Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-11-07
LIFE-sAvING SERVICE.
Work Dangerous, Pay Small ana
Desirable Men Scarce.

extremely hazardous duties the men are
called upon to perform, the small amount
of pay they receive, and the fact that they
practically receive no pension. The lives
of these men are at times added to the
death rolls in their attempts to save the
lives of others.
which is charged with the duty of rescu-
ing the passengers and crews imperilled
along the American coasts, is seriously
handicapped because the government is
unable to secure enough men who are
willing to enter the service permanently.
These brave surfmen, who risk their lives
in endeavoring to save millions of dollars
worth of property every year, are paid but
s65 a month, and are employed only ten
months in the year.
A large number of vacancies exists in
the service to-day. In the Gulf division
alone there are twenty-three vacancies,
and the positions are filled in many in
stances by inexperienced men who can be
induced to enter the life saving service of
the United States temporarily.
The only provision made for the care of
these courageous men when they are dis
abled is that during one year of disability
received in the line of duty they are paid
their monthly salaries, and in extreme
cases, where the men, by humiliating
themselves, can show that they are still
unable to resume their duties, they may
be carried on the roll for another
twelve months.
If suriman loses his life in the dis
charge of his duty, his widow receives his
monthly pay for period of two years,
but at the expiration Of that time she
must do the best she can to provide for
has lost his life in the service of country
which has the reputation of maintaining
the best life-saving service in the world,
and of being the most generous with
those engaged in hazardous work.
Year after year the secretary of the
treasury and Capt. Kimball, the general
superintendent of the life-saving service,
have made recommendations to Congress
for increasing the pay Of these men and
making some provision for them when
they are injured, or for their families
when they lose their lives, but the recon-
mendations have been ignored.
In addition to the small compensation,
is understood, and during the season they
are employed they are required to be on
duty day and night at the life-saving sta
ton, and are given but one days leave
during their entire annual term OF SER
vice. This means that man receiving S65
month must maintain practically two
homes.
He must live at the life-saving station
and board himself, and at the same time,
If he is married, he must provide for his
family. Not since the establishment OF
the life-saving service has Congress in
creased the compensation of these men,
while the cost of living has almost
doubled since their rate OF pay was fixed.
They are called upon to pay higher rents,
the clothing for themselves, wives and
children costs more than it did some years
ago, and the food they eat has increased
in price from 10 to 30 per cent.
Congress provides for its soldiers and
sailors who fight the battles OF the nation,
but not for its surfmen, who perform their
duties under the most dangerous and
heart breaking circumstances. They are
required to patrol the coast during the
long, cold winter nights, when the north
west winds are blowing and the terrific
sleet storms visit these regions, on the
lookout for ships in distress. Some OF
them have been found frozen to death as
they succumbed to the cold when patrol
ling their lonely beats.
Summer pleasure seekers who have been
in the surf when it was rough can ap-
preciate the danger attending the duties
OF these men. The surf at this time will
exhaust an ordinary man, but when the
water is icy cold the danger Of exhaustion
is more than double and many of these
heroic men who 60 forth in small boats on
their missions Of mercy, never return.
Some heart rending reports have been