Life-Saving
Service
of the

United States.

SUMNER I. KIMBALL, General Superintendent of the Service.

The sea and lake coasts of the United States, exclusive of the coast of Alaska, have an extent of more than 10,000 miles. There are to-day upon these coasts two hundred and seventy-two life-saving stations, one hundred and eighty-seven of which are on the shores of the Atlantic, eight on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, sixteen on the shores of the Pacific and sixty on the shores of the great lakes. There is, besides, a station at the falls of the Ohio River, at Louisville, Ky. These stations are located at selected points of danger to shipping. and vary somewhat in character, according to their environment and the nature of the service demanded of them. On some portions of the coast they are placed only at long intervals, while upon others they form chains of contiguous posts within communicating distance of each other. Since the establishment is chiefly related to commerce and the collection of the revenue, it is attached to the Treasury Department, which discharges all executive functions of that character. It has, indeed, from its earliest inception been formed and fostered by that department. The present system was established in 1871 upon the New Jersey and Long Island coasts by a code of regulations under the authority of somewhat scattered and fragmentary legislation. Acts of Congress passed since that time have extended it to embrace the entire ocean and lake coasts, which are divided into thirteen districts, limited in general by prominent natural or political boundaries.

The law provides that the stations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts shall be opened and manned for active service from the 1st day of August in each year until the 1st day of the succeeding June, and those on the lake coasts from the opening to the close of navigation, usually from about the 15th of April to about the 15th of December. On the Pacific coast the period is left discretionary with the General Superintendent. The time during which the stations are manned is designated the "active season." The stations on the Pacific coast are kept open the year round, experience having shown that disasters in their reighborhood occur more frequently from local causes than from stress of weather, and are about as liable to happen at one season as at another. For similar reasons a crew is kept continuously at the Louisville station.

While this system may appear to be an expensive and elaborate one, it must be remembered that, Dutting aside entirely the consideration of the value of human life, which is beyond computation, it saves many times its cost in property alone, and that it fulfills the functions usually allotted to several different agencies. It rescues the shipwrecked by both the principal methods which human ingenuity has devised for that purpose, and which in some countries are practised separately by two distinct organizations; it furnishes them the subsequent succor which elsewhere would be afforded by shipwrecked mariners' societies; it guards the lives of persons in peril of drowning by falling into the water from piers and wharves in the harbors of populous cities, an office usually performed by humane societies; it nightly patrols the dangerous coasts for the early discovery of wreeks and the hastening of relief, thus increasing the chances of rescue and shortening by hours intense physical suffering and the terrible agony of suspense; it places over peculiarly dangerous points apo the rivers and lakes a sentry prepared to send instant relief to those who incautiously or recklessly incur the hazard of capsizing in boats; it conducts to places of safety those imperilled in their homes by the torrents of flood, and conveys food to those imprisoned in their houses by iuundation and threatened with famine; it annually saves, unaided, hundreds of stranded vessels with their cargoes from total or partial destruction, and assists in saving scores of others; it protects wrecked property, after landing, from the ravage of the elements and the rapine of plunderers; it extricates vessels unwarily caught in perilous positions; it averts numerous disasters by its flashing signals of warning to vessels standing into danger; it assists the customis service in collecting the revenues of the Government; it pickets the coast with a guard, which prevents smuggling, and, in time of war, surprise by hostile forces. The following table contains the statisties of the service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902:

Life-Saving
Volunteer
Work.

Year ending
June 30, 1902.

361 $174,121

Number persons saved
Number persons lost

$167,576
$6,545
796

Net cost of maintaining the service for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902.

