The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-22

lilies that can boast Of having every
male member q coast guard; but
these instances are by no means as
frequent as they used to be. The
surfmen are beginning to doubt the
value Of service that pays. at most.
a salary OF 31.1O4 a year, with no pros.
pect Of pension or indemniication II
man dies In the performance OF his
duty. Why should man adopt such
a lie when he can do better and 1--we
safely as fisherman or FISHERMAN, or
combination carpenter and yacht
skipper In the summer months? Why.
indeed?
Along the 10000 miles Of coast line
there Is no stretch that Is 30 uniform.
ly dangerous as the tenuous sand spit
that runs along the south side OF Long
Island. projecting 1870 miles into the
Atlantic. The Great South beach, 1t
Is called, or Fire Island beach; but to
men OF the sea It Is known as "the
Graveyard OF the Atlantic" because
OF the ships that have broken their
backs on the shifting bars that dot Its
length.
Since the white man first sailed
these seas. the Great South beach has
taken its toll BuHbowed Dutchmen
out OF Rotterdam; Spanish galleons
from Cuba: high.pooped English
merchantmen that traded to the loyal
colony OF New York: kings ships and
hshing boats OF the old days: stout
clippers and ocean lIners-all these
and many more have driven in with
the flying scud, setting their stems
deep in the clinging sand that has SO
seldom let loose Its prey.
You find evidences OF them In the
shattered thlmbers that line the beach
from Fire Island to the Hamptons
and beyond-stout spars, sections Of
planklng. water.so soaked timbers OF
many shapes and ages: and off.shore.
sometimes one catches glimpse OF
shattered hull. draped with the green
S'""N'u Va q hhhhNu lIhSS vi tHklUeS
and boilers and twisted pipes.
The government long ago recognized
the peculiar dangers OF the Long Is.
land shore. with Its menace to the
liners that ply between New York and
European ports, and measures to safe
guard It were taken. At intervals OF
five miles along the most dangerous
section. tiny stations are planted.
There are l3 OF them, each manned
by eight men from the first OF August
to the first OF June. Between these
dates all tho crews, except captains
or keepers, 90 of duty-witbout pay.
These are are stations at New York's
door. They are also the stations
which do the greatest amount Of work
and bear the heaviest responsibility
"A statement that casts no reflection
on the remainder OF the 300 stations.
Some OF the men In these stations
have performed noteworthy deeds OF
valor. but the most they have ever re-
Ceived In recognition has been n few
medals, and in one instance the
thanks OF the New York Legislature.
Despite the undoubted hardship OF
their work. and the fact that they are
called upon to risk their lives more
often than soldiers or sailors. or even
iircmen probably, the government has
not seen flt to raise their pay or in.
crease the comforts OF their surround.
ings. One wonders how long such an
attitude will he preserved. II seems
unfair and unwlse, inasmuch as II has
already begun to react by curta!ling
the supply Of recruits.
II should be borne In mind that In
hll the history OF the life-savlng serv.
ice there has never been an instance
OF cowardice-not once. There has
never been time when captain
had any difficulty In getting his men
TO follow him into the surf. There has
never been time when II was neces.
sary for the captain to repeat an or.
der. Now and then. men have been
known to drink and neglect patrol
duty. but even these have never
showed themselves to be towards.
And perhaps. after all, that Is the
thing the service Is most proud Of
"Yes. they DO say it's hard life."
said old Capt. George Goddard OF Lone
Hill. when some ono once asked him
why he still stuck to his Job at sev.
enty. Yes, Il may be hard llfe." he
mnsed. "But like II. Thirty. odd
years I've been on the beach. for
was q mldde.aged man when Joined
the service. But I'm good for a spell
yet, and then I've laid aside little
SOS can live comfortable. They
don't give us n pension, you know"
This last was not a complaint. but
fnct. 1t was spoken. too. by man
who had reached threc-score years
and ten and who was still able to
stand UP In the stern OF a big surf.
boat and handle q kicking steering.
oar. with the seas plllng In higher
every minute and the North German
Lloyd liner Prlnzess Irene fast on tho
outer bar. His tones expressed
certain amount Of surprise. but no