Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-05-07
IN CASE OF sHIpwReck.


a General Idea of the Workings OF the
Life Saving servicc-A Caution.
In few words Lieut.. G. III Mcclellan,
OF the revenue marine, in his part Of the
report entitled instructions TO Mariners
In Case Of Snipwreck, gives good gen
eral idea of the workings OF the service.
quote from him. leaving out such SEN
tences as would not interest the general
public;
'An stations on the Atlantic coast, from
the eastern extremity of tht state OF
Maine to Cape Fear. y C. are manned
annually by crews Of experienced surf
men from Sept. | until May following
Upon the lake COASTS the stations are
manned from the opening To the close OF
navigation, aud upon the Pacific coast
they are open and manned the year round.
with the exception of the stations which
are manned by volunteers. Ali life saw
ing and lifeboat stations are fully sup
piled with boats, wreck gun, beach appa-
ratus and resteratives. Houses of refuge
are supplied with boats, provisions and
restoratlves. but not manned with crews,
keeper, however, resides in each
throughout the year, who, after every
storm, IL required to make extended ex
cursions along the coast. with a view of
ascertaining whether any shipwreck has
occurred, and finding and succoring any
persons who may have been cast ashore.
Houses OF refuge are situated exclusively
upon the Florida coast, where the re-
quirements OF relief are widely different
from those OF any other portion of the sea
board. Most of the life saving and life
boat stations are provided with the inter
national code OF signals; and vessels can.
BY communication, be reported or obtain
the latitude or longitude of the station.
information as to the weather proba-
bilities or, IL crippled or disabled, a
steam tug or revenue cutter will be tele-
graphed for, where facilities exist, If re-
quested.
All services are performed by the life
saving crews without other compensation
than their wages from the government,
though, In view OF the meagcrness OF
their pay, they are not prohibited from
receiving such rewards for labor per
/ formed or risks incurred at wrecks Ms
owners or masters of vessels or other per.
sons may see fit TO voluntarily bestow
upon them. but they are strictly forbidden
10 solicit such rewards.
"Destituti seafarers are provided with
food and lodgings at the nearest station
by the government as long as necessarily
detained by the circumstances of ship
wreck.
"The station crews patrol the beach
from two TO four miles each side of their
stations four times between aunset and
sunrise, and If the weather Is foggy the
patrol Is continued through the day.
Each patrolman carries Coston signals
Upon discovering vessel standing into
danger he ignites one OF them, which
emits brilliant red flame of about two
minutes duration. to warn her of, or
should the vessel be ashore. TO let her
crew know that they are discovered and
assistance is at hand.
"If the vessel Is not discovered by the
patrol Immediately after striking, rockets
or fiare up lights should be burned, or If
the weather be foggy. guns should be
fired to attract attention, rs the patrol.
man may be some distance away on the
other end of his beat
Masters are particularly cautioned, IL
they should be driven ashore anywhere in
the neighborhood of the stations, especi-
ally on any of the sandy coasts where
there Is not much danger OF vessels break
Ing up Immediately, 10 remain ON board
until assistance arrives, and under no cir
cumstanees should they attempt to land
through the surf in their own boats until
the last hope of assistance from the shore
has vanished. Often when comparatively
smooth at sea dangerous surf is running
which IL not perceptible 400 yards Off
shore, and the surf, when viewed from
vessel, never appears as dangerous as II Is.
Many lives have been unnecessarily lost
by the crews OF stranded vessels being
thus deceived and attempting TO land in
the ships boats. New York Times