The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-11

system or patrolllng our coaStS, anu
employed experienced surfmen at
fixed salary, besides making provision
for the bestowal of medals of honor
upon persons risking their lives in the
work. Now life-saving stations line
the coasts, at an average distance OF
five miles apart, and annually manned
by competent crews, who keep such
sharp lookout that a weary seaman
would find it difficult to drown him
self if he tried. On the Pacific coast
the stations are open the year around.
while on the Great Lakes of the North
they shut up with the close of navl-
cation, about the time that the need of
them begins in earnest along our
Southern waters. All are fully supplied
with life boats, wreck guns, beach APP
paratus, restoratives, and every MOD
ern appliance in their line. Uncle sam
is never a niggard when he sets out to
do anything, and in this comparatively
new branch of the government serv-
ice he has spent an enormous amount
of money.
The United States coast is divided
into twelve districts, each under the
control of a superintendent. Each sta
ton has its keeper. who is chosen by
the district superintendent. The hfe-
saving stations are pretty much alike
each a wooden building, two stories
high, of neat and trim appearance from
the sea. On the first floor are two
rooms, in one of which boats are stored
and the other is occupied by the crew.
These men patrol the beach from two
to four miles on each side of the life
saving buildings, four times between
every sunset and sun rise, and as many
times during the day when the wealth
er is thick and foggy. Each patrolman
carries Coston signals and a lantern.
Upon the discovery of vessel standing
in danger, II is the patrols first duty
to ignite a Coston signal. which emits
a brilliant red flame, of about two min
utes duration, to warn the boat off, or
to inform her crew that help is at
hand. Rockets are often burned in re-
ply, or guns fired on board the vessel.
After displaying the signal, the patrol
haStens 70 his station to report his
find" to the keeper. If the use of
large boat is practicable, the life-boat
is quickly transported, by means of
the boat carriage, to a position on the
beach directly opposite the wreck, and
is launched. 1t often happens that the
life-boat cannot be used in the raging
sea, and then recourse is had to the
wreckgun and beach apparatus for the
rescue by the life-car, or breeches
buoy. A shot with small line attach
ed is first fired off from the Lyle gun
across the wreck and as soon as dis
covered by those on board the wreck,
it is hauled in by them until the tail
block endless line, and tally-board
bearing instructions. are reached. And
then the unfortunates cheer, If life
enough is left in them, knowing that
they are as good as saved.
The dangers to which the occupants
of a life-boat are exposed while at
tending to a wreck are beyond descrip-
ton. Never for an instant must surf
man lose his head, or rather his nerve,
nor let excitement or sympathy dim
his coolest judgment. Extreme caution
is necessary in order to keep clear of
the hull and falling wreckage. To take
off the panic-stricken people and bring
them safely to the beach, through ang-
ry pillows, dashing spray and jog
ged rocks, is a task which only the
most cool and skillful can accomplish.
But, as rule, our great and glorious
government is good to its worthy SER
wants. The families of keepers and
| crews, in case of loss of life by rea-
son of perilous service, or serious
wounds and injury become for a pc
Rod of two years wards of the ma
| ton"
The officer whom was interviewing
| wound up his kindly statement by
| sending for an ex-surfman who hap
| pened to be in the building. Said he
| this man can tell you more about the
| actual life-saving work in a minute
| than I could in a week. because he
has been in the thick of IT, and nobly
earned the medals which you see he
wears. He was permanently disabled
al 1,.Axr nd MA
have given him an easier berth in
Washington. John, tell the lady all
about that last wreck"
I wish I could remember his exact
words and strong nautical phrases,
and reproduce his quaint New England
drawl but the substance of his story
was as follows: The widest kind of
a storm was raging and a steamer Ia
den with passengers was in dealy peril
of going TO pieces at any moment. As
the life boat headed for the wreck, a
darkness as of midnight seemed to set
tie down upon the men, although it
was about 10 o'clock in the morning.
They could scarcely see each other,
nor hear an order, because of the fury
of the storm; but straight for the
breakers made the men. No faltering.
TO hesitation. hands ready. hearts
firm, teech clenched, and into 1t they
plunged with shouts. On through the
outer range of breakers dashed the
boat, and thenscame a terrible strug-
gle for life. When a huge breaker
came heading toward them like an
advancing wall, the men threw them
selves breast down on the thwart,
curled their legs under II, held
their breath hard, and chung
for dear life against the
tear and wrestle of the wave which
buried them under it's flood. Down,
beneath tons of water men and boat
sank-but only for a moment. The
splendid boat rose in her buoyancy, her
crew breathed again ard a struggling
GRIP of triumph arose from them. Again
and again was the same fearful strug-
| gle repeated, until the belt of raging
surf was passed and deep water at
tanned. Then the boat was put before
| the wind and every man in her was on
| the look out for the wreck. For a
time the fog was so thick that nothing
| could be made out a rod ahead; but
| finally a sudden break in the storm re-
| vealed a vessel in distress, about half
a mile to leeward. The appearance of
| the wreck, as the men approached her,
made the stoutest among them shud-
| der. The vessel had settled down by the
stern, the uplifted bow being the only
| part of the hull to be seen. The main
mast was gone, foresail and topsail
blown adrift, and great columns Of
foam were flying over the foremost
Wit farrfhIo anxfafX