New-York tribune., 1907-11-25
LIFESAVING BACKWARD
Service Has Not Kept Pace Scith
Increasing Size of Vessels.

Recent inquiry among naval officers as well as
those in the merchant service, shows they agree
that the appliances for saving life at
not commensurate with the growth in size OF the
vessels in both services. A naval officer OF high
rank attached the battleship feet soon to leave
for the Pacific, said yesterday:
'Lifesavng sea- from a vessel driven on
shore. is a hazardous undertaking. Steps have
been taken from time to time to improve the con-
dition Of the Hfesaving service on the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts but the fact remains that some
great disaster attended by loss Of life seems neces
sary to awaken those whose business 1t is TO pro-
vide safeguards for the passengers and crews OF
steam and sailing vessels to the Importance OF the
subject"
Speaking of the conditions on the Pacific Coast.
particularly the entrance TO Puget Sound through
which pass six million tons Of shipping annually
C. A. McAllster, engineer of the United States
revenue cutter service in a paper read before the
Society of Naval Architects and Engineers, called
attention to the fact that in the last half century
nearly seven hundred lives have been lost In the
immediate vicinity Of the Strait Of Juan de Fuca,
to say nothing of millions Of dollars worth OF
property. The climax came in the loss or the
coastwise passenger steamer Valencia from san
Francisco to Seattle, which occurred In dense
fog the night Of January o. 1906
This unfortunate vessel had overrun her distance
and failing pick up the light at the entrance to
the strait, had piled up the rocks at the foot
of high cliff, unsettled portion OF the coast
of Vancouver Island One hundred and thirty-six
saved had the accident occurred within reach or a
hfesaving station had vessel fitted with
the necessary hfesaving apparatus been IN the VI
cinity as the ship did not go to pieces until more
than thirty-sx hours after she had struck.
At once the public press took up the subject OF
providing some means for saving life in these
waters. The President appointed a commission 10
investigate the cause of the wreck and to devise
means whereby similar fatalities might be avoided
After mature consideration the commission, in ad-
dition to suggesting more ughtshps coastwise tele
graph and telephone lines. fog signals and wireless
telegraph, recommended that a first class ocean
going mesaving steamer tug manned by the
most skilful lifesaving crew available. should be
stationed at Neah Bay, which is within five miles
OF Cape F1attery and the entrance to the strait
and the only available harbor thereabout The
tug was to be equipped with the best possible ap-
pliances OF surfboats and lifeboats and with a
wireless telegraph. Congress shortly afterward
made appropriation of 10000 carry out this
recommendation, and the boat. which is 152 feet
all and is TO cost SS9.O57 is now in course OF
construction by the Pusey & Jones company at
Wilmington. Del. She is TO be specially equipped
for Hfesaving purposes with the Spencer Miller
galloway system that used successfully in the
navy for coaling ships at sea, breeches buoy
being used to transport passengers and crew from
the wrecked vessel.