When the either at night or in the day, discovers a vessel ashore, lie takes instant meas ores to alarm the crew of the station. Some times this may he quickly accomplished by use of the telephone in a near-by watch-house; other wise the surfman must hasten on his errand as best lie can. The condition of the weather and surf will indicate to the keeper whether a res cue should he attempted'hy means of a boat, the breeches buoy, or life-ear. Either the boat must he hauled on its earriage or the apparatus-eart dragged to the scene of the wreck. Draught-ani mals are kept at many stations to facilitate and hasten the transportation of the appliances, but when they are not provided the keeper may hire horses when needed.
If the rescue is to lie effected by means of the beach apparatus, no time is lost, after selecting a suitable place abreast of the vessel, in setting up the gear. Each one of the crew proceeds at once to break out the part assigned to his charge and place it in position. The keeper fires the gun and the slender shot-line goes flying over the stranded vessel. This line, to insure its running out without entanglement or friction, has been previously faked over pins, layer upon layer, and inclosed in a box. When brouglit into use the box is inverted and the pins are with drawn. leaving, the line disposed in loops so that it will pay out freely. The shot-lines are soft laid and are of three sizes. numbered 4. 7, and 9. being respectively 4-32. 7-32. and 9-32 of an inch in diameter. The sailors on the vessel, with the shot-line that has been sent them, haul off an endless rope. rove through a tail-block, called the whip-line. If the masts are standing. the tail block is made fast to the lower mast, well up. The life-saving crew then send off by the whip a 3-inch hawser which is secured to the mast about two feet above the tail-bloek. By means of a strong tackle attached to a sand-anchor, con sisting of two pieces of fiat. stout timber, crossed and bolted. and buried in a trench to support the strain, the surfmen set taut the hawser, passing it over a wooden crotch about ten feet high which firmly suspends the line between ship and shore. The breeches-buoy block is usually snapped upon the hawser and the buoy is hauled to and from the wreck with the whip-line. Small wooden tablets called tally-boards. hearing print ed directions in English and French for hand ling the line:, are attached to the whip and hawser and sent off to the people on the vessel to enable them to coiTerate intelligently with the agencies at work for their rescue. In the usual drills at the stations the life-saving crews accomplish the rescue in about five minutes, although it has been made without error in two and one-half minutes. Of course such time can
not be expected in actual service at shipwrecks, where many unfavorable elements conspire to obstruct progress.
The survivors front a wreck within scope of the service are eared for at the station nearest the scene of the occurrence. The victims of ma rine disaster are often recovered from the water apparently drowned or dead from exposure. In such eases the surfmen attempt. restoration by the methods in which they are drilled. their ef forts in about half the trials turning out suc cessfully.
The Life-Saving Service. owing to its relation to commerce, and the assistance it renders in the collection of revenue and the prevention of smug gling. is connected with the Treasury Depart ment.. The chief officer in charrp is the general superintendent. appointed by the President, the incumbent in 1902 being Sumner 1. Kimball, who has been the head of the service' since it was established in 1871. The general superintendent is assisted in the performanee of his duties by an assistant general superintendent. A captain of the Revenue Cutter Service is detailed as inspec tor of stations. lie personally visits them at stated time; and discharges such other duties as the general superintendent directs. The super intendents of construction of life-saving stations are also captains of the Revenue Cutter Service.
Each district is under the immediate charge of a superintendent who has been promoted to his position from the ranks of the keepers. lit, business is to conduct the general affairs of the stations under his supervision. \Odell he visits at least once a quarter. recommend supplie:. re pairs. etc., pay of the men, inspect public proper ty. fix the patrol limits. after consultation with the resident inspector, certify the names Of eligi bles for vacancies in the ere%Ns. and see that the regulations governing drills and discipline are faithfully fulfilled. The district superintendents and keepers are, under the law, insifectors of cus toms and as such take care of the Government in terests in relation to dutiable property wrecked within their jurisdiction. Assistant inspectors for the various districts are obtained from the facers of the Revenue Cutter Service. who periodically inspect the stations, drill the crews, make investigations into the conduct of keeper, and surfmen, when such action is necessary, and in ea-es of shipwreck within the domain of life saving operations attended with loss of life, and give attention to such other matters as may be assigned them by superior authority.