New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25

duties. the traditions ana inc sbsLNo'N
NJ ,he service 10 which the cutters belong To t1e
thousands who saw the races from steamers ana
Yachts the cutter seemed most efficient pocehle'
sirnplv that and nothins more. To all 1t appeared
that the officers OF these spick and span miniature
wsrships were most fortunate creatures living
,erftable steam yacht life at the government eN-
-ense with nothing TO 60 but follow the Cup races
and take pleasre cruises here and there
Es,,- p-1at Of the rest of the YEAR, What o. the
lonely stations on Tire southern coast? what O.
me long ana trying duties OF the ships on Alaskan
.,d Arctic details? OF these New-fork knows ntle,
-be cutters are likely 20 be called upon al
,-,e,,,s notice for any service 20 the mariUme
interests Of the nation. During the yacht races'
oven the Gresham put out 20 sea at ~ Q ciOoh o.e
,el., 70 search for a foreign ship which was SAIL
49, with q New-york boy who had been
s-sa,ajed She found the ship. took on the oo.'
ana was back az her anchorage on lonlpAll l.e
q, dine 10 lead the patrol fee; down 10 the I1O0
,T,,e rescue ana succor OF distressed Vesseis aho
- a. - ~ the most important duties. and
<o- months the cutters are at sea looking TOT
,bsnce 70 be OF assistance The entire NE sA'iHs
e.-zace If both seacoasts Is watcheo over DE 'ie
es-,,ce-arilled disciplined and Inspected. IN Uii'e
=. va almost without sign OF rec tape' Uie
revenue cutters. their officers ano enils'eo men
sl,- ,r+o the navy and come under the direction o.
that department IS .,,,A
T,-,.ge the service IL part OF the civil establish
rneat under existing law. it must be REGARDED an9
treated as par1 OF the military force OF the coUn-
-, rs vessels ere armed cruisers its officers are
commissioner By the President and have military
titles; officers and crew are uniformed ano hdNai
sfscfp;ire and routine prevail on board al the
sh,os The officers Of the service have NE tenure
80 the system OF promotion far as it goes, Is
N, same as IN the navy. The highest rank ~hlCN
che service offers is that OF captain but no oflcer
hss ever been dropped or dismissed except Tor
moved cause, such as bid conduct or failure 10
pass the required STANDARD N PIoAessiONa4 sA1'-
nations.
The Yacht race patrol feet scattered to their
various stations along the coast as soon as the
races were over and began 70 prepare for the long
siege OF winter cruising. During the months when
tie sea is al its worst the cutters patrol the At
1autsc Coast from Eastport, Me- 70 the Gulf OF
Mexico They are not supposed TO be in port more
thar tvrenty-tour hours at time, unless detained
BY stress OF weather or by necessary repairs They
sre constantly on the lookout for vessels In dis
.ress and usually are able TO make several gallant
rescues each winter as well save much valuable
property.
II the visitors OF yacht race days could their
envied officers in December or February they
would have q different sdea Of their life and &
would be more like the real The cutter per
haps. is hGeking hurricane. fighting a sood
ship should and making headway. She is sheet
Of ice from stem TO stern and every wave ADDS a
little 10 the coat. The lieutenant who entertained
SO easily in the wardroom in August is doing his
turn navigating officer the icy bridge. In
spite of his oilskins and aannels he is half frozen
end every time the cutter pokes her nose under
be gets bath OF icy spray
Po<lbly he sights vessel in distress ard changes
the course 70 bear down upon her. The CAPTAIN is
called and the other ueUtenants. She IS water
logged and liable 10 60 under at any moment They
ian see despsiring souls on her decks and in her
/ rigging A boat puts Of manned by hardy sailors
who know well the danger but who DO not hesitate
70 take the risk With e lieutenant at the helm.
she puts out into the angry sea and for half an
hour is tossed like chip At last she makes the
wreck and with no little danger takes Of the crew.
which is in the end successful The cruise con-
tinues until convenient harbor permits the land
ING OF the rescued So Il goes week after week
untl the seas grow less angry with the coming OF
spring II is not much ike clearing an tnterna-
tionsi yachting course.
The revenue cutter service is older than most
persons have any idea. Il was organized in 1870
enc cane under the wing OF the Treasury Depart
fnent because, al that time the United States had
no Nay Department a Treasury SUBDIVISION il
has remained ever since. though for years there
hare bee, no srnugglers to chase and the service
hss had almost netting 70 DO with the collection OF
customs.
The cutter feet first co-operated with the navy IN
i7ss. when seven OF the vessels operated IN the
West Indies during the so-caiied French war. In
ere War OF lsl2 the cutter Surveyor was captured
by an overwhelming force from the British frfgate
Nsrcissus. The defence brave that the
British captain returned Captain Traviss sword
end acmiringly testified 70 his gallant conduct IN
letter. IN the war with Mexico IN the Paraguay
EXPEDITION and f. the Civil War the cutters served
IN cooperation with the navy, and never
they fond wanting.
The value OF the service as a supplement TO the
navy was proved decisively IA the Spanish-Anneri-
can War. when thirteen cutters. carrying 81 guns.
rs officers and 5e2 enlisted men. worked with the
sqrsoroas both in Cuba and the Philippines. while
seven other cutters were engaged in patroIag the
ha-bor mine aelds from Boston TO Mobile and New
Orleans.
The most exciting enca cement in which p cutter
figured at the battle OF Cardenas May u,
Es9s. The cutter Hudson. Lieutenant Frank II.
Newcorb sustained fight against Spanish gum
boats and shore batteries SIDE by side with the
naval torpedo boat Winsow. When Ensign Bagley
md half the Winslows crew had been killed and
her commander wounded. the cutter swept bravely
In and rescued the vessel and the rest Of the
from certain destruction This gallant action was
Gone under a furious fire and in shallow water
where the cutter constantly in danger OF going
rshore. President Mckinley made IL the subject
of q special message 70 Congress- which granted
o colc medal to Lieutenant Newcomh. silver med
ais 10 each Of his officers and bronze ones 20 the
crew.
On the same day The cutter Window engaged the
eaore batteries at Cienfuegos. demOlishine the
lighthouse and destroying the rendezvous Of tine
SPANISH troops. The senior naval officer present
eienaIled from the Marblehead, Well DONE Win
DOM The gun which destroyed the lighthouse
ana for. is now mounted on the forward deck OF
the Gresham and attracted much attention during
the Cup races
The new cutter Hugh McCuIioch was on her way
90 the Pacific Station when she fell with Ad-
yl.ari Dewey's feet Hong Kong. She steamed
Manila At the head OF the reserve column. ran
the batteries with her larger sisters of The navy.
and during the battle. which resulted In the de-
structon Of the Spanish feet. maintained the posi-
zion assigned her by Admiral Dewey. Il the
Mcculioch that carried TO Hong Kong the dis