Year: 1876

HOW THE GOVERNMENT AIDS DISABLED SHIPS


AT sEA-oPERATIoNs OF THE REVENUE MA


RINE-cRUIsE OF THE STEAMER GRANT


One OF the efficient and valuable aids TO the dis
tressed mariners coast is the United States
Revenue Marine. From the lst Of November until the
1st Of April the various vessels OF this service patrol
the coast and give assistance and succor TO any craft
which may need aid This service is at dangerous
and severe The cutters must be at at all times,
when not compelled TO seek port for the
purpose OF provisioning or laying in stores Of
GOALS 1t is holiday sailing to track
the coast when swept by winter gales and when as is
often the case, the decks and sails eDcased In
heavy sheets Of ice Yet at all times, whether In
storm calm, the revenue cutters must be abroad on
their errands OF mercy driving through tremendous
seas and surrounded on dangerous Shore with fogs
or driving snow The good that they are able to do
be expressed in dollars and cents The public
know little Of the hardshps endured the aid given
the dangers met and passed Few, If any, of the vcs
in distress ever take the trouble TO report the
sisance rendered by the government vessels although
in many instances II is to that aid alone that the safety
OF the disabled craft is due


Each steam cutter has its allotted district to cruise
over, and IL is the duty OF the commanding officer TO
sec to II that thorough search is made as often az
possible for wrecked vessels those disabled or In
distress Tho district belonging 10 the port Of New
York, and guarded by the United States revenue
steamer Grant, captain A. Fengar extends from tue
Delaware Breakwater TO Martha's Vineyard, covering
the entire coast OF Long Island and the Jersey
shore The coast is not only dangerous but 1t Is at
all times frequented by more vessels than can be seen
any other portion Of the Atlantic and the Captain
OF the Grant always finds plenty TO do on his cruises


The steamer is supplied with large quantity o pro-
visions OF all kinds medicines clothing fuel and extra
rigging spars and sails for the use OF any vessel found
in disabled condition any way in distress Start
ing from New York the Grant usually runs down the
Jersey coast during daylight speaking all crafts that
appear likely TO be in trouble and supplying them
with the needed ar tces TO enable them 10 safely make
port.


good lookout ia kept on the beach to discover any
vessel that may be ashore, an d II one is found the
Grant, with her powerful engine aud her ample supply
of immense hawsers, stands in to tow OF, If possible,
the unfortunate vessel II that cannot we'll DO dono
the taken of and information sent 10 the under
writer's OF the situation Often, ut this of the
year vessels fonnd perfectly helpless and unable
TO navigate in consequence OF the crew being frost
btton. In such tho Grant places officer and
board who bring the ship safely into the port
OF destination. The government, of course, charges
nothing for its services and only requires cost price to
be paid for supplies put on board


When the Grant has made her tour TO the Break
water she returns to Sandy Hook Light at night and
in daylight again runs up the Long Island coast Then
the waters about Martha's Vineyard visited and
the various ports looked into for purposes end
to render aid If needed About ten days are generally
consumed IN cruise Then the mails are picked up,
and the ship is again at This is outline OF the
work performed by every cutter the Atlantic coast


The Grant has just started for she fifth cruise OF
the season, and will be about probably two weeks She
is iron steamer OF about 900 tons burden, with
single direct acting engine which gives speed OF
She is barkentine rgged, and sails ike witch Her
armament consists OF two ri1ed Dahlgren howitzers
and war discipline is enforced on board


The following Is list OF her officers Captain A. A.
Fengar: First Lieutenant and Executive oficer L e.
Shepherd; Second Lieutenant David Hall; Third Lieu
tenants, John Morrlsey, Jr, John H. Little; Chief
Engineer, Eugene Vallat; First Assistant Engineer,
Alfred Hoyt; Second Assistant Engineer Domingo Cas-.
tanoy Pilot Gilbert Jackson.