The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-09-18
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LIFE SAVING STATION No. 8.

Messrs. Editors: AT intervals of five miles
along the Virginia seashore the U. S. Government
maintains stations fitted with the necessary ap-
paratus for the rescue of the crews of disabled or
wrecked vessels that may be driven toward that
shore. Probably these Life Saving Stations ex-
tend along the entire Atlantic coast. We had so
many questions to ask during our visit to No.
that this one quite forgotten.
Life Saving Station No. 3 is an ornate cottage
standing Immediately above the storm line, among
the sand dunes, about four miles down the coast
from the Virginia Beach Hotel. 1t is surmounted
by an observatory. The first floor contains two
rooms-one very large, the other ten by twenty
feet. The staircase ascends from a vestibule at
the end of the latter room. On the second floor
two rooms with passageway between them.
From this a steep fight of stairs leads to the OBJ
servatory. The smaller room down stairs is pro-
vided with large table, stove, chairs, etc., and
in disagreeable weather is the stting-room of the
men who not on duty. The main room con-
tains the apparatus. Two immense doors at one
end open upon an inclined platform, thus provi-
ding method of speedy egress for the mortar,
life boat or life car The mortar as well as i'm
mense coils of different sized ropes, buoys and
other accompanying paraphernalia is mounted on
one carriage. The projectiles, which strongly re-
semble nine pins with holes through their heads,
are arranged in separate The life boat has
a carriage of its own which is marvellous in its
build. The life.c is suspended from the ceiling.
We forgot to ask how it was moved. Buoys, coils
of rope and hand grenades were scattered around
in the most careful profusion. The mortar shone
like gold, the boat and car were as white paint
could make them, and everything was in the most
exquisite ORDER tidy housekeeper would assert.
The signal flags are kept in the corridor on the
second floor, convenient to the observatory, from
which constant lookout is kept By aid of the
captains glass had the pleasure of an extern
sive view from this observatory. There was a
moderate breeze from the ocean at the time, and
despite heavy clothing we were so chilled in few
minutes that we were glad to go below. This was
in August. We needed no further confirmation OF
the statement that during cold, windy weather it
was impossible for one person to watch any ex-
tended length of tune.
On our way back to the first floor we glanced at
the sleeping apartments of the captain and crew.
Iron bedsteads, writing desk and chairs CON-
prised the furniture. Mr.. Sprat, one of the crew.
kindly explained the of different parts of the
outfit and the manner in which persons are rescued
Should the sea permit, the life boat is manned and
sent to the wreck If this is mpracticable pro
ectile, to which is attached light line, is shot
over the wreck. By means of this line the people
on board draw out stouter ones which bring them
hawser. One end of this is made fast to the
vessel and the life-car is sent over on it. When
the car is filled and ready to return it is drawn
back by those on shore. BY its peculiar construc
ton those within are protected from cold and
water, while air is furnished in sufficient quantity
to maintain life for several hours. The requisite
expertness in the different mannuvres is gained
by sem-weekly drills in which the men, who are
numbered, attend to.certain duties always assign
ed to the same number. The beach is patroled
during the entire night. In the winter this is a
most arduous duty. At all the stations visitors
are courteously received and entertained and a
visit to any of them amply repays a "seeker after
knowledge" IKE.