Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30
Revenue Cutter Service

Preparations are being made aboard
the eleven cutters on stations on the
Atlantic coast between PASSPORT, Me-.
and Savannah. Ga, to taks up winter
cruising work early tomorrow morning.
Orders for the service were issued
about a month ago. and under them
the cutters are required to cruise con-
stantly over their cruising ground dur
ing the winter season, which begins
Monday and continues until April /.
They are also required to be in readi-
ness at all times to aid vessels in dis
tress from any cause The orders only
allow the cutters to come into port for
coal and stores, and they are supposed
to remain in port only long enough to
get them aboard. At all other times
they must be on the move looking for
vessels in trouble.
The advent of wireless telegraphy has
made the winter cruising of the cutters
wonderfully efficient. and it is only a
question Of a few hours after the news
of a disaster at sea is received that
cutters are aiding the vessel In trouble.
Many lives and much valuable marine
property are saved in each winter
cruising season. While no cruising
orders are sent to the cutters station on
, the Gulf of Mexico and on the Pacific,
they are also expected to aid vessels
in trouble, but are not required to be
kept constantly on the move.
Collisions at sea off Great Point, Nan
tucket shoals, Mass, in which the
Portland schooner Maude Palmer and
the British schooners W. n. wicker
and Ladysmith were involved, gave the
cutters Acushnet and Androscogg1n
work to do before the opening of the
| cruising season. The Acushnet picked
up the British vessels, which lost sails
| and spars. and towed them into Vine
| yard Haven, and the Maude Palmer was
| taken in tow by the Androscoggin and
| taken to Portland. She had stern dam
aged, jibboom carried away and was
! leaking somewhat.
! Rescue work was performed in the
past week by the crew Of the little cut
| ter Tybee, stationed at Savannah. A
| report received from the vessel states
| that she found the power boat Tue, with
/ disabled engine. adrift in the Tybee
| river near Savannah. Aboard the launch
were four persons who were pOwerless
to help themselves The Tybee took the
disabled launch in tow to Savannah
and safety.
| Orders were sent the cutter Miapi to
| go to the aid of the steamship Donna
Christina, reported in distress off the
coast of Florida. but before the cutter
| sailed it was learned that the steamer
| had succeeded in reaching Havana, and
| the services Of the cutter were not
needed
When the cutter McCulloch. which is
| to be rebuilt at San Francisco during this
| winter, returns to service she will hardly
| be recognized as the same vessel. 1t is
| stated that the mainmast of the cutter
| Is to be removed, leaving the fore and
| miZZen masts to carry radio antennae
and signal flags. the smokestack is tc
be shifted toward the stern of the vessel
| her bowsprit is to be removed and other
| changes made that will make the Nc
| Culloch in appearance a different ship.
| AS soon as weather conditions will per
1 nit the cutter Bear which is now at Por
| angeles. Wash. will proceed to SaI
| Francisco to take station there The
| Bear arrived at Port Angeles last weel