The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-10-07

ranged to carry one or two very large
lanterns at its mast-heads. These are
called "lightships," and they are
manned by large crew of keepers who
have very monotonous time of it, con-
fined in their rolling and pitching home
with almost nothing to do.
Even the electric beam from first
class lantern fails to penetrate q fog to
any great distance; yet when the coast
is shrouded in thick mist is the most
dangerous of all times to an approaching
ship. The only way. in such an emer-
gency, in which warning can be given,
Is by sound. In many places bells are
rung; but often the point to be avoided
is so placed that the roar of the surf
would drown bells note, and then fog
horns are blown. These fog-horns are
of size so immense, and voices so stem
torian, that it requires steam engine to
blow them; and they utter booming.
hollow blast, dismal note as we hear it
when we are safe on the land. but sweet
to the anxious captain whose vessel is
laboring through the gloom under close
reefed topsails, and uncertain of her
exact position. One of these horns is
very complicated in its structure, and
screeches in rough, broken blare, a
note far-reaching beyond any smooth,
whistling sound that could be made.
Finally, buoys, which at first were sim
ply tight casks, but now are usually
made of boiler-iron, are anchored ON
small reefs, to which are hung bells,
rung constantly by the tossing of their
support; and on other reefs, buoys are
fixed having hollow cap so arranged
that when a big wave rushes over, it
shuts in body Of air, under great and
sudden pressure, which can only escape
through whistle in the top of the cap,
uttering long warning wall to tell its
position. Buoys in harbors are also
made to carry lights, some by ordinary
oil-lanterns, others by having their hol-
low interiors filed with greatly COM
pressed gas, which burns in a strong
globe of glass. and cannot be blown or
drenched out.
But the ordinary duty of the buoy is
to mark the line of inner channels, and
by their color they tell on which side of
them the pilot must steer,
Tokeep the boys all anchored, replace
them if lost, or put new ones where
needed; to visit the light-ships, and
carry provisions and letters to their
crews; to see that all the lighthouses are
in shape, and the various parts of the
machinery in good Working order, is the
duty of an inspector, who has . certain
district of coast under his care, and con-
tinually travels up and down it in q
steamer called . "tender."
Lighthouses and sirens and buoys and
coast surveys are all intended to
prevent shipwreck; but, as / have
said, the ocean Is still supreme.
So we add to our precautions ar
engagements to help those cast away.
Societies to save wrecked persons have
existed in China, it is said, for centuries,
but in Europe are scarcely over hundred
years old and the first life-boat was not
made until 1874. Those European hui
name societies, especially in Great
Britain, placed life-boats and gears in
certain shore towns, and organized crews
who promise to go ont to the aid of any
lost ship, and to take good care of the
persons rescued. In America, however,
our coasts are so extensive. and SO much
of the dangerous part of them is far
away from any villages, or even farm
houses, that the governmentwas obliged
to do anything that was to be done.
Thus came about the Life Saving Service,
as it is called, which now has its stations
close together along our whole sea-coast,
and upon the great lakes, covering more
than ten thousand miles in all.
Each of these stations is snug house
on the beach, tenanted by keeper and
six men, all of whom are chosen for
their skin in swimming, and in handling
a boat in the surf something every man
who " follows the sea :" cannot do.
During all the season, from October
till May, two men from each station are
necessarily patrolling the beach at night,
each walking until he meets the patrol
man from the next station. No matter
how foul the weather, these watchmen
are out until daylight looking for disas-
tiers. The moment they discover a vessel
ashore, or likely to become disabled, they
summon their companions, and hasten to
launch their boat. These boats are of
two kinds. On the lakes and on the
steep Pacific coast is used the very heavy
English life-boat. fitted with masts and
sails if necessary, and which q steam
tug is required to tow to the scene of
the wreck, il it is not close in shore.
But upon our fiat, sandy Atlantic beaches
lighter kind of surf-boat, made of
cedar, can only be handled. This is
built with air-cases at each end and
under the thwarts, SO that it cannot sink.
The station-men dragit on its low wagon
to the scene of its use, unless horses are
to be had, and when it is launched, they
sit at the six oars, each with his cork
belt buckled around him, and his eve
fixed on the steersman, who stands in
the stern, ready to obey bis slightest
motion of command, for rowing through
the angry waves that dash themselves
on q storm-beaten beach is matter re-
quiring extraordinary skill and strength.
Then, when the vessel is reached, comes
another struggle to avoid being struck
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