The Republican journal., 1882-02-02
The Guardians of Our Coast.

With such record it is no longer marvel that
the American life saving institution has taken SO
firm hold of the public heart. The territory
which it guards-ten thOusando or more mles-ls
divided into twelve districts The Atlantic coast
presents one long succession of varied dangers,
beginning with Maine where the caprlclous cur
rents are forever playing sly games about the mar
row capes reefs, sunken rocks. and peaks OF is
lands half submerged paving the coast like the
teeth sharks Jaw, taking III Cape Cod, Inc
great arm of sand forty miles outward and upward
with its half sunken, ever shifting sand bars the
islands and the rough rocky points on the Rhode
Island cOast-dreadtul to marlnerS-and the long
unpeopled six hundred miles OF beach from Mon
tauk Point, Long Island, to Cape Fear North
Carolina, Terminating with the arid coral for
nation of the coast of Florida. i've hundred
miles in extent The great lakes group OF enor
nous inland seas with twenty i've hundred miles
of American coast line. are subject to sudden and
violent gales which pile up seas so stupendous
that anchored vessels are swept fore and ait often
causing their complete destruction; while others.
running for shelter in harhors, miss the narrow
entrances, and are blown helpless upon the lut
ting piers or the still more dangerous beach
The stations consist of three classes severay de-
nominated life saving stations. life boat stations,
and houses of refuge. Each of the twelve districts
is provided with local superintendent, who must
be resident OF the district, and Familiarity ac-
quainted with its inhabitants His compensation
is one thousand dollars per annum, with the eX
ceptlon Of those on the coasts OF Long Island and
New jersey, who having too many stations to
look after TO attend to other business are paid ti
teen hundred dollars apiece. These officers are
required to give from twenty to thirty thousand
dollar bonds disbursng agents. being Entrusted
with the payment of the men under them, III add
ton to their general duties. They are responsible
for the selection of the keepers of the stat0ns-a
duty requiring much knowledge and excellent
iudgment-who are not. however, confirmed with
ont the acquescence of the inspector, who is sup
posed to have no local interests or preludlces.
The crews are chosen by the keepers The keep
ers and crews are examined by board OF inspect
ors consisting Of an officer of the revenue marine
a surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, and an
expert surtman whose qualifications are well
known. to determine by good Judgment wholly
impartial their character good health ard general
fitness This board is empowered to dismiss all
incompetent men Oh The spot and require the
keeper to employ others without delay. The whole
work is under constant inspection. An othcer of
the revenue marine Captain James II. Merryman,
is the chief Inspector, and assigns from his office ii
New York an assistant inspector to every district
The stations visited frequently and the men
examined in the exercises of the apparatus drill.
and obliged to give verbal reasons for every step in
their operations They are trained with their life
boats in the surf IN the OF the life dress, in
savlrg drowning persons by swimming to their re
liel, in the methods Of restoring the partially
drowned, and IN SIGNALLING Everything in and
about the station moves with military precision.
W hen a wreck is attended with loss ot HE a rigid
examination follows 10 see if any OF the men have
been guilty Of misconduct and neglect Of duty
The keepers empowered to protect the inter
ests OF the government from smuggling, and they
guard all property that comes ashore from wreck
until lis rghttul owner appears They are charg
ed with the care and order of the station and the
boats and apparatus and they must keep accurate
accounts of all receipts and expenditures, journal
lie all transactions ard maintain all necessary
cOrreSDOnupuep