The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-08
FROM SHIP TO SHORE.
How Surf Boats Make Landing Through
the breakers,


the Breakers.
Selecting landing-place, the men
wait for an opportunity. By lying out
side and watching the breakers. they
find that after a certain number of
heavy ones there is a quiet interval,
and after several counts they know
when to expect this interval and take
advantage of it. If there are but two or
three lines of bad breakers near SEEM
ingly steep beach. bold dash, bows on.
during this interval of quiet, will prob
ably land them high and dry.
Much more frequently, however, the
water will shoal far out from the shore,
and many lines of breakers will have to
be passed. The quiet interval will be
too short to allow a boat to reach the
shore. Only courage. GOODNESS, quick
ness, and good judgment can save the
men in the battle for life which must
then be fought They select a place
where the breakers seem to roll in par
allel to the beach and not slantingly,
and then they row toward them as close
as they can with safety, and turn the
boats bow out to sea Next, they back
in rapidly when the quiet time comes,
but keep the boats bow pointed square
ly at the breakers. The lull is too soon
over, and the battle begins A noun
famous sea comes rolling in and mount
ing upward from a rounded crest to
thin green edge, which tumbles above
them. Then the nearer side seems to
pause, and from the green edge sweeps
kissing backward curling, feathery
spray, as the farther side of the
wave seems to rush over the
nearer, and descend with a crashing
roar in overwhelming volumes of
whitened surf. Il the little boat is
caught in this deluge, she may be
thrown end over end, or slued so far
around that the next sea will roll her
over and over; and even if skillful man
agement should keep her head to sea
she would be completely swamped
These points where the seas break must
then be eluded as often as possible, but
only experience and judgment can tell
how to pass them with more than occa-
sional success. By pulling a few
strokes toward the sea, a wave may
pass under the boat just before it
breaks Then what ride they have!
More swiftly than by express train
they are shot shoreward by a mighty
power utterly beyond control The
roar around them is frightful, and the
swirling, broken water terrifying; but
while that speeding lasts they are safe.
Every effort is always made to keep on
the back of that shore-rushing wave.
1t was an enemy moment before, but
now it is guiding friend. The boat
men back in upon it with all their
might, but watching all the time for
the next wave to rise and form for at
tack.
When the welcome shore is close at
hand the helmsman presses down the
loom or shaft of the steering oar; other
wise the blade would suddenly catch in
the sand, the boat would rush over it,
and as it pivoted in the oarlock the oar
would fling the man far astern. Lucky
would he be if there was still water to
fall upon!
When the boat touches bottom, all
hands spring overheard. and, Selling
her gunwales, rush her high up on the
beach; otherwise the waves would do
this for them, probably broadside on,
and in a very ruthless manner, perhaps
breaking bones and crushing the boat,
as if angry at the mems escape.-John
NJ. Ellicott U. S. N, in St Nicholas