Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19
LIFE SAVERS AT WORK.

first prepared a code of regulations for the
guidance and discipline of the remnants of the
service. Lazy and inefficient men were dismissed,
keepers who had outgrown their efficiency were
and slowly the almost persisted body was
warmed into life and infused with
health. As result single record
should be given. During the first year
in which the new system was operated on the
New York and New Jersey coasts every person
imperiled by shipwreck was saved. In 1873
Congress ordered a survey of the ocean, gulf
and lake coasts by commission consisting OF
Mr. Kimbail, Capts FauDce and Merryman OF
the revenue service. Their report gave de-
tailed account of the marine disasters within
the jurisdiction of the United States for the
preceding decade, and an appalling list it was.
Based on this report Mr.. Kimball submitted q
bill for the enlargement of the service and the
award of life-saving medals, which was passed
in June, 1874
THE SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
This, then, was the browning of the labor,
and for several years the work of building new
stations and strengthening the forces of the
system went along we'll But the appropria-
tons were yet small and owing to the fact that
the stations could not be opened until Deem
Der several terrible disasters were recorded,
notably the wreck of the Huron off Nagg's
Head, on November "a. 1877, and then a little
more than two months later the Metropolis
went to pieces and eighty-fve lives were lost,
simply because the stations were so far apart.
This had the usual effect. Congress sud-
denly awoke to the proper sense
of the needs of the service,
and in June, 1878, bill became law estab-
fishing the service on its own basis. This bill
it should be noted, was the work of the late s.
S. Cox of New York and Chas. b. Roberts OF
Maryland. Under the provisions of this act
Mr. kimball was Immediately nominated for
the position of general superintendent, and he
was confirmed without even the formallty Of q
reference to committee.
Such has been the history OF the life-saving
service, an institution that has achieved such
excellence and risen to such a degree of eff
cheney, as to receive, in the opinion of the del
egates to the international marine conference
that met in this city last fall, the first rank
among similar services anywhere in the world.
GUARDING TEN THOUSAND MILES OF COAST.
In all but very few instances there are no
volunteers in the present service. All are I'm =
der salary, and to this is due, as much as to
any other cause, the great success which has
attended its work. The sea and lake coasts OF
the United States, exclusive of Alaska, have an
extent OF over 10000 miles, guarded by 226
life-saving stations, of which l65 are on the
shores of the Atlantic, on the shores of the
gulf OF Mexico, as many on the Pacific coast =,
and the remainder. As. on the great lakes There
is another on the Ohio river at the falls of Lou
judgment, at selected points where there is
danger to shipping, on some portions Of the
coast being separated by long intervals. while
in other places they form chains OF continuous
posts within communicating distance of each
other. For instance, there are but 16 stations
in the AIS miles from the eastern end OF Maine
to the beginning of Cape Cod, while on that
treacherous arm Of sand, extending out like
the finger of a siren to hook mariners to de-
structon, there are ten stations in the less than
eighty miles of shore. Then from the elbow Of
the cape to Montauk Point, a distance of
ITO miles, there are but nine stations. Along
the 10 miles of shore along the southern
edge Of Long Island there are SO stations
and on the 100 miles of dangerous Jersey shore
there are forty. In the 1l6 miles from Cape
Heniopen to Cape Charles there are sixteen
stations, and from Cape Henry to Cape HATTIE
ras, III miles, there are twenty-three. Between
Hatteras and Cape Fear, IT'S miles, six sta
tions are located. and from Cape Fear to
Florida there is but one. that being in the hsr-
Dor of Charleston. With the exception of q
complete station at Jupiter Inlet the coast of
florida is unprovided with crews, their places
being taken by ten houses of refuge, where
shipwrecked sailors may find succor from the
dangers of starvation and thirst. There are
very few records of wrecks having occurred on
the coast of the gulf except on the Texan sands,
and here are the only stations in this region
five In number.
The Pacific coast is not considered danger
Gus one, as the shores are usually sheer bluffs,
with the prevailing winds blowing along them
rather than against them. There are, however,
few extremely dangerous points, mostly at
the entrance of harbors, and these are guar ded
by eight stations.
The so 900 square miles of water in the great
lakes have shore line of nearly 2, 500 miles
that IS often strewn with some of the most
frightful wrecks known to commerce. Naviga-
ton Is open for only eight months in the year
put the death records OF these great inland seas
Is something appalling and wonderful.
Eight additional stations have just been com.
pleted and there Is provision for twenty more
TO be built soon. 1t is thought that when these
have been put into operation this form of pro.
| lection will have about reached the practical
hmi: OF the present necessities of our com.
merce.
HOW THE STATIONS ARE ARRANGED.
The stations are plain wooden structures.
built in very substantial manner, in order to
withstand the violence Of the storms
that beat about them. It is feature Of
their construction that they may be overturned
by the wind without any great amount of dam
/ age, ana there Is one instance on record where
station was carried some distance inland BY
/ the rushing whirlwind and afterward set ur
/ and was as good as ever. In most cases their
| architecture Is exceedingly simple, but at some
! OF the summer resorts, where their services are
not infrequently needed, they are given some
peculiar shade of red, in order that marin err,
! may distinguish them from the sea. The,
serve not only as the store houses for the boat
! and other apparatus needed in their work, bu
also as barracks for the crews, who make then
! their constant homes during the active season
In the majority of the stations the first floor il
! divided into four rooms. one for the boats, one
/ Tor the general stores, one for the messes o.
/ the crews and the other for the keeper. Tb,
| mess room is also used as a sitting room by tn,
men. who sleep upstairs, where there are TIVE
/ rooms. one devoted 10 this purpose and tn,
\ other furnished with extra cots for rescued
| people. In some Of the larger stations Their,
are two other rooms, q spare room and
kitchen On the roof is square tower or look
! out. in which a watch is kept each day from
dawn to dark for the first signs Of storms an,
/ for the least indications Of a wreck. A sixty
/ foot flagstaff is planted at each station for tn
display Of signals used in the international code
THE BREEcHEs BUOY.
/ There are several ways in which succor i
/ given to a shIpwreck, depending altogethe
! NJ - upon the nature Of tn
/ e-~.fHxst1g coast, the condition o
| W the elements and tn,
| W[Lr number Of people to b.
N H. rescued In many case
~ the ship is driven /,
| NoE-T the gales so far into tn
IA shore that the rescue j
IN accomplished by throw
ga ing n line across tn,
Ez vessel from the shor,
~RxM and hauling the peopl,
| p$ESn OF by means either o
! &xSx<yE ~ the breeches buoy o.
NS the life car. At othe
~ times the ship hay,