The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-11-17
LIFE-SAVING SERVICE.
How Our Sea Coasts Are Pro-
vided with Rescuers.


= At the late session, says the Youths
Companion, congress added two months
to the yearly term Of employment OF
tho men in the life-saving service who
are stationed along the Atlantic and
gulf coasts; and hereafter the men at
these stations will be on duty from the
1st OF each August to the LIST Of the
next June, instead OF from September
to May, IS was formerly the case.
This step was taken for the reason
that, as general rule, destructive sea
storms are not apprehended in summer,
In the regions named some OF the most
furious Rales occurring in the months
OF May and August. On the New Eng
land coast, in particular, the August
gales" are expected annually and are
greatly feared.
The life-saving service belongs to
the treasury department. Its officers
and men are nearly all practical sea-
men; all are of mature age, and all are
picked men, fitted by exceptional
physique and by mental and moral
qualities for the business OF saving
lives from vsAssls wrecked in storms.
Crest care II exrrclsed In 0hoonfng
them, and the service has been kept 40
tree from political influence that no sus-
picion OF craftsmanship has ever at
tachcd to 1t.
The stations OF the service are placed
In exposed situations where wrecks are
most likely to occur. For this reason
they are scattered very uncvenly over
eur coasts.
In 1893 there were only twelve sta
tions on the entire Pacific coast and
there were two on the little island of
Nertuclct. On the Atlantic and Gulf
coast there were one hundred and
eighty, and there were fifty on the
shores Of the great lakes; while there Is
one on an interior riyer-at the falls of
the Ohio, near Louisville.
Each station consists Of little house
where the men live and u boat-house
where the surf-boats are kept. The
men are constantly exercised In the
handling and launching OF these boats.
They must patrol the beach for long
distances in storms, and they lead any
thing but an idle life.
Under the new arrangement for ten
months OF service u year, the surfmen
are to receive sixty dollars month
each, and out OF this sum they must
iced themselves. They lead lives Of
isolation and often Of hardship, and are
expected in an emergency TO show, and
AlwRys have shown, the highest quail
ties OF hcroisn.
Since the service WIS established in
1871, II has rescued from wrecked yes
sels more than ten thousand persons,
and saved ninety millions Of dollars
worth o: property. All this good Is
done ut an expense to the government
quarter dollars year-but an insig
niacant fraction OF the amount whicl
tire government yearly pays for appli
ances intended to destroy life In wai
fare.
The lise,saving service IL ono of tn
branches OF the government In the SUI
port OF which all men and parties ma
grecmen.. Not only is direct goo
done by II In the saving OF life an
property, but indirect good, of impol
tanoe In the building up OF character
by the cultivation of heroism and sell
sacrifice through the example Of tn
deeds done every year by these brav
surfmen.
The service Is still inadequate. Man
points or the coasts OF our oceans an
E-est lakes are unguarded whcr
wrecks are likely to oscur. Hut In II
present state the life saving service
> brilliant example to other peoples.