The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-13
(eY SYDNEY ESPEY.J

/ 'SS~eS~S
paratus" always ready is the motto
borne by the United States revenue
cutter service of which much has been
heard lately in connection with the
| search of the Inflated naval tug Nina
and Of the rescue of storm-tossed yes
sells engaged in the coastwise trade of
the United States.
This organization which is compos-
ed of twenty vessels, $50 commission
ed officers and 1900 petty officers
and enlisted men guards the coast of
the United States. Hawaii, Porto Rico,
Alaska and does patrol duty on the
lGreat Lakes. During the past year,
the cutters assisted 156 vessels, the
value of which together with their
cargoes, amounted to s14 100000. Dur
ling the last five years the entire SER
vice has assisted 1892 vessels unable
to help themselves, representing, APP
proximately, from appraisements of
vessels and carcoes, s43, 100000.
Not only is this important branch of
the treasury depart ment confined to
the assistance rendered to disabled,
wrecked or stranded vessels, but the
work Of the revenue cutter service eX-
tends to the collection of customs,
prevention Of smuggling. life saving
and a hundred and one different
things incident to water commerce
and navigation.
Especially during the winter season,
from December / to April 1, the SER
lvice is in constant demand. This is
L season when dangers of all kinds,
beset ships at sea. particularly those
cruising Off the Atlantic coast states.
During the past winter, the weather
On this coast has been severe and
numerous strong gales and high seas
have brought disaster to an unusual
ly large number of vessels. In some
cases numbers OF persons have been
reported as missing and it is not until
months afterwards sometimes, that re.
ports are obtained concerning their
whereabouts.
When information is received Of a
vessel in distress-usually, a wireless
message-several revenue cutters at
once respond. Captains of vessels
know that the call meets with instant
response no matter how the sea may
be running and whether a gale is
blowing or not. The service was ere.
lated to succor disabled vessels of all
kinds and the men who are employed
on this mission fully expect to cope
with conditions.
Each winter the president by spec.
tial direction commissions the revenue
!cutters on the Atlantic coast to cruise
actively for the assistance of distress.
led shipping. That the work is zeal
lously performed, and with much eff.
Cheney is attested by the large ship.
ping industries of the country in let
ters sent by them to the secretary OF
the treasury. The work is carried on
now under much better conditions and
circumstances than in the past by the
general adoption of wireless outfits by
many merchant vessels. All disasters
at sea are promptly reported and re
sponded to by the cutters
The wonderful utility of the wire
less was demonstrated at the time OF
the disaster to the steamship Repub
tic. When the call was received -four
lrevenue cutters responded from the
various stations, starting from distant
points along the coast to the assist
ance of the sinking ship. A boat from
the Cutter Gresham rescued the last
survivor as the ship went down.
According to the officials Of the
service, one of the greatest dangers
of the sea is the existence of derelicts
l-hulks Of wrecked vessels that drift
aImlessly in the paths of commerce
One half of the accidents, it is report
ed. that bring disasters to vessels is
brought about by collision with one
of these hulks. To remove these dan.
gers to navigations the government
has specially commissioned the reven.
lie cutter Seneca for this purpose. Its
Especial duty is to remove all obstruc.
ltlons to navigation anywhere along
the Atlantic seaboard. She has been
specially fitted out with various kinds
of wreckins apparatus and has full
complement OF high explosives which
are utilized for the purpose Of tear.
ing bulk to pieces when necessary
The arduous part of the work per.
formed by the cutters naturally falls
in the winter time when seas run high
loccurances To rescue passengers
from steamer. to fasten lines to YES
sci and tow it into port and to re-
move dangerous derelicts from the
sea are all in the days work" TIC
secure a number of large charges OF
a high explosive to a floating derelict
by means of small whale boats when
the seas run from twenty to thirty and
often so feet high at a temperature
commonly experienced in the winter
off the New England coast is a task
calling for nerve and Judgment of an
exceptional character.
An incident of this kind is describ
ed in service report by the captain
of the revenue cutter, Androscoggin
during the search for the steam light
er Columbia, when the cutter cruised
from the coast of Maine to as ia,
south as Cape Hatteras. He SAYS "a
remarkable feat Of endurance was per