The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-12

~
varies with the climate in which it is stu
ated.
The general features of the lake and
Pacific coasts admit of the use of the self
righting and self-bailing boat, while on
the stormy waters of the Atlantic the
other contr1vances have to be used. The
boat is marvel of inventive thought
which has been developed by a CEN
fury of study and experiment. The first
model was made in 1870 by Lionel Lunkin,
and English coachmaker, and since
that time has been greatly improved while
preserving the same principles. 1t has
great stability and is with difficulty upset,
and when this happens it instantly rights
itself, and when full of water, by an in
genious arrangement of air cases, emp
ties itself in from fifteen to twenty
seconds. 1t is from twenty five to thirty
feet long and weighs from seven hundred
to one thousand pounds. 1t is guided by
long steering oar; the steersman stand
ing in the stern; and in the hands of the
skilled surfmen of our coasts is capable
of marvellous action. There are maLy
appliances auxiliary to the principal
means EN- ployed in the operations of the
service of which space will not permit
notice. The life saving dress, however,
which has been made familiar to the pub
lie through the exploits of Captain Paul
Boyton, is one of considerable import
ance, and on several occasions has been
used with great advantage. Clad in the
suit, which is made of cork and SO as not
to interfere with the use of the limbs, men
have been known to reach wrecks when
even the life boat could not. But these
other apparatus can better be explained
by describing the various methods used
in assisting a ship in distress.
When vessel is driven ashore in a
storm the patrolman, whoever is on the
lookout, is the first to discover her, and
takes the initiative steps i'll the operations
of the rescue. He carries at night besides
his lantern, signal which, ignited, emits
a red flame. He is quick to observe the
slightest indication of disaster; the white
apparition of sail, the faint outline of
slender spar, just beyond the breakers, or
at his feet, perhaps, grating, bucket or
some other article which he knows to have
come from ship. He burns his sigma,
and leaving the crimson streak flashing
far out at sea, hurries to the station and
hastily informs his comrades of his dis
covery. The boat is brought out and
hauled to the point nearest the vessel, is
launched with much labor, and steered by
the long oar, in the hands of the keeper,
makes for the wreck. Despite
every precaution, suddenly leap
ing sea may break and I'll the boat,
tumbling the occupants into the sea and
compelling a return TO the shore. And
should they succeed in reaching the vessel
the most careful maneuvering Is necessary
to prevent collision of their light craft
against the hull of the wrecked vessel, or
fatal injury from falling spars or floating
wreckage. Taking off as many passe-
gers as the boat will accommodate, the
keeper now decides which of the several
methods he will use in landing his pas
sengers. Should it be seen that the sea
is too rough for the use of the boats the
mortar cart is ordered out Each man is
well trained to his duties, and simultane-
ously the different members of the crew
load the gun, place the shot line in posi-
ton, dispose the lines and hawser for in
slant use, attach the breeches buoy and
dig trench for the sand anchor, while
the light of the beach lantern lights up the
scene. 1t is a strange picture, the raging
ocean, the wrecked ship in the offing and
the excited men on the beach hurrying to
and fro in their work of rescue.
The gun booms out above the roar of
the sea, and the ball and attached line
goes flying against the gale on over the
wreck and falls into the sea beyond. The
line falling on some friendly spar or rope
is seized by the sailors and they draw the
endless line and tally aboard the ship.
They make fast the block which is at
tached and wave signal to the surfmen,
who fasten the shore end to a temporary
pier, thus raising the line above the waves.
The brooches bouy is then fastened to this
endless line, which is worked by system
of ropes by the men on shore, and one
after another the shipwrecked are brought
safely to shore. This work is all done
with much labor, and sometimes it is
hours before success crowns the efforts of
the rescurers. The breeches bOuy, though
working quite well in small wrecks, does
not come into requisition when large
number are to be taken from stranded