The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-08
LIFE SAVERS IN CONVENTION.
NO PROFESSIONAL
HEROES AMONG THEM.

Expected That There VIII BE 400 surfmeu
at Brighton Beach To.dAy-Storm
Brings Forth No Remarks About the
Dangers OF the Deep-A Daily Drill.
In the teeth Of GOLD gray sea, rolling
sullenly in front Of bank Of black and lead
colored clouds, the first Of the members
OF the convention Of the Surfmen . Mutual
Benefit Association met at the Brighton
Beach Hotel yesterday afternoon. OF
course, with such scene setting, and With
yellow lightning tagging down from the
sky, with rips and rolls Of thunder which
drowned the rattle Of the Boer War show
near by there was only one thing for the
sturdy life savers to do. They ought to
have gone striding up and down the broad
porohes Of the hotel. dragging their toes
heavily and looking out over the deep under
their hands. and roaring hoarsely into one
another's shaggy ears:
my God, man, but It's turrible night at
seal"
They didn't. The stage management was
simply slovenly. Instead, they gathered
in the chairs in the lobby, and in even moro
cheerful spots and reminded one another Of
the time when the Ocean City crew beat
the Monmouth Beach crew three seconds
and half in the boat drill because George
Snow had sore on his hand and dropped
the rope just az he was about to run II
through the shore block.
Professional heroism isn't the occupation
Of the surfnen Of the Atlantic coast. They
haven't time to be heroes. They get from
forty to sixty dollars month all winter long
for walking the beach in wind. sano and
snow storms, half frozen, looking eagerly
for the signs Of a shipwreck which may
bring death to them and their comrades.
They get no sick pay. are required to take
two mont absence without pay every sum
mer, and get no pensions except two years
allowance for men disabled in actual life
sa wing duty.
So they cannot waste any time telling
themselves or strangers what heroes they
are. They are too busy trying to have
good time and trying to forget what they
have been through in the last ten months
About two hundred men are expected as
delegates to the Brighton Beach conven-
ton, which will begin to-day and continue
for three days. Many of the men are bring
ing their wives and other women folk
with them. The vacations all along the
coast began June !, but on the Great Lakes
the men are still at work. so the inland
life savers will not be represented
Most OF the men who came on yesterday
as they are called in the service. They are
on duty all the year through and are sup
posed to try to get up volunteer crews
in case Of emergency during the vacation
season Those who registered at the hotel
yesterday were:
c. ". Bowles. Provincetown, Mass;
George W. Rogers, Nantucket Mass;
j. +. Hudson and daughter. Ocean City.
Md; Mr.. and Mr.. Thomas H. Barber
New Castle. n. H.; Mr.. and Mrs. H.
NJ. Knowles, Wakefield, X. l.; Supt. |
j. H Harding. Portsmouth. y. H.: Mr..
and Mrs Walter II. Davis, Watch Hill RI: |
j. W. Eldredge. Cape May, n. il G. n.
Rutherford, Cape May, N. j.. B. 8. Powell.
Ocean City, Md; Mr.. and Mrs. James Ii.
Mulligan, Monmouth Beach, n. d.; Supt. |
W. B. Rich, president OF the association;
j. T.. Westcott. Virginia Beach. secretary |
OF the association; John Anderson. Cobb's |
Island, Va, and George Hichens, Cape
Charles, Va. g..
Most of the time yesterday was spent
by the delegates in wandering around New
York shopping. The sessions will begin
this morning. and every afternoon at about
half past o'clock there will be a boat and
life saving drill OF the Brighton Beach
pavilion.