One must depend ON his powers as pedes-
trian for considerable part OF the way. When the
is comparatively smooth the surfboat may DO
used tor short distance. West of Quogue the Ice
boat came in OPPORTUNITY although there were many
air holes in the ice of the Great South Bay
before the last Northwestern set in. The inlets
and considerable delay is experienced in crossing
them. 1t is not a pleasant matter to be caught on
Jones' Inlet in snow storm. with nothing but y
'ssharpey" or small sailboat, to depend upon. The
few natives who dwell on the beach, separated from
the main land by the Great South Bay, have a hard
nearly opposite Bellport, is farmer with family
of nineteen. Some Of the younger members were
amusing themselves relocating. regardless OF the
fact that they were barefooted.
The hand car provided for the mortar apparatus is
utterly unsuited to the purpose 1t should have
four wheels instead of two, and the body might be
twice it's present size, without, however increasing
its weight, it is massive than Ii necessary
The need Of an extra man and horse for each sta
ton cannot be too strenuously urged upon the
government. The service deserves all the assist
ance that can be given it. aud the gallant men:
the rescue of poor souls from the clutches OF the
angry surf, should be strengthened and encouraged
in their noble mission When the sofebeset mariner
finds himself this terrible coast wild night.
ear the fash of the Coston light Of the giant SURF
man is to him a beacon OF hope.
And ever the Htful gusts between
sound came from the land
II was the sound of the trampling
On the rocks and the hard sea sand.