Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-04-22
Patrolling the Beach.


Waters, who chanced to re calling at
the Life Saving Station near Pebbly
Beach, one evening.
'Oh, yes,' replied Sam Williams, In
his hearty way. Plenty of ROOM
Sam was about leaving the kitchen,
which was also the living room Of the
Life Saving Station. The clock on the
wall had just bllthely sung out, One
-two-three ee-four-ii2 e-siX-seyen.-
eight tt = Some of the crew had sleep
lily stumbled up the short narrow flight
of stairs leading to their quarters for
the night. Shines Towle, who, until
the appointment of keeper, was now
acting as the head man at the station,
had gone into the boat-room adjoining
the kitchen. 1t was a room about 80
feet long, with big door mouth in
front, and glass eye Oh each Of two
sides. The boat-room contained the
big surf-boat, warranted to be twenty
four feet in length and not to silk, as
it was buoyed up by air chambers at
each end. Then there was cart, ad-
ed with all kinds of apparatus needed
for the relief of a wreck. and ready to
be rolled out of the boat rooms mouth
the very moment it was opened. In
this room there were also coils Of rope,
light line to lie shot to wreck and
mortar for shooting it,a breeches buoy,
a life car, drawers packed with rockets
and coast signals many things,
indeed. The acting keeper now came
out OF the boat-room, swinging lam
tern in his hand. He was short,
stout man with gray whiskers and blue
eyes, and he was dressed in blue fan
mel suit.
You all ready, Sam p inquired the
acting keeper.
Jest about
Sam had put on short, heavy fisher
mans jacket and a 'sou'wester,' and
tucked his trousers into pair of long
rubber boots that an elephant (small
one) could have walked. in. Beneath
the dropping caves Of his 'sou'wester'
protruded sharp red nose, and some
where in the rear flashed two bright
brown eyes. A long sandy beard
frihgd like a broom the lower portion
of his face.
Here's your time detector,' called
out the acting keeper.
'All right said Sam, picking up
small leather case, to which was at
tached a long leather shoulder strap.
And let me see b'lieve | have
got my custom signal, exclaimed Sam,
clapping his hand down on his pockei
and proving its contents. The signal
was O small black package, perhaps
three inches long and an inch in dame
ter. 1t fitted into brass socket fur
nished with handle. When the han
die was pressed down, this drove sharp
rod out of the socket into the signal,
striking percussion cap which ignited
a fuse. Come, Win y called out Sam,
snatching up lantern. Time was
out on that 'ere beat
He opened the door to let his com
panion out, closed it, and then halted
minute to get, as be affirmed, his
'bearin's.'
There's a moon somewhere, and it
isn't dark he said. looking up to the
stars that snapped like small Goals on a
big, black hearth. Then he looked off
on the sea, which was an indefinite
mass of darkness, but announced its
presence by a steady and rather a saw
age roar-r-r There was little
snow that whitened the rocky rim of
the beach along which they slowly
trudged.
w hat do you say they call you p
asked Win.
Il am surfman, and that means, l
s'pose, good at handlin' craft in the
surf; and then l go On these beats and
am patrolman,' replied Sam.
How many watches do you have at
night =
wall, the first watch is from sunset
till eight, and the second from eight to
twelve, and from twelve till four is tne
third watch, and from four till sunrise,
or at eight, is the fourth watch. Then
comes the first watch again. We have
to 60 in the daytime if the weather is
80 thick and haZy that we can't see two
miles each way from the station. Th at
'ere lookout on top of the Station is
where We watch on clear days, and we
put down each vessel that passes
On they stumbled, over the black,
slippery rocks that The tide had lately
washed, spl ssh:ng now through dark
pools, then stepping into patch of
soft gray sand, or hobbling over the
uneasy pebbles that gave the beach its
name. All the while Sans lantern
twinkled faithfully by the side of it's
master, and Win kept up d persevering
fire of questions.
DO you have many in your crew p