The Helena independent., 1893-12-04


THROUGH THE WOODS.
ing up and down the beach, mile after mile,
clambering over rough hcadlands, wading
through snow and slush, facing the
storms and stumbling in the darkness.
For the night patrol there are four watches
from sunset to s o'clock, from 8 till mid
night, from midnight to 4 and from to
sunrise.
Tho Rod Flame.
Where tho stations are so far apart that
the patrolman cannot meet his neighbor,
he carries clock which has dial that can
be marked only by means Of a key. This
key is hung to post at the far end Of his
beat, and thus he must go to the post in Or
der to secure this automatic certification
Of having performed his duty. The clock
also registers the time at which the patrol
man reached the end of his beat
Each patrolman carries lantern and a
number of red hand lights. II he discov-
ers wrecked vessel in distress or ship
running dangerously near the shore, he ig-
mites his light, which sends forth a brilliant
red flame, thus warning the people on the
ship that they are too near the coast, or il
they have been wrecked that help is COM
ing. The lookout at the station often sees
the red flame and gives the alarm to the
life saving crew without any loss Of time.
Dangerous Places.
In this way the Atlantic coast is patrolled
every night for an aggregate distance of
about 800 miles, or more than one-half of
all the coast line. There are on this coast
1G5 life saving stations, nearly one-half of
these being on the shores of Long Island
and New Jersey. Here, within distance
of 250 miles, are so life saving stations, and
they arc as rule busiest of all the 23O sta
tions maintained by the service in the
United States. These two coasts extend
nearly ut right angles from the great port
of New York, where centers the commerce
of the western hemisphere.
This coast line throughout nearly its
whole length consists of a narrow strip of
sand beach, varying in width from quar-
ter of mile to five miles. and separated
from the mainland by narrow water open
ings that sometimes extend into broad bays.
At distance Of from 400 to 500 yards from
the shore it is bordered by outlying sand
bars, over which in violent 81 orms immense
walls of surf continually break.
These shores, exposed to all easterly
storms, are constantly skirted by vessels
bound to or from the ports Of New York,
Philadelphia and Wilmington, and by tho
craft of the coasting trade. Their sands
have always levied a fearful tribute upon
passing commerce, and are literally strewn
with the half buried and decaying skeletons
of wrecked vessels, while the grayeyards Of
the coast villages and settlements abound
with unmarked mounds which tell q sud
tale of destruction Of human life.
Medals of KOnor.
Alnpn fh:c coact tina recapt etormS of
which you have read in the telegraphic dis
patches found many victims, but not a
tenth part US many rs they would have
found but for the presence and gallant
efforts of the life saving crews.
Month after month the life saving service
performs rescues whose accounts deserve
to be celebrated in song and story. Few Of
these narratives find their way into the
newspapers in anything like adequate form.
One of the latest medals Of honor granted
by the secretary of the treasury for heroic
life saving was awarded to Keeper Chase
of the Coskato station, Nantucket. The
story Of that rescue, told even in the SIM
plest language, reads like page from
romance.
In the middle Of winter, during a fright
full storm, the three masted schooner Kirk
ham stranded on Rose and Crown shoal.
The sea was running almost mountain
high 1t was night when the vessel struck,
and within an hour her bow was torn to
pieces. The crew took to the rigging. Next
morning the wreck was discovered, but she
was l5 miles from land. But what could
be done? Could any boat live in such sea?
Was it not madness to attempt n rescue 10
miles from the shore, amid such turbu-
lent torrent of brcakers?
Fifteen Hours III tho Rigging.
Keeper Chase did not stop to consider
these questions. He promptly launched
his surfboat-an open boat, only % feet
long and 2ii5 feet deep-and put to sea. At
last he nearcd the wreck and saw that the
men were still hanging to the rigging On
account of the roughness Of the ocean it
| was impossible to aid the schooner. If this
/, had been attempted, the surfboat would
| have been dashed to pieces. So Keeper
Chase dropped down nenr to the schooner
between seas, anchored his craft and threw
small line attached to u heaving stick on
| board the wreck.
The sailors, though nearly dead from ex-
| posure, managed to attach u larger line to
| this he, and it was pulled aboard the surf
| boat. Thus the keeper and his crew were
able to draw nearer the wreck in her lee.
| A sailor tied Il line around his body and
! Jumped overheard. No sooner had he been
hauled aboard than another followed his
! example. Taking advantage Of lulls In the
storm and pulling up between seas, man
ufter man was taken of in this manner till
all seven OF the sailors were rescued, after
being IS hours In the rigging. In Gn hour
the wreck wen. to pieces. The life saver,
were In the nick OF time.
| Now came the struggle for the shore
| With IA men on board the little boat We