Ellsworth American., 1915-02-03

The former revenue steamer AudFoscog-
gin is the hrst American ship especially
equipped TO carry medical aid to the Hieep
sea fishermen OF the North Atlantic. It 10
estimatsd that there are not less than
5000 Of fishermen on the vessels engaged
in onr deep-sea fisheries along the Atlantic
coast. The mortality among them from
the extraordinary hazards Of their calling
IL higher than among thoss working in ths
most dangerous trades ashore, writes Ger
trude Seymour, in the SurSty Pvsss
Bureau.
What this means has been graphically
pointed out BY Dr.. Thomas W. salmon, OF
the federal public health service, who was
the first to propose the hospital ship.
Writing in The Survey he said:
sEvery August little company Of sad
faced mon and women snd curious SUM
mer boarde-s gathers in Gioucester, Mass,
to take part in ceremony such q can
be witnessed nowhere else in the United
States. Only in tho fishing villages OF
st. Pierre, or Northern France or New
foundiand do people come together for
the same purpose, for it is the annual
memorial for the decp-sea fishermen who
have perished at see during the year.
After children have strewn flowers upon
the recedinR tide, young widows return
home with the dread which dwells always
in the hearts OF wives OF fishermen come
to full reaIixstion." During she last ten
years, the names OF more than 600 Glou-
cester fishermen have been read at these
services.
"This," continued DR.. Salmon, .siethe
toll which the deep sea takes from those
who gather her harvest. 1t 10 not all,
however; for other brave men were lost
whose names were not read at the services
by Blynman Bridge, and for whom no
flowers were strewn upon the water. These
fishermen died In bed In marine hospitals,
| attended by nurses and provided with
| many comforts; yet they lost their lives
through the dangerous nature OF their
calling just % certainly as their comrad,s
in the dories which went astray or in the
schooners which foundered on the banks.
''Some OF them had survived the hard
ships Of terrible days and nights adrift in
dories only to sustain injury which made
the end just % certain, although . little
more remote. Many OF them died from
illness which the resources Of modern
medicine, il they can be applied, are quite
sufficient ia. cure.
sBssides those who die, many fishermen
are badly MANNED through injected
wounds, which could be trestsdi SO sues
cessfully. were they received ashore that
only the slightest permanent defects
would follow them. Fractures which have
to be neglected for days and even weeks
until port is reached have 4 very different
outcome from those which are promptly
cared for; and when giant sea boards
little schooner aud roars down her length,
. broken bone or two is very likely to be
included In the wreckage."
Deep sea fishermen have been exposed
year after year TO these risks with the
added danger which arises from long de-
lay in obtaining medical or surgical re-
lief. Yet, until the provision of the
Androscoggin for this purpose,
the only means by which sick or in
| iured fishermen could obtain treatment
in an emergency was through the services
4 vi tuo EACncu u0oPAtaA SUPP 0bs HA7nSOsb
| d'Assise, which crossed the Atlantic each
summer from France and gave aid to all
who needed it under whatever flag they
| sailed. In DIR. Salmon's words: 1.-THE
| American fsherman's only chance to OBJ.
\ tain medical aid on Banquereau, Saint
Pierre bank and the Grand Banks is when
this hospital ship, maintained by charity
and by a small grant from the French
government, makes her summer visits to
| the fishing grounds. At other times on
these banks and at all times on the banks
which lie rearer home no, medical aid
whatever is available, in time of need.
| The injured man must grit his teeth and
bear it, With the chance OF being perma-
nently crippled increasing every minute,
and the man stricken with sudden illness
must console himself with the rejection
| that perhaps he has one OF those diseases
which doctors cannot cure anyway"
This year the European war will pre-
vent the st. Francois d'Assise from maxi
ing her usual trip, and there will be an
opportunity for the Androscoggin to per-
form for the French fishermen on the
Grand Banks the services which were
given so freely to Americans in former
summers.
The Androscoggin in her revenue
cutter days figured in many thrilling
rescues at sea. She will be remembered
best for the dash made in company with
the Gresham in 1911 to rescue the fisher
| men imprisoned in Newfoundland ice.
She has been completely refitted for her
new duty, and she is provided for every
essential for giving efficient medical and
surgical trestment at sea. A male gradu-
ate nurse will assist DR.. Cox. A comfort
able sick bay, and isolated room with two
banks for cases OF contagious disease, Tiny
operating room and weli-equipped dis
pensary have been provided.
Wherever the fishermen go the Andros-
coggin is to follow. In winter they are to
| ha fouud on tha hauka na far north aa