National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-01
PROMPT TO ACTION.
THE LIFE-sAv1Na SERVICE MEN.
A Bird's-Eye View Of q Valuable Organization
Its Efficiency Practically Demonstrated
Table Of Losses and Savings Since Its
CommeneemeRt-PensioRs.


soon as she stranded. Inquiry after the fate of
this vessel brought an emissary commissioner of
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN into communication
with the chief of the bureau, where he learned
that the remote locality of the incident, and the
vessel drifting still farther away from an estab-
lished station, prevented them from obtaining
the final news until some accident occurred and
word brought back, either by their employees or
of the survivors of the wreck, i'll which event
the telegraph would furnish the earliest details.
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE SERVICE.
While visiting this locality, and viewing photo
graphs of different apparatus hanging upon the
walls, such as are used in this peculiar branch OF
Government benefaction, few brief items were
noted down which may not be uninteresting to
the average reader.
There are established at different points along
dangerous coasts 139 stations on the Atlantic,
thirty OH the Lakes, six on the Gulf, and six
on the Pacific. Each station has keeper and six
surfmen. The experience and skill of a surfman
is entirely different from that of sailor The for
mer must be dexterous not only in the manage
ment and handling of boat in surf during differ
ent degrees of violence, but he must be equally in
formed of the beach, its depths shoals, and cur
rents, in the locality where his services are
needed. The sailor gives the land a wide berth,
and the greatest list of loss to their lives is found
in attempts at leaving wrecks in the ships boats.
The night duties of surfman, when no wreck
is reported from any quarter, are also perilOus.
OftentimeS the binding snow, torrents of RAINFALL
or fog them to lose the location of the sta
ton when returning from their regular eight-hour
patrol; for the ocean beach on these occasions is
wild, painless waste. Hunger and prOstration
have sometimes taken hold before relief arrived.
STATEMENT OF CASUALTIES.
=
past year are 800, with a total loss of 81. These
vessels carried in passengers and crew 1889 per-
sons all but 9 of whom were saved, 706 being ac-
tually brought ashore by the appliances afforded
by this service. Besides these incidents, 1913
stranded vessels were assisted Off to say nothing
of those which have been warned from shore by
the constant display of Signals both day and
night
Many fthe rescues show a spirit of courage and
exhibition of skill by the surfmen that would
render the name of the performer famous in time
of war. The Point aux BarqueS Station, Lake
Huron, after saving nearly one hundred persons,
finally lost all but of its in the discharge
of a perilous duty. The performances of the New
jersey crews all along that fearful coast have be-
come the subjects of magazine descriptions border
ing on the miraculous. The Legislature of that
State have acknowledged their gratitude by joint
resolution. Glowing accounts of the storm, par
ticulars of the wreck and names of the saved are
published in sensational style whenever such q
thing occurs but rarely is to be found detailed
account ofthc patient toll and unexampled bravery
of those who watched that wreck from the shore
and furnished it the means of saving at the peril
of their own lives.
DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS
Wrecks rarely ever occur in fair weather 1t
would be grossly careless for the captain of vessel
to allow such an accident TO happen in a calm sea
and within sight of land. Therefore, when these
troubles happen it is at a time and occasion when
the patient patrolman is put to his ivelieSt ex-
tremities to discover the location of anything
further than stones throw. A piece of board, a
bucket, or some other thing quickly washed ashore
is often the first intimation that wreck is near.
Firing cannon and sending up rockets are the best
methods for conveying early intelligence, but
frequently the roar of the ocean, the bowling OF
the storm, and the density of the atmosphere pre-
clude their utility.
When vessel is driven ashore, the experienced
eye of the patrolinan will soon locate her, either
by the signs or momentary light afforded by the
flashes of lightning He burns his red signal to
inform them that help Is near, and ruShes imme-
diately TO the nearest station, which sometimes
may be two or three miles away. His husty report
determines at once which course to adopt BY the
aid of the surfbOat he may approach the wreck and
possibly bring some ashore: if unable to do this,
he throws line by which a large hawSer is hauled
aboard. To that hawscr, when fast to the rigging
of the ship and anchored at the shore end, q can
pair of breeehes is already rugged with pulleys
to be drawn to and fro as the passengers are sent
ashore.
Should the vessel be unapproachable mortar
is fired similar to the used in war for throwing
shell A line is fastened to the ball which isthFown
beyond the vessel This is quickly caught and
pulled ill., which also contains the hawser last de-
scribed. When the vessel is too far at sea to be
reached by the she'll then comes
THE LUKIY LIFE-BoAT.
This marvellous invention had its origin in Eng
land during the year $780, and maintains its place
to-day. 1t is necessarily strong and difficult to up
set Should such thing happen, itnOt only rights
itself Immediately through the heaviness of the
keel and the air chambers on the top of the bow
and STERN but readily balls itself by the construc-
ton of floor just above the water line, in which
are placed several tubes extending downward to
the water, fitted with top valves which open down
ward by the pressure of water in the boat but are
selfclosing when the pressure ceases, through the
constantly increasing buOyancy of the boat when
righted.
These are very heavy and difficult to pull over
fore arriving at place suitable to launch it.
Horses should be provided for this service because
the weight of the boat is from four thousand
pounds upward according to size. Ifs wreck will
hold together for few hours after the patrolman
gets sight of her, they will nearly if not
all the passengers of an ordinary vessel.
THE LITE-CAR.
In case there are large number of persons on
board Or in case the vessel lurches constantly by
the action of the waves the lfecar is used 1t is
covered cigar-shaped boat. made of galvanized
IRON 1t has few perforations on top to admit air.
and is pulled to and from the wreck similar to the
breeches; it viii carry six or eight persons. The
passengers once ashore, then comes the delicate
and more difficult part of the duty of the life
saver The method of resuscitatiOn consists in
keeping the patient where he is found unless there
is danger of freezing. A piece of wood is placed
between his teeth to keep the mouth open; lie is
then turned upon his face, large bundle of some
thing being previously placed beneath his stomach
The operator presses heavily on the back so long
as water comes from the mouth. The patient is
then turned upon his back, with the roll under the
small of the back. The arms are spread out
above the head, and if assistant is present the
tongue is held up to keep it from obstructng free
passage of air. The chest is pressed together and
at the same time born down. alternating by loosen
ing at about the same interval OF natural breath
ing This is long, tedious process, and continues
in some cases for three and four hours before signs
of life are manifest All of these methods, and
others of great responsibility and experience touch
ing the patients subsequent care, the surfmen are
instructed in, for there is hardly wreck of any
magnitude that does not furnish subjects for every
conceivable mode of saving and treatment when
saved
REHABILITATION OF RESULTS.
In 1871 the service was inaugurated by Mr.. Sum
uer 1. Kimball the present general superintend-
emit In his last report, now being printed, it
shows the entire workings since that period fol
lows:
Total number of disasters ........ LOOT
Total value of vessels S13, SS9, 07S
Total value of cargoes S7,11s,66Q
Total value of property saved. S121 ,2l5
Total value of property lost.......... 1921 $50