The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27
IAN ANTHELIFEBOAT.
UNITED STATES LIFE-SAV-
ING STATION.
| Keepers Position No Sinecurc-
Fishermen Make the Best
Lifeboatmen-Difficulty in
Reaching Wreck.

pearance are what may be called sub
stantial huts, rather plain, but picturesque.
Each station has an annex containing a
lifeboat of the latest improvement, and
this is generally situated nearer the coast.
built on a high elevation, so as to defy
the continually rising and falling waters.
The main buildings have below q kitchen,
boat room and messroom. They are
provided with convenient lockers, and
above are two sleeping apartments.
There is also a storeroom used for the
stowage of the seasons provisions, cord
age and alternate articles, not in direct
use. In the boat room stands mortar
cart, loaded with wreck ordnance and
various implements which will be noted
later. Within the same room is surf
boat, which is used on fiat beaches and
in shoal waters The kitchen and mess
rooms are provided with various articles
of furniture appropriate to their necessl-
ties. The keeper and crew live here
during the active season, which begins
the first of September and lasts SIX
months.
The keeper commands a crew of six
men. His position is no sinecure. He
shoulders grave responsibility, which
requires long experience and exceptional
Judgment in the execution of his i'm
portant trust. Not only in the selection
of the men upon whose skill and devo
ton depend not only his and their sue
sess, but the fate of those they expect to
save, is confded solely to hini. Both
are generally chosen from the fishermen
in the vicinity of the station on account
of their familiarity with the coast and
reputation as serfmen. The first peep into
this life brings them face to face with the
roaring surf. In early youth the first
stroke is made in the billows, and they
almost live in or on the water from that
time until they reach manhood, when the
most skillful acquire the command of
boat. 1t is erroneous to suppose that the
experience of sailor qualities him to be
surfman. His home is at sea; he IS
seldom called to handle boat in high
surf, and he has little knowledge of the
surfman's realm. This fact is proved
from the number of mariners who have
lost their lives in trying to land from
stranded ships.
When vessel is driven ashore, the
patrolman being the first to discover it
takes the initial steps toward the relief.
He has in his possession, while on duty,
besides his lantern, a torch, which lights
by a percussion cap and gives forth a red
fame. He is alert to detect the
slightest indication of disaster. When he
discovers anything of the kind he imme-
diately canvasses the situation. He locates
the vessel as either too near land or
stranded in the pillows, and then ignites
his torch, that those on the ship may feel
assured that help is near at hand. He is
not certain that there is wreck until he
receives some reply in the shape of a
rocket or the report of gun. After one
of these demonstrations he hurr;es to his
station, and his hasty entrance is sufi-
Gent to arouse his slumbering comrades.
He makes his report to the keeper, whose
keen judgment determines the nature of
the rescue and the means to be employed
If he decides on surfboat, the doors of
the boat house are thrown wide open and
the cart in few minutes is gliding
along the beach in the direction of the
distressed vessel. Without a moments
delay the boat is launched and is soon on
its errand of mercy. The keeper stands
at the steering oar and guides the boat,
while his faithful assistants, with their
backs to the sea, unmindful of the
dangers that surround them, rest their
eyes upon him and are obedient to his
command, though it be the slightest ges-
ture. Suddenly high sea may break
aud fill the boat. causing a return to the
shore, or capsizing her, tumbling the men
into the sea and tossing them about until
they reach foothold on the shore. Then
they try again, and often meet with the
same fate; it is generally after the third
or fourth venture that they reach the
wreck. At this point very careful man
euvering is necessary to prevent their
craft from crushing against the huge hull
of the stranded vessel
Taking off as we'll as possible the un-
fortunnte people whom they may find
clinging to the wreck, difficult return
to the shore remains before them. The
commander must now on the moment
decide on one of the several methods
before him. On one occasion he may
run Immediately behind roller, and by
quick work keep ahead and reach the
shore in safety. With difficult sea he
may reverse action, occasionally pulling
ahead to meet an incoming breaker, and
so on, which clearly shows the Importance
of good judgment in the steersman. If
ne should happen to mistake the sea, and
err in his course, the billows would turn
the craft, causing it to capsize.
When patrolman reports that the
boat cannot be used the wreck-equipped
:art is ordered out. This carriage con-
tains the gun, rocket, lines and every
device required when the process of fir
ing the gun becomes necessary. The
cart is drawn along the beach to the
place where the wreck is most easily
accessible. Every man is well trained in
his particular duty, and proceeds to
handle and place in position the apparatus
assigned to his special charge. Simul-
taneously the different members of the
crew load the gun, attach the torch, fix
the shot line in position, place the tackles
ready for handling, and with spade and
shovel begin TO dig trenches for the
sand anchors. All this is done by the