The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-03
KENOSHA LIFE-SAVING STA
TON.

TON.
It's generally known to our citizens,
that we have Government LATE Saving
Station at this port, but probably not
one in ten can tell any thing farther
about it, or of what the apparatus con-
s;sts. The station was established in
1879, and Capt. b. G. Cameron placed in
charge, position he has held to this
time, and which is conclusive evidence
of his efficiency. His company or crew
consists OF eight men, besides himself,
tho ugh. for time, they have been
short of one hand.
The station is furnished with full
apparatus, consisting of boats, lines,
hawsers, small cannon, life preservers,
rubber coats and signal flags, besides
minor articles, medicine chest, etc.
The life boat. built principally of
mahogany, is 81 feet in length, requir-
| ing the whole company to move it eff
fectually, and, though capsized and
filled with water, will right itself in
stantly, and free itself of water in less
than one minute by means of valves
and patented apparatus. The crew
are provided with cork-jacket life-pre-
servers, with buoying power of 200
pounds. In case of alarm, this boat
can be launched and manned with oars
ready to strike Unless than five minutes.
The surf-bOat, much lighter, but of
the same length, can be manned by six
men, and launched ready for service in
two minutes. A four-Wheeled carriage
is provided for it, that it may be con-
veyed over land when necessary. This
boat has been rowed upwards of 100
miles the past season, in actual service.
A small brass cannon is used for
throwing line over vessel to the
distance of three.fourths of mile.
The line attached to plug-like shot
falls across the deck, by means of
which a hawser is drawn on board and
made fast, the shore end being made
fast also to sand anchor On this
hawser is suspended light metallic
life car, eight feet in length, with a
close-ftting cover, in which half
dozen persons may be conveyed to the
shore in safety. 1t is hauled to and
fro by means of lines attached to either
end. Another apparatus for single
person consists Of circular air life
preserver, with rubber bag attached,
which may be drawn on shore in like
manner as the life car. A broad-wheel-
ed carriage is provided for the trans
portation Of ropes and small apparatus.
For individual operations in the
water a Boynton rubber suit is pro-
vided, completely enveloping the oper-
ator except the face, about which the
rubber fits closely to exclude the water.
After getting inside, the operator may
fill the suit with air by blowing it up
himself, by means of tube provided
with cap. To sink, unless by means
of a breach in the suit, is impossible.
A half dozen persons may float by lay
ing hold of him.
On the north side of the harbor is
situated small station, or lookout
house, at which is constantly kept one
man, with glass, as a lookout. A
small boat is suspended by davits,
which can instantly be lowered into the
water for emergencies about the har-
Dor. Since the establishment of this
lookout upwards of thirty persons
have been rescued from the water in
the harbor and about the piers. In
one instance boy was rescued by div
ing in Is feet of water and resuscitated
after having lain on the bottom twenty
minutes.
Still another portion of the apparatus
is series of flags representing the
international signal code. by which
communication may be carried on at
any distance from which the flags can
be read. The code is divided into Sec
tions. In section 6rst. two letters of
the alphabet represent certain SEN
tence, as found in the table; in section
second, a combination of three letters
represents sentence, and in section
third, which is still more intricate, by
combination of four letters, almost
any conversation may be carried on.
Little time is found by the crew for
lettering, a constant routine of duty
and practice being required. So skill
full do they become by constant prac-
tice that they are enabled to throw a
line over the deck of stranded vessel
and make ready to send man on
board in less time than it takes to
write it. A mast and yardarm are set
up on the beach for this practice.
Each day Of the week brings its re-
quired drill; one day is practice on the
beach with the apparatus; another day
is boat exercise; another is throwing
the line with cannon; another is the
practice Of resuscitation of drowned
persons; another, practice with the
flags of the signal code; and still anoth-
er is scrubbing day. The entire prem
Uses are kept scrupulously neat, and the
most fastidious housewife could find
nothing to criticise.
The routine is varied according to
the exigencies of the case as assistance
may be required. When the wind is
off the water, the beach is patroled
each way from the station, from one to
| two miles. twice during the niuht At