Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
VESSELS IN DISTRESS
REVENUE CUTTERS UNDER
ORDERS TO RENDER AID.

The winter cruising orders to the COM
handing officers of the revenue cutters
on the Atlantic coast from Eastport, Me-,
to Charleston, 8. c., went into effect yes
terday, and today the cutters on the sta
tons between the points named have left
port and are sailing over their territory on
the lookout for vessels In distress from
storms, accident or otherwise.
The orders were personal ones from the
President, and the service was inaugurated
by him about three years ago. Under the
orders sent to the captains of the cutters
they are to '''offer such aid to distressed
| navigators as the circumstances of the case
may require and are instructed to have
their ships in readiness for the performance
of this important duty without further or
ders, December l."
The captains are required to continue
cruising all the time, except such time as
| may be necessary to return to port for fuel
, and other supplies, or the weather condi-
tons be such that it would be dangerous to
go to sea, and then they to sail as soon
| as possible, and are to keep bright look
out for any ship that might need their
service.
Vessels in Service.
The orders were sent to Capt. H. B.
Wood, commanding the cutter Woodbury.,
| whose cruising ground is from the St.
Croix river to Cape Ann, Mass; to Capt.
K w Perry, commanding the cutter Gresh-
| am, at Boston, who will cruise from West
Quoddy Head, Me-, to Nantucket Shoals
HghtShlp; to Capt. James L. SILL command
| ing the cutter Dexter, at New London,
Conn.,, whose cruising ground is from Nam
tucket Shoals to Whitestone, NJ Y; to
Capt. Bryon L. Reed, commanding the cut
| ter Mohawk. at New York, from Della
ware breakwater north to Long Island
sound; to Capt. John c. Moore, command
| ing the cutter Onondaga, at PHILADELPHIA,
who will look after the coast from Della
ware breakwater to Cape Hatteras; to
Capt. John F. Wild. commanding the cut
ter Apache at Baltimore, who will look
| after Chesapeake bay and its tributaries,
and to Capt. J. H. Quinn, commanding the
cutter Seminole, at Wilmington, N. c.,
whose cruising ground is from the vicin-
| ity Of Cape Hatteras south to Charleston,
| s. c. The winter cruising service Is not
performed on the Atlantic coast south of
Charleston, on the Gulf Of Mexicco or on
the Pacific.
Has Been Of Value.
! The service by the seven cruisers on the
Atlantic coast in the past four years. it
| is said, has been of great value. They
| have been the means of saving many ves-
sells from destruction. and have succored
many ships crews in need of water and
provisions in consequence Of delayed voy-
| ages. On the Chesapeake the cutter Win
| dom, In the past three winter cruising sea-
| sons, saved number of vessels from de-
! struction in ice, and floated many that had
been, blown ashore. The prompt service
rendered by the ship was not only the
means of saving valuable property, but
! human life as well. This winter cruising
| of the revenue cutters has become a part
of the regular work Of the service, and will
! be permanent. The cutters will be kept
under winter cruising orders until April l,
I 1907. when the gales Of winter are over.