Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-31
TIE GUARDEAN8 OF OUR COAST.

With such record it is no longer a
'Aarvel that the American ife-saving in
stltut!on has taken so firm a hold of the
public heart. The territory which it
g'lards-l0,0 or more miles-is d.
vided into twelve districts. The Atlantic
coast presents one succession of varied
dangers, beginning with Maine, where
the capricious currents are forever play
ing sly games about the narrow capes.
reefs, sunken rocks and peaks of islands
half submerged, paving the coast like
L @ teeth in q sharks Jaw. taking in Cape
Col, that great ann OF sand forty miles
outward and upward, with it's half
sunken, ever shifting sand bars, the is
lands and the rough, rocky points on
the Rhode Island coast-dreadful to
rariners-and the long, unpeopled 600
miles of beach from Montauk point.
Long island, to Cape Fear, North Caro-
lima, terminating with the arid coral
formation of the coast OF Florida, 500
mics in extent. The great lakes, a
group Of enormous inland seas, with
1000 miles of American coast-line, are
subject to sudden and violent
gales. which pile up seas So stupen-
dous that anchored vessels are swept
fore and aft, often causing their CON-
plste destruction; while others, running
for shelter III harbors, miss the narrow
entrances, ala arc blown helplessly upon
lutting piers OF the still more dangerous
beach. The stations consist OF three
classes, severally denominated life-saving
stations, ife-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 acquainted with its in
ha0itants. His compensation is $1,000
per annum, with the exception 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 ST, 500 apiece. These officers
are required to give from 500, 900 to
$4,000 bonds rs disbursing agents,
Icing intrusted With the payment of
the men under Item in addition to
their general duties. They are respon-
siole for the selection Of. the keepers
Ct the stations-a duty requiring much
knowledge and excellent Judgment
who are not, however, confirmed without
The acquiescence Of the inspector, who
IS supposed to have no local interests or
prejudices. The crews are chosen by
the keepers. The keepers and crews
arc examined by 4 board CT inspectors.
consisting Of al officer OF the Revenue
Marine, d surgeon OF The Marine Hos
p'tal Service, and an expert surfman
whose Qualifications aro we'll known, to
determine by a judgment wholly i'm
Partial their character, good health and
general fitness. This board is en-
powered to dismiss all incom petent men
on the spot, and require the keeper to
employ others without delay. The
whole work is under constant inspec-
ton. The stations are visited frequent
~, and the men examined in the exer-
cises 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 use of
the ife-dress, in saving drowning per-
SONS by swimming to their relief, in the
methods of restoring the partially
drowned and in signaling. Everything
in and about the stations moves with
military precision. They are paid $500
each per annum. The crews receive $40
per month during the active season.
which, upon the sea-coast, is from SEPT.
L to May 1, and upon the lakes from the
opening to the close of navigation, or
from about May 1 to Dec. 15.-Nartta
j Lamb, IN Haroer's Magazine.