Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-10
CRESCENT BAY
BEACHES SAFE
VENICE LIFE SAVING CORPS
PREVENTS DR0WNINGS
MORE THAN FORTY RESCUES
MADE IN THREE YEARS
Expert Swimmers Belonging to Vol
unteer Organization Serve Without
compensation-Equipment
Needed by Crew
Isneolal to The Herald. ]

VENICE, Oct. S.--Without doubt the
most complete system for life-saving
and the protection of surf bathers on
the Pacific coast Is being established on
the beaches between Venice and Santa
Monica. When the system is fully in
stalled it will be literally possible for
swimmers In the surf to be given guar
antees against drowning. The CO.
operation of the Venice Volunteer Life
saving corps with the residents of the
beaches in the use of the Scheler
emergency life-saving apparatus has
placed the business of rescuing and
protecting human life here on a solid
basis.
Realizing the need of keeping al
watchful eye on inexperienced surf
bathers If the beaches were to prosper,
the young bloods of Venice and ocean,
Park, all good swimmers, got together
three years ago and organized life
saving corps. Shortly afterward some-
one came along and told them to take
the name of the United States Volun-
teer Life-savlng corps and they would
get support from the government. They
never got the promised support. De-
spite this the members have retained al
firm organization, bravely risking their
lives over and over again in the rescue
of persons in danger. They have
served entirely without remuneration
or reward. Their equipment has been
furnished by business men and citizens
of the beach cities.
Watch Large Territory
The work of the corps is not entirely
local. Their territory extends from
Santa Monica to Playa del Rey, about
eight miles, and in the three years of
their activities their records show more
than forty lives saved This showing
in itself Is considered sufficient to re-
pay every cent expended in support of
the corps, The boys have responded to
all alarms at all times Of the day or
night and in all sorts of weather. Cases
have been known where members of
the crew dropped their work to answer
the cry for help in the surf and have
returned to find themselves discharged.
Fortunately these cases have been few.
The most recent rescue made by the
Venice corps was that of o. II. Morgan,
prominent milling man of Los Angeles,
who, although a good swimmer, found
himself helpless in the waves and was
compelled to call for aid In very
few minutes he was brought safely to
land amid the cheers of the large crowd
which lined the beach. The corps also
safe-guarded others who had gone to
Morgan's rescue.
I The membership of the volupteer
corps averages about a score. The |
board of directors at the time the corps |
was organized consisted of Capt. z. E.
Grant, Andy Anderson and George
Hubbard, and these men still have the
direction of the work of the llfe-savers.
The active members of the life-saving
corps now are Thomas Wilde, captain |
George Wilde, first lieutenant; Adolph
Toenjes, second lieutenant; John Moli- |
tor, quartermaster; Harley Yarnell, |
Albert Romero, Andrew Scholz, Donald |
Gray, Paul Gray, Harry Bouck, Char /
low Cot.ife GpnrOa MpNanI HaT101 /
Marcoux, Dave Moreno. Leon Kennedy,
Marcus Lee, John Maxim and Henry
Toenjes.
Charter Applied For
With the advent of Herman scheller,
we'll known citizen of Los Angeles and
Venice, who has taken an active in
terest in beach affairs, a change was
worked in the operation of the life
saving corps. By recent action, the
corps voted to withdraw from the nom
supporting wing of the United States
volunteer service and make the corps
strictly a local organization. A charter
from the state has been applied for
and the corps will be established on a
practical working basis. prominent
citizens of Ocean Park and Venice are
taking a decided interest in the life
saving corps. Among those lending
their moral and financial support to the
work are H. b. Eakins, president Of
the Ocean Park board of trustees;
Trustee J. D. MacKinnon, city Attor-
ney Byron C. Hanna and former Trus-
tee David Evans.
The remarkable work of the corps has
been carried on with insufficient equip
ment. movement is now under way
to renew and increase the parapherna-
liza of the corps to the standard of that
in use at the regular government life
saving stations, which have done noble
work on the east coast. The corps |
row has only one boat, which is not OF
the proper type for the extended work
on these beaches. The other equipment
is worn out and needs replacing. 1t is
planned to get the corps a new surf
boat, which will be self bailing, and a
double-ender dory; also uniforms and
buoys.
Visitors to Help Pay
The citizens of the beaches are not
the ones that require help of the life
saving corps. 1t is the visitors from
Los Angeles and the interior cities and |
the tourists who must be protected.
Accordingly, it is contended that the
corps should be supported by the visit
ors, and the various fraternal and civic
organizations of Los Angeles are to be
asked to donate funds to the cause.
The woman's clubs of the beach cities
are planning entertainments the pro-
ceeds of which are to be applied on the
cost of. the new equipment for the life
saving corps.
Scheller is an inventor of considerable
merit. The life-saving apparatus now
installed on the beach at the foot of
every street between Venice and Pier
avenue is probably the best and most
useful piece of his handiwork. There
are twelve posts, each equipped with
red flag, gong, coil of rope and a buoy.
When some one is in need of help i'm
the surf, any onlooker may go to the
nearest signal post and ring the gong
vigorously
This arouses the neighborhood and
the central life-saving station is noti-
fed by telephone. The red flag is to be
waved or fastened TO the post to desig-
nate the location of the person to be
rescued. There are 600 feet of small
rope on each coil Able swimmers car
ry the buoy and line to the drowning
person, and thus furnish aid which
would be practically impossible other
wise. Each buoy is capable of support
inp three men Full directions for the