The United States Volunteer Life-Saving
Corps was incorporated in 1890 for the purpose
of organizing the yachtsmen sailing for pleas
ure, the boatmen and fishermen working along
the shores, and the young men and women pass-
ing their Summer vacations at the pleasure re-
sorts along the coast and on our inland waters
into life-saving crews by teaching them not
only to become expert swimmers, but to know
how to rescue the drowning and how to restore
them to life. Its success in this work has been
remarkable. Devoting its energies especially
to the State of New York for several years, it
has established 800 life-saving stations, with a
Inembership of over 7.600 persons.
tributed over $1,500 worth of life-saving buoys,
consisting of tested steel and aluminum buoys,

It has dis

Year ending June 30, 1902. 790 6

$1,654,392.96

J. WESLEY JONES, President of the U. S. Volunteer Life-Saving

Corps.

capable of supporting four persons in still water, and cork air-chambered rings good for three persons in any surf. In addition there are wooden balls for carrying life lines to persons who may have broken through the lee; life ladders for piers on the rivers and lakes, and many lifeboats at dangerous points, ranging

PLATE XIL

352

THE AMERICAN ALMANAC, YEAR BOOK, CYCLOPEDIA AND ATLAS.

from the fiat bottomed dories to costly air-chambered, unsinkable life boats that will outlive and outride any surf.

It has furnished, also, medicine chests containing the remedies that a layman can be trusted to use, and has distributed thousands of its rescue and resuscitation cards annually. It has a corps of inspectors and organizers who visit its stations to instruct its members in its rules and drills, and in the art of rescue and resuscitation. They also examine all life-saving supplies, and have all necessary repairs made.

The primary object of these crews is to save life, and, secondly, to educate the youth of both sexes to become expert swimmers that they may protect their own lives and be able and ever ready to plunge into the waters to save a drowning person.

So great has been the achievements of this association that its fame and influence have extended to other States and enlisted the sympathies of some of their noblest and most humane citizens. The States of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have well organized departments, and Maryland, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois are fast developing the life-saving corps work along their waterways. It is certainly an astonishing fact that in the year 1902 not a single life has been lost in the vicinity of any of the United States Volunteer Life-Saving Stations established in any State, while its members have rescued. to Septembr 1, in New York State, 649 lives; New Jersey, 242 lives; Pennsylvania, 162 lives; Connecticut, 54 lives; Rhode Island, 36 lives, and Massachusetts, 51 lives; making a total of 1,225 lives. The other States have not yet reported.

Every year, along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the shores of the Great Lakes there are numer. ous accidents to boats, generally to pleasure craft, and many careless swimmers get into dangerous places. It is in cases like these that the work of the volunteer life savers is generally done, for the members of the corps are to be found at nearly every shore resort, or places where accidents are liable.

Another feature of the work is the saving of persons who may break through the ice while skating. Special instruction is given the members regarding the best means of rescue, and appliances are furnished the stations along the lakes and ponds where large numbers of skaters congregate in Winter.

The growing enlistment of the yacht clubs and sailing and launch parties in the United States Volunteer Life-Saving movement, is vastly extending its usefulness to a wider range upon the waters. The larger number of rescues from capsizes during the present year is a result. On the first Sunday in June alone twenty lives were rescued from capsized boats around the east end and south of Long Island from Whitestone to Sayville.

Not only are owners of yachts and pleasure craft instructed how to save others, but are given such information as might be of use to them in saving themselves in case of a wreck or serious accident. Yacht clubs have shown strong commendation of the work of the corps, and have generally given all the aid possible to the furthering of the work. In some instances special corps have been organized by clubs, and their methods of work are as systematic as those of the regular life saving crews employed by the Government. The Life-Saving Corps is supported entirely by private contributions. It is designed that each State shall support the volunteers of its own department, and the work will be extended into other States as fast and as far as the means contributed will permit.

The members of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps stand much in the same position as the members of volunteer fire companies, or even of members of the Red Cross Society. They risk their lives without expectation of reward in order to be of benefit to those who need their help, and the large membership of the organization shows that there are hundreds of unselfish men to be found when there is work to do. By acting in conjunction with the regular Life Saving crews of the various stations along the ocean and lake coasts they tender most valuable assistance in times of heavy storms, when the regular crews are inadequate for the work.

