Wichita eagle., 1886-09-24

HOW THE CREWS OF WRECKED
VESSELS ARE AIDED.
Organization CT the Service-Dniio1hSs'
Life Saving Apprenticeship Life Boat.
The Breeches Buoy-Thc Life Car-fes-
cue of Passengers.

cue of Passengers.
There are ROW upon the sea and lake coasts
of the United States nearly 2oo NE saNihE
stations the greater number beng cstabilsheu
at the more dangerous and exposed points
The plan of organization OF the service Is
,imple but effective The coast line of the
country is divided into twelve districts, there
beino, cigbt on the Atlantic, three on the
great lakes and only one ON the calm racine,
In each of these the stations are distinguished
bv numbers, from one upward, beginning at
the more northerly.
The buildings occupied by the employees
are. for the most part, plain, yet picturesque,
and similar in general dimensions and ar
rangements. though varying somewhat IN
outward design, according to location, those
| near cities or popular watering places being
| in keeping with their surroundings and pre-
senting more finished appearance than those
! on desolate beaches.
THE SELF-RIGHTING BOAT.
The general features of the lake and faclhc
| coasts admit of the use OF the eif-rlghtln8
and self-bailing boat, while on the stormy
waters of the Atlantic the other contrivances
have to be used The boat Is a marvel OF IN
ventiye thought which has been developed
by a century of study and experiment Inc
first model was made in 11s0 by Lionel Lukin,
an English coachmaker, and since that time
has been greatly improved while preserving
the came principles. 1t has great stability
and is with difficulty upset, and when this
| banr,ens if instantly rights itself, and when
full of water. bv an ingenious arrangement
of air cases empties itself in from fifteen to
twenty seconds II is from twenty TO
thirty feet long and weighs from 100 to ], 600
nounds. 1t is guided by long steering oar,
tbe steersrnan standing in the stern, and IN
the hands of the skilled surfmen Of our coasts
;s capable of marvellous action. There are
many appliances auxiliary to the principal
means employed in the operations OF the ser
vice of which space win not permit notice
The life saving dress, however, which has
: been made familiar to the public through tn
exploits OF Capt Paul Boyton, Is one of con
J siderable Importance, and on several oc
) casions has been used with great advantage
Clad in Tie suit. which is made Of cork ant
so as not to interfere with the use OF tn
limbs. men have been known to reach Wreck
G when even the lifeboat could not
r When q vessel Is driven ashore IN a storm
: the r,atrolnlan. who is ever on the lookout, ]
e the first to discover her and takes the InItla
j tive steys in the operations OF the rescue II
D carries at night besides his lantern, q s3SFaa
: which ic-r,ites errIits rel flame. He Is qulc
TO observe the slightest indication of a d1ss.'
ter. TIE white apparition OF sa4i- the lam
r. outline CT slender spar, Ius' i'syolsi "a
: breakers or at his feet on the SAND, peri
Grating n bucket or some other article " hit.
>, he knows to have come from o sup IL
br,r7,s his signal. and. leaving the crlIlso
l. e.reat flashing far out 1T SEA, hurTIes to n
station and hastily informs MS co4iI aisS
e his discovery. The boat Is brought OUT an
: hauled TO the point nearest me vessei'
. launched with much Iabor. and, stsered .
!. tn. Ioy,c, car in the hands Of tie keeI'e
= makes for TIC wrecE
= prscrTyo TEE PASSENGERS
Taking Oft as r1any Iels-snGeis as tIe Do
VIII accommodate, the keeper nov 1ecsi'
which Of the several methois be VII 1s-s
a. landing hia passengers. Shoad It be So
=, that the sea Is too rough foF the Csc oi u
- tozt tie mortar cart IS ordered cut Eae
r-,a,, < ,y.II trained - his dEtIes, end ssEnu
i .sresz,sIy the different members of the ere
! load the gun. place the shot Line IN Iesitso
= d;srss.. .hs. lsrses and awser for instant "a
,-.aeb tn. tsreecises blioy and dig trerls
for the sani anchor, while the light ot u
bach lantern lights up the scene Il Is
GRANGE ,,ic-ssr-e the raging coea-1, the ~rsscE'
= shir, ia the cling and the excited men On q
i. beach hnrTying 20 AMI fro N iheir work
i,a rescue The gun boouls cut above the 70
i of The SEA and the ball and attached line 20
a. sying against The gaze On over the wreck al
,,s falls INTO the sa beyond The Line. ialii'
over sou,e friendly spar or rope. as ss.zoi