The San Francisco call., 1896-11-11
PREPARING TO
SAVE MARINERS
The Life-Saving Service
Being Put in Perfect
Order.
Several New Stations to Be
Built on This Coast Very
Soon.
A LETTER OF APPRECIATION.
How Those on the Wrecked Steamer
Arago at Coos Bay Were Res.
cued From Death.
A LETTER OF APPRECIATION

1
that are always expected at this period OF
the year has caused Major Blakeney of
the life-saving service to order the men
under his charge at the several stations in
this district to put the stations, boats and
| hfe-saving appurtenances in perfect order.
Not that these are ever out of order, but
the major is always more anxious at this
| season to have everything ready at Sec
ond's notice for an emergency CALL Every
thing is now in perfect working order.
In discussing the service Major Blake
ney stated that there is more saved to the
mariner by prevention than by actual
work when there is occasion for action.
10 illustrate this he cited the lite-saving
| station at Point Reyes. Prior to the con-
struction and equipment of that station
not winter passed but that some vessel
went ashore in that locality, and the
wrecks were disastrous to life and prop
erty. Since the station and crew have
been there only one wreck has occurred
and that was small lumber schooner
that was driven ashore by severe storm.
The crew was saved by the station crew.
The reason for 1t Is that in all weather the
men patrol the beach anG cliffs day and
night and upon the approach of vessel
are set on In time to warn the mariner of
his danger. Many vessel has thus been
saved by the coast guard. Another illus
tratlon lies nearer home. Many a vessel
went ashore on the San Francisco coast
prior to the establishment of the stations
were driven in by adverse tides, against
which they were powerless because of the
lack OF wind or poor steering apparatus.
they were warned Just the same.
While those who have been benefited
by this important service deeply appreci-
ate the good 1t does the general public is
not always well informed as to the sterl-
ing merit of the life-savers. There was
one unfortunate crew who recently had
cause TO appreciate the service and also
the fact that Major Blakeney had changed
station so that the llfe-savers could be of
use to those in distress. On this point the
following letter is self.explanatory:
SAN FRANCISCO Nov. a.
Major T. J. Bldkeney, Superintendent TtUeifth
United States Life-sautng District-DEAR SIR:
take pleasure in writing you few lines re-
garding the wreck OF the steamsh hip Arago near
Coos Bay jetty on October 20, 1896, and the
performance of the life-saving crew on that oc-
casion, particularly Captain Haynes, who was
In command OF the lifeboat on that occasion.
/ would state that when the Iifeboat ap-
peared inside OF the jetty she was making al
flood tide, which convinced me that they were
and had been from the time they knew of our
plight doing all in their power Tor US. After
getting to the north side OF the wreck Ia lob
that required great courage and skill on the
part OF Captain Haynes and great strength
and endurance on the part of the crew, VINO,
had they not been well drilled, would 1 be-
ueye, have been too much exhausted bv the
long pull they had from the station to the end
OF the 3etty, to have performed it), several at
tempts were made to get us q line before it was
mplis hed-every attempt at the peril of
the lives OF the entire life-saving crew.
After getting the line to US Captain Haynes
II T. horrl 49,
onto one man at time and have him jump
overboar and they would haul him in to the
lifeboat, which they did until there were but
three OF us left. Then as all indications were
that the mast would soon fall Captain HAYNES
told me not to wait to haul in the haWser bnt
bend the line we had around all three of us,
little space between US, and he would haul us
all at once, which we did. Captain HAYNES
and his crew saved all the men on the wreck
when he got to it.
l must thank you for the lives of ALI of us
who were rescued by the United State Life
Service crew, for believe that IT was through
your eaorts that the hfe-saving station was
boat could have reached Us that day or the
next Yours respectfully, A. REED,
Master steamship Arago.
The bureau at Washington is at present
contemplating the enlargement OF the
service on tins coast. One improvement
will be the erection of life saving sta
ton at Grays Harbor where the British
bark Zlnlta went ashore two DAYS ago. A
site was purchased there five years ago
and the plans are being prepared at Wash
ington. 1t will be fully equipped with all
modern life-saving apparatus.
Probably the first station to be con-
structed and put in order will be that on
the outside of Point Bonita little above
the lighthouse. It's construction was au-
thorized by the last Congress, but the site
is not yet selected. 1t will consist of a
modern building, boats. etc. Inside of
the point in what is known as Pilot
Cove, another or auxiliary station will be
erected and provided with boats, chute
and all that Will be necessary. One large
crew will be sufficient for both places.
The idea is that in a northwest storm
when coat cannot be launched from the
ocean side, the crew will cross the low hill
and launch the boat in the Pilot Cove sta
tion and proceed out to the vessel in dis
tress. When the storm is from the scuth
or southeast the outside boat will be
launched when necessary. When the new
station is esta blished it is believed that
the coast guard patrol service will save all
kinds of water craft, even from the ap-
proach of danger.