The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-05
THE GUARDIANS OF OUR
COAST,

WIN eoCn RECORD u 10 no longer
q marvel that the American life say.
ling institution has taken go firm q
hold Of the American heart. The
territory which 1t gusrds-ten thou
sand or more mies-is divided into
twelve districts. The Atlantic coast
presents one long succession of varied
dangers, beginning with Maine.
where the ospricious garments are
forever playing Ely games about The
nsrroS capee, reefs, sunken rocks and
peaks OF islands halt submerged,
paving Ihs coast like the teeth iDs IA
shark jaw, taking in Cape Cod, that
great arm of the forty miles outward
and upward, with I.s hslf-sunken.
ever shifting ssnd-bsrs, the islands
and the rough, rocky points on Rhode
Island cosst-dreaGiul to mariners
and the long. unpeouIed 600 miles OF
beach from Montauk Point, Long
lslabd, to Cape Fear, North Carolina,
terminating with the arid coral form
alton OF the coast of Florida, 500
miles in extent. Tue great lakes, a
group OF enormous inland seas, with
$500 miles of American coast line,
are subject to sudden and violent
gales, which pile up seas 90 stipend
Gus that anchored vessels are swept
fore and aft, often causing their com
plsta destruction; while others. run
ming for shelter in hsrbors, miss the
narrow entrances, and are blown
belplessly upon jutting piers, or the
dangerous beach. The stations oon.
sist of three CLASSES, severallY demon
mated life-saving stations; life boat
stations, and houses of refuge. Each
OF the twelve districts is provided with
local superintendent, who must be
q resident OF the district and familiarly
acquainted With Its inhabitants. His
compensation is 1000 per snnum,
with the exception of those on the
coasts of Long Island and New Jer-
sey, who, having too many stations
to look after to attend to other bust
nese, are paid 81 500 piece. These
officers are required to give from
$40, 900 TO $50, 0U0 bonds as disbursing
agents, being Entrusted with the pay
ment of the men under them In
addition to their general duties.
They are responsible for the selection
of the keepers of the stations-a duty
requiring much knowledge and ex
celIent judgmen:-Who are not, how
ever, confirmed without the seqles-
cence of the inspector, who is
supposed to have DO local interest or
prejudices. The crews are chosen by
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
surfmsn whose qualifications are welt
known, to determine by judgment
wholly impartial their character, good
health and general fitness. This board
is empowered to dismiss all incom
petent men on the spo', and require
the keeper to employ others with
out delay. The whole work is under
constant inspection. An officer OF
the revenue arine, Captain James
Fl. Merryman, is the chief inepec.or.
and assigns from his Office in New
York an assistant inspector to every
district. The stations are visited fire. |
quentEy, and the men examined in |
the exercises Of the apparatus d ills |
and obliged to give verbal reasons for |
every step in their operations. They |
are trained with their life.boats in the |
surf, in the uss of the life-drsss, IN |
saving drowning persons by swim
ming to their relief, in the methods |
OF restoring the partially drowned,
and in signaling. Everything in and
about the stations moves with military
precision. When q wreck is attended |
with loss of life, rigid examination
follows to see il any of the men have
been guilty of misconduct or neglect |
Of duty. The keepers are empowered
to protect the interests of the govern
ment from smuggling. and they guard
all property that comes ashore from
a wreck until its rightful owner ap-
pears. They are charged with the
care and order of the stations and the
boats AMI apparatus; ana tney must
keep accurate accounts of sll receipts
and expenditures. jnurnAliz5 ell tran
sactions, and maintsin sll necessary
correspondence with superior officers.
Thu it appears they must possess a
certain amount of education and
high integrity, as we'll as surfman.
ship, intrepidity, and commanding
qualities. They are paid 500 each
per annum. The crews receive $40
per month during the active season,
which upon the sea-coast is from
l to May 1, and upon
The lakes from the opening OF naviea-
lion to the close, or from about May
to December 15.-Martha ]. Lamb,
IN Harper's Magazine for February.