Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================= (Extracted records pertaining to the Great Lakes region) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OPERATIONS OF the UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE for the FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886 WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1887 -6- DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS: Ninth District. - David P. Dobbins, Buffalo, New York Tenth District. - Jerome G. Kiah, Sand Beach, Michigan Eleventh Distric. - Nathaniel Robbins, Grand Haven, Michigan LOSS OF LIFE. The shipwrecks attended with loss of life during the year, within the Held of life-saviug operations, were thirteen in number. A circumstantial narrative of each case is herewith given. WRECK OF THE SCHOONER GEORGE B. SLOAN. The first wreck of the year involving loss of life within the scope of the Life Saving Service was that of the three-masted schooner George B. Sloan, and took place at about 3 o'clock in the stormy morning of October 30, 1885, at the entrance of the harbor of Oswego, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario. The schooner was of three hundred and thirteen tons burden, and was bound from Ogdensburg, New York, without cargo, to the port where she met with disaster. Her company consisted of her master, five men, and the cook, a woman. The harbor of Oswego consists of an irregular formation of massive stone piers, setting out into the lake from the mouth of the Oswego River. Opposite, and at right angles to the ends of these piers, at several hundred feet distance, are two constructions of crib-work, one of them of considerable length, which is called the west breakwater, and the other parallel with this, but much shorter, which is known as the east breakwater. Between the two is a space of three hundred and fifty feet, intended to constitute an entrance toward the mouth of the harbor, which the two barriers shield from the direct action of the sea. Built on a square of crib-work in the inner angle of the west breakwater, with which it connects by a bridge of trestlework, is an octagonal tower thirty-nine feet high, crowned with a red fixed light. In line with it, on the east breakwater, a lens lantern giving a white light is suspended from a pole thirty-five feet high. Behind, on the western harbor pier, stands the Oswego Light-House, a gray tower, seventy-two feet high, surmounted by a white light, which has a range of about fifteen miles. It was toward this group of lights that the schooner was heading. Nothing else was visible from her deck to denote the contiguity of the city and haven. The night was heavily overcast and a furious northeast gale, blowing at the rate of fifty-five miles an hour, was streaming through the gloomy immensity. Before it, under a single-reefed foresail, jib, and fore-staysail, the vessel lied headlong, her rigging fairly alive with the wild whistling and screeching of the wind. She was, as sailors say, flying light, being, as already stated, without cargo, or even ballast; and she virtually ran on the top of the sea, which coursed with her in black and enormous undulations. It was the, captain's intention to take her into port through the open lake east of the breakwaters, but when about three miles away a heavy surge struck her and threw up her too buoyant stern, so that the rudder suddenly lost its hold on the water, and the vessel becoming for the moment beyond control whirled broadside to. After a few minutes of alarm and confusion she was brought upon her course once more, but the captain, fearful of her broaching to again and drifting in upon the beach if he made for the open water east of the port, resolved to endeavor to effect an entrance through the passage between the eastern and western breakwaters, and changed his direction accordingly. The impetuous speed at which the vessel drove brought her in a few minutes abreast of the breakwaters. Nothing could be more lurid and alarming than the aspect of this scene of impending catastrophe. The immense abyss of storm-beaten gloom showed vaguely at unequal distances the spectral shapes of the light-house and beacon towers. From the summit of the lighthouse a pale light was doubtfully diffused, while the red beacon emitted a murky glow. Darkly revealed by this sinister half-light raged the awful waters. The huge black surges, suggesting masses of shadows but for the heavy crash of their breaking, flung themselves incessantly upon the break- waters, which they overswept with vast swaths of livid foam, and every other moment fell back in terrible recoil with almost the force of their onset. Both of the breakwaters were completely smothered up, and their shape was evident only in an obscure diagram of furious breakers. Above all and through all were the yelling of the wind and the roaring of the sea. No pause was possible for the vessel in her desperate course for the passage between the breakwaters. She came right on for the entrance, staggering forward in darkness reddened by the beacon, with the lights in her rigging, and was, as the captain testified, about forty feet from it when one of the terrific seas, before mentioned as momentarily recoiling from the barriers of crib work, bounded backward from the eastern break- water and threw her with a crash onto the corner of the western breakwater near the beacon. When it is remembered that she was over three hundred tons burden the destructive force of such an impact can be realized. The next instant another sea lifted and threw her stern with smashing force against a spur of the breakwater some thirty feet distant. Then she was hurled back broadside on against the main structure. In this way she was bowled to and fro on the monstrous huddle of waters with shocks that made the crib-work quiver, until within half an hour she was broken to pieces. At the end of that time, her captain testifies, there was not a vestige of her left. A top stringer on the breakwater had, probably by one of tbe shocks of these collisions, been torn off, leaving a row of great iron bolts or spikes protruding upward. The captain, who had been standing on the topgallant forecastle with his night-glasses in his hand when the vessel struck, suddenly found himself, as by some ugly magic, clinging by one of these bolts in a wallow of water on the crib. The sea was bursting across the construction in torrents, and he lay in the wash without the slightest recollection of how he left the vessel. He presently saw some of the men working themselves along by the aid of the projecting bolts toward the beacon. They had mounted the bowsprit when the schooner had charged in and dropped one by one upon the breakwater. In the meantime the vessel was pounding heavily, thrashing the crib with the lower underside of her bowsprit. Presently she surged back, and then came on again with a tre- mendous shock which took the bowsprit out of her. Seeing this dangerously active projection gone, the captain at once worked himself along by means of the bolts, through the floods of water mixed with debris from the wreck, and joined his men at the beacon. The vessel continued to break up and her wreckage and spars were now showering, madly over the breakwater. The Oswego Life-Saving Station is situated on the inside of the harbor, some fifteen hundred feet distant from the scene of the disaster, and the keeper, John Blackburn, standing in the neighborhood, had been watching the schooner by her plunging lights, and at length saw that she had lurched to leeward and evidently gone past the entrance. He at once called on his men to man the life boat, and in four minutes the crew were polling vigorously for the wreck. The uselessness of approaching it from the outside was at once apparent, the furious wind and sea and the convulsive thrashing of the great hull to and from the breakwater forbade even the attempt, and the life-boat was headed past the harbor piers for the sheltered inside of the crib-work. From the end of the piers to the point of destination there was a space of nearly a thousand feet, and crossing this the life-boat crew had to endure the savage raking of the storm. After a desperate pull, lasting a quarter of an hour, the inside of the western breakwater was reached. The sea was then sheeting over it in roaring cataracts, and as the life-boat crew pulled along under its lee a terrific mass of black water suddenly uprose, bearing on its summit a tumbled group of spars and a huge section of the vessel's deck, which it threw across and over the breakwater within twenty feet of the rowers. Had it fairly reached them every man would have been crushed and drowned. A few minutes later they shot up alongside the square of crib-work, in the angle of the breakwater on which stood the beacon, and found the captain, mate, and the four sailors of the vessel standing there together under the lee of the tower. The first question developed the fact that the woman cook had been lost. A hasty glance on the part of the keeper showed him that the schooner had been completely demolished. Nothing of her was left but the fragments which flew in the dark water over the low barrier of the breakwater. No time was lost, therefore, in taking the six survivors into the life boat and struggling back through the gale to the shore, where they were landed by half-past 3. After putting the men on their way to a hotel the life-crew returned to the scene of disaster and searched the copious wreckage that still came over the breakwater, but found no trace of the body of the drowned woman. It appears by the testimony of the mate that when the vessel first struck he had found the woman standing in the cabin with a packed satchel in her hand. He shouted frantically to her for God's sake to come up on deck and save herself. She went back into the state-room and got another satchel. He again shouted to her to drop them and save herself. It was the last time she was seen alive. It is probable that she never got out of the cabin, but was drowned when the vessel sank, nor ever liberated until the hull finally went to pieces, her name was Eliza Tackaberry. A month or so later her body came ashore, without a head, two or three miles below Oswego. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WRECK OF THE SCHOONER R. B. KING. The next fatal disaster occurred on Lake Michigan the night of November 7, 1885. The schooner R. B. KING, of Chicago, Illinois, was totally wrecked off the harbor of Muskegon, Michigan, during a severe southwesterly gale, and two of the crew of four men were lost. She was from Chicago, in ballast, and had made Muskegon light at 8 o'clock. Upon nearing the piers an hour later, and finding no tug outside to tow him in, by reason of the storm, the captain concluded to take the risk and run in without such aid. It was, in fact, his only recourse, as the vessel was flying light and could not have weathered the shore if hauled to the wind. The schooner steered very wildly in the shoal water off the harbor, and just as she neared the entrance, which is less than two hundred feet wide, she took a broad sheer and struck with great violence against the leeward or north pier. The shock stove in her timbers, and as she rebounded and drifted off she almost instantly filled with water and capsized, bottom up, the masts breaking off as she went over. The whole thing happened in about a minute. The keeper and one of the crew of the Muskegon Life Saving Station (Eleventh District) were out on the pier at the time and witnessed the occurrence. Cries for help were immediately heard from the crew struggling in the water. The two station men had a small heaving line with them and attempted to throw it within the people's reach, but as the vessel drifted off some fifty or sixty feet from the pier and the night was intensely dark, they did not succeed. The keeper, therefore, after shouting words of encouragement, rushed back to the station, two or three hundred yards distant, and in a few minutes had the surf-boat manned and on its way to the rescue. Before starting, and while the men were putting the boat into the water, he ignited a red Coston light to let the people know that help was coming. The crew pulled down the river between the piers until abreast of the shore line and then hauled the boat over the north pier and launched directly into the lake from the beach. The pull out to the wreck against the frightfully confused sea and in the pitchy darkness of the night was difficult and dangerous, and the keeper's skill was severely tested in guiding his little craft clear of the floating timbers, spars, and other debris from the schooner, which was already breaking up, although not more than ten minutes had elapsed since she struck the pier. That the boat escaped destruction amid the wreckage was marvelous. Upon reaching the wreck they with great difficulty rescued two men, the captain, James C. Dunbar, and the mate, Charles Anderson. The keeper called loudly for the two others, but there came no answer. The poor fellows were doubtless beyond reach of human aid. But the life-saving men were hopeful and not willing to abandon the search until every possible effort had failed. As the boat had half filled with water and was almost unmanageable, it was turned about for the shore and the two castaways were landed. They were in a sorry plight from cold and exposure and were unable to walk, but as every available man was needed by the keeper, they managed, when the direction of the station was pointed out to them, to crawl thither on their hands and knees. In the meantime, as soon as the boat could be bailed out, a second trip was made. But the night was so dark the wreck could not be found. The crew, therefore, put back, and while some bailed the boat a second time—for it had again almost filled—the keeper dispatched a man down the pier in search of the schooner, while another was sent to the station for lanterns. The first soon returned and reported the wreck close alongside of the pier, but no signs of the men. While, therefore, some hauled the boat out on the beach the keeper and others of the crew hastened down the pier with lines and lanterns to renew the search. The wreck was evidently held from drifting ashore bodily by the anchors, which had gone to the bottom when she capsized. After closely scanning the wreck by the light of their lanterns as it rose and fell on the seas, and satisfying themselves that the missing men were not there, the station crew returned to the beach and there waded out into the surf as far as possible to examine the wreckage floating shoreward. The search was kept up until midnight, but without avail. The keeper, therefore, returned to the station at that hour with part of the crew to attend to the wants of the captain and mate, while others prolonged the search until daybreak. The captain, when informed of the crew's fruitless efforts to find the missing men, expressed his belief that they had been entangled in the rigging and drowned, as neither of them could swim and their cries hud ceased when the vessel rolled over. The survivors lost all their effects and were destitute. They were therefore furnished with clothing from the supply donated by the Women's National Relief Association, and also sheltered and fed for four days, or until able to return to Chicago. The station crew patrolled the beach for several days afterwards in search of the bodies of the two lost men, Fringle Fringleson and Andrew Olsen, but without finding them. The body of the former was, however, recovered three weeks later near Grand Haven, fifteen miles to the southward, by the crew of the Grand Haven Station. The officer who in- vestigated the circumstances of the wreck reported the schooner as so unseaworthy that the underwriters had refused to insure her. He examined the debris on the beach and found startling evidence of her rotten condition. He expressed the opinion that the loss of life was in no sense the result of neglect or inefficiency on the part of the life-saving crew, and that they had behaved with commendable gallantry and done everything in their power to save all hands. The following brief account of the wreck was published by the Chicago Inter Ocean, after the captain's return home: "HEROIC ACTIONS "Captain Dunbar, master and owner of the schooner E. B. KING, which recently foundered at Muskegon, called at the office of The Inter Ocean yesterday and was very profuse in his praise of the life-saving crew at Muskegon for their gallantry in rescuing himself and mate from the wreck of the vessel. They launched their boat in a terrific sea, which was running from the southwest, and rowed out and picked Captain Dunbar and his mate off the wreck. The two sailors who were drowned would have been saved in a similar manner, but for the fact that they got entangled in the rigging and when the seas tore the spars out of the vessel they were carried to the bottom of the lake. Captain Dunbar was unable to save anything from the wreck. The bottom of the vessel was thrown high upon the beach, and as most of the gear and rigging were under it the latter could not be recovered." