The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-05


Life Saving Apprenticeship Life Boat.
The Breeches Buoy-The Life Car-Res-
of Passengers
There are now upon the sea and lake coasts
of the United States nearly 200 life saving
stations, the greater number being established
at the more dangerous and exposed points.
The plan of organization of the service Is
simple but effective. The coast line of the
country is divided into twelve districts, there
being eight on the Atlantic, three on the
great lakes and only one on the calm Pacific.
In each of these the stations are distinguished
by 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 III
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 Pacific
coasts admit of the use of the self -righting
and self-bailing boat, while on the stormy
waters of the Atlantic the other contrivances
have to be used. The boat is marvel of in
ventive thought which has been developed
by century of study and experiment. The
first model was made in 1850 by Lionel Lukin,
an 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 ingenious arrangement
of air cases, empties itself in from fifteen Ia
twenty seconds. 1t is from twenty five "a
thirty feet long and weighs from 200 TO l,Gl
pounds. 1t is guided by a long steering oar,
the steersman standing in the stern, and in
the hands of the skilled surfmen of our coasts
is capable of marvellous action. There are
many appliances auxiliary TO the principal
means employed in the operations of the SER
vice of which space will not permit notice.
The life saving dress, however, which has
been made familiar to the public through the
exploits of Capt. Paul Boyton, is one of CON
siderable Importance, and on several oc-
casions has been used with great advantage.
Clad in the suit, which is made of cork and
not to interfere with the of the
limbs, men have been known to reach wrecks
when even the lifeboat could not.
When a vessel is driven ashore in n storm
the patrolman, who Is ever on the lookout, is
the first 10 discover her and takes the initia-
tive steps in the operations of the rescue He
carries at night, besides his lantern, II signal
which iSnited emits red flame. He is quick
to observe the slightest indication of "a disas-
ter the white apDarition of sail, the faint
outline of II slender spar, just beyond the
breakers at his feet on the sand perhaps a
grating, a bucket or some other article which
he knows to have come from u ship. He
burns his signal, and, leaving the crimson
streak flashing far out ut sea, hurries to the
station and hastily informs his comrades of
his discovery. The boat is brought out and
hnulei q the ppiut nearest the is
launched with much labor and, steered by
the long oar in the hands of the keeper,
makes for the wreck.
RESCUING THE PASSENGERS.
Taking Off as many passengers as the boat
will accommodate, the keeper now decides
which of the several methods he will Use in
landing his passengers. Should it he seen
that the sea is too rough FOR the use of the
boat the mortar cart is ordered out. Each
man is well trained to his duties, and stimuli
tancously the different members of the crew
load the gum place the shot line in position,
dispose the lines and hawSer for instant USE
attach the brcechcs buoy and dig n trench
for the sand anchor, while the light of the
beach lantern lights up the scene. Ii 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
flying against the gale ON over the wreck and
falls into the sea beyond. The line falling
over 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 attached and wave a signal to
the surfmcn, who fasten the shore end to a
temporary pier, thus raising the line above
the waves. The breeches buoy is then fas-
tened TO this endless line, which is worked by
Il system of ropes by the men on shore, and
one after another the shipwrecled are brought
safely to shore. This work is done with
much labor, and sometimes it is hours before
success crowns the efforts of the rescuerS
The brooches buoy, though working quite
well in small wrecks, does not come into
rcquiSition when large number are to be
taken from a stranded ship, and especially if
there are invalids, women or children. To
meet the requirements of this class life car
is used, and with the great improvements
which have been made since its introduction,
it is now the means of saving large numbers
of people. IL is about 200 pounds heavier than
the brooches buoy, but, to make up this diff
ference i'll handling, it has n capacity for five
or six adults, and has carried as many as nine
half-grown children at a single trip. Ii is
made Of galvanized iron, and has much the
appearance of covered boat. and is con-
nected with the hawser by a simple device,
i'll such manner as to permit it to float upon
the water, while preventing it from drifting
i'll strong currents too far from the direct
course of tho ming lines. The apparatus is
practically s.aJcrtight, lut, provided with
means FOR supplying air, its passengers are
landed in the same condition in which they en-
baTkctL-W lShington Cor Globe Democrat
4 Dartcnder's Trick.
\ lEir..CIpcr can make or kill drink if he
wants Ia. y great many times customers
como il and don't know what they do want
Can't think of anything that will just hit