Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-12-06

Each of the crew had on q suit Of
heavy oil clothes ard wore a big
so 'wester," which reached two feet
down his back. There they stood, al
most motionless ut "their positions, the
. Captain at the stern, waiting for favor
able moment.
'Stand by, cried Captain Van Wick
len, and in second the boat was being
showed through the shallow water.
When the crew were knee-deep in the
bubbling surf, they were ordered aboard.
and aboard they went in a hurrg Each
man sprang To his seat and it was but the
work of an instant TO grasp the oar and
run II through the rowlock. The Cap
tain in the meantime had jumped TO HE
seat at the stern next 10 the reporter.
and had run out big oar which he used
as rudder. The boat was carried swiftly
out by the rcCeding wave. but not far
enough for comfort, for the next wave
broke over the bow. drenching every one
OF the crew. The oars were then piled
with a will, and in n short time the boat
was riding the waves like feather, half
mile from shore. After a twenty min
uteS drill In Craftsmanship the order was
was gwen to put about for shore.
When the crew were about one hun
dred yards from the beach, the Captain,
who had been keeping an eye out behind
for some time, suddenly cried: "Iav to!
double quick" as huge roller struck
the stern or the boat The crew i'm
mediately bent over their oars at the top
of their strength, and the speed, sud
denly increased. had the desired effect.
The boat rested easily on topof the wave
and went rushing toward shore like a
race-horse. The oars were shipped and
every man was in readiness for a quick
Jump. Just before the shore was reached
the boat seemed TO slide a little ahead Of
the breaker, and as the keel struck the
sand the wave broke with Il roar over the
stern, completely drenching the reporter
and the Captain. In an instant the men
were on their feet at each side of the
boat, and up the beach she was dragged
before the next wave could reach her.
The life belts, which had only been used
for practice, were taken off and the boat
rolled back to her place in the station.
The men at once began TO clean up tho
boat and the apparatus belonging to the
breeches buoy, while the Captain invited
the reporter into the kitchen to dry his
clothes.
CATER every return to the station"
said he, "everything has to be thor
oughly cleaned before anything else is
done"
Whats your daily routine?" asked
the reporter, as he placed his shoes by
the stove and hung his coat over chair.
"There are four watches every night"
explained Captain Van Wickleu. 1.-TWO
men in each watch, which exactly make
up the number of the crew. One man
. oes east about two miles until he meets
the western watch from the Point Look
out station. They exchange checks,
which have to be examined and found
correct upon their return to their re-
spective stations The other watch goes
west two miles to what we call the Key
Post station. He carries an Indicator
with him. which runs by clOckwOrk. At
the time he is supposed to be at this
station he must make an indentation in
the Indicator with key which is always
kept at the Key Post station, situated
HtAl W Cuc Long btdCi IlOIcl. nc CdH-
not exchange checks with the watch from
another station, as on this side the next
crew are situated eleven miles away,
which is quite too long for a patrol
These two systems are only used to
compel the men to go the entire length
of the patrol each night, no matter what
the state Of the weather.
THE first watch goes out at o'clock,
which is called the sunset watch These
men are relieved at 5 o'clock by two
more of the crew, who are in turn re-
lieved at IL o'clock. The sunrise watch
then goes out and stays until o'clock in
the morning.
THE crew are required to report for
duty on the first day of September and
stay until the last day of April, eight
months in all. / have 10 keep regular
log of each days proceedings, and re-
port at once any characterization on the
part or the men. During the winter
when the hotels are all closed here we
have to 20 to Far Rockaway by boat for
food and the provisions we need. Yes,
we find it a little dreary at times, but we
never get lonesome.