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAPSIZING OF A SKIFF. The next case was the drowning of George Nugent, on April 16, 1886, in Chicago Harbor, near the breakwater, about half a mile from the Chicago Life-Saving Station, (Eleventh District), Lake Michigan. It occurred at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Nugent and three companions had gone out to the breakwater duck-shooting. Rainy weather setting in, a man whose name is unknown, who was also out on the breakwater, engaged Nugent to pull him across the harbor to the city. Upon Nugent's return, his boat capsized as he was clambering on the breakwater and he fell overboard. He succeeded in getting hold of the boat and called lustily for help. His cries being heard on board the steamer Wallula, which was anchored near by with a barge alongside, directly in range with the station at the mouth of the river, her crew sprang into their yawl and put off to his aid. Before they could reach him, however, Nugent becoming exhausted relaxed his hold and sank out of sight and was drowned. News of the accident reaching the life-saving crew a few minutes later, from a passing tug, they manned their surfboat and hastened to the scene. They found nothing but the capsized boat, which they towed to the station. The station grappling apparatus was then got out and the crew made diligent but unsuccessful search for the body until evening, when Nugent's sorrowing comrades accompanied them back to the city. The next day, after a few hours' search, the remains were recovered and sent home. Considering the failure of the Wallula's crew to rescue the young man, although they were so near, it is altogether unlikely that the station crew could have reached the spot in time, even if they had seen him fall in, on account of the distance. As it was, the place was entirely hidden from the view of the lookout by the steamer lying between. It is clear, therefore, that they were not to blame. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOSS OF KEEPER WILLIAM JONES. To the record of casualties for the year should be added the death by drowning of Keeper William Jones, of the station at Racine, Wisconsin, (Eleventh District,) which occurred on the afternoon of the 22d of September, 1885. From the report of Lieut. J. B. Rogers, the district inspector, who arrived at the station that morning on his regular tour, and who witnessed the accident, it appears that he had inspected the station and its equipment, and exercised the crew in the use of the several life- saving appliances, including the life boat. The lieutenant had frequently been out with the crew in the surf-boat, and knew that the men generally were expert in handling it, and as he was desirous of taking the 1.45 p. M. train to Milwaukee, he had about decided not to order that boat out. When, however, Keeper Jones suggested such a drill, he assented, and concluded to take a later train. The boat, therefore, at a quarter past 1 o'clock, after the men had had their dinner, was ordered out for practice in launching and landing through the surf. The wind was fresh from the northeast, and there was a moderately rough surf tumbling in on the beach to the northward, or to windward of the harbor piers where the drill was to be had, but still the sea was not so high as to cause any apprehension of disaster. In fact, the men themselves said, after the accident, that a twelve-foot Whitehall boat could have gone off. The chief element of danger was the current along shore, which, from the direction of the wind, was likely to sweep the boat directly towards the piers. The boat got afloat all right, but before it could be rowed beyond the breakers it was forced by the current so near to the north pier that the rebounding seas nearly swamped it, and the men were compelled to back in to the beach to bail the water out. It was evident to all that due allowance had not been made for the strength of this current; so before launching the second time the boat was hauled some distance up the shore to windward. The inspector also cautioned Jones to head well up to the sea, so as to counteract as much as possible the effect of the curreut. Notwithstanding all this, the boat, when afloat, was again swept rapidly towards the north pier, aud Lieutenant Rogers made signals for it to return. These signals were not heeded, however, and when the boat was within a huudred aud fifty feet of the pier, a big sea, in its rebound from that structure, caught it on the starboard bow and slued it broadside to the surf, with its head to the north. A moment later, before tbe boat could be recovered and its head pointed off shore again, another sea struck it and turned it completely over and the crew were thrown floundering into tbe water. This was at half-past 2, the accident occurring some three hundred yards from the shore. All hands but the keeper immediately swam for the beach, and with the aid of the bystanders with ropes they were soon helped out. Keeper Jones, however, after clinging to the boat for a moment or two, sank out of sight and was drowned. It is supposed that he was injured in some way, either by the steering oar or by being thrown violently against the boat. However that may have been, his life-belt was torn from his body and it soon floated ashore with the ties of stout webbing, by which it was fastened, broken. It seems probable that the handle of his oar caught in the band as the boat went over, and that it was thus wrenched in twain. It was satisfactorily proven, beyond a doubt, that there was no defect in the webbing, as in subsequent tests of its strength a strong man was unable by ordinary means to break it. Although but a few months in the Service, Keeper Jones had given abundant proof that he possessed all the qualities requisite for so important a post, and his death is lamented as a great loss. There is consolation in the reflection that the widow and two fatherless children are not left entirely destitute; the provisions of the eighth section of the act of May 4,1882, being applicable in their case. Under this act they are the recipients, for two years from the date of his death, of the pay that he would have received during that period if alive. Diligent search was made by his comrades by dragging the bed of the lake along shore, and by diving in the vicinity of the piers, but the body of the unfortunate man was not recovered until October 1, nine days after- wards, when it was washed ashore twelve or thirteen miles to the southward of where the boat upset and beyond the harbor of Kenosha. Thus perished by this distressing accident a brave and faithful man and a good keeper. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AWARDS OF MEDALS. During the past year the Department has awarded medals in three instances for heroism in saving life. The third award was a gold medal to James Larson, of Sister Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, for the very gallant rescue, on the night of October 16, 1880, of the crew of seven men of the British bark TWO FRIENDS, of Port Burwell, Ontario, wrecked in North Bay, a small harbor on the Wisconsin shore, near the northerly end of Lake Michigan. It seems that a fleet of nearly thirty vessels had sought refuge there from a heavy southerly gale, and among them was the TWO FRIENDS, deeply laden with salt. Being the last to arrive, and as the bay was crowded, she was compelled to anchor in an exposed berth directly at the entrance, where the sea had an unbroken sweep from the lake and it was very rough. She came to with both anchors at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and two hours later dragged ashore on the northerly side of the bay, where she almost immediately swung broadside to the sea and fell over on her starboard side, or off shore. Thus exposed, her deck was in a very short time swept of everything movable, the cabin was smashed in, the boat was washed from the davits and stove in pieces on the rocky shore, and the crew were driven to the rigging. Although several other vessels were aground up the bay none of their people were yet ashore, and the only persons on the beach at that time were James Larson, a fisherman of the locality, and his hired assistant, Ole M. Rasmussen. They were before long, however, joined by the crew of one of the other stranded vessels who had landed in their own yawl. Larson begged their aid with their boat, but this was refused, the captain offering in excuse that his boat could not live in such a sea as was running where the bark lay. They, however, aided him in an effort to throw a small line to the vessel by means of a shot-gun, but the distance, one hundred yards, was too great, and the attempt failed. This idea was doubtless due to his previous training as a surfman at one of the lifesaving stations on that coast. With the approach of night a driving snow-storm set in and as the vessel showed signs of breaking up, the situation of th» people in the rigging became very alarming. The party on shore were now dropping off one by one to seek shelter, believing that nothing further could be done until daylight next morning. This left Larson and his comrade alone. The two remained some hours longer watching the vessel and listening to the piteous cries of the people for help, which could plainly be heard above the howling of the gale, until the brave Larson could stand it no longer, and he resolved to get a boat at all hazards and attempt the rescue alone, although Rasmussen, who was himself a boatman, tried to dissuade him from it. It should be stated that Larson's own boat had been driven on the rocks by the gale and damaged so badly that it was unfit for use. But for this he would have ventured out soon after the bark struck. He at last succeeded at about 10 o'clock in borrowing a light, fourteen-foot clinker-built boat from William Marshall, the superintendent of the North Bay property, in spite of the remonstrances of several persons, among whom were captains of vessels in the bay, who derided his earnestness and characterized the project as foolhardy; some going so far as to say that no one but a lunatic would think of going out to the wreck in such a sea, and that he would surely lose his own life. In fact, so strong was the opposition and the belief that Larson would be dashed back against the rock-bound shore, that it was only when he offered to deposit with the owner the money value of the boat that he obtained consent for its use. Undeterred by the many objections, he sent for the boat, which had to be carried some distance through the woods, and then fastening a small line about his waist, he took his seat, and when a favorable moment presented shoved off, and in seven trips brought the bark's crew, one at a time, safely ashore, the entire operation taking him just one hour and a half. The last man was landed precisely at midnight. He had several narrow escapes, the boat being swamped no less than five times, and the utmost difliculty was encountered in getting the numbed and almost exhausted men off the wreck. This was done by their lowering themselves from the jib-boom, it being too dangerous for him to go alongside or even to lay in his oars. As the night was bitter cold it is altogether improb- able that the men would have survived until morning, and in the light of the evidence presented no doubt was entertained that their escape was due entirely to Larson's daring and self-sacrifice, and this was held to entitle him to the highest award within the province of the Service to bestow. The grateful sailors pressed him to accept a pecuniary reward, but this, although a poor man, he chivalrously declined. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURNING OF THE SALMON CREEK STATION. The life-saving- station at Salmon Crerk, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, New York, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 27th of March, 1885, between 10 and 11 o'clock. The station had been closed all winter and the keeper, who resides about half a mile distant, had on that day received an order to enlist his crew in readiness for reopening on April 1st. This order had been complied with, and the keeper had laid in a supply of provisions, everything when he withdrew and locked the doors shortly after 10 in the evening appearing to be all right. At about 11 o'clock that night he was aroused from sleep by a neighbor with an alarm of fire, down by the lake, in the direction of the station. The fire was supposed to be at Wright's Hotel, not far away. Keeper Chapman immediately hastened to the scene in the company of his neighbors, and then found that it was the station itself on fire. The outbuildings were even then almost destroyed, so rapid had been the progress of the flames. Upon opening the door of the main building, on the opposite side, to procure firebuckets, the men were driven back by the sudden outburst of smoke and flames from within, and their efforts were futile. The fire in the main buildfhg seemed to be independent of that on the outside, and this led to the belief that it was of incendiary origin. The station with its outfit, was entirely destroyed, not an article being saved. Active efforts have been made to discover the guilty party, but thus far without success. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SERVICES OF LIFE-SAVING CREWS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886. July 1.—The crew of the Grand Point au Sable Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at about half-past 7 o'clock in the evening, received word that a man had drowned in the river at Hamlin, three quarters of a mile from the station. Several of the surfmen immediately proceeded to the spot, and after a half hour's diligent search succeeded in finding the body, which was lifted into their skiff and conveyed ashore. July 2.—At half-past 2 o'clock in the morning the patrol of the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, fired his red Coston light in time to warn off a steamer that was in danger of running on a reef which makes out from the southeast end of the island. On seeing the signal the vessel stopped and backed into safe water. July 4.—At 3 o'clock in the afternoon a small eight-year-old boy, while playing near the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, fell from the wharf into the water and was in great danger of drowning. The accident was witnessed by several persons who immediately gave the alarm, and Surfman Wilson, reaching the scene first, heroically sprang in and rescued the lad. July 6.—The lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, observed a small cat-boat capsize inside of the breakwater, a half mile to the westward of the station, and cast its two occupants into the water. The life-saving crew at once set out to the scene of the mishap and found the men clinging to the bottom of the overturned boat. The station men took them in charge, righted their boat, and towed the latter to the shore. The men were very grateful for their rescue, and ascribed the accident to their want of knowledge in handling a sail-boat. July 9.—In the evening of this date three gentlemen secured the services of a surfman of the Salmon Creek Sation, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, to act as oarsman while they fished for black bass a distance off shore. Becoming excited with the sport, which made them unmindful of the frequent warnings of the surfman, they capsized the boat, about a quarter of a mile from the station, and were all thrown into the water. The surfman succeeded in righting the craft and directed them to hold onto the gunwales until assistance arrived. One of the life-saving men, who was in a skiff near by, hastily pulled up to the scene and freed one of the gentlemen, who had become entangled in his fishing gear, and supported the other two until the keeper, who observed the accident from the station, came to their rescue with the rest of the crew. The imperiled men, by this time much exhausted, were pulled into the dingey and safely landed on the beach, and taken to the station, where they were provided with dry clothing. Their gratitude was expressed in the following letter received by the General Superinten- dent: "Mexico, Oswego County, New York, "July 11, 1885. "Dear Sir: We beg leave to inform you that on the 9th instant, while in a row-boat on Lake Ontario, near Salmon Creek Life-Saving Station, and about a quarter of a mile from shore, we were capsized, there being considerable sea on at that time. The watch at the station saw us at once, and in less than five minutes the men reached us with boats and rescued us from our perilous position. Through you we wish to tender our thanks to the service and particularly to Captain Parker and his men, of Salmon Creek Life-Saving Station, for their promptness and efficiency in rendering us the much needed aid which they did. We are, sir, your obedient servants, "0. 0. Brown. "M. W. Collins. "L. D. Smith. "Hon. S. I. Kimball, "General Superintendent U. S. Life-Saving Service." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 10.—During the night a surfman belonging to the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, while on patrol duty, flashed his Coston light, and warned off a steamer that was standing toward the reef which extends into the lake from the southeast end of the island. As soon as the signal was burned the vessel changed her course and went clear. July 17, 18.