The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-02-03

and violent gales, which pile up seas so
stupendous that anchored vessels are
swept fore and aft, often causing their
complete destruction; while Others, run.
ming for shelter in harbors, miss the mar
row entrances, and are blown helplessly
upon jutting piers, or the still more dan.
gerous beach. The stations consist of
three classes, severally denominatei life
saving stations, life-boat stations, and
houses of refuge. Each of the twelve
districts is provided with local super
intendent, who must be resident of the
district and familiarly acquainted with
its inhabitants. His compensation is
one thousand dollars per annum, with
the exception of those on the coasts of
Long Island and New Jersey, who, hav-
ing too many stations to look after TO
attend to other business, are paid fifteen
hundred dollars apiece. These officers
are required TO give from twenty to
thirty thousand dollar bonds as disbur-
sing agents, being intrusted with the
payment of the men under them in ad-
dition to their general duties. They are
responsible for the selection of the keep
ers of the stations-a duty requiring
much knowledge and excellent iudg-
ment-who are not, however, confirmed
without the acquiescence of the inspect
or, who is supposed to have no local in
terests or prejudices The crews are
chosen by the keepers. The keepers
and crews are examined by board of
inspectors, consisting of an officer of the
revenue marine, a surgeon of the Marine
Hospital Service, and an expert surfman
whose qualifications are well known, to
determine by judgment wholly impair
tial their character, good health,a gen
eral fitness, This board is empoweredto to
dismiss all incompetent men on the spot,
and require the keeper to employ others
without delay. The whole work is un-
der constant inspection. An officer of
the revenue marine, Captain James II.
Merryman, is the chief Inspector and
assigns from his Office in New York an
assistant inspector to every district. The
g at.ols ae visited frequently, and the
men examined in the exercises of the ap-
paratus drill, and obliged to give verbal
reasons for every stepin their operations
They are trained with their life boats in
the surf, in the use of the life-dress, in
saving drowning persons by swimming
to their relief, in the methods of lestor-
ing the partially drowned, and in sig
mailing. Everything in and about the
stations moves with military precision.
When a wreck is attended with loss of
life, rigid examination follows to see
if any of the men have been guilty of
misconduct or neglect of duty. The
keepers are empowered to protect the
interests of the government from SNUG
Cling, and they guard all property that
comes ashore from a wreck until its
rightful owner appears. They are charg
ed with the care and order of the sta
tions and the boats and apparatus and
they must keep accurate accounts of all
receipts and expenditures, journalize all
transactions, and maintain all necessary
correspondence with superior officers.
Thus it appears they must possess a GER
tain amount of education and high in
tegrity, as well as surfmanship, intrepid
ity, and commanding qualities.
They are paid four hundred dollars each
per annum. The crews receive forty
dollars per month during the active sea
son, which upon the sea coast is from
September l to May l, and upon the
lakes from the opening to the close of
navigation, or from about May to De
cember 15.-Martha j. Lamb, in Ha1-
Per's Magazine for February.