Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-08

had interested the people of the city
In my plan they made that 5000 go so
far and bring such results that at the
next session the appropriation was in
creased to $500. Within a year this
first volunteer life-saving corps had
a membership of 500.
"At that time we who were engaged
in the volunteer life-saving work dis
covered that while many of the beaches
in Rhode Island and adjacent states
were plentifully supplied with So
called life guards who could row well
and swim better, they knew nothing
about reSuscitation. Therefore, our
first real missionary work. if it can be
termed such, was among the regular
professional life-guards.
The success which the movement
met in Rhode Island caused it's spread
to New York city. At the time of the
Slocum disaster. when many children
were saved by their young comrades
who could swim. the work of the vol
unteer corps, which by that time had
been established, was greatly empha-
sized, and it's members took the oppor
tunity to bring their work before the
public. with the result that in a short
time New York city had installed in
structors in swimming and e-saving
in every public bath in the city, and
the municipality was soon spending
$4,000 a year on this item alone.
Within short time thereafter New
York city boosted sixty stations and
more than 1000 enlisted men under
the name of the United States Volun-
teer Life Saving Corps, of which [
was made general superintendent in
1909. Gradually, however. the United
States service became the New York
city life-saving station service"
The Red Cross Life Saving Corps was
established through the efforts of Mr..
Longfellow in February, 1914. when he
interested the f1rst-aid department of the
society, now in charge of Maj. Robert L.
Patterson. in the work.
He was made general field agent. and
the first development of the movement
which has within the past few weeks en-
when the Central V NJ. c. A. of that city
formed the first Red Cross Life Saving
Corps. The masters of the Boy Scout
Council of Baltimore followed, together
with the Maryland Swimming Club, which
latter body instituted a particularly well
organized motor boat patrol across ten
mile-square stretch of Chesapeake bay.
where most of the pleasure boating and
canoeing took place; They purchased
big power dory, and eighteen or twenty
members of the patrol reported for duty
continually during the boating season.
* x
Following the lead of Baltimore, many
other cities have swung into line, includ-
ing Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Utica,
Cleveland, Detroit, three Florida cities
Jacksonville, st. Augustine and Pensa-
cola-Atlanta. Norfolk, Pittsburgh and
now the National Capital.
The plan of procedure in organizing the
Red Cross Life Saving Corps is practically
the same as followed here during the past
few weeks-getting the members of the
police and fire departments, schools and
the patrons of all public swimming pools
interested, as we'll as the members of
aquatic clubs and Boy Scout patrols.
why, even many dock men and water
front policemen are non-swimmers, said
Mr.. Longfellow, land they of all men
should be instructed in life-savng work.
And yet my experience has been that if
they are given an opportunity of learning
the principles of saving life and are fur
nished with equipment, these men, to-
gether with the members of the clubs, and
even the average citizens who swim. are
perfectly willing to devote their time to
amateur lfe-Saving patrols