THE LIFE - SAVING BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.
In every great maritime city the sea and its dangers are objects of the deepest interest. The sea presents itself not only as a great highway for commerce, a field of boundless pleasure and profitable employment, but alas ! it has ever been, and must continue to be, associated with scenes of suffering, sorrow and death. It is only in harmony, there fore, with civilization that humanity should step in, and by organiza tion endeavor to minimize the number of accidents, and remove where possible the cause of peril ; and when the worst takes place and lives are endangered, then by every means human skill can devise, regard less of cost, go forth to the rescue at all hazards. In order the better to do this, a number of merchants connected with the shipping trade of New York formed an association, which received its charter from the State in 1849. Its first endeavors were to co-operate in provid ing surf-boats, rockets, carronades and other apparatus for the pre ser'vation of life and property from shipwreck. It is with the greatest pleasure I can record the fact that along the shores there have ever been found available volunteer crews, who take care of the boats and stations, and turn out to work in case of need. The society and the
underwriters both naturally join in encouraging these noble men by every legitimate means, so as to secure a continuation of their most honorable and voluntary service. In 1883, twenty-seven life-boat stations were maintained by this association. The Government have assisted the society with funds to the extent of over $18,000, and it has an ample of subscribers, in which I find the insurance com panies take the lead. A very valuable medium of life-saving is the life-car, invented by Captain Douglass Ottinger, of the U. S. Revenue Cutter Service, in 1849. By the use of this car many hundred lives have been saved. To the Hon. W. A. Newell, M.C., from New Jersey, belongs the honor of first moving for funds to be supplied by the treasury for the humane purpose of saving life, and since then the American Government has warmly supported the cause.
The accompanying engraving shows the obverse and reverse sides of the medal awarded by the association, with the motto, " VITA FELICIBUS A USIS SERVATA," or " Life preserved by fortu nate deeds-of boldness."