—Shortly after 2 o'clock in the afternoon a vessel was seen from the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, several miles to the northward and westward, acting in a strange manner and evidently disabled. On nearer approach it was observed that she had only a small piece of sail up and was very low in the water. The station crew put off in the life-boat, and, when within a mile and a half of the craft, noticed a flag of distress hoisted on a pole about seven feet high. Arriving along- side, they found her to be the schooner W. T. CHAPPELL, of Bay City, Michigan, with two men on board. At the request of the captain the surfmen brought the vessel to and anchored her in a good berth. It was learned that she was bound home from Mackinac Island, in the same State, with a cargo of roofing gravel, and, while beating down the lake in a rain-storm against a fresh southerly wind, was suddenly Struck by a heavy squall, near midnight of the l6th, off Presque Isle. Before sail could be shortened both masts were carried away. She was knocked over on her beam ends and remained there until the wreckage could bo cleared; the anchor was then let go in twenty- five fathoms of water, but it did not hold, and the wind kept driving them out to sea. Two steamers spotted them, and one offered to tow the schooner into a harbor seven miles distant, but the price demanded for the service was so extortionate, that the master did not feel able to pay it, and so they were left to shift for themselves. One of the crew was sent ashore in the yawl at daylight (17th,) to telegraph for assistance. In the forenoon the weather freshened, and the captain was obliged to jettison fifty barrels of the cargo to lighten the vessel. The wind hauled to the north- west, and commenced to blow a gale, the heavy seas sweeping the schooner fore and aft. A jury-mast was hastily rigged, a piece of the staysail bent on, the anchor weighed, and a course shaped for Middle Island where the imperiled men knew that succor would be at hand. The broken masts, standing and running rigging, and many of the sails had to be cut adrift. The fore- going, briefly expressed, was the captain's statement. As it was not likely that the sailor who had been sent ashore would readily find a telegraph office, the keeper dispatched a surfman overland to Alpena, ten miles off, with instructions to hire a tug. The life-saving crew pulled to the station for supper, and immediately after returned to the schooner. In the evening the surfman had executed his mission, bringing with him the sailor, who after a tiresome journey reached Alpena in the afternoon, and reported that a steamer had been engaged and was on its way to the scene. Lanterns and Coston signals were obtained, and the life-saving force kept a watch on the schooner during the night. Near daybreak (18th,) a tug was observed stand- ing down the lake, and a Coston light was ignited to attract her attention. She proved to be the RALPH, of Alpena, in search of the disabled craft. -69- Arrangements for getting under way were soon effected, and the latter was taken in tow. The captain of the schooner was heartfelt in his appreciation of the assistance rendered by the surfmen who stood by him for more than fifteen hours. The fact that the vessel was worked to a good anchorage unquestionably saved her from being driven ashore, as she could not have cleared a point of land five miles to the southward. In the forenoon the schooner's wreckage of masts, rigging, and sails drifted near the beach, and were recovered by the station crew, who worked almost the entire day clearing the gear and landing it. This was subsequently turned over to the owners. July 17.—It being reported that there was a dead man on the north shore of Hammond's Bay, the keeper and part of the crew of the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, manned a sail-boat aud proceeded to the place indicated. They found the man, who had died apparently from some sudden and natural cause, in the stern sheets of a small schooner-rigged boat. As be was in a kneeling posture, and covered over by the mainsail, it is more than likely that he was stricken down while in the act of attending to his gear and had evidently been dead for several days. The body, to- gether with the boat and effects, were taken to the station, where it was ascertained that the man's name was Charles Lobb, of Monroe, Michigan. The surfmen carefully buried the remains on the beach, and a week later the son of the deceased came after them. The sail-boat and the dead man's effects were likewise turned over to him. July 17,18.—At 6 o'clock in the morning, during a strong blow from the westward, the tug MINTNER was obliged to cast off a raft of logs which she had in tow about two miles west of the Crisp's Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior. The raft began to break up, and when abreast of the station the surfmen went off and got hold of the tow-line, brought it on shore and snubbed it. The raft stranded a half mile to the eastward and a large portion of the logs were scattered along the beach. For several hours the next day the life-saving crew were kept busy running lines to and from the tug aud in various efforts to float the raft off. July 17-23.—At 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the 17th, while the keeper and two of the crew of the North Mauitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were out sailing in a small boat, they discovered a vessel ashore about nine miles southwest of the station. One of the men immedi- ately landed on the southern point of the island and hastened back to summon the rest of the life-saving force, while the keeper aud the other surfman proceeded as speedily as possible to the stranded craft. They arrived on the scene at half-past 2, and were joined a few hours later by the remainder of the crew, who pulled down in the surfboat. The vessel proved to be the schooner CAMANCHE, of Oswego, New York, bound from Cleveland, Ohio, to Chicago, Illinois, loaded with coal, and having a crew of eight men. It was learned that she had misstayed and driven on a reef the night before in a fresh southwest breeze, strong current, and rough sea. She lay about three-quarters of a mile from the beach. As the life- saviug crew could render no assistance at this time, the master having gone to Glen Haven to telegraph for a tug and steam pumps, they returned to the station, which was reached at 9 o'clock. The surfmen proceeded to the vessel on the two following days, (18th and 19th,) and on the latter date assisted, during the entire afternoon, in discharging a portion of the coal to lighten her. On the 20th they again visited the schooner, but found that no add could be rendered. The next evening (21st,) the tug WILLIAMS, of --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -70- Manistee, towed them to the reef, but as the steam pumps would not operate the work had to be abandoned, and the station crew went back to their quarters. Early in the morning of the 22d the men launched the surf-boat, and for the sixth time repaired to the vessel. They labored industriously until near dark unloading coal, and finally, on the 23d, after having made thirteen trips to and fro in the surf-boat, over a distance of nearly one hundred and twenty miles, succeeded, by the help of the tug, in floating the craft without damage. She was then towed safely into the channel. While the schooner lay in her imperiled position the hoisting of her ensign at the masthead was a signal agreed upon by the master and keeper, and easily observable from the southwestern end of the island, to summon the life- saving men as their services were required. July 18.—In the afternoon of this date a drunken man fell from the pier into the lake, a short distance east of the Milwaukee Station,(Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and was rescued by two of the surfmen who hastened to the spot as soon as the accident was reported by the lookout. July 19.—Between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning the watch at the Ludiugton Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, aroused the keeper and reported that a vessel had capsized several miles to the westward of the harbor. Before the crew could put off to her relief Captain Torrent, of the craft, with his two young sons, arrived at the station, having safely reached the shore in a small boat. It was ascertained that their schooner, the IDA JANE, of Manistee, Michigan, had been knocked over on her beam ends by a sudden squall of wind during a heavy thunder-storm. The party were at the time on their way home from Holland, Michigan, with a cargo of butter, eggs, and honey. The steam-tug SPORT was moored near the station and the master was notified of the accident and promised to start for the scene at daylight. The keeper then had the surf-boat manned and the life-saving crew, at 3 o'clock, put off in search of the distressed vessel. In the meantime Captain Torrent's two boys had been put to bed at the station and comfortably cared for. When within about a mile of the schooner the tug, with Captain Torrent on board, overtook the surfmen and towed them the rest --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -71- of the way. The vessel was found badly listed, with her port side entirely submerged. The station men got her sails down as best they could and made a spare hawser, which had been fortunately brought along, fast around the mainmast, and she was towed, stern first, into the harbor. When inside the surfmen, by means of tackles and lines, righted her up, and with the station force-pump freed her of water. Subsequently they put her in trim to resume her voyage. Only a small portion of the cargo was injured. The captain and his sons were sheltered at the station for two days. July 19.—At about half-past 9 o'clock in the morning, as two gentlemen were about to land from a small boat at the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, one of them slipped and fell into the water. The surfman on watch at the time hastened to the man's assistance and pulled him out. As the latter could not swim he was in great danger of drowning. July 19.—At about 5 o'clock in the afternoon the life-savers of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, put out to a small row-boat which was seen drifting before a heavy sea several miles off shore. A moderate north wind was blowing at the time, with cloudy and rainy weather. The surfmen found three men in the skiff worn out with rowing and badly frightened. The trio were transferred to the surf-boat and their craft towed to the station. The party then proceeded to their homes. July 22.—At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, observed a signal of distress flying from the water-works crib, situated outside of the breakwater pier, and about a mile and a half west of the station. The life-saving crew immediately manned the surf-boat and proceeded to the scene, and were informed that one of the workmen was overboard and in peril of drowning. The surfmen at once pulled in the direction indicated and found the man clinging to a plank and rapidly drifting before the heavy sea towards a rocky cliff, that, had he been dashed upon it would have proved certain death to him, as there were no landing places or means of escape. He was much exhausted when rescued and stated that he could not have lasted much longer as the waves had been constantly breaking over him. He explained that his hat had blown off and he had swum out into the lake to recover it, but in spite of his most strenuous efforts, owing to the high sea and strong current, could not regain the crib. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -72- July 22.—The lookout of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, saw a horse back the wagon to which he was harnessed off the stone pier to the eastward of the station. A small boy, who was in the vehicle at the time, was precipitated into the water, but managed to hold on until he was rescued by a surfman who arrived on the scene a few moments after the accident. The life-saving crew then got the horse clear and raised the wagon up on the pier. The man to whom the outfit belonged was a Hungarian, and both he and the boy were very thankful for the prompt help afforded them. July 23.—At half-past 5 o'clock in the evening the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, were called upon to go up the river about four miles to search for the body of William McCuen, a boy who had been drowned, in the afternoon, while bathing. It was learned that he went into the water in a heated condition, was seized with cramps a short dis- tance from the shore, aud immediately sank out of sight. After dragging in the vicinity until 9 o'clock at night, the remains were finally recovered and turned over to the police authorities. July 24.—Shortly past noon the keeper of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, noticed an unusual commotion among a party of young men who were in the water near the station, and suspecting that something was wrong, hastily summoned several of the crew. Together they rushed out to where the bathers were and found that one of the number, having either become exhausted or suddenly prostrated by the heat, had a few moments before sunk to the bottom. His companions, with as little delay as pos- sible, however, had pulled the inanimate form into a boat, and the surfmen at once hauled the latter up on the beach, where the means employed in the Service to restore the apparently drowned were put in practice, and the man was, after some effort, resuscitated. He was then removed to the station, given stimulants, and put to bed. Towards evening, by careful treatment, he had sufficiently recovered to be taken in charge by his friends. Before leaving for home he warmly thanked the crew for their timely action in saving his life. July 28.—At about half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon the day watch at the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, observed the fishiug boat IRENE, which was a mile and a half off shore, with two men aboard, capsize. The life-saving crew immediately launched the surf-boat and went to its relief in company with the Government steam-launch. After rescuing the imperiled fishermen the launch towed the craft inside of the breakwater, where the surfmen removed the stone ballast, righted the boat, and bailed it out. The vessel sustained no damage. There is little doubt, however, that but for the prompt action of the station crew the boat would have drifted out in the lake under pressure of the fresh westerly breeze and been lost, with its occupants. The latter were very grateful for being saved from such a fate. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -74- July 27.—At half-past 8 o'clock in the morning the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, were notified that a dead body was floating inside the breakwater pier, about three-quarters of a mile away. It was immediately brought to the station in the dingey, after which it was sent to the morgue, where the drowned man was identified. The case was clearly one of suicide, as the man had been seen several days previous walking along the river side with some heavy weights and chains which were found attached to the body when it was recovered. July 28.—The crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, on this date, by their vigilance and prompt action, happily averted what might have proved a disastrous conflagration. The large steam- propeller CUBA, of Buffalo, New York, came round light from South Chicago the previous evening with nineteen persons on board, and made fast in the slip just south of the station. Shortly after midnight the lookout dis- covered smoke issuing from the cabin, over the engine room, which was soon followed by flames. He immediately aroused the crew, then rushed to the box and turned in an alarm to the city fire department. The engines were quickly on the scene, and he directed the firemen through the lumber-yards to the burning vessel. In the meantime the keeper, with the rest of his crew, had pulled under the stern of the propeller in the surf-boat, with --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -75- the station hose and force-pumps, and, after great difficulty, had landed the gear on a lumber-pile, twelve 1eet high, which stood in the way. They had just made the proper connections and were ready to play on the flames when the city engines arrived. The surfmen, who were by this time on the steamer, at once left their apparatus and turned to the more important work of leading along the larger hose belonging to the fire corps. Soon the flames were under control, and in an hour's time were completely exting- uished. As the vessel was thickly surrounded by dry lumber, the timely discovery of the fire, together with the subsequent action of the life- saving men, doubtless saved a large amouut of property from destruction. The steamer was damaged to the extent of several thousand dollars. July 29.—The keeper and two of the crew of the Manistee Station, {Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were out for nine hours in search of a man who was drowned the previous day in Manistee Lake. Finally, at about 2 o'clock in the alternoon, the diver who accompanied them recovered the body, which was found at a depth of fifty-five feet. July 29.