In America the life-saving services are mixed up with the ordinary lifeboat services, which are in this country kept distinct, but without any apparent reason. The Massachusetts Humane Society was founded in 1785, but a few years after our own Humane Society, and received its charter in i 791. It did excellent work, and since a friendly rival—the United States Life-saving Service—came into the field has done even more. The Life-saving Benevolent Association of New York was instituted in 1849 by a number of merchants connected with the shipping trade of that city, and its sphere of usefulness has been large and varied.
The United States Life-saving Service, which was established in x871, is said to be the greatest regular service in the world. The men are thoroughly trained for their arduous work, and no expense is spared in obtaining for their use the best known apparatus.
Our own Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which was founded in 1824, is, however, the best volunteer service of that character, and the deeds of heroism performed by the brave fellows who man its boats will live for ever in the pages of English history.
One other decoration of importance remains to be mentioned, and that is the Albert medal, instituted by royal warrant on April 12. 1867. for gallantry in saving life at sea. The Albert medal of the first class is oval-shaped, made of gold and enamelled in dark blue, with a monogram V and A inter laced with an anchor, and surrounded with a garter in bronze, on which is inscribed : For gallantry in saving life at sea.' The medal is surmounted by a crown, and attached to a dark-blue ribbon with four white stripes. The second-class medal is made entirely of bronze, the ribbon having two instead of four white stripes.
Until the formation of the Life saving Society in 1891, the swimming clubs of this kingdom did not pay very much attention to the most tial feature of their art, that of rescuing persons in danger of drowning by swimming to their relief. Some individual clubs, of course, made it a part of their work, but there was little practice, and although competitions were held, most of them were without much attempt at method. In the year 1887 the Royal Humane Society was approached on the subject, and asked to undertake the instruction by means of its own organisation and staff, but nothing came of the request. The
Amateur Swimming Association was then requested to super vise the work, and it went so far as to appoint a committee, which reported as follows : We whose names are hereto subscribed of your committee, appointed by the following resolution of the council on May x889, 'That the whole question of proposed life-saving classes and the scheme brought up to this meeting be referred to seven delegates, to draw up a report for consideration of a special council meeting called for the purpose,'—do report as follow : That we have given our careful attention to the question, and recommend the adoption of the following scheme for the establish ment of life-saving classes : 1. That a central committee of seven be appointed, four by the council of the Amateur Swimming Association, and the remaining three by the executive. The president, vice-presidents, and secre taries to be ex-officio members of the central committee.
2. That classes be held in different districts at such times as the central committee shall arrange ; the local arrangements to be made by the swimming clubs in the district where the class is to be held. The lecturers to be provided by the central committee. Each lecture to be complete in itself. A demonstration of the method of restoring the apparently drowned to be given during the meeting. The district clubs to arrange for the attendance of societies and schools in their neighbourhood.
3. That all demonstrations and lectures be arranged by the central committee, but that the management of each individual lecture or demonstration shall, as stated in clause 2, be in the hands of the local swimming clubs.
4. That clubs shall be requested to print life-saving rules in club books of fixtures, &c., and give- demonstrations of rescue and restoration from drowning at their entertainments.
We further recommend the following arrangements for starting classes : a. That a preliminary meeting be held at a good bath, in as central a position as possible, with a demonstraticin of rescue work by swimmers, and restoration of the apparently drowned by a quali fied medical man, followed by a social meeting to discuss the matter.
b. That a circular embodying the above scheme be sent to all affiliated clubs.