Evening journal., 1906-08-01


with the beginning OF this month the
winter season OF the United States Life.
saving Service Is innugurated. Through
ont the cuming months-of bitter cold
weather. when the wind bowls IN fury
and the air upon the beaches Is laden
With 0ying snow and sand that cut the
face Ike knife. and those who live IN
country and city hurry home. thankful
that there is-o warm FIRE awaiting them.
band of gallant men. mufied IN OH.
skins. nre stumbling along the Atlantic
Coast IN ceaseless patrol. ever nnd
anon casting their eyes beyond the limo
OF foaming seas that break in thunder nj
their feet watching Tor the approach OF
lights thar mny indicate that some vessel.
mnnned by a hnlffrozen crow. IA IN
danger Of being wrecked on the treachcr.
GUS bars that lie. unseen awaiting their
prey.
AZ the brcakfnst table IN the morning
BRIEF dispatch NAV ten The storv ~
me nights work Of the llfesnvera II
may merely state that n vessel wa.
wrecked on such and such a bar ma her
crew was taken on. by the iife.savers.
and the render. n he lives inland. masses
over the Item with a glnnce.
Only those who i've within sound Of
the beating Waters realize the importance
OF our governmental life-savinr service
They alone know the peril and hardsbins
undergone by the humble men who com.
pose the station crews. IN order TINT here
ana there few lives may be snatched
from the hungry sea. II makes no dir.
ference whether the endangered persons
ne the crew OF a coasting coal barge or
mo company on a miillonnlre's Yacht. the
hfe-savers are az their post OF dutv M
'he interest or humanity. rendy TO rescue
'he unfortunate. whoever they NAV be
or whatever race or CLINE. The distres.
signal Is 10 them a mute appeal 10 be
answered. though everyone lay down his
life IN the ATTEMPT
In carrying on the work OF this ereot
humanitarian service the live-enving
crews receive Invaluable co.operntion
RON private society known na the
Women's National Roller Association
having ITS headquarters in the State OF
New York. This organization aupnlies
oelcate foods and serviceahle clothing
Tor the use OF the shipwrecked persons
snccored az the stations. This humane
work Is most timely and OF far-reacbine
peneneence. for IN many cases OF shin.
wreck particularly during the night thu
olsnster comes without warning. rlvlnc
those on board no time TO secure their
ciothine or other personal effects. md
upon reaching shore they are absolutely
destitute In many Instances their con.
oition Is rendered even more pitiable
from long hours OF exposure before their
plight is discovered and from injuries
sustained by falling wrecknge. Before
this association was formed the life
savers often had 20 deprive themseive.
OF clothing they could M afford to spar,
In order TO render comfortable and decent
the sufferers they bad rescued.
With the exception OF Denmark th,
United States Is the only country IN th,
world having n life-savlng service sup
ported and directed entirely bv tho gov
crnment There are a total % 27T sta
tions distributed along our cnasts 100 G.
the Atlantic and Gnlf consts. eI on n,
Great Lakes. at the Falls of the Ohio
Louisville. KY. md 10 on tho Pacin,
Coast The number of men employed NJ
these stations Is something Ike 2O0O
or 8 men 70 n station. The "nctive sen
SON. on the Atlantic Coast (wben thi
station crews are on duty Is from Augus
ing to the close OF navigation fusuail,
from April TO November 80l The sta
tions on the Pacific Coast are manned thi
year around for the reason that dIsasteri
on that coast are likely TO occur at any
season.
During the inactive season only thl
captain tcailed the keeper, OF the statior
crew remains on duty. the men ,cailet
surfmenl. who IN most cases are native.
Of the neighhorhood. having two-montl
vacation. They are. however. bv %,
terms OF their enlistment. subject 70 the
call OF the keeper for iife-savlng duty dur
Ing this period. aud arc paid So FOR eact
occasion Of service. The keeper may ais,
employ volunteers during the inactiv,
season when necessary.
Included IN the number or station,
above given there are on the eastern
coast Of Florida 10 houses OF refuge eac.
70 charge OF a keeper during the entire
year No crews are employed az thesl
stations. as the coast Is generally pre-
cipifous. and TIE places of danger 4
savieafinn are in most 'ses 50 close IN
More that ibc crews OF iuperlicd vessel
.sually manage 10 reach land unassiste..