—At half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, while two of the crew belonging to the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were out bathing from a row-boat they heard cries of distress proceeding from a party of boys who were in the water about half a mile north of the station. Beaching the scene as quickly as possible, the surfmen found one of the number, a lad about thirteen years of age, almost drowned. Venturing too near the end of the breakwater the undertow had drawn him beyond his depth, and not being able to swim he had sunk out of sight. The life-saving men caught him as he was going down for the third time. He was forthwith conveyed ashore and the means employed in the Service to restore vitality in such cases were immediately resorted to. After a half hour's vigorous treatment the patient had revived sufficiently to be carried to the station. He was then rubbed with flannels, given proper stimulants, and when reaction was fully established taken to his home and put to bed. The prompt action of the surfmen in applying the methods of resuscitation undoubtedly saved the youth's life. July 31.—At half-past 12 o'clock in the afternoon, as a gentleman belonging to an excursion party, after visiting the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, was about to take his departure in a small row- boat, he slipped and fell into the water. He succeeded in keeping himself afloat by holding on to the boat until one of the surfmen went to his assistance and pulled him out. August 2.—At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the fore-and-aft scow J. U. PORTER, of Lorain, Ohio, bound from that port to Cleveland, in the same State, with a cargo of limestone and a crew of five men, while lying at the wharf near the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, during a fresh northeast gale and heavy sea, was in danger of parting her lines and being driven on the beach. A four-inch hawser was provided from the station and taken to the vessel, where it was properly secured by the life-saving men. By the use of this additional fast the scow was kept in position; otherwise she would, undoubtedly, have ranged ahead and broken away from her moor- ings — a result which could only have been followed by serious damage if not total loss. August 2.—At 5 o'clock in the morning the master of the tug DANIEL L. HEBARD called at the Sand Beach Station,(Tenth District,) Lake Huron, and informed the keeper that a lighter which he had in tow had filled and was in a water-logged coudition alongside of the breakwater. He asked --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -76- assistance to remove a portion of her cargo and pump her out. The life- saving crew promptly responded to the request, aud worked nearly the entire day transferring her deck-load of shingles and lumber. They helped to man the pumps,and towards evening she was freed of water and her lading replaced. The captain returned warm thanks to the surfmen for their efficient services. The vessel was the WILLIAM MOORE, of Pequaming, Michigan, bound from that port to Detroit, in the same State. August 2.—At about 8 o'clock in the evening the lookout at the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, observed flare-up lights exhibited on the dismantled steamer BRET HARTE, which was anchored near the breakwater, a mile south of the station, and kept as a floating restaurant by a man, his wife, and an assistant. A strong northeast gale prevailed at the time, accompanied by heavy rain, and a high sea was running in the basin. It was at once conjectured that the vessel was in distress, and the tug BLACK BALL No. 2 was sent to her relief. The steamer shortly returned with the information that the craft had sprung a leak aud that they could not get a line to her. The life-saving crew immediately manned the surf- boat, and, taking with them a four-inch hawser, pulled off to the scene with a tug closely following. The high wind and chopping seas made the operation of running the hawser hazardous in the extreme. One end was passed to the tug, and, by means of the heaving-stick, a line was hove to the imperiled craft, and the hawser finally hauled aboard. A difficulty then arose in making it properly fast, as there was no experienced hand in such matters among those on the vessel. At great risk to life and limb Surfman Dean managed to reach her decks and perform the work, afterwards cutting the cable. The vessel was theu towed into a slip and safely moored to the wharf. August 3.—The lookout of the Cleveland Station,(Ninth District,)Lake Erie, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, discovered the sloop-yacht CORA, of Cleveland, Ohio, with four men on board, dragging from her anchorage inside of the breakwater, a half mile to the westward of the station, and in imminent danger of being driven on the rocks. A northwest gale of wind and high sea was prevailing at the time. The lifesaving men at once manned their boat and started to the assistance of the imperiled craft, the keeper first dispatchiug a member of the crew for a tug. The latter arrived on the scene just in season to prevent the yacht from going ashore, and, in all probability, being wrecked. The station men assisted to run lines, after --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -77- which the tug towed the sloop to a safe berth in the harbor. August 3.—At 7 o'clock in the morning the keeper of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, observed a flag of distress on the schooner YOUNG AMERICA, of Port Huron, Michigan, at anchor in the harbor. The surf- men pulled out alongside of her, and were informed by the captain that the vessel bad sprung a leak about forty miles off shore, and that the most persistent efforts of his crew during the night had not kept the water from gaining. His men, he said, were nearly worn out by hard work, and he was much in need of aid. The life-saving force at once relieved the sailors at the pumps, and drew the foresail under the vessel to help stay the leak. While ashore for dinner the keeper telegraphed for a tug. The station crew kept operating the pumps until late at night, when the steamer RIVER QUEEN arrived and took the schooner in tow. The latter was bound from Black River, Ohio, to Owen Sound, Ontario, with a cargo of oil and coal, and had six men on board. The captain thought his crew could keep the craft afloat until she reached a port where the leak could be properly repaired. He cordially thanked the surfmen for their timely assistance. August 3.—At about 9 o'clock at night a steamer, running in very close to the beach opposite the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District.) Lake Huron, was warned of her danger by the keeper, who burned a Coston signal. She immediately shaped her course farther off shore. August 3.—Shortly past 4 o'clock in the afternoon the lookout of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, reported the sloop RAMBLER, of Erie, Pennsylvania, standing out of the harbor, acting strangely, as though water-logged. Although no signal had been made on the vessel, the surf boat was immediately launched and the life-saving crew pulled towards her. Before they could get alongside a passing sail boat took off her crew of two men and then unceremoniously filled away. The station men saw at a glance that the sloop was rapidly sinking and that the utmost effort at bailing could not keep her afloat, so they hastily set to work and saved nearly all the cabin bedding, some of the furniture, together with a gaff topsail and jib. While thus engaged the craft gave a lurch to port and went to the bottom in sixteen feet of water. At sunset three of the surfmen went in the supply boat and placed a lantern in the top-rigging of the sunken vessel as a danger warning to navigators. The following day the sloop was raised and towed into the slip. A hole was found stove in the planking, which was probably the result of thumping against the wharf during the easterly gale of the previous day. It is likely that the men who attempted to take her out in the lake were either unaware of her condition or got her under way in a spirit of reckless adventure. There was no cargo on board. August 3.—At about 6 o'clock in the evening of the 2d, during a tempestuous northeast gale of wind, the schooner JAMAICA, of Oswego, New York, in a crippled and sinking condition, was, as a last recourse for the safety of those on board, run ashore a mile north of the lake village of Glencoe, Illinois. The vessel had left home on July 15th for Chicago, Illinois, laden with coal, and carrying a crew of seven men, besides the captain's wife, niece, and son about nine years of age. Favoring breezes and pleasant weather enabled them to almost reach the end of her journey, when, on Sunday morning, (August 2d,) as they were crossing Lake Michigan with a view of making Grosse Point Light-House, a terrific storm arose. The schooner was put before it, and got along well enough until 4 o'clock in --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -78- the afternoon, when she sprang a bad leak in the rudder casing. The pumps were worked, but the water continued to gain in the hold. An hour later the foresail, boom, gaff, and other gear, were carried away, leaving the craft almost powerless to contend with the tremendous seas that swept her decks in constantly increasing volumes, and which momentarily threatened her destruction. By half-past 5 the situation was so desperate that the cap- tain's wife, niece, and son were sent aloft and lashed in the crosstrees. The rain commenced to pour down in torrents, and the gale augmented in force and violence. In this dreadful extremity the vessel was headed for the land with the slender hope that a rescue might yet be effected. Driven on by the fury of the tempest, with all hands clinging to the rigging, the storm-torn ship, trembling and tottering at every surge, struck the beach, head on. The inrushing, foaming surf at once crashed over her from stern to stem, and it was feared that she would be instantly dashed to fragments. During the whole of this terrible night the imperiled people clung to the shattered fabric, wet, cold, and nearly exhausted, anxiously waiting for the dawn of day that light might come and bring them succor. The Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, is situated eight miles to the southward of the place where the schooner went ashore, and news of the disaster did not reach there until the morning of the 3d. The beach patrol extends two miles and a half north of the station, and although the patrolman who was on duty at daylight remained on the lookout unusually long at the extreme limit of his beat, being attracted by a lot of cedar posts that were washing up, and also stimulated to especial vigilance by the vehemence of the storm, he could not see the stranded craft so far away, her hull being submerged and a thick growth of trees on a high bluff just back of her making the masts indistinguishable. The telegraph operator at Evanston received a dispatch from Glencoe during the night, but having no one at hand to send out with it transmitted it by telephone to the house of one of the keeper's neighbors. The family not being at home the servant misinterpreted the message and brought a vague report to the keeper about some vessel having been lost on the lake. The latter then hastened to the telegraph office for definite information. It was found that the operator who received the original telegram had been relieved, and there was no record made of it; that all but one wire had been blown down, and that one was being used in running railway trains and could not be broken in upon. The keeper, seeing no prospect of obtaining further tidings, now hurried to the station for his marine glass, and, taking one of the crew with him, proceeded with all speed to the Grosse Point Light-House, a mile up the beach. Ascending into the tower the coast line was carefully scanned and a schooner's masts made out, about seven miles to the northward, close to the shore. It was now twenty minutes after 9, and not another instant was lost. In less than an hour a team of horses, which had been telephoned for to the nearest livery-stable, arrived at the station and were quickly harnessed to the beach-apparatus. The spirited animals seemed to understand, as well as the men, the pressing needs of the moment and sprang forward on the road to rescue like mettled chargers. For the first five miles the road was fairly good, but the rest of the way it was muddy and heavy, impeding the progress of the life-savers. The keeper, with part of the crew, went on ahead, and reached the scene of the wreck at about 11 o'clock, thirty minutes in ad- vance of the apparatus. The bank at this point is very precipitous, some seventy or eighty feet high, and thickly wooded. The work of clearing away --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -79- a space, so as to operate the gear as soon as it came, at once began, for there was no chance to use a boat. The vessel lay abont two hundred yards from the bluff, the heavy seas surging over her, tearing away the decks and beams, and slowly breaking her up. The masts were still standing, being held in place by the shrouds, which were liable to snap asunder at each successive onslaught of the waves. All along the shallow beach the surf pounded with terrific force. Crouched under the lee of the fore staysail, on the topgallant forecastle, the only place where they were safe from being washed overboard, were the suffering passengers and crew. The bluff was lined with a crowd of anxious spectators as helpless to aid as those on the schooner were to do anything for themselves. They had raised a sign for the comfort of the imperiled people bearing the words "Help Coming," but it seemed a long time on the way, and they were almost ready to give up with exhaustion and despair when the sturdy life-savers appeared. What a thrill of joy came to those aching hearts! All was now changed. Without a moment's delay the gun was planted, loaded, and fired. Straight as an arrow the shot sped on its flight through the air, grazed the fore topmast, glanced off, and landed the line on the jibboom within ten feet of the crew. The whip was at once hauled aboard, made fast to the forestay, and was soon in working order. More difficulty was encountered in sending off the hawser, as the bight was caught by the strong current, and from their elevated position the station men could not keep the parts of the whip sufficiently separated to prevent them from twisting. The sailors fouled the lines in securing the hawser, and the whip would not render when an attempt was made to overhaul it from the shore. An hour's time was lost before the ropes were got in successful operation. Then Surfman King was sent out in the breeches buoy with instructions to see that everything was right and to send in two persons at a time. The work of rescue was now commenced in earnest. The first to leave the vessel were the mate and captain's little son. The unsteadiness of the craft, together with the height of the bank, made the buoy sway some twenty feet up and down as it was being hauled. It was found that the hawser had to be moved lower down to admit of the women getting into the buoy. This task was accomplished after the loss of more time. On the second trip the steward and captain's niece were conveyed ashore, and the third haul brought the captain and his wife. Those on the bluff watched with bated breath the crawling of the buoy along the hawser with its precious freight, and when the women were safely landed a ringing cheer went up that echoed above the roar of the storm. The entire crew were rescued in the same manner, the last man being taken from the wreck at fifteen minutes past 1 o'clock. The castaways, who had lost nearly everything, were kindly cared for by the generous townsfolk of Gleucoe, who gave them clothing, refreshments, and shelter. They also sent coffee and a basket of provisions to the life-saving crew. The latter spent several hours trying to disengage their gear from the vessel, and made efforts to obtain a boat, but could find none iu the neighborhood that was fit to launch through the surf. Surfman King when he came ashore courageously cast off the whip-block and attempted to bring in the shot-line, but it had become fouled and he was obliged to let it go. It was not until after a daring trip by Surfman Green, who volunteered to go out over the hawser in the breeches-buoy, that all the apparatus was finally saved. The station crew got back to their quarters at 6 o'clock in the evening. Keeper Lawson and his men received unstinted praise from all who witnessed their heroic exertions, and they were specially lauded for their clean, systematic work, coupled with their nerve and grit. The day following the rescue (4th,) the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -80- life-saving crew visited the wreck, but nothing of consequence was re- covered. The cabin had gone to pieces, and almost every seam in the now shapeless hulk was open to the sea. The vessel was abandoned to the under- writers and became a total loss. Wreckers subsequently saved a portion of her cargo, and her anchors, chains, and what remained of the sails and rigging were sold to a junk dealer. August 4-8.