Evening star., 1914-08-09
VALIANT WORK DONE
BY Gutter SERVICE
Reports to the Treasury De-
partment Show Craft Is No.
tabIy Active This Summer.
TWO LIVES ARE SAVED,
FIVE VESSELS GIVEN AID
washington-owned Craft and Big
ocean-Going Steamship Are As
sisted-Help to Fight Fire.

SSCdh-SoAA6 SsSoAAAS>>Af
sisted-Help to Fight Fire.
Reports of work done in the past week
by vessels flying the flag OF the revenue
cutter service, sent TO the division Of the
service. Treasury Department. by their
commanding officers. in few words ten
of the saving of two lives OF aid gwen
in extinguishing a dangerous fire and OF
assistance given five vessels in distress
one of them a Washington-oWned craft
and another a big oceangoing steamship
valued at over 100000.
As a general thing the Humanitarian
efforts of the men of the revenue cutter
service are mainly confined to the winter
months, when ice and storms catch ves-
sells in close places and make the services
of the cutters necessary to save them
from destruction.
This summer seems to have been an ex-
ception to the rule and the cutters have
found almost as much work to do as
they are called upon to perform in the
midst OF rough winter.
To the cutter Mohawk on the New York
station this week belongs the credit OF
saving life. While lying at anchor In
New York harbor. a man was seen strug-
Cling in the water. The launch from
the cutter was sent to him and he was
picked up exhausted. He gave his name
John Ruby and his home at No. Il
West End avenue. New York city. He
had gone in bathing and swimming out
in the river was caught in the tide and
could not make his way back to the
shore
Timely Aid to Boy Swimmer.
The next afternoon boy was seen try
hoe fo ARaiD the
launch was sent and NJ. H. Whalep of
256 West SD street was picked>i
the boat He had been seized with cramps
and but for the timely aid Of the cutters
men he would have soon gone to the
bottom of the Hudson.
1t is probable that a fire assistance rec
ord will be opened In the division Of the
revenue cutter service to keep record
of the fire-fghting feats of the men OF
the service. AS the cutter Unalga, which
had Just returned from Alaskan waters
was lying at Seattle. fire was seen In the
sheds of the Grand Trunk Pacific rai6
road in the center of Seattle's harbor. |
At the time repairs were in progress on
the machinery of the cutter, but work
was at once stopped. the detached parts |
replaced and within ten minutes the cut |
ter was moving toward the burning |
sheds.
Taking position where her work would !
be effective, streams were played upon
the burning building and to make effect
i've the work on high tower that was In
a blaze a line Of hose was carried to
the foremast head of the vessel in order
to get at the fire better While a portion
of the crew fought the flames from the
masthead of the cutter. others of the |
crew carried line Of hose ashore and
up into the tower
Halts Spread Of Flames.
Quick work and good judgment soon
put out the flames and prevented the big
tower from falling and spreading the fire
to other buildings. The railroad sheds
were destroyed. but the work of the men
Of the cutter and Of the Seattle fireboat
prevented the fire from spreading.
Down on the Neuse river, \. c.. the
cutter Pamlico was instrumental In saw
ing the schooner Charles L. Rohde owned
by Johnson & Wimsatt of this city. from
being damaged. after running ashore.
quest came from Capt. G. NJ. Gaskins Of
the schooner for aid in getting his yes
sci afioat. The cutter pulled on her sew
eral times. but could not move her, but
later, after portion of her deckload
had been removed and placed on light
er. she was pulled into dep water. The
cutter remained by the schooner to as
certain II she was leaking. and finding
8He was not returned TO HtE Statiou a.
Newbern. while the schooner resumed her
trip to this city.
While near Cape Race Newfoundland,
the cutter Seneca received a radio mes
sage that the British steamship Sable l
was in distress. Sreaming to the location
given the ship was found with machinery
so badly damaged as to be beyond repair.
At the request of the master Of the
vessel. she was taken in tow to Halifax.
Nova Scotia, a distance of 4S6 miles. The
vessel is valued at $4,000 and the cargo
of liquors aboard at $4,000.
Saves Gasoline Steamer.
From the commanding officer of the
cutter Mackinac, on duty in the vicinity
of the 500 canal, comes story of how
Senior Lookout J. G. Sweet, stationed on
the ST Marys river. saved the gasoline
schooner Mary Ethel, new vessel on
her maiden trip. from going ashore and
being badly damaged. The vessel was at
a dangerous point when her gasoline
engine went dead The weather was
stormy but in his launch Lookout
Sweet made his way to the distressed
schooner and towed her out Of danger.
Efforts We're made to repair the engine
Of the schooner. but without success, and
Mr.. Sweet. in his launch. then toWed
the vessel to the 500 where repairs are
being made. \ strong letter of thanks
from Capt. j. c. Morgan, owner and
master of the Mary Ethel accompanied
the report
An effort was made by the cutter
Acushnet together with the U. S. S. Nc
Dugall. TO save the schooner T. W.
Copper ashore on Point Judith, atthe
mouth OF Narragansett bay. r. l., but
without success. as the vessel filled
with water.
The little cutter Scout, at Seattle was
destruction in the fire at Seattle when
the Unalga did such good work in aid
ing to extinguish il and prevent Its
spread
LIEUT.. COL. McNALLY DEAD.