The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-05
LIFE SAVING ON OUR COASTS.
Wrecks on the Jersey Shore and on the
Goodwin SENDS.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir. few
DAYS ago schooner was found by her master
to be in a sinking condition of the Jersey
coast and as it was seen by those in charge
that she could be kept afoat but short time,
the captain ordered the ships boat To be
lowered away, and the crew were safely
transferred to the yawl. The catastrophe
was witnessed by the life-sa wing crews both
at Gailee and at Sandy Hook. az was also
the desperate condition OF the crew. crowded
into rickety cockleshell Of yawl In raging
sea, where they must inevitably be lost unless
immediate succor could reach them
But it was decided by the life avers that no
power at their command could force boat
through the raging sea. and that II no other
means than those at their disposal could be
had the boat and its contents must be swal-
lowed mp In the hurricane driven sea.
Thus the crews of both stations. although
furnished with the very finest OF modern
appliances were absolutely helpless. Fort
unately, however, the seagoing tug Navi;
gator was lying inside the Horseshoe. and
her people agreed to tow the Sandy Hook
lifeboat out to the, wreck. This was accom-,
safely into port What their fate would have
been had not a powerful steam vessel been a!
hand tfor ordinary tugs would have been OF
no use) II Is easy to conjecture.
Why is it that our life savers. who are
VIGOROUSLY fine snrfmen, cannot launch
nv Ss wRen
whereas the wreckers on the British coast
never, under any crcums,ances. hesitate 10
launch their lifeboats. al Though loss OF life
frequently attends the undertaking.!
Indeed, the writer can personally cal, TO
mind an instance where the crew of wrecked
vessel on the Goodwin Sands We're safely
rescued while a terrific sea was breaking
upon them
or course, while we, must admit that no
drawer or more skilful men than our own
"a, yiSf at
reas on why tn y hesitate TO launch their
boats in the heaviest sea. as in the case at hand
II is said that the launching Of llfeboal 2H
the coasts OF Great Britain Is always possible
as the shores sheive so abruptly that lhe
boats font in their own length, and so are at
once under control; whereas. on our shores.
the water deepens so gradual lily. that before
boats can be forced far enough into the SURF
and cspsize Even II hoated no, power of
oars can keep them bead, on" to the seas. on
which. Of course, their safety depends; s.s ~.
lifeboats are placed on ways" or slides, ana
that at some distance outside Of possible
surf heavy anchor or kedge Is laid. attached
70 the shore, and by means of which the boat
is hauled through the breaking sea into deep
water.
Now, if heavy anchor were laid and
buoyed outside the outer bar, in front OF the
various life stations on the Jersey coasts, and
the boats placed on ways running as lar -
the low-water mark. would it not be possible
(if a shore line were attached to the stern.
ready 10 be hove Off at moment notice., by
hauling on the boNline and keeping the. stern
line taut. to get the boat, with the aid OF onrs,
outside Of the heaviest breakers? inns Is
gu ggested to the writer by a successful al
tempt to launch a whaleboat t"onGh IN"
heavy seas which break on the coast OF New
Zealand.
well known to seamen to need a suggestion.
NEW YORK, Sept. l. OLD SALT