—At 8 o'clock in the morning the keeper of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, was notified by telegram that a schooner was ashore about twenty-eight miles to the southward. The life- boat was speedily manned and, by sailing and rowing, the crew reached the stranded craft shortly before 1 in the afternoon. They found her full of water, sails torn, and booms broken, with several boys from the shore on board, who said that the vessels crew of seven men were at Forester, two miles distant. She was the HAVANA, of Vermillion, Ohio, bound for Cleve- land, in the same State, from Marquette, Michigan, and was loaded with iron ore. The surfmen started for the village where they learned from the sailors that the schooner, while in tow of a steam barge, had parted her line on the Sd, and had been blown on the beach soon after midnight in a strong northeast wind and rain storm. There was such a heavy sea running that they did not succeed in leaving her until ten hours after she struck. The life-saving crew waited until the 5th, and then went to the vessel and cleared up her sails and gear. In the evening they ran a line to the tug MOCKING BIRD, which arrived with a lighter and steam pumps, and hauled her alongside. They assisted to transfer and set up the pumps, and worked at them unremittingly until 2 o'clock in the morning (6th). It was then found necessary to remove some of the ore, so that the apparatus could be still further inserted in the hold, aud the keeper took three of his men and went in search of shovels and picks. After a tramp of several miles they ob- tained the sought for implements, returned to the vessel and labored steadily during the day in throwing over the cargo. When the steam-pumps had drawn off all the water within reach, the station crew operated the hand-pumps to free her of what remained. Before the anchors could be weighed a fresh breeze come out from the southeast, a high sea made up, and the toilers were obliged to let the craft fill again so that she would not pound on the bottom. In the afternoon of the following day (7th,) the vessel was pumped dry, her anchors were hove up, and the tug pulled her afloat. The surfmen went to Forester in the life-boat and brought off the sailors with their personal effects, and also the owner. The station crew accompanied the schooner to Port Huron and kept the pumps going during the trip. On reaching that place the captain employed an additional force of men to continue with him to Detroit. The life-saving crew left Port Huron on Saturday the 8th, in tow of the propeller Saint Paul, arriving off the station the same evening, the distance run being sixty miles. This was the third vessel assisted by the Sand Beach crew since Sunday, they having been actively at work each day and all but two nights. A local newspaper, referring to the above service, very pertinently remarked: "The week was not only replete with events but chock full of hard work and sleeplessness." August 7.—The surfman of the Point aux Barques Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, on watch from midnight to 4 o'clock in the morning, seeing a steamer with a raft in tow in danger of running on a reef which juts out near the limit of the south patrol, burned his red Coston signal as a warning. The vessel immediately hauled out into the lake. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -81- August 7.—While the crew of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, were out practicing in the life boat they passed near a fishing craft, bound from Georgian Bay, Canada, to the Michigan shore. There were on board nine persons, with their clothing and household effects, who intended to settle at or near Alpena. Among the number was a blacksmith, most of the others being farmers. As the distance to Alpena was much shorter by land, and as the captain of the boat stated that he had fish- nets in the lake which required lifting the following day, the keeper sent one of the surfmen to pilot the vessel into the harbor, and the people were landed and the chattels unloaded at the station wharf. The cargo was duly examined, and as nothing was found of a dutiable nature the fishing craft set sail and stood back for Canadian waters. The next morning the emigrants procured a wagon, and, with their goods, proceeded to Alpena. The keeper accompanied them in his capacity as inspector of customs, and reported the circumstances of their landing to the collector at that place, who, after the usual inspection, found that their belongings were properly entered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -82- August 9.—In the morning of this date a lumberman, with his wagon and team of horses, attempted to cross at the mouth of the Two Heart River, a short distance from the station of that name, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, and got stuck in the quicksand. The life-saving crew went to his assist- ance, and, after working diligently for an hour with various tackle, up to their arms in water, succeeded in getting the vehicle and animals safely on shore. The man was heartfelt in his thanks to the surfmen, and continued on his way overjoyed at the happy termination of what might otherwise have proved a very serious accident to him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -83- August 10.—At noon of this date the lookout of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, discovered a small row-boat, about a mile and a half off the station, with a man in it who acted in a strange manner and seemed unable to manage his skiff. The keeper and one of the life-saving crew put off to his assistance, and found that the man had been out fishing and had become so seasick and weak that he did not have the strength to get back to the land. He was taken to the station and cared for. August 10.—Shortly before 2 o'clock in the afternoon it was reported at the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, that a boy had been drowned north of the harbor piers. The life-saving crew immediately launched the surf-boat, pulled to the place indicated by those who wit- nessed the accident, and after dragging two hours were successful in finding the body. The latter being nude, however, they were unable to lift it to the surface with their grapples, and Surfman Courchaine volunteered to dive for it. At the first attempt he brought up the body, after which it was taken ashore and turned over to the city authorities. August 11.—At half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon a son of the keeper of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, aged seven years, while playing on the wharf fell into the water. Surfman Dionne, without a moment's hesitation, plunged in and brought the boy to the surface and safely ashore. August 11.—rAt 10 o'clock in the morning a canoe containing two men capsized about a mile south of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. Before the life-saving crew could reach them they were picked up by a passing gravel scow, and a party that put off from the Evanston Boat-Club House, which was situated quite near the scene of the mishap, conveyed the men to the shore. The life-saving men towed in the canoe, righted it, and returned it to the owners. August 12.—Shortly past noon, while the small sloop SPLASH, on a pleasure trip from Manitowoc to Two Rivers, Wisconsin, was attempting to enter the harbor at the latter place the mainsail jibed over through mismanagement and the vessel capsized. She had headway enough to reach the piers, where the two men in charge of her jumped out aud saved themselves. The alarm was at once given by the lookout at the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh Dis- trict,) Lake Michigan, who witnessed the accident, and the surfmen speedily put off to the rescue. An endeavor was made to right the sloop and bail her out alongside of the pier, but, owing to her heavy stone ballast, it was found necessary to tow her to the station, where she was lifted by means of lines and boats sufficiently out of water to admit of being put in sailing trim again. The two men who so narrowly escaped with their lives were very grateful for this assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -84- August 13.;—Shortly after midnight the steamer SAGINAW VALLEY, of East Saginaw, Michigan, laden with a general cargo, on her way to Sand Beach from Goderich, Ontario, with a hundred passengers and a crew of thirty- five, ran out of her course in the rain and darkness, and stranded on Crane Point reef, a quarter of a mile off shore and a mile and a half southeast of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District.) Lake Huron. She exhibited no signal; but the south patrol, who observed that she did not move, appre- hended her condition and at once reported the circumstance to the keeper. The surfmen were summoned and proceeded in the life-boat to the scene of the accident. Before they reached the vessel she blew her whistle for assistance. On arriving alongside it was found that she was trying to work off under sail and steam, and at the captain's request the life-saving crew took soundings to ascertain the depth of water surrounding her. It was about decided to land the passengers, when the craft fortunately slid clear off the reef and entered the harbor in safety. August 13.—At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, during a fresh northeast breeze, two of the surfmen of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, seeing a small schooner-rigged sail-boat with her mainsail blown away, south of the piers, put off to her assistance. The craft contained two men and a boy, who had succeeded in making fast to a pound- net stake. All three were taken to the station, and when the wind died down one of the party went off in a skiff and brought the sail-boat ashore. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -86- August 14.—During his watch from midnight to 4 in the morning the west patrol of the Vermillion Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, picked out of the surf a number of peavies, pike and cant hooks, a logging- chain, and a quantity of oats and hay. These articles had been landed on the beach from a steamer, and belonged to a party of men in the vicinity who were at work getting logs off the shore. The party neglecting to care for them, a heavy sea came up in the night and washed the things adrift. The foreman the next day came down to the station and thanked the surfman for saving his gear. August 14.—In the evening word was received at the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, that a man had been drowned near Bluffton, about a mile distant. Three of the life-saving crew manned a small boat and, with grappling irons, proceeded to the place and dragged until 9 o'clock at night without successful result. The following day the search was resumed, but it was not until the latter part of the afternoon that the body was recovered and turned over to the relatives. August 14.—In the afternoon of this date one of the crew belonging to the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, seeing a horse in danger of drowning in the river, at a point opposite the station, quickly manned his boat, rowed across, and led the animal into shoal water, after which he was got safely on dry land. The owner shortly put in an appearance and took charge of him, warmly expressing his appreciation of the prompt action of the surfman. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -87- August 15.—Shortly before 3 o'clock in the afternoon the lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, observed the small schooner-yacht TRIO, of Cleveland, Ohio, capsize about a quarter of a mile to the westward of the station. There were two persons in the craft at the time of the accident, which was due to mismanagement in tacking. The life- savers put off to the rescue as speedily as possible, and found both men clinging to the bottom of the yacht. The surfmen soon relieved them from their perilous situation, righted their boat, towed it to the station, where it was bailed out and delivered to the grateful owners. August 15.—In the afternoon of this date the crew of the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, rescued a runaway horse from drowning that had plunged into the river after breaking the vehicle to which he was harnessed and throwing out the driver. The station men put off in a skiff and reached the animal in the nick of time, as he had got amongst the weeds and was helplessly struggling to keep above water. They succeeded in leading him safely ashore and then delivered him to the owner. August 16.—The south patrol of the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, on watch from 8 o'clock until midnight, observed a small vessel approaching dangerously near the shore. She seemed to be un- certain of her position, as a lantern was waved twice from her deck. The patrol ignited a red Coston signal, when the craft at once kept off and shaped a course down the lake. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -88- August 17.—At a quarter to 11 o'clock at night the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, were called upon to go up the river about two miles, and try and recover the body of a woman who had committed suicide by drowning herself near Center Street bridge. The surfmen manned the dingey, rowed to the place designated, and, after an hour's search, found the remains, which they promptly turned over to the city police. August 17.—Near dusk of the 16th, while two men were on the lake in a skiff, the latter capsized and a man was drowned, by the name of Martin Dulley, a sailor of Newfoundland, who had been employed several years at Monaghan's Landing. The accident happened two and a half miles from the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, and could not be seen by the lookout. The occupants of the boat were, at the time, under the influence of liquor, to which circumstance can be attributed their mis- fortune, as the mishap was due entirely to carelessness. On this and the succeeding day (17th and 18th,) the lifesaving crew swept the waters near the shore with grapnels to recover the body of the missing man, but their labors were not rewarded with success. It is probable that the undercurrent carried the body into deep water beyond their reach. Two days later, while the keeper was making a tour of the island, he found a coat washed up on the beach, which was identified as having belonged to the man who was --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -89- drowned. More than a week after a surfman found the body near the shore, a mile and a half south of the landing. It was conveyed to Alpena for burial. August 17.—At half-past 12 o'clock in the afternoon as the scow JOHN BEAN, JR., of and from Chicago, Illinois, was being towed into the harbor, through some mismanagement she struck the end of the north pier, and received damages whieh caused her to sink fifteen minutes later about two hundred yards east of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. A surfman who saw the accident immediately gave the alarm, and the life-savers quickly put off to the sinking craft. Much confusion prevailed on board, and as soon as the surf-boat got alongside baggage, clothing, books, papers, and various small articles were hurriedly passed into it. The station men took off the crew, consisting of seven, just as the vessel went down, and afterwards recovered their yawl that had been cast adrift during the excitement. All hands were taken to the station, where they were comfortably sheltered over night. The scow, which had no cargo, was subsequently raised, pumped out, and taken to Grand Haven, Michigan, for repairs. August 17.—Early in the morning two men started out in a small yawl-boat from Racine, Wisconsin, in search of some lumber and shingles that were reported by a party of fishermen as adrift in the lake. Shortly after midday the westerly breeze, which had steadily increased during the fore- noon, commenced to blow fresh, and the men were obliged to make for shel- ter. They had to pull very hard against the rising wind and sea, and in their strenuous efforts an oar was broken. Not having another to replace it, their frail craft began to drift helplessly off shore. Two of the crew of the Racine Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, who saw the predicament the men were in, hastened to their assistance, and finally, after nearly two hours of vigorous rowing, towed them safely into the harbor. They were almost fagged out when overtaken by the surfmen, and were very thankful for their timely rescue. August 18.