The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-15

One of the most important branches o.
the government service is the system o.
beacons and lights along the coasts fol
the guidance Of shipping and the crew OF
the wave-hammered vessel making the
coast after a long voyage welcomes the
FIRST glimpse of the outriders of civiliza
tion-the lightships that glrdle our shores
Ms pendants from n necklace.
These little craft, for they are nc
longer than the river steamer, occupy the
most perlous positions on the ocean.
Lying in the path Of shipping they hang
to n hundred fathom of chain on the out.
ermost edge of acres Of shoals where
crosswise current, vicious seas and
yawning quiclSsands await the coming
of the Inflated craft that gets within
their treacherous grasp. Unlike the coast
er or the deep-water craft. tie lightships
have but n small scope for operation. Their
positions are noted on the charts and
they are supposed to be there at all
times. When the wind bowls In fury and
mountainous seas sweep across the ocean
out of the darkness and when other craft
of every description are hurrying either
to the open sea or the shelter of the har-
the chain will hold and the little ship
will remain afloat.
1t is during such nights that the light
ship Is the most valuable, and Is most
sorely needed by the skipper Of the storm
caught ship coming on the coast. II the
distant, rolling hills of water toss nloft
two CLEANS of yeilowish light he heaves a
sigh OF relief for he knows he is sure OF
his reckoning and his vigil Is DER for the
time being. IL the night be thickened
with the spume and vapor OF the winter
fog. and the fast falling fakes Of snow
hang curtain of opaque around his ship
the distant wall of a siren or the deep
throated clong of a bell tells him In Ian
guage plain that he is rapidly approach
ing n maritime graveyard and, changing
his course he steers seaward with n
prayer for the brave and gallant men
whose vigil saved him.
And what OF those who man the light
shlp7 Are they leading lives of indo-
lencc. living like nabobs and monarchs of
oil they survey? Far from 1t. The life.
saving service has been called the most
onerous and the poorest paid of all
branches. but In many respects II cannot
compare with the lighthouse department
afioat.
Again. and again. efforts have been
made to have the lifesavers better paid
and pensioned when worn out but never
has a champion arisen on behalf Of the
men who pass six months or more OF
every year on bufreted ship on the
dreary wastes of the ocean. cruising ut
anchor, eternally pitching and tossing.
In calm and moderate weather 1t requires
practically every moment to keep the
ship clean and the paipt bright, because
In storms oil the men can do Is to hold
on and watch the seas strip or the paint
and cover the vessel from waterline to
topmast with salt.
In moderate weather the regular rou-
tine Is carried on, aud the watches are
divided into shifts of four hours each
ships consists OF IL men-captain, mate,
chief engineer. assistant engineer, cook,
three fremen and four seamen. On the
ships equipped with wirless telegraphy
there are two operators who are from
the Navy.
The wages vary with the size of the
ship and the location of her station, but
the highest are: Captain, SS3; mate, S65;
chief engineer, $50: fremen, $40: cook
$40. and seamen, $50. In addition the
government allows each man S. per
month for sustenance. based on the Navy
ration. The food Is furnished by con-
tract, but by careful management by the
captain and the cook the rations can be
made very palatable. The privilege Of
committing" certain of the articles on
the list is also given the men. and In this
way many extras are secured.
Some OF the men chip In aud take fowls
along and on this there hangs an interest
ing little story. Last December the crew
OF Diamond Shoals, No. -. took along
several geese. among which was n gan
der. The latter bird absolutely refused
TO fatten. but instead he made friends
with all on board until. by the time 1t
was ready to be served. he had so en-
deared himself that his execution was IN.
definitely postponed. and today he Is
ships mascot.
Since the food provided Is OF the plain
est character, II is up to the cook TO con-
vert IL into tempting dishes, but II the
men would have any delicacies they must
depend either upon the skill of the
doctor" as the ships cook Is called, or
upon passing vessels to contribute or ex-
change for fresh fish. In this respect 1t
must be said that masters OF vessels are
generous. but since some of the lightships
are located where the winds are usually
blowing and the seas running high they
DO not often receive outside assistance,
and they have TO depend on their own
scanty supply.
As rule the watches on the lightships
are divided into shifts OF four hours each,
and In moderate weather the breakfast
bell rings at In the morning. Half an
hour later the captain inspects the vessel
and gives orders for the day. Then the
men turn 10 and scrub, polish. holystone
md clean until l:30 when the first bell
Tor dinner rings The meal Is served at
aeon. after which work Is resumed until
bb0pt $50 O'clock, Hlea the watch for
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