Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-06
The Life Savinq Service.


Life Saving Service than our own. Not
only are there a dozen or more stations
along our coast which have done Won
derful work in saving life and prop
erty, but the head of the department,
Superintendent Kimball. is a Maine
man and u graduate of Bowdoin. I'm
der his able and faithful management
the department has vastly extended
the scope of it's work and the efficiency
of the service has been greatly in
creased.
The history of the Life Saving Ser
vice is an unbroken record of pure
heroism. noble achievements and prac-
teal utility. Yet, until within the last
year or two there was no branch OF
the government more poorly paid or
which was given less consideration.
Happily, much of the old injustice TO
the brave men who devote their lives
to the saving of human beings and of
property 10 iIoN a A''pi' VI LIN l'''N'
although there are yet many things
which might be done for their comfort
and betterment which are neglected. 1t
is not every man with ordinary health
and strength who can enter the Life
Saving Service. The position requires
peculiar qualifications. An applicant
must not only pass very rigid physi-
cal and medical examination. but he
must also have had at least three
years experience as surfman, sailor
or boatman. and possess more than the
usual amount Of courage, strength ana
physical endurance. \ member of the
Life Saving Service must look upon MS
own life as secondary 70 the lives Of
those he may be called upon to save
and to be risked without hesitation in
behalf of imperiled property.
The report of the service for 1898
which has just been issued. is a graft
flying presentment Of the work accom-
plishcd for the year, ana the record
exhibited is a powerful argument for
unstinted financial support by the gov
eminent. The year was one Of unusual
disaster at Sea. there being no less than
7G7 serious casualties 10 vessels of all
classes. 4O2 of which We're regularly
documcnted. This WAS the greatest
number by more than half hundred
Of any year in the history of the Life
Saving Service Notwithstanding this,
the loss Of life was considerably less in
proportion than ever before, and III"
great value of the service is empha-
sized BY the further figures, which show
that the total value of the vessels and
cargoes was S7.l6s, $50, and the number
of people whose lives We're imperlled
was 1857. OF the property, $6.4l0 $50
or within $50, $50 of the whole. was
saved, and of the people only y lost
their lives. The greater part Of this
vast rescue of property was entirely
by the Life Saving Service. although a
considerable portion was through sal
wage companies working in conjunction
with it. The Life Saving Service, in
deed. does not claim that all lives and
property involved in shipwreck and
casualties on water would have been
lost without its aid; but it is an indis-
putahle fact that without the heroisn
and intelligent work of the men in that
branch of the government employ the
sacrifice of both would have been enor-
nous
From November 1871, until June
1898 there We're 49, 4S disasters to YES
sells valued at $113,3i6,275, having car
goes worth $i1 ,S39,149 and over Sl,00i
persons on board. The property saved
amounted to $125, sc, 262, and only S4;
lives were lost, and Of this number 8,
were through the wreck of the Metrop-
| oils, in 1877. These are only some o
| the material benefits rendered by the
Life Saving Service. There are yet t'
be added many for which direct figures
and statements cannot be given, ant
which are constantly part of tht
work of this valuable branch of th'
| government. The millions of dollars
worth Of property saved and the hun
dreds of lives preserved annually cos
the government little more than 81,
| 900 a year. If il cost five times a.
| much to maintain the service, the mon
| ey would be well expended. +"
Advices from Nebraska indicate tina
the cyclone season in that state ha
lnnened several wnekS ahead of Schedul