The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03
SAVE LIFE AT STA
HEROIC DEEDS OF BRAVE MEN
WHO GUARD TIE COAST
LINE
GOLD MEDALS GIVEN OUT

of Daring, but at Washington
They Are Noted and Rewarded
Decoration Priced Quite as Much
as Is the Victoria Cross by the
British Soldier.
The recent award of gold medals by the
treasury department to members Of the
life saving service has once more quick
ened popular interest in that wonderful
system that is stretched like a girdle
around the coasts for the protection of
thos'. who trust their safety to the shift
ing winds and changing tides of the
ocean. Since 1884, when Supt. Kimball be-
came incumbent, there has been a general
and wholesome reform in the methods of
the service, which has rendered it at once
the most complete and the most efficient
of any in the world. The station houses,
which are so familiar as to render any
description superfuous, extend down
along the edge of the sea from Canada
to Florida, from Florida to Mexico and
again from California back to Canada,
on an average of twenty-five miles apart
though this varies somewhat with the
nature of the coast. Each station has its
captain, a man especially fitted to his
position by training and record, and a
picked crew of six men, who are on con-
slant duty, prepared at a moments no
tice to brave the dangers of the fercest
storm in the pursuit of their humani-
tartan calling.
The work is pursued quietly, and the
public at large hears very little Of the
brave deeds wrought by this noble body
of men, but their efforts do not so I'M
recognized or unrewaFded, as the govern
ment grants In cases Of signal or unusual
gallantry a gold medal that is priced as
the Victoria cross. and a silver medal in
cases that exceed in smaller degree the
high standard of action expected and re-
quired as a matter of course.
ON THE GRAND RIP"
In the annals of the service few cases
of life-saving are more conspicuous for
continued self-sacrifice and fearful expo
posure to the inclemency of the weather
than the rescue a few years ago of seven
men from the wreck of a schooner off the
Vineyard Haven station by Keeper Chase
and his men, BY some means the keeper
OF the Vineyard lighthouse discovered
schooner cast up on the Grand Rip"
as 1t is called, rocky ledge miles from
1.-The nearest shore. The vessel was being
pounded to pieces, so he Immediately tele-
graphed to the lifesaving station crew,
who. with all possible dispatch though
appalled, for moment at the awful fury
Of the waves, launched their stanch little
boat and put off in the direction of the
wreck. After seven miles of hard pulling
the schooner could be fairly discerned in
the ofi1ng, with only one mast standing
and the crew huddled helplessly in the
rigging. Eight more miles brought them
within hailing distance a rope was flung
on board and they were told to attach it
to the cross trees, and one by one slide
down it into the lifebodt However, the
poor wretches, half crazy with cold ex-
posure and the fear of death, were past
reasoning, and with feverish haste they
began pulling the, boat hand over hand
upon the rocks. Realizing that this would
mean certain death for every one, Keeper
Chase, man of immense physique and
commanding presence, jumped to his feet
whipped out a knife and in stentorian
tones threatened to sever the line If the
boat were hauled yard nearer. He was
toD- much In earnest to be doubted SO
their weakest was. sent down the rome
and into the strong arms of the crew
and slowly, stiffened with the cold. the
rest of the crew followed, creeping down
into the comparative safety of the boat
the captain. true to his post, being the
last man to leave the hulk
All this time the great quivering piles
of water were smashing frantica!Iy over
the reef, and it required all the strength
Of the devoted station men to prevent
their craft from being lifted and dashed
| against the sides of the wreck, and now
all their efforts could not avail to move