LIFE-SAVING SERVICE, The United States, for many years an important and ef fective branch of the public service, under the direction of the Treasury Department, lost its distinct individuality on 28 Jan. 1915, when it was merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard. The system was inaugurated in 1871, by Sumner I. Kimball, then chief of the Revenue Cutter Service. In June 1878, by act of Congress, it was organized into a separate bureau. The service covered the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes.
The first life-saving stations in the United States were established by the Massachusetts Humane Society at Lovell's Island and Co basset. All efforts for saving life and property in cases of shipwreck were made by this society till 18.37, when the President of the United States was authorized to employ ships to cruise along the shores and render assistance to distressed navigators. William A. Newell, afterward governor of New Jersey, witnessed a fearful shipwreck off Barnegat Island in which many bodies were washed ashore, and was so impressed by the sight that when he was elected to Congress in 1848 he introduced a bill for the relief of shipwrecked persons. The result of the passage of this bill was the placing of a few life-saving stations between Sandy Hook and Little Egg Harbor, N. J., and a little later a few stations were established on the coast of Long Island. Volunteer crews were depended upon at all the stations until the introduction of government organization and control.
The last report issued by the Life-Saving Service under that title is for the year ended 30 June 1914. In that year aid was given to 1,937 vessels, having on board 9,296 persons, whose lives were in more or less danger. Of the whole nuniber 82 vessels were totally lost, and with them 38 lives. The property loss, including vessels and cargoes, was $2,724,660. The value of the vessels and cargoes saved amounted to $18,783,000. The number of lives
actually saved, of persons brought to shore, and of those who were removed to places of safety — as in the Texas flood rescues — numbered 4,762. Succor was given to 920 persons for an aggregate of 1,234 days at the stations. The work was carried on from 285 stations, 203 being an the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 68 on the Great Lakes and 19 on the Pacific coast.
The figures for the remaining seven months of existence of the Life Saving Service were incorporated with those of the new Coast Guard in its first annual report. With the passing of this notable organization into history it is appropriate to present a summary of its accom plishments from its initiation in 1871 to the close of its last official season. The records show that in the 33 years aid was given to 28,121 vessels on which were 178,741 persons in danger. The total number of lives lost was 1,455, attributable in many instances to the great distance from stations at which disasters took place. The total value of vessels and cargoes in the cases in which aid was given amounted to $355,401,084, of which a value of $288,871,237 was saved.
Besides the usual official activities of the Life Saving Service many instances are on record of aid given in other ways. The crews at the stations aided in extinguishing fires along shore; captured burglars; rescued lost property—among which are mentioned aero planes and balloons, automobiles, nets, domestic animals and small boats; resuscitated persons near death by drowning; supplied pilots in dangerous waters; replenished failing sup plies of water, provisions and fuel to vessels in need; and cared for sick and injured boat men and sailors.
In the reorganization of the service the personnel has been increased and the life saving work goes on much as before. But, whereas the duties formerly were along shore exclusively, they now cover also the open seas, wherever the revenue cutters go. See COAST GUARD.