From the beginning of the organization there has never been lack of volunteers, and men best suited to the work have been among the first to offer their services. The spirit of rivalry brought about by the desire to do the best possible, and the sense of all working for one object, have had much to do in preserving the integrity of the organization and of bringing about successful results. The directors report but few cases of shirking of duty, and even these were due to some circumstances which might excuse an exhibition of apparent cowardice.

Sums of money are often sent to individual members of the corps for heroic action in particular instances, but almost without exception these gifts are turned into the general fund, which, as has been stated, is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. Many of the members, however, wear medals for bravery.

The president and general superintendent, as well as the Board of Directors, give their time without salaries, the only officers who receive remuneration being the travelling organizing inspectors and instructors, not exceeding two in the larger and one in the smaller States.

The great army of United States Volunteer Life-Saving Corps members also give freely all their services, receiving only their supplies, flags, signs and badges of office and membership, which are recognized everywhere as the insignia of a great life-saving guild of sober, industrious, expert swimmers, who are ready at all times to risk their own lives to save other lives on land or sea.

During the past nine years the United States Life-Saving Corps has distributed honor medals for all noble rescues in saving life that have been fully attested. Nine hundred and seven have already been awarded, and it now has an honor medal list of 101 awaiting funds necessary for manufacture and presentation.

The total number of lives saved by the Life-Saving Corps since 1894 is 4,699, including the 1,225 rescued from death during 1902.

The officers are: J. Wesley Jones, president and general superintendent: Com. Thomas Smith, secretary; Mr. Joseph Wentworth White, treasurer; Hon. Henry E. Abell, ex-Police Commissioner of New York; Hon. James R. Howe, ex-Member of Congress; Com. Theodore Krombach, directors. Its national office is at No. 63 Park row, New York City.

THE LIFE-SAVING CORPS IN GREATER NEW YORK.

BROOKLYN DIVISION.-Theo. Krombach, Com. Coney Island to Newtown Creek.

Stations. Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, Old Iron Pier, Norton's Point, Sheepshead Bay, Plum Island. Coney Island Creek, Bay 27th st., Ulmer Park, Gravesend Bay Yacht Club, Bensonhurst. Bath Beach, West End Hotel, River View Pier, Bay 17th st., Fort Hamilton Pier, 58th, 56th, 53d st., Bay 21st, 20th St. Piers. Gowanus Bay, Erie Basin, Amity, Harrison, Baltic and Bridge sts., Catharine St. Ferry, Wallabout Basin, N. 8th St., Newtown Creek and Gowanus Canal bridges.

MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX.-Charles W. Disbrow, Com. and Sec.

Hudson River Division.-Frank A. Koch, V. Com. from the Battery to Spuyten Duyvil; Eugene A. Reilly, V. Com.. Whitehall Ferry to Hell Gate.

Stations.-North River, Battery Park, Barge Office, Governor's Island Pier. Piers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7, 10. 12. Franklin, Grand, Morton, Desbrosses, 49th, 50th, 55th, 61st, 83d, 86th, 1924, 123d, 124th, 149th, 151st and 155th sts.; Cinder Beds and Audubon Park front to Inwood.

Harlem River.-U. S. Canal, 162d st.; Wyanoke Club, 153d, 165th st.; Lone Star Club, 140th, 147th, 149th, 1324 sts.; Friendship Club, 125th, 98th, 92d sts.

East River.-E. 87th. E. 84th sts.: Cygnet Club. E. 76th st.; East Side House. E. 65th, E. 55th, E. 51st sts.; Blackwell's Island Ferry. E. 49th st.: Recreation Pier, E. 24th st.: Rivington st., E. 5th st.; Recreation Pier. E. 3d st.; Corlear's Park, Grand st.. Jefferson, Market and Dover sts.; Coenties slip.

QUEENS.-Jamaica Bay, Thomas Smith, Com.

Stations-Carnarsie, Bergen Beach, Ruffle Bar. Barren Island, Rockaway Beach, Broad Channel, Old Mill Creek, Aqueduct, Breakwater, Hammels, Springfield, Arverne, Edgemere, Far Rockaway and Long Beach.