The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
LIFE SAVERS ON WHEELS.
Patrol DUTY Not so Had when Ono Has q BIZ
cycle ana n Hard strip OF Sand Ahead.

Pntrol DUTY Not 40 Had when Ono Has q b.
cycle ana n Hard strip OF Sand Ahead.
A visit to q life-saving establishment Is part OF
the diversion Of the summer boarders at nearly
every hotel or hamlet along the Atlantic sea-
board. The crews manned the stations at mid.
night on July 81 and will remain on duty until
the same hour on May 80. The stations are
closed during June and July.
The city people who have trudged through the
shifting sand to the stations have been amazed
this year to find that the bicycle has as conspicu-
GUS a place at the stations as the lifeboats. Tho
wheels. however, are individual possessions.
They do not form a part of the equipment fur
nished by the life-saving service. which. indeed,
gives only a tacit consent to the use Of them.
"How do we use the wheel y repeated a stall
wart life saver stationed down on Long Island.
We'll, except in stormy weather. tho hard,
firm strip of beach just along the edge Of the
surf makes tho best sort OF q bicycle path.
Whenever we have to make a trip In the day
time. say to go for the mail or on any other
business. wheeling beats walking every time.
The surfman on day watch must be on duty from
sunrise to sunset, and he finds that the use Of
the wheel enables him to keep a better lookout
throughout the entire stretch Of his beat than
formerly was the case.
But 1t is at night that the wheel is most use
full. Usually we work the beach in four-hour
spells on duty, with two surfmen In each watch.
We have to set out In opposite directions from
the station and patrol the beach until We meet
the patrol from the next station. when we ex-
change our metal checks and return to the home
stations. This means a trip. to and from. of
anywhere from four to six miles. On foot we
seldom made more than one journey of 1t; but
we can cover the beat repeatedly during the
four hours; In thick and stormy weather the
bike Is useless; but on q fine moonlight night,
with the tide low and the Rand aa smooth na a
sprinting path. the wheel is Just the thing. A
surfman then swings his beach lantern over his
arm, and with his pockets filled with red Coston
close to the surf, and is able to keep a better
There is only ono drawback. The shells cut
rs rs tires at q great rate. some of us use the
the rest of US put in all our spare time patching
up punctures. 1t seems to me that the Govern
R %sesl sn0V We p afi thInf t0t tS bhs lafs iavs pro% sS1is,t ass
of,getting up a petition III would do any good"
in helping haul The lifeboats to OFT tho Z, ls sae@i hss
place: and on this account where horses are
however, are kept also for personal convent.
ence. Along the South Carolina coast each surf;
W Mnp P this pony a st harddy lit eNer oG rsaaE pGSH e t. sna
but very few steps il his. daily tours Of
duty; Al Amagansett, Long Island, many Of
although not when on duty. A trip in a surf.
nndl = ouCkDOhTu Is An alarming experience Tor q
city man. The ponies know that the best
high. they dash along In the foam OF the surf
often going up to their knees in the water, and
swerving shoreward or seward In search Of the
best footing, in a manner very trying to the
nerves.
Suppose this pony should step into a quick
mer boarders. who sat with his feet on the dash.
board to avoid a wetting.
No danger r. rejoinod tho driver. with a
chuckle. "No matter how deep that pony goes,
he makes sure the sand Is solid. When It begins
to soften he scoots for the dry land"