The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-24

tho life line. and of two Indian boys of the Quinaiult Agency, Washington who swam with @ life me to a wrecked yes sel There Is the story Of the glorious work done by the men of Point au Sec Scios. Lake Michigan. A steamer was going to pieces ten miles from the sta ton. People gathered on the shore ana Witl drift-wood built against bank the giant sign 'Idfe Boat Coming A man on horseback pushed over the nils ana through the woods to the station. hltched his weary horse to the car and mar messed himself in with the men 10 hurry the apparatus to the vessel. Other horses met them on the way, men gathered With axes to clear the forest trail and after a. detour of many miles the car was drawn by hand up a steep hill and low cred down a bluff that orumbled away at every touch From such point the brooches buoy was worked, and the crew saved.
 There is the story of that daring run made by the crew of the ship Canal Sta- ton to Marquette, 110 miles away, part of tho way by a special train, which arrived coated with ice, part of the way by tug. and part of the way by horse mower. all in four hours in the teeth Of storm, They came at the call Of the oit- izens who had exploded the only cannon in that region in an effort to send out a line to stranded vessel. The crew saved the people from two steam barges that had gone ashore and went calmly back to their station as if 1t were an every day occurrence. There is the story of the work of the Louisville station, when the James D. Parker" decided to go over the falls during high water. Tho vessel with 106 souls on board struck on a rock just below the falls and had hardly felt the Impact before the boats of the life savers were at her side, they having promptly followed over the falis They saved all on board in an incredibly short time.
 Sometimes the fight proves discouraging. In one great October gale, when the wind rose from fifty to eighty miles an hour in a short while a schooner beat to pieces In forty minutes on the North Carolina coast and only one of the crew was washed ashore. The patrol overlooked the accident because no light showed on the ship and the roar of the storm was too great for him to hear. Cape Cod crew was forced to see crew of six drowned on a schooner once, while they were bending their energies to save men of two others that were going to pieces at the same time. On occasions like this, these strong men of lion hearts have been known to weep like children over the fu- tiity of their efforts.
 The merit system has done much to elevate the already noble calling. Medals have been given to the keepers and to their men for acts of signal bravery, and in two instances the gold medal the highest award in the service-has been conferred on women, Ida Lewis of light house fame, and Mrs. Martha White of Copalis. Wash, who unaided, saved three men when a vessel went down on the coast, and who patrolled the beach near her home in every storm for years to look for signs of distress. There are no pensions for the men of this service, when they have worn out their health and strength In protecting or saving others, so recruits are not as ready as for the arm or navy. However, the men do not remember this when a storm driven vessel is beating to pieces near their station. At such a time they hold that life of little value which cannot be laid down for the salvation of others.
 Tomorrow: About Notable Americans.