The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-22

white centre ana blue on eitner sue
for u" There are eighteen signals
flags In all. and by means OF the vari-
Gus combination $4,000 different signals
can be made. augmented to over $4,000
by the addition of four pennants which
are sometimes employed. The lie
saving crew always AXE the book or
signals with them % Interpret the
meaning Of he tiags he Inflated snip
is flying, as man would have to be
a walking encyclopaedia to carry 1t all
in his memory.
A few illustrations may serve to ex-
plain how these messages are con-
veyed. "DMHN' signifies. shall we
bring ships papers, "PD.' In i'm
mediate need OF medical assistance;
"HL," do not attempt TO land In your
own boats When we read or hear OF
vessels speaking each other 1t means
using the flags, oftener than other
wise, since few vessels come near
enough TO converse by means OF the
speaking trumpet. All nations can use
stand for the same letter in oil lands.
There are also special letters for days
OF the eek, names of the months,
for money and commodities OF all
kinds.
But while ! have been so carefully
inspecting the interior arrangements
of this government station. the people
have been gradually assembling about
it's exterior. and the clock warns me
the hour for the drill has arrived. The
big doors Of the boathouse are thrown
open at command OF the captain, and
the light gig to which Is attached the
hawser for carrying the breeches buoy
Is run out on the beach, midway be-
tween the surf and the boathouse,
stands a tall stan. reaching upwards
fifty feet OF more. This is called the
"wrecking pole" and Is supposed to
represent the mast of a stranded YES
sell sailor mounts this pole sta.
tons himself on the narrow projection
neal the top, and stands ready to
catch the life line as 1t is thrown 10
him The rest Of the crew, looking
very natty IN their white duck suits.
are drawn up in line on either side OF
the gun carriage, waiting the COM
mand of their leader. At his signal
the bomb carrying the life line is
rammed INTO the gun, the latter being
elevated to the proper angle for reach
ing the mast by means OF delicate
instrument called the gun level"
Everything being now properly ad-
tusted. the order is given, --'Firer'
Instantly the bomb shoots clear over
the mast carrying the life line. which
Is deity seized in passing by the sailor.
Following the life line, to which 1t is
attached. comes the cable rope, and
last Of ali The hawser which carries
the breeches buoy. All these in turn
the sailor "hauls in" and communica-
ton is established between the shin
and the shore. The breaches buoy ia
constructed similarly to a life pre-.
server, only from the former depend
two short legs made OF sail cloth Into
these the rescued person thrusis his
own limbs, and supported about his
waist by the l!fe- preserVer and holdinp
ION by his hands to the ropes attaching
the buoy TO the cable rope, is drawn
safely to land.
The oldtIme life car. fashioned some.
what like coffin was long ago dis
carded. as utterly ,mpracticabie. Its
shape was so suggestive. and the pos
sibility of suffocation so apparent peo-
pie often hesitated to commit them.
selves to its keeping. even though their
lives hung in the balance. The pecu-
liar advantage in the beeches hliov lies
IN the fact that 1t is almost impossi-
BILE for the waves. however high, TO
overturn IL, and the surfman of whom
made inquiry said he had never
known 1t to happen during his long ex.
perience in the coast guard.
The buoy having been secured to the
supposed ship. opportunity was given
for any among the Spectators who
might so desire to take the novel ride
Several awaited themselves of the
privilege, but their smiling counte.
nances and expressions OF pleasure as
they LANDED" could hardly be just
type of the sensations of one who had
escaped with his life over Deaths aw-
full chasm.
Last of all came the sailor. who
threw himself deftly from the mast.
and. despsing the slower means Of
transportation. came hand over hand
along the hawser to the ground. The
life buoy was drawn ashore and the
drill was over. 1t did not much re-
semble the reality of bona flde rescue.
which the writer was privileged to wit
ness a short time since, ana the awful
weirdness of which must long live in
memory. The ocean drill consists in
running the life boat down to the surf
as rapidly as possible. all the neces-
sary equipments for reaching the wreck
having first been carefully placed
aboard The principal feature of the
ocean drill is the exercise in rowing,
designed to teach uniform movement
and swiftness in propelling the boat.
each being especially necessary in
striving to reach an endangered vessel.
Sometimes, in a fierce Storm the ele-
,nents so rage and the surf runs so
high, 1t is impossible to launch the
lifeboat, and many time the men are I'M
able to run the boat down to the beach
themselves. in which cases horses have
to be procured from the nearest point.
or course. all Of these delays, though i'm
perative consume precious moments,
which seem hours to those upon the i'll
fated vessel, and sometimes they perish
because of these delays. in the very
sight of those who are throbbtng with
Impotence and yearnins to rescue
them.
When one considers the fact that
through the stormiest months OF the
year. while we are comfortably housed
by our cheerful fireside, these men
patrol our coasts all night long, otten
through binding storms and a con.
fict with the elements which one would
shudder to encounter under the most
favorable conditions. admiration OF
their courage gives place to Indignation
al the mere stipend they receive FOR
their exhausting toll. The average
nav of the surfmen is $50 month ana
"fnd' themselves. often they have
families dependent upon them VINO
would become utterly impoverished IN
case of the disaster which Is llapie
at any hour to overtake them. true,
the government has lately ADDED TWO
months 10 the term Of service. put we
pay has been "docked" TO MAKE the
same amount cover the extra unit
True, also, It may be argued theit oJ
duration Is q voluntary choice on tnsn
part, and a previous life OF hafashIg
and peril on the ocean, mas iHuieH
them TO all its dangers
StllI the fact remains that these men
raady imDeTll their