Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-20
LIFE SAVERS WORK
Record of Past Year Reported
to Treasury Department.
OUTLINE OF THE SERVICE
Number of Disasters to Documented
and Undocumented Vessels.
Salvage Of Millions.

The general superintendent of the life
rotary of the Treasury the report of the
ended June 30, 1909
The report states that the ecod OF
marine casualties within the scope of the
life-saving establishment during the
period mentioned is in some respects
more noteworthy than for any previous
year in it's history, because of the large
number of vessels involved; the low per-
centage of life lost in comparison both
with the number of disasters and the
number of persons imperiled; the large
aggregate value of property endangered.
and the remarkable proponderance OF I'M
documented craft in the list of vessels
suffering casualty.
The number of disasters to documented
vessels reported within the year by keep
ers OF stations was 45a. There were en-
board these vessels 6.377 persons. of
whom only eight were lost. The esti-
mated value of the vessels was ST., 49S-
S1O and that of their cargoes $2,9iO, 1870.
volvedin connection with casualties to doc
umented vessels S15,449.O6O. OF this
amount 81 go represents the value OF
property lost.
There also occurred within the year
OFT casualties to undocumented craft
sailboats. launches. rowboats. etc.Lcar-
rying 2,523 persons, of whom twenty-five
We're lost The value of the property in
volved in these instances was 1914. 40,
and of property lost, $34.16O.
Statistics of the Year.
The life-saving crews succored at the
stations 613 victims of shipwreck and of
boating accidents. a total Of 1850 days
relief being furnished. The results of dis
asters to vessels of all classes within the
scope of the service are: Number of dis
asters. 1876: number of vessels totally
lost, -; number of persons involved.
$500: number Of persons lost, 80; number
of persons succored at stations, 6l3; num-
Der Of days succor afforded. 1850; value
of vessels involved. $13. 1850; value of
cargoes. 81. 9O2. 40; total value of prop
erty involved. $40. $50; value of prop
erty saved. $780, 700; value Of property
lost. So, 1885, $50.
OF the 1876 vessels included in the fore
going tabular statement, the life savers
rendered assistance to 1919, valued with
their cargoes at $13, 316,S15. Aid of more
or less importance was also extended to
Ill documented and 343 undocumented
vessels, making a grand total OF 1,S3i
vessels that received actual assistance
from the station crews. In addition. las
steamers and 1871 vessels of other classes
running into danger were warned of their
peril by the signals of the patrol and the
tower watchmen in time to escape dis
aster, 246 of these warnings being given
at night.
Rescues of Shipwrecked Persons.
While it is primarily the province OF
the service to save and succor the ship
wrecked, q considerable number Of per-
sons not connected with vessels are an
nually rescued from various situations OF
danger. There were 100 persons thus i'm
periled during the past year. Eighty per-
sons received medical and surgical at
tention at the hands of the station crews.
OF these forty-eight were III and thirty
two had been injured. The life-saving
crews were also called upon during the
year to assist in the recovery of consid-
cradle miscellaneous property, consisting
of articles lost overheard from vessels
or swept away by the sea, strayed do
mestic animals. vehicles and teams in
volved in mire and quicksands, etc. A
very important share of the miscellaneous
work is that classified under assistance
at fires
Service to Other Branches.
On forty-nine occasions the service
other branches Of the government service
in the performance of such work as To-
eating, reporting and marking wrecks
taking soundings. setting and recovering
buoys and reporting the same when adrift
marking channels and carrying message:
between vessels and the shore.
At the close of the year the establish
ment comprised PSI stations, embraced
within thirteen districts and distributed
by coasts as follows: Two hundred anG
one on the Atlantic and gulf coasts. sixty
on the coasts OF the great lakes, one al
the Falls Of the Ohio louisville, KY
and nineteen on the Pacific coast Gnclud
| ing one station at Nome, Alaska).
The net expenditures for the mainte
nance Of the service during the year Were
$2.2l5 O35.52.
The general superintendent comment.
| upon the remarkable extension of the
scope of life-saving operations brought
about by the use of power lifeboats OF
the various coasts of the country. He
states that it is the intention to place
them at all stations of the service where
they can be advantageously operated.
FAlN Ar AAln lAllRAlPN