—At half-past 1 o'clock in the morning the patrol of the Big Sandy Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, had his attention attracted by a signal of distress out on the lake, about a mile to the northward. He at once answered by flashing his Coston light and then hurried to the station and summoned the crew. The surf-boat was immediately launched and the life-saving men pulled off to the sloop-yacht FANNIE F., of Oswego, New York, bound thither from Sackett's Harbor, in the same State. She was found with her anchor down and five persons on board. The sloop had entered the bay under close-reefed canvas, and when it was attempted to put her about under short sail, with a head sea against her, she would not stay. The anchor was then let go, but it proved too small to hold her. As she was near shore and the weather threatening, her crew were anxious to find a place of safety. The keeper put a man on board the yacht to pilot her into Big Sandy Creek, while he went ahead in the surf boat and placed a light on the bar bouy that marks the position of the channel. The sloop was taken in safely and anchored in a sheltered berth. At about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the wind and sea proving favorable, she proceeded to her desti- nation, her crew having been provided with a warm breakfast prepared at the station. The following acknowledgment was given to the keeper: August 17,1885. "I, the undersigned, and in behalf of my crew of four, would say we feel very grateful to Captain Fish, of Big Sandy Station, and his crew, for tbe assistance he gave in getting us to shelter in Big Sandy Creek while riding at anchor in a heavy sea, about a mile north of the station. Thomas Farrell, "Owner of Yacht FANNIE F., Oswego, N. Y." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -90- August 18.—Shortly past 11 o'clock at night a patrolman of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, while returning along the beach, about a mile to the eastward of the station, heard loud cries out ou the lake, as of some one in distress. A northeast thunder-squall, coming up at the time, prevented him from ascertaining the nature of the trouble, and he hastened on and notified the keeper. The surf-boat was at once launched and the life-saving crew pulled in the direction whence the cries came, and soon were alongside of a small sloop-yacht, with only one man on board, who was much frightened, ignorant of the locality, and unable to make a harbor. The craft, which proved to be the JESSIE, of Seneca Falls, New York, on a pleasure cruise, was taken in tow by the surfmen and brought safely into the Oswego Biver, whither she was bound. August 19.—At about 9 o'clock in the morning the lookout of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, descried a signal of distress on a vessel two miles off shore. The life-boat was manned, and the crew pulled out alongside of the schooner FAME, of Detroit, Michigan, bound home from Harrisville, in the same State, with a cargo of lumber and cord-wood and a crew of seven men. She had sprung a leak early in the morning, and was rapidly filling when the surfmen boarded her. They assisted to work the vessel into the harbor, and started the pumps, but were unable to keep her free. A tug was engaged to tow the schooner to a wharf, so that when she sank her decks would remain out of water. Two days later (21st) a steam- pump arrived and the station crew helped to put it on board and set it up. A quantity of laths had to be removed from the hold in order to get the suction-gear down. On the 22d the beachmen lightered the craft of about thirty cords of wood, shifted a portion of the lumber so as to straighten her up on an even keel, and before 2 o'clock in the afternoon the water was pumped out and she was again safely afloat. The captain soon stopped up the leak, and when the life-saving crew returned to their quarters the schooner was in condition to resume her voyage. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -91- August 20.—At about half-past 6 o'clock in the evening, while a crowd of people, who had witnessed a regatta from the light-house pier, were being ferried across the Buffalo River in open scows, one of the latter became over-loaded and was swamped in mid-stream by the swash from a passing steamer. Several of the surfmen of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie,saw the accident and immediately manned a good-sized boat, which happened to be near at hand, and put off to the rescue with all possible haste. They found the scow nearly filled with water and fast settling. One of the women passengers, in the excitement of the moment, had fainted. The crew took her into their boat and, after having relieved the sinking craft of about fifteen other imperilled persons, landed them all safely on the wharf in front of the station. The woman was restored to consciousness and taken to the house and kindly cared for by the keeper's wife, who provided her with dry clothing and a warm supper. When her own apparel was in proper condition she left the station with hearty expressions of gratitude to the life-saving men for having saved her, and so many others, from drowning. August 20.—Shortly before noon of the 14th the lookout of the Point aux Barques Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, during a fresh northeast wind and heavy sea, saw part of a raft, composed of timbers and logs, break adrift from the tug WILCOX, three miles from the shore. Most of it washed ashore during the day and was scattered along the beach a distance of four miles. On the 20th the steamer MILLS anchored off the station, and a force of men landed to gather the timber. The keeper tendered the services of the life-saving crew, and the owner gladly availed himself of the proffered aid. Towards evening the vessel hoisted a signal and the surfmen pulled out and instructed the captain where he could find good water nearer the shore. They then towed two large yawl-boats, loaded with a hawser, to a raft which the men on the beach had made up, running about two hundred and fifty fathoms of line. As soon as the latter was made fast the steamer proceeded with the raft to Sand Beach harbor, where it was left previous to being taken to Marysville, Michigan. The station crew repeated similar work on six subsequent days, (August 23, 28, 29, September 4, 7, aud 15,) until most of the timber was recovered, while they also prepared boom-sticks and assisted at various times in rolling the logs off the beach and rafting them. August 20.—A small pleasure sloop, containing four men and five women, was seen to capsize in the river near the mouth of Muskegon Lake, at half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon, about a quarter of a mile from the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigau. Although the surf-boat was launched and manned with remarkable dispatch, a steam-tug and a number of small craft that were fortunately near at hand, rendered immediate assis- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -92- tance. The keeper, who chanced to be out in a row-boat, was, at the time of the mishap, about fifty yards away, and succeeded in rescuing two of the women who were precipitated into the water. The sloop was picked up by the life-saving crew, bailed out, put in order, and returned to the owner. August 21.—Shortly before 12 o'clock in the morning the lookout of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, saw a small sail- boat, containing four young men, run down while trying to cross the bow of the steamer WISCONSIN, as the latter was on her way out of the river. Three of tho occupants managed to reach the spiles of the Broadway bridge and were rescued by some men who happened to be near at hand. The other, George Whiling by name, less fortunate than his companions, was drowned. The life- saving crew arrived on the scene immediately after the accident. They dragged the bottom of the river with hooks and in about an hour's time recovered the body of the lost man. Every effort was made to restore life, but without success. The coroner was finally notified and the remains were placed in his custody. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -93- August 22.—During the night the east patrol of the Vermillion Point Sta- tion, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, saw a steamer standing in for the beach and burned his Coston signal to warn the craft of her danger. She speedily changed her course and stood clear. August 22.—A woman and little girl, belonging to a picnic party, fell into the canal and were in danger of drowning when rescued by a surfman of the Ship-Canal Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, with the help of several others who promptly came to his assistance. They were taken to the station and the woman, who was both exhausted and --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -94- frightened, was given a cordial from the medicine chest, supplied with dry clothing, and kindly cared for by the keeper's wife until she had fully recovered. August 23.—Towards evening, while two little girls, aged eight and ten years, were playing on an old raft, lying at the wharf across the harbor from the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, they fell into the river and were in imminent danger of drowning. The lookout at the station put off in a small boat to their assistance, but before he could reach them Surfman Mahoney, who happened to be close at hand at the time of the mishap, quickly jumped on the raft, rescued the frightened children who were clinging to each other, and took them to their homes. August 24, 25.—At half-past 9 o'clock at night the south patrol of the Ottawa Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, discovered a vessel on fire in the bay, about a mile and a half to the westward of the station. The life-saving crew launched the surf-boat and proceeded at once to the scene, and found the burning craft to be the barge JOSCO, of Port Huron, Michigan, with a cargo of lumber and a crew of five men. She belonged to the tow of the tug MUSIC, and was bound from East Saginaw, Michigan, to Buffalo, New York. The fire was caused by the explosion of a lamp in the galley. The tug went alongside and directed a stream of water on the flames, but her donkey-engine gave out, and, after hauling the vessel in the bight of the bay, was obliged to resume her voyage with her other consorts. The surfmen stripped the barge of all her rigging and got her anchor ready to let go. They used every effort to extinguish the fire, first by dashing on water in buckets and then by the use of the station force-pump, but it had made such rapid progress in the dry lumber that they were at last driven from their posts by the excessive and stifling smoke. The vessel had been scuttled shortly after the fire broke out, and when the keeper returned with the captain from the telegraph office, whither they had been to send for assistance, the barge had gone to the bottom, with her decks below the water's edge. The fire still continued, however, and the surfmen left her about 4 in the morning of the 25th. They conveyed the crew to the station and gave them breakfast, and then rowed them to Tawas. The life-saving force worked during the entire day, saving lumber and shingles which drifted ashore. The vessel and most of her cargo proved a total loss. August 24.—Shortly after 8 o'clock in the morning, during a strong north wind and high sea, the tug THOMAS SPEAR, of Escanaba, Michigan, on her way from Little Bay de Noquette, in that State, to Chicago, Illinois, with a tow of two lumber-laden scows, parted her line, and the stern scow broke adrift. The tug, with the remaining vessel, headed in towards the harbor of Two Rivers, off which she was at the time of the accident, but the water being too rough for the scow to safely run in the trough of the sea, the steamer changed her course for Manitowoc, six miles to the southward. The crew of the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, on witnessing the mishap, immediately launched the surf-boat, sailed out to the tug, and offered to assist in recovering the drifting consort. The proffered service was gladly accepted by the captain, who dared not trust his small yawl-boat to run a line with in the heavy seas. After disposing of her charge in the harbor at Manitowoc the tug returned, took the surfmen in tow, and the latter managed, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to board the scow, fifteen miles south of the station, whither she had drifted, and make a hawser fast to her. At 6 o'clock, the wind --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -95- having moderated, she was brought to an anchor near the Manitowoc piers. In letting go the anchor the buoy-line got fouled in the propeller-wheel of the tug, which disabled her. The surfmen, after working a while, grappled the line and succeeded in extricating it. The men received the hearty thanks of the captain of the steamer and were towed back to Two Rivers, arriving at their quarters at half-past 8, having been absent just twelve hours. August 26.—At half-past 8 o'clock in the evening a man, who had accidently fallen overboard from his yacht, but had luckily saved himself by catching hold of his yawl-boat that was towing astern, came to the Sheboygan Sta- tion, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and was provided with dry clothing from the stores donated by the Women's National Relief Association, and sheltered over night. August 27.—Surfman Hasking, of the Ship-Canal Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, on this date, rescued a woman belonging to a picnic party, who accidentally fell out of a pleasure-skill into the canal. She was very thankful for her preservation, and stated that without the surfman's aid she must have drowned. August 27.—The lookout of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, saw a sloop-yacht capsize about three-quarters of a mile to the eastward of the station. The life-saving crew pulled out in the surf-boat, and rescued the two men who had been precipitated into the water and were in a perilous situation. A tug afterwards towed the sloop into the harbor, where the surfmen pumped it out and put it in sailing trim. August 29.—At about half-past 2 o'clock in the morning the surfman on watch at the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, prevented a schooner, that was standing in for the harbor under full sail, from col- liding with a raft of logs being towed through the river without lights. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -96- He manned a small boat and rowed out on the lake and hailed the vessel, which stood off for a time, then came to the pier and made fast until the channel was clear. September 1.—At about 7 o'clock in the evening, during a fresh northwest wind, the keeper of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, was notified by telephone that a small schooner had broken adrift from her moorings, while lying at the pier at Lake Side, and driven ashore a mile to the westward of the station, and that immediate assistance was needed to relieve her. The life-saving crew proceeded, with the necessary gear, to the scene of the accident, and, after listing the vessel over and bailing her out, rigged their tackle and hauled her well up on the beach. This timely service undoubtedly saved the craft from going to pieces. She proved to be the MOLLIE HARNET, of Port Clinton, Ohio, with two men on board. September 2-5.—The tug ELLA MAY, of Harrisville, Michigan, towing a lighter with lumber for the light-house breakwater, arrived off the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon of this date. She sounded her whistle for a pilot and the life saving crew went off to her, ran lines to the shore, and did all they could to get the lighter in position to discharge her cargo, but their efforts proved in- effectual on account of the prevalence of a southwest wind. The craft was blown on the reefs northeast of the station, but the tug succeeded in pulling her off and towed her back to Harrisville to wait for more favor- able weather. Three days later (on the 5th,) the vessels returned, and under the direction of the keeper were piloted close enough to the shore so that lines were run and the lighter was hauled --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -98- to the beach where she was unloaded. Subsequently the surfmen assisted to get her off and she was taken in tow by the steamer. September 2.—Shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning, while a small fishing vessel was trying to make the harbor with a scow in tow, the latter broke adrift, with one man on board, and went to the northward of the pier towards the beach. The crew of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, put off and towed the craft safely inside. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -99- September 3.—At 3 o'clock in the afternoon one of the crew of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, saw a man clinging to the bottom of a canoe that had capsized on the lake, in a sudden flaw of wind, about three-quarters of a mile to the northward of the station. He immediately put off in a skiff to the scene of the mishap, rescued the imperiled man, and landed him on shore. The surfman then returned and recovered the canoe and delivered it to the owner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -102- September 8-10.