Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/256

* LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. 234 LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. being buincd oil'. Mieii tlic gun is lircd the strain of the line euuscs the projectile to re- verse. A r;in<je of nearly 700 yards, with a small shot-line, luis Ix'en obtained with this gun under favorable eirrunistanees, although the piece is not often called upon to cover a range of more than 400 yards. LYLE GUN. The breeches buoy is a circular life-preserver of cork, about 7% feet in circuniferenee, to which short canvas breeches are attached. It holds one person, is suspended by lanyards from a hawser, and is drawn to and from the wreck with lines. On account of its being safe, as ^vell as light and easy to transport and handle, and from the further consideration that the greater num- ber of vessels now stranding on the coast have small crews, from six to ten, it is more fre- quently used than the life-car. The life-car is made of galvanized sheet iron and is shaped like a covered boat with an open- ing on top. provided with a hatch which may be fastened inside or out. Miile practically water- tight, it has means for supplying air to those within. It is between 10 and 11 feet long, has sufficient capacity for five or six persons, and may be connceled with a hawser and hauled in the water to and from a vessel, or can be operated similarly to the breeches buoy. Tliis car has been found very useful in landing sick peo])le and valuables, as they are protected from getting wet. There are a number of appliances, auxiliary to the principal means of saving life, belonging to the regular outfit of a station. Among these are boat-wagons, roller boat-skids, apparatus- carts, cork jackets, heaving-sticks, signal-flags, night warning signals, beach torches, patrol lanterns, medicino-chests, hawsers, hauling-Iines, etc. At some points, where the outlying bars are a considerable distance from the shore, ])owerful line-carrying rockets, which have a greater range than the gun, are kept, but there have been few calls for their use. In the day a strict lookotit seaward is kept from the stations for distressed craft, and during the night between stinset and dawn, and at all times when the weather is thick and stormy, the patrolmen maintain a steady vigil along the beach. At the beginning of their watch two surfmen from each station follow the shore-line in opposite directions until they meet the patndnien from the adjacent stations, with whom metallic cheeks, suitably marked, are exchanged and taken to the keepers as proof of the honest performance of duty. When the stations are remote from each other this scheme, of course, is not practicable, and then the patrolman carries a watchman's clock which can be registered as to time of ar- rival only by means of a key contained in a po.st at the limit of his beat. Eacli man carries, be- sides a lantern, a night signal which, when ex- ploded by percussion, emits a red flame that liaslies lur out over the dark waters and warns tile unwary ship, approaching too near the breakers and outlying reefs or shoals, of im- ])ending danger, or assures the shipwrecked that iielp is close at hand. The patrol system is a feature that distinguishes the United States service from all others in the world, and ac- counts largely for its unrivaled success in afford- ing relief to seafarers. During the year IHOI 2.'U craft were warned away from dangerous ]>laces by the signals of the patrolmen. At some stations, where service is likely to lie facilitated by the use of horses, and where the shore is suitable, patrolmen on extended beats are per- mitted to go mounted. When the watch, eilher at night or in the day, discovers a vessel ashore, he takes instant meas- ures to alarm the crew of the station. Some- times this may be quickly accomplished by use of the telephone in a near-liy watch-liouse ; other- wise the surfman nuist hasten on his errand as best he can. The condition of the weather and surf will indicate to the keeper whether a res- cue should be attempted by means of a boat, the Iireeches buoy, or life-car. Either the boat must be hauled on its carriage or the apparatus-cart dragged to the scene of the wreck. Oraught-ani- nials are kejit at many stations to facilitate and hasten the transportation of the a]i])liaiices, Imt wiien they are not provided the keeper may hire horses when needed. If the rescue is to be effected by means of the beach ap|iavatus, 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 METHOD OF FAKING THE SHOT-LINE. running out without entanglement or friction, has been previously faked over pins, layer upon layer, and inclosed in a box. Wlien brought into use the box is inverted and the pins arc with- drawn, leaving the line disposed in loops so that it will pay out freely. The shot-lines are soft- laid and arc of three sizes. nun]hered 4. 7, and 0, being respectively 4-.12, 7-.32. and n-,32 of an inch in diameter. The sailors on the vessel, with the shot-line that has been sent them, haul ofi' an endless rope, rove through a tail-block, called the whip-line. If the masts are standing, the tail- bloek is made fast to the lower mast, well up. The life-saving crew then send off by the whip a 3-ineh hawser which is secured to the mast about two feet above the tail-block. By means of a strong tackle attached to a sand-anchor, con- sisting of two pieces of flat, 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