The Monticellonian., 1916-03-02

men thus come to consider theirs a life service. Their training is ac- quired before their enlistment for the first time, largely from their previous callings At the first enlistment they must qualify as expert boatmel they must be physically sound and not more than thirty-ffve years of age. The service now has an arrangement by which the men may retire at three fourths pay when they have served thirty years or have reached the age of sixty-four But in the former case they must hold themselves in readi- ness for any duty for which they may be called by the secretary of the treas ury. In time of war this service would be transferred from the depart ment of the treasury to that of the navy.
 On Duty Ten Months.
 The stations, really the homes of the men for many months each year, are frame buildings, all of the same gen. eral pattern, housing four or five boats and the keepers and crews. The men are on duty from August 1 to June 1, ten months each year. and in that period they are allowed, in turn, twenty-four hours of liberty. Each crew consists of seven men and a keeper. Thus the men divide into watches for the night, two and two. with one extra, and one off duty. Dur ing June and July only the keeper is at the station.
 The beats over which these men tramp measure all the way from two miles to five in length, and when making their rounds they cover the distance twice, in each case of course, once out and once back. The beats are regulated somewhat by the dis tances between stations. If they are more than ten miles apart the patrols would not be able to make round in two hours. However, not every mile of coast is patroled
 And now-What happens if ship is seen in danger?
 If a patrolman sees a vessel in trou- ble, which is not yet actually a wreck, he burns a red signal light. The Cos ton light is tube-like affair; little tap on a spring and percussion cap eXplodes and that sets the light afiare; it burns four minutes, with a brilliant red flame; seeing it. crew knows that their need has been noted and that all assistance possible will be rendered them. If the vessel already is a wreck when she is seen, so that the service of the station crew will be required. two Coston lights are burned.
 Power Life Boats.
 More and more the stations now are being equipped with power life boats. All depends upon the possi- bility of using them. A power boat cannot be launched from the beach itself like a surf boat; it requires a harbor of some kind. The oar boats may be launched anywhere; the pow CT boats are preferred, however, when ever facilities make them available.
 In the halfway houses as well as in the stations telephones are always located. The patrolmen make use Of the wires in sending out their alarms. If wreck is accessible to more than one station, or if the need Is greater than one crew may be able to render, the telephone call is sent out. From the halfway houses also full details will be sent by the patrol to his own station, and from thence the notice may be sent on to the general head quarters; at times thus the service of the wireless may be requisitioned, the Charlestown navy sending out the & o. s. to the revenue cutter cruisers which may be off shore searching through the fog or the storm for ships in distress.
 The guardsmen also make consid- erable use of the international code of signals, using the ordinary signal flag, and of the international wigwag sys- tenn, using the Morse code.