—Towards noon of the 8th the wind commenced, to blow fresh from the eastward, with heavy rain, at the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, and a low and falling barometer indicated an approaching storm. The schooner-barge GENESEE CHIEF, of Port Huron, Michi- gan, with a crew of seven persons, was moored at the wharf at Black River, having loaded with lumber for Cleveland, Ohio. Her exposed position being considered unsafe in view of the impending gale, a tug was employed and she was towed to an anchorage a mile and a quarter off shore, with the understanding that she would signal for the steamer to take her to a harbor in case her berth proved insecure. The vessel had but one anchor and that was not sufficient to hold her. As the wind increased in violence and the sea made up she commenced to drag, and about 6 in the evening hoisted a flag of distress. The tug could not venture out in such weather, and so the imperiled craft was left to the mercy of the elements. By 9 o'clock the storm had reached the fury of a hurricane, and the night proved one of the most frightful experienced by navigators on the lakes in many years, the barometer registering as low as 28.90 inches. A messenger arrived at the station in much haste from Black River to summon the crew to go to the assistance of the schooner. The keeper dispatched a surfman for a team of horses to haul the boat-wagon, and burned Coston lights to recall the patrols. Shortly before midnight the life-saving men were on their way over the heavy roads, their progress being necessarily slow, and arrived at Black River, nearly ten miles distant, at 3 o'clock in the morning (9th.) The most available place to launch from was through a quicksand marsh --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -103- where all manner of debris had collected. At daylight the surfmen, after considerable labor, managed to get their boat out and started for the barge in a tremendous sea that would have appalled less stout-hearted men. A hard struggle with the fierce and foaming billows, at one moment shooting ahead a length and the next being driven back by the fury of the tempest, brought the sturdy life-savers abreast of the schooner. The captain informed them that his vessel was leaking badly and he wanted to engage a force to free her, having already thrown overboard seventy thousand feet of lumber. The keeper replied that he could induce no one to come off in such a terrific storm, and advised the master to seek refuge with his crew ashore until the weather moderated, as the barge could not sink, and so long as the anchor held her would probably ride the gale in safety. The surfmen hauled their boat alongside, succeeded in taking off all on board, and headed for the beach through the breakers and drift-wood. On reaching shoal water they sprang out and quickly dragged the boat ashore, landing the entire party unharmed. All hands immediately went to the hotel near by, warmed them- selves and dried their clothing. Early the following morning, (10th,) the storm having abated somewhat, the life-saving men took the crew to the barge, which was still afloat, and were soon at work pumping her out. They were re-enforced by six other men, and at midday the vessel was free of water. In the afternoon the station crew hove the anchor short, straight- ened out what was left of the deck-load, repaired the steering gear as well as their means would allow, and at 2 o'clock the steamer Mackinac took the schooner in tow for her port of destination. The captain of the latter was profuse in his thanks to the surfmen for their gallant services. September 8.—At daybreak a strong southeast gale of wind, accompanied by heavy rain, prevailed at the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. Shortly after 5 o'clock the crew were aroused by the lookout, who reported that the small sloop-yacht ALICE, which was anchored just abreast of the station, had dragged and fetched up against the wharf and was in danger of being dashed to pieces by the rough seas. The life-saving crew hurried to her assistance, and, by means of poles and lines, kept her clear until a tug was obtained, when two of the surfmen leaped on the yacht, slipped the cable, and she was towed to a sheltered berth. After this service the men were called to the aid of several small craft lying in the basin at the foot of Randolph street. The sloop VERVE had parted her moorings and was pounding against the wharf. The life-saving crew carried lines to the opposite side of the slip and hauled her to a place where she was securely screened from the storm. While thus engaged a large scow broke adrift and collided with the yacht MINNIE M., which was anchored near the middle of the slip. Several of the surfmen ran lines from the scow, and, by dint of hard pulling, separated the vessels before much damage was done. Half an hour later the schooner-yacht ARGO dragged from her anchorage against the wharf. The station crew hastened to her relief and succeeded in keeping her from extensive injury while one of their number procured a tug. The latter took the craft into the slip, where she was made fast beyond reach of further harm. The life-saving force returned to their quarters at half past 8. September 8.—At 15 minutes before 10 o'clock, shortly after the assistance rendered in the preceding case, the crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were again called out. The lumber-laden schooner WILLIAM JONES, of Chicago, Illinois, bound in from Menominee, Michigan, with a crew of nine men, arrived during the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -104- nigbt and anchored a mile east of the harbor. A tug steamed out in the morning to tow her into port, but subsequently returned with the infor- mation that the sailors were unable to weigh their anchor. The life saving men launched the surf-boat and were taken alongside. The heavy seas made it difficult for them to board the vessel, but they finally succeeded and at once manned the windlass. After more than an hour of steady heaving and hard work the anchor was broken out, when the craft was towed inside and up the river to her wharf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -105- September 9-13. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, during a strong blow from the eastward, with stormy weather, the lookout of the Ottawa Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, observed a vessel at anchor off Fish Point, seven miles northeast of the station, with a signal of distress hoisted. The surfmen could not reach the craft against the high wind and heavy head sea, so they launched the life-boat in the bay and the keeper applied to a steamer lying at the wharf at Tawas for assistance. As the captain felt confident that the life-boat could not live in such rough water, his own vessel having just arrived in after a stormy passage, he declined to grant the request. The crew then sought aid of the steam-barge DAVID W. HUNT, and the master at once recognized the imperilled craft as his consort, the three masted schooner D. K. CLINT, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose tow-line parted near the place mentioned. She was coal laden, bound home from Buf- falo, New York, with a crew of seven persons. The captain, after trans- ferring his family to a safe place, got the barge under way and started for the scene with the life-boat in tow. A three hours' hard run, in which the life-boat stood the heavy seas and rough weather better than the steamer, brought them abreast of the schooner. The captain of the barge was doubtful about takiug hold of the craft, as he feared that he would then have diffi- culty in getting his vessel before the wind. The lifesaving --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -106- crew rowed to the schooner and learned that she was leaking badly and that the master was extremely anxious to make a harbor. With the utmost exertion they pulled back to the steamer, but the tremendous seas prevented them from getting near her. They finally succeeded in heaving a line on board, which was made fast to the hawser, and then dropped down a second time to the distressed vessel. The barge had to keep her engines going in order to maintain steerage way, and as the life-boat got abreast of the schooner's fore rigging, the steamer unfortunately worked ahead and the surfmen were drawn under the former's bows, where a sudden lurch brought both her chains across the gunwales of their boat and capsized it. All the crew managed to get back into the boat when it righted except one man, who was luckily hauled aboard the schooner. By the time the spare oars were manned the boat had drifted so far to leeward that it was impossible for them to row back, so they headed for the station, under a reefed foresail, reaching there shortly before midnight, wet, cold, and nearly exhausted. Notwithstanding their condition, the patrol was kept up on the beach until sunrise. In the morning (10th,) the tug CORA B. took the surfmen outside again, the gale having moderated somewhat, though a high sea was still running. The barge RUST was found with the line foul of her wheel. She was taken in tow by the tug, and the steamer OSCEOLA went to the relief of the schooner and brought her into port. The life-saving force went on board the latter and worked at the pumps. After the vessel came to, the keeper accompanied the captain ashore and assisted him to hire a force of men to free the craft of water, and stay by the pumps until he reached his destination. A diver cleared the line from the wheel of the RUST, and both vessels proceeded on their voyage in the forenoon of the 12th, but returned shortly after, as the schooner's steering gear was found out of order and she would not mind her helm. The following day (13th), one of the surfmen put on the rubber suit belonging to the station and got the wood-lock off the rudder, so that it could be unshipped and repaired. The district superintendent received the annexed letter from the master of the D. W. RUST, who also sent a communication of similar purport to the General Superintendent at Washington: "Tawas, Michigan, September 11, 1885. "Dear Sir: I wish to acknowledge in some way the splendid service rendered by the life-saving crew at this place to one of the vessels in my tow. I cannot emphasize the matter by a multiplication of words. I will simply say that they are all heroes, every man of them, from the keeper down, and deserve special mention for their heroic conduct during the late gale. I have written to my owners in their favor and given particulars, asking them to bring the crew to the notice of yourself and the Department. "Yours, very respectfully, "Rob't J. Cowley, "Master of Steamer D W. RUST. "Capt. J. G. Kiah, "Superintendent Life-saving Stations, "Tenth District, Sand Beach, Michigan." September 9-11.—A gale of wind commenced blowing on the 8th at the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, and increased in violence to a hurricane from the northeast on the morning of the 9th. The sea was --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -107- driven in by the fury of the storm until the north side of tbe island was entirely submerged. Driftwood and logs were washed up three hundred feet on the shore, and fences, walks, and trees swept away. The night patrol, undaunted, continued at his post of duty, wading waist-deep in the surging debris at tbe imminent peril of his life. At daylight the weather was thick and rainy and no sail could be seen on the tempestuous expanse of the lake. The keeper had been ill for two days and was congratulating himself that he would not be called upon to confront the raging storm, when a surfman rushed into his room and announced that a large steamer had stranded on North Point Reef, four miles southwest of the station. Tbe keeper quickly rose from his sick bed, and going outside dimly discerned the vessel through the falling rain, hard aground, as described. Animated by tbe thought of rescue, he hastily drank a cup of coffee, put on his clothing and lifebelt, and took his place in the stern-sheets of the boat. The latter was sailed to the edge of the breakers, where the canvas was furled, the masts were taken down and lashed, and the drogue was put over. The sturdy life-savers then bent to the bars and sent tbe boat into the tumbling and foaming billows, pulling through them in safety. This feat was achieved at great personal risk, as the tremendous waves seemed more than human effort could cope with. The steamer lay stern to the sea and the life-boat was brought under her bow shortly before 8, where it tossed about for six hours, shipping water from both sides. At last the surfmen managed to take off the mate, who swung himself into the boat from the fore-boom by means of the sheet tackle. He was taken to Alpena with dispatches for the owners. The vessel proved to be the JOSEPH S. FAY, of Cleveland, Ohio, of twelve hundred and twenty tons burden, bound from Duluth, Minnesota, to Buffalo, New York, with a valuable cargo of wheat. She had sixteen persons on board, six of whom were passengers. Towards evening the wind and sea moderated somewhat and the station men returned to the stranded craft in tow of the steamer GOLDEN EAGLE, taking with them a man who entered into an agreement to float the vessel. As there was no necessity for the surfmen to stay by the steamer during the night, they returned to their quarters late in the evening, having been twelve hours in the life-boat. The following morning (10th,) at daylight, the wind still being fresh from the northeast, with a rough sea, they again pulled out to tbe vessel and brought off the passengers, consisting of two women, three children, and a man, aud con- veyed them, together with the captain, to Alpena. While assisting the people to leave tbe steamer one of the surfmen injured his foot by jamming it in the boat as the latter was careened by a heavy sea. The telegraph wires were down and no word had been received from the owners, so the keeper assisted the captain in perfecting arrangements for floating his craft. In the afternoon a tug started to the scene of the accident with a force of wreckers and the life boat in tow. The surfmen did not leave the distressed craft until 5 o'clock and then rowed back to the station after a day of toilsome work. Early in the morning of the 11th they went to the steamer and found that about seventeen thousand bushels of wheat had been lightered. At 11 o'clock tbe tug RALPH pulled her off and the keeper was requested to pilot the vessels clear of the reefs, which he did, and after- wards took the tug to Alpena, while the captain indulged iu much needed rest, he having been up for two nights. It was the general opinion that the steamer was saved from pounding to pieces by the prompt action of the master in giving her the full power of the engine just before she struck, thus driving her out all of five feet, where she lay firmly. She was floated just in season, as a strong southeast gale --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -108- sprang up that afternoon which would have made her situation an extremely hazardous one. The captain was unstinted in his praise of the life-saving crew and attributed the preservation of his vessel, in great part, to their trained experience and ready aid. He also expressed his appreciation in the subjoined letter to the General Superintendent: "Alpena, Michigan, September 11, 1885. "Dear Sir: On the morning of September 9, at 5.30, the steamer J. S. FAY stranded on North Point, Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, during one of the severest northeast gales experienced in several years. At about 7.30 A. M. the life-saving crew at Thunder Bay Island arrived alongside through a terrible surf, such as I thought no boat could live in. They lay under our lee for six hours in the cold and blinding spray, then, the sea moderating some, they took my mate aboard from the end of our foreboom and carried him to Alpena with a telegraph message to my owners. Also next day carried myself and some friends to Alpena. They stayed by us until the vessel was got afloat, September 11, and rendered us all the assistance iu their power, for which myself and crew are truly thankful to Capt. J. D. Persons and his men for their valuable services. "Yours respectfully, "J. A. Holmes, "Master of Steamer J. S. FAY. "Hon. S. I. Kimball, "General Superintendent, "U. S. Life-Saving Service, Washington, D. C." September 9.—At half-past 2 o'clock in the morning, during a strong northeasterly blow, with rain squalls and thick weather, the patrol of the North Manitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, dis- covered a vessel standing dangerously close to the shore. He at once ignited his Coston signal, when she changed her course. An hour afterward another vessel was warned off in the same manner. Both craft narrowly escaped going on the beach. September 9.—In the forenoon, while the schooner HERSCHEL, of Menominee, Michigan, was discharging her cargo of cedar posts at the south pier, Evanston, Illinois, a northerly sea began making up and there were indications of an approaching storm. The keeper of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Late Michigan, observing that no precautions were being taken on board the schooner, owing, no doubt, to the fact that the breeze still continued light from the westward, advised the mate, who was in charge, that he had better stop unloading and make preparations to get under way and seek a safer berth. A hawser was accordingly run to the end of the pier. The keeper had no sooner secured it than a heavy squall struck the vessel from the north, causing one of her stern lines to part and obliging the crew to hastily cast off the other so that she could swing round head to the wind. In the afternoon a tug which was obtained came from Chicago and towed her away. The schooner returned the following Friday to discharge the remainder of her cargo, when the mate called at the station and warmly thanked the keeper for his advice and services, saying that he did not know what would have become of his craft if timely action had not been taken to save her. September 9.