Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-18
|rOILERS OF THE SEA
CONVENTION, OF sURFMEN AT
OCEAN CITY, MD.
Meeting of the Mutual Benefit Associa-
tion--Ocean Drill Of Life Savers
Experiences Related.


special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
OCEAN CITY, Nd. June II, 1903.
The Surfmen's Mutual Benefit Associa-
ion, which met in convention here June .,
J and 10, brought together large NUMBER
BIZ the bravest and best men of a service
hat tests the strength and skill OF the
most courageous hearts in Uncle Sans en-
bloy.
. About twenty-five life-saving stations
were represented by the captains and their
trews Over a hundred surfmen and many
members of their families were in attend
Ance, making the convention the most sue
fessful and interesting one that has yet
been held by this organization.
1t is safe to say that all inhabitants Of
ocean City, as we'll as the throngs Of visit
brs from neighboring cities, were In evil
hence on the beach and boardwalk to wit
hess the interesting ocean drill OF the life
tavers This is the first full ocean drill
hat has ever been given, making 1t posi-
ble for the public to witness the methods OF
he e-saving service.
| A simulated wreck was placed about 200
yards from shore, with the masts, rigging
+ nd crosstrees visible above the water. The
Exhibition began with the launching and
manning of the lifeboat, and the dexterity
f the crew was loudly applauded 1t was
h wonderful spectacle to see the boat sue
essfully ride the huge breakers and event
Itally reach the wreck" Several surfmen,
representing the shipwrecked mariners,
limbed into the rigging and made fast the
Iife line now shot out from the shore. The
breeches buoy was now brought into play
nd a number of sailors were quickly car
he'd to shore, demonstrating the value of
he buoy as means of rescue. Next a
fisherman. in his smack attempted to ride
he breakers and was capsized. The life
boat was instantly launched and the sailor
vas rescued in an apparently drowning
condition He was then resuscitated after
he method adopted by the life-saving serv-
&c.
Interesting Experiences.
Some interesting experiences are to be
card from these veterans. Capt Hichens
Smiths Island life-saving station tells
ONE stories of his station, which is the
ldest in the service. He declares that
mith's Island was named by Capt. John
mith. who. after mapping out all that
ection of the coast decided that that
articular island was the most beautiful
nd desirable place in the world and be-
towed upon 1T his own name. Smiths
STAND light is 100 feet high and the APP
aratus is the same as that exhibited by
he French government at the worlds fair.
is flash light that constantly repeats
he number of the light station-forty-f1
his is dnoe by a series of flashes at four
eoond intervals. the first being four in
TIMBER. Then five flashes of five seconds
uration and five-second interval proclaim
he number five. thus forty-f1ve is shown
nd repeated from the first illumination
ntil daylight. Smiths Island has the
idest records of any portion of the United
tates, its grant dating back to 1896. This
roperty was at one time in the family Of
irs. Robert E. Lee. the granddaughter of
Martha Gusts Washington.
Another visiting keeper was Capt FEEDER
nan of Assateague Island This is the
host dangerous coast in the district and
he number of wrecks there is very large.
Q wild and rough is the coast line that
III patrols are made on horseback. The
eat Is fourteen miles in length and many
fiid and thrilling stories are related of
he adventures of life savers at this point
XOld Neptune. alias Tom," was horse
hat was famous a life saver. He knew
is beat on the darkest night even better
han his riders. He patrolled the ASA
Fague beach for so many years that at
he time of his death 1t was computed
hat he had travelled $1,000 miles in the
id of the service. He missed only four
rips during his long and honorable serv-
be. On one occasion Capt. Rich was in
pecting the station and on particularly
ark night he rode old Neptune. At the
md of the patrol lay the wreck of fruit
teamer. and wien they reached the point
o amount of persuasion could induce the
orse to go step further. He was spoken
as one who would do his whole duty
Ut no more When ne dled the following
Fport made out by an uneducated but
Farm-hearted surfman was forwarded to
Washington:
"As he is government property It is my
uty to report to you the death of old
Feptune. alias Tom. He got so week that
e had to hold up his head when he eat.
yesterday he died, and We taken him out
nd buried him on high HILL
Captain Jack Andrews, keeper of Cobb's
sland station and captain of his crew is
IS doughty life saver as the service can
oast, despite his diminutive stature, his
eight being exactly four feet four inches
nd his weight ninetynine pounds. He is