The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-03-05
The COAST OF
CAROLINA.
Some Interesting Facts Concern
ing The Life Saving Service
And Its Stations
BEAUTIFUL PEN PICTURES

Tencrs with Land-Iubber Hunters "o
.crib.d Hy Travelling Corr~sp"nae"t'
From the days OF Amadas ana
ParlOwc the coast OF NORM N""
lima. with. it's shifting SANDS ana
DANGEROUS shoals, has over beon
terror to the mariner, and III early
days many n wrecker reaped golden
harvests through false lights dis
uAyed along the shore. To-day the
frendly beacon Of the coast-guard
warns the ship away, instead OF lur-
Ing her to destruction, and
,.w are aware of the extensive good
accomplished by this department OF
our government.
AT conveient distances along our
coast are dotted the life saving sta
tIons. These structures are built OF
Uniform size, consisting OF q story
and Il "jump.n The lower apart
n,ut is divided into two rooms the
general assembly room, and what Is
known as the apparatus room, where
may be found swan-like serf-bOat,
cIInker built and durable. Close
by stands carriage with neatly
colled rope suited in size to the sys-
TEN of reaching stranded vessels.
To accomplish this, small brass
cannon with An iron proJectile Is
used; tae latter implement being
provided with shank, to which Is
attached y strong cord about live
hundred yards in length, neatly
colled in box prepared for the
purpose. With astonishing precis-
ion, the little gun is aimed, and at
n gwen signal the line goes flashing
through the air like an angry serp-
ant and is instantly seized by the
shipwrecked crew and made fast TO
tho rigging of the stranded craft.
To the shore end of this cord a
,touter rope is bended and soon the
life line is stretched taut above the
angry waves, and one by one the
dripping crew is lowered IN safety to
the shore.
Should the vessel be at too great
distance to be reached by this meth
cd, then becomes necessary the per-
iIous service of the life-boat. which
is launched with u celebrity born OF
discipline and courage. The regu-
lar duties required in this service
are the mighty patrol OF the beach,
and also by day during stormy
and overcast weather.
Nothing can excel the genuine
hospitality and friendliness or the SO
Samaritans of the sea. Their gen.
erosity to the needy is proverblal,
and their intercourse with each other
is marked by q spirit of brotherly
ly kindness characteristic OF COM
panions in danger. There is prison
like loneliness about the life, un-
bearablo but for the excitement
awakened by the ever changing and
treacherous movements OF the sea-
Nothing IN the wide expanse seems
cheering. The restless cry of the
sea fowl is like an echo from the
turmoil of the angry waves; and the
.dirge-l like whistling of the wind is
in strange accord with the surround
ing desolation. The barren sand
hills stand as fit monuments to the
wrecks upon the shore, whose
weather beaten shrouds seem ever
singing in solemn requiem to the
deaCk 'Tis here the lonely guard tread!
out the watches of the night, en-
during heat and cold alike, and ever
On Tue dltEl LUZ SlS udlo VI uiosA Soo
Tbs this alone that breaks the dul
monotony. The sullen boom OF
distant gun at sea startles the entir'
crew into active vigilance and veil
their faces with a lock of anxious eX
peetation. A flash of light in toke1
of distress meets with ready respons
from q beacon on shore, givln!
warning Of the danger.
The tagging system is another in
tcresting feature of the service b
means of which accurate informa
tiou is gained of passing ships. Des
pite the lonely life, these men ar
happy and contented. Their wage
seem adequate for all present needs
but surely some provision should
made, as contemplated by the Co
ernment, for pensioning those en-
ployed in this arduous work, after
definite period of service. Nothir
could be more Just than substanti
recognition for the sacrifice tn,
daily make in the cause of humani
and for the general welfare Of thu
country. With an assurance such
this, the most efficient service wor
be maintained by the government
To the northern sportsman is d
much in the development of t
section of country. Spacious cl
houses are seen from time to Il
along the line, standing well ba
from the beach and in close pr
unity to the sound. The devil
used as decoys to the wild game
numerous. In many instances,
mesticated wild fowl are used
this purpose, some being raised a
others captured when wounded.
Not unfrequently is the unsuspe
ing ''land-lubbeI" decoyed, as v
as the feathered goose, and his
formance furnishes food for jest
hilarity for days together, while
with bated breath, crawls throI
mud and marsh to get shot.
captain and his crew roll in lau
ter on the sands at sight OF
bitter being Bit" For informal
on this subject the writer respectf1
refers to Capt. Partridge, OF Stat
No. 1.
The principle shooting grounds
in the shallow sound between
banks on which the life-saving
tions are located and the main Ia
The club men have purchased
such points as aford the best sta
for shooting the game, as it feed
passes from the ocean to the shal
waters of the sound. Natur
enough the natives look with
ousy upon the club men whom I
consider interlopers, who for Sir
amusement are destroying the g
which for generations they: |
used as means of support; but
IN some aspects, is q mistaken