Evening journal., 1898-11-30
wEDNEsDAY. nov. 80, lsps
OUR COAST PATROL.

live on the Atlantic seabOard. Within /
the past few days many lives have
been saved by tho operations OF the
several branches OF this humane In
stltntion, and from this time on to abe
opening of Spring we shall hear with
more or less frequency OF the deeds
OF daring done by the brave and hardy
fellows who patrol our beach from
New England to the gulf.
The report OF the general superin-
tendent Of the service has just been
issued. and the following abstract clev-
eray demonstrates the magnitude OF
the work done in the course of a year:
AT the close OF the last fiscal year
the system embraced 264 stAtions-l92
being ON the Atlantic, Sc on the lakes,
l5 on the Pacific and one at the falls
of the Ohio at louisville, Ky.
The number OF disasters to docu-
mented vessels within the field OF oper-
ations OF the service during the year
wes 402. There were on board these
vessels S,1ds persons, OF whom twelve
were lost. The estimated value Of the
vessels and cargoes involved was ST.
162. 800. OF this amount Sc, ,41O $50 was
saved and s757 $50 lost six hundred
and slxty-three shipwreclred persons
received succor at the stations. The
number Of vessels totally lost was So
in addition to the foregoing. there
were during the year S65 casualties to
small craft, on board OF which there
were STA persons. Of whom ten were
lost; value Of the property involved,
sl9e. .7o5. OF which s177 S26 was saved.
Faty-six other persons were rescued
who had fallen from wharves, piers,
etc.. the most Of whom would have
persisted but for the aid Of the life
saving crews.
The crews saved. and assisted 10
save, during the year All vessels, val-
ned. with their cargoes. at s2,S6S. .655,
and rendered assistance of minor Inn
portance to S24 other vessels in dis
trezs, besides warning from danger by
'oss me patrolman 226 vee-
fe's.
The number Of lives and the amount
of property saved through these warn
ings cannot be determined, but II Is
pertain that numerous disasters were
lhereby averted.
The Investigations made, as re-
qaired by law, into the details Of an
shipwreclk involving loss Of life. anc
into the conduct OF the llfe-saving
crews at thsse wrecks, show that nc
he was lost through the lack OF faith
!ul and intelligent efforts on the par
the life-saving men. who on all oc.
hsions proved themselves equal toth'
pQuErlments OF duty.
The number OF disasters within th'
"A scope OF the service was much larger
than that OF any previous year. Th'
loss OF life was only twenty-five
against ffty-three in the preceding
year, when the number OF disasters
was much sma,ler. and was less II
proportion TO the number OF wrecki
than ever heretofore.
The cost Of the maintsnonce OF th'
service during the year was $l,497,
676.S5. which eum, however, include'
$5e.s52 expended during June and JUL
from spucial appropriation Of $4,000
for the mhiatenance OF 189 stations az
coast signal stations for war purpose
on the Atlantic and gulT coasts.
The following is a general SUMMARY
OF the statistics OF the service from th'
Introduction Of the present system il
1871 to the close OF the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1898:
Total number Of disasters. 1914
Total value Of vessels $113,246.24
Teal value Of cargoes. ... $47639 IL
Total value Of property in
volyed ... .......... s1e1. 1s5 AZ
Total value OF property
saved ...... ...-...... ..... $l25, ,ooO,@ 20
Total value Of property lest $35,535, 10
Ictal number OF persons
involved ... ... Sl,24
Total number Of lives lost. S4
Total number Of persons
succored ....... .... 1897
Six new stations were completed
during the year. located respectively
at Damariscove Island, Me-; SALISBURY
Beach, Mass; Old Harbcr, near Chat
ham Beach, Mass; Isle OF Wight
north or Ocean City. Nd; LakevieT
Beach, near Port Huron. Mich, ans
Pattersons Point, c1ays Harbor
Washington. With the exception o
that at Pa1ersons Point all have beer
equipped and manned, and the latte
will be shortly put in commission.
Contracts were also made for th'
D etnstIudtion of station at Grea
Rore'a Head, in the town OF Hamp
elfe. COAST Of New Hampshire
st one at Sandy Point, thu
Yaqfep end q Block Island, R. L, botf
Az<a sEe now nearly completed.
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