—Shortly before 10 o'clock in the morning a man in a small skiff was discovered holding on to a pile in the middle of the river, about a quarter of a mile north of the Two Rivers Station, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -109- (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. It appears that the boat, which was in a leaky condition, had got adrift, and the occupant was without oars or other means of reaching the shore. The life saving crew speedily put off to his assistance aud towed the craft, which was in a sinking condition, safely to the shore. The rescued man was very thankful for the prompt action of the surfmen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -110- September 10, 11.—Towards the evening of the 9th there prevailed such a heavy blow from the eastward, with rain and stormy weather, that the crew of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, manned the life- boat and placed the red light in position, as the harbormaster was unable to reach the south pier. Two schooners were anchored off shore, and their exposed situation was a source of much apprehension to the life-saving men. By direction of the district superintendent a horse was obtained, and one of the surfmen sent down the beach to ascertain how near the vessel to the southward was from the shore. On his return he reported that she was about two miles out and evidently dragging. A fire was kindled on the beach directly to leeward of her, and a vigil kept there during the night so that if she parted her cables and drove ashore the watch could ride with all haste to the station and rouse the crew. Similar precautious were taken in respect to the other craft lying about ten miles to the northeastward. Both schooners were nearly six miles from the patrol posts, and the weather was so thick that otherwise neither could have been seen in case of an accident in the night. At half-past 6 in the morning of the 10th a distress signal was observed on the last-mentioned vessel, and the keeper at once engaged the tug CASTLE to go out to her relief. The surfmen launched the life-boat and started in tow of the steamer. Arriving alongside, they found her to be the schooner J. BENTLY, of Toronto, Ontario, bound from Big Inlet, in the same Province, to Tonawanda, New York, with a cargo of lumber and a crew of six men. She was water-logged, and had lost part of her deck-load. The station men ran a line to her from the tug and then went on board aud hove up both anchors, there being seventy-five fathoms of chain out on one and sixty fathoms on the other. The schooner was towed safely into the harbor, and the captain was conveyed to the telegraph office, where he communicated with his owners. Most of the deck-load washed ashore and was strewn along the beach for a distance of six or seven miles. The life-saving force started out and carefully marked it, and, as the lumber was from a foreign port, the customs officers were duly notified and the deputy collector at Sand Beach was instructed to take charge of it. The following day (11th,) the surfmen pumped the vessel free of water, working until late at night. The captain greatly appreciated the assistance rendered him in his ad- versity, and resumed his voyage in tow of a steam-barge. September 12.—At half-past 5 o'clock in the afternoon the lookout of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, saw a small sloop capsize two miles and a half to the northward of the station. The life- saving crew at once put off to the rescue aud reached the vessel in fifteen minutes' time. They found her on her beam ends, full of --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -111- water, and both occupants clinging to the hull. The imperiled men were taken into the surf-boat, the craft righted and bailed out, and her gear put in order. She proved to be the yacht TIDAL WAVE, of Kelley's Island, Ohio. After getting her in sailing trim she was placed in charge of her captain, while his companion was taken by the surfmen to the island above named, where he took passage on the regular steamer for Detroit, Michigan, whither he was bound. The station men were towed back to their quarters through the courtesy of the master of the steamer JAY COOKE. The yacht subsequently arrived safely in port. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -112- September 14.—At half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon the dead body of Patrick Finn, a man who had lost his life by probably having his boat either run down or swamped while out on the lake in the night, was discovered by the keeper of the Erie Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, floating in the bay a half mile from the station. It was taken in the surf- boat, conveyed to the city, and delivered up to the coroner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -113- September 16.—At about 5 o'clock in the evening, while three men were sailing on the Genesee River in the pleasure sloop EMILY, of Rochester, New York, they were struck by a sudden flaw of wind and capsized. The keeper of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, who was near by in the dingey belonging to the station, immediately went to their assistance and succeeded in picking up one of the party, the others having been rescued by boats which were, at the time, nearer the scene of the accident. Two of the life-saving crew, who saw the mishap, put off from the shore in a skiff and assisted the keeper to tow the sloop to the pier, where she was righted and her sails unbent. Afterwards she was taken up the stream into shallow water and bailed out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -114- September 18.—As the south patrol, belonging to the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, was nearing the farther limit of his beat during foggy weather, between the hours of 5 and 6 in the morning, he heard the repeated blasts of a steam whistle, and, as the sounds kept growing more distinct, it was evident that the vessel was approaching the land. The surfman quickly manned a boat near by, and rowing a short dis- tauce off shore discovered a steam-barge dangerously near the beach, lost in the fog, and trying to find her way into Muskegon Harbor. He at once hailed the craft, when she stopped aud reversed her engines, the lead showing that she had then only twenty-six feet of water. The surfman gave the captain directions how to steer, for which the latter expressed him- self as under deep obligation, as the information would enable him to reach port in safety. The steamer was the GEORGE DUNBAR, of Chicago, Illinois, in ballast. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -115- September 21.—Early in the morning of this date the lookout at the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, observed a small sloopyacht, in --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -116- charge of one person, standing out into the lake before a light southerly breeze. When about three-quarters of a mile offshore it was noticed that the occupant of the boat was making endeavors to return to the harbor, but from awkward management the craft kept drifting farther from the land. The life-saving crew went to the man's assistance and found that he was en- tirely ignorant in regard to the methods of handling a sil-boat and was unable to make any progress in the desired direction. The sloop proved to be the PLOVER, of Oswego, New York. The station men took her in tow and rowed back into the harbor, a timely service that saved the man from being carried far out into the lake, where he would have been exposed to a situ- ation of extreme peril. September 21.—At 1 o'clock in the afternoon a vessel was sighted about five miles to the westward of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, with her colors flying at half-mast. As the weather was fine it was supposed at first that the flag was hoisted to signal a tug. The life- saving crew, however, pulled out alongside of her and found that she was leaking badly and the crew of two men nearly exhausted by constant work at the pumps since daylight. She was the schooner TRADER, of Oswego, New York, and had been loading cedar posts at Stony Island for Fair Haven, when a shift of wind obliged her to stand offshore before she had finished taking in her cargo. Early in the morning of this date she sprang a leak and was discovered by the lookout of the station while trying to make port. The surfmen worked the craft into the harbor of Oswego, but as soon as they relinquished their labors at the pumps she tilled and sank. Subsequently she was raised and repaired. It is very evident that the opportune assistance rendered by the station crew on this occasion saved the vessel from foundering in deep water off-shore and becoming a total loss. September 21.—At half-past 8 o'clock in the evening a boy came to the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and reported that he had heard cries for help out on the lake. It was too dark to distinguish objects very far away, so a surfman was at once dispatched to the southward along the beach, with instructions to flash his Coston signal if he saw or heard any one in distress. A fresh southwest wind was blowing, with a high surf running, and, in order to expedite matters as much as possible, the surf-boat and crew started off in tow of a tug that happened to be near at hand. When about four miles south of the station the Coston light of the surfman who had preceded them down the shore was seen to burn, and the life saving men immediately cast off from the tug, and pulled with all speed in the direction indicated. Within two hundred yards of the beach two men were espied clinging to the side of a capsized boat. They proved to be fishermen from Pentwater, Michigan, who had gone out in their sloop, the ALBERTINE, and, while setting nets, some of the craft's running-gear becoming fouled, she had been blown over. They were taken in the surf-boat back to the station, provided with dry clothing, and sheltered over night. The rescue was effected in the nick of time, as the imperiled men were almost in the breakers. Two days later, (23d,) their sloop, which had washed bottom up on the beach, was recovered by the surfmen and towed into the harbor. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -118- September 22.—At about 11 o'clock in the morning the lookout of the Erie Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, saw a man rowing a skiff, with another in tow, about a half mile from the land. The weather looked ominous at the time, and a heavy squall was coming up from the westward. It was evident that if the boats were not brought quickly to shelter they would drift out on the lake in the approaching storm and be capsized. Three of the life-saving crew at once put off in the dingey belonging to the sta- tion, and on reaching the skiffs were surprised to find that, besides the oarsman who was in the first one, the other contained an old mattress, on which lay a woman with a small infant, not more than two months old, in her arms. All were poorly clad. They were towed as soon as possible to the shore, but before they could be landed the rain commenced falling in torrents. Throwing a piece of canvas over the woman and child the man was about to wait for the storm to subside, but the keeper insisted on the strangers going immediately to the station, where they could keep dry. The story told by the man was, that he had been living in Wallaceburg, Ontario, and being out of work and money, he concluded to start with his wife and four-weeks-old baby for Cleveland, Ohio, where he had friends. So he loaded his family, with their scanty effects, into two skiffs and set out on their long journey. They crossed the lake and brought up near Dunkirk, and it was while skirting along the beach that they were picked up by the surfmen as described. The homeless, weary travelers were comfortably cared for at the station for two days, and then resumed their trip, being last seen by the, beachmen going west along the north shore of the peninsula. During their stay at the station the keeper's wife kindly provided the mother with baby clothes from those left by her own bright little child that died a year or so before. September 22.—At about half-past 6 o'clock in the evening, during the prevalence of a strong northeast gale, with a high sea running, the lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, reported that the sloop-yacht CREON, of Cleveland, Ohio, with no one on board, had parted her moorings while anchored behind the breakwater and was being driven towards the rocks near the Lake Shore Railroad, a half mile southwest of the sta- tion. As she was already in the heavy breakers and close to the shore, it was seen to be useless to launch a boat, for the craft could not possibly be saved. So the life saving crew waited until she struck and then set to work and stripped her of her canvas, rigging, running-gear, spars, &c. All the articles recovered were taken to a place of safety. The vessel was soon dashed to pieces. September 22.—While the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, were at work, as previously described, the sloop-yacht COMMODORE GARDNER, of Cleveland, Ohio, was seen to part her cables --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -119- and go ashore in the same manner as the CREON. The surfmen saved every- thing they could belonging to her and stored the same on shore near the station. The vessel pounded to pieces in a short time and became a total loss. September 22.—During the prevalence of a heavy northwest storm and high sea, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the scow OAK LEAF, of Toussaint, Ohio, bound from Oak Harbor to Marblehead, Ohio, with a cargo of wood and a crew of four men, was in danger of being blown from her wharf near the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The keeper visited the vessel several times and offered assistance, which was declined by the master until the increasing gale satisfied him that his craft was in great risk of being wrecked, when he earnestly besought the services of the life- saving crew. At the keeper's suggestion a telephone message was sent to Sandusky for a tug. The surfmen took a four-inch hawser from the station, which was used, when the steamer arrived, in towing the scow to a safe offing. Had it not been for the assistance rendered by the life-saving men in clearing the vessel from her dangerous position, she would, undoubtedly, have parted her mooring lines, been driven ashore, and lost. September 22-25.—At 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the first-named date, during the prevalence of a strong northerly gale, the lookout of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, observed a schooner standing for the harbor. A tug went alongside to take her in tow, but as the crew of the former did not secure the line properly to the bitts, it slipped and got adrift as the steamer started ahead, and the captain of the schooner was obliged to let go his anchors. These did not hold, on account of the high wind and heavy sea, and the vessel commenced to drag towards the shore, outside, of the breakwater, about a mile and a quarter southeast of the station. The life-saving crew put off at once to the craft's assistance and found her to be the PENSAUKEE, coal-laden, of Troy, New York, bound from Charlotte, in that State, to Chicago, Illinois, with a crew of nine persons. By the advice of the keeper the captain scuttled the vessel, to keep her from pounding on the bottom. The surfmen went on board and helped to clear up decks, and as nothing else could be done at that time, they returned to their quarters at about 4. On the way back they placed the red beacon-light in position for the harbor-master, who found it impossible to reach the south pier in the storm. After supper the station men again went off to the schooner. The wind in the meantime had increased in violence and heavy breakers were sweeping over the stranded craft. As it was deemed unsafe to stay by her, the captain was advised to seek shelter ashore with his crew, and all hands were conveyed in the life-boat to the station, where they remained through the night. Soon after landing the master was directed by the keeper to a telegraph office, where he sent for a tug and transmitted messages to his owners. The next day, (23d,) the wind and sea having abated, the sailors were taken on board the vessel, and the captain engaged a lighter to use in discharging his cargo. On the 24th the life- saving force worked from daylight until dark assisting to transfer the coal to the lighter. The master was brought to the station and during this, as on the preceding night, a watch was kept on the wharf for a tug, which was hourly expected, with steam-pumps. Early in the morning of the 25th she arrived and the surfmen aided to set up the apparatus, and then resumed their labors lightering the schooner. Later in the day the keeper took four of his crew, went ashore in the tug, and sent off dispatches for the captain, obtained supplies for his vessel, and secured the services of twenty men to unload the coal, who were carried on board in the surf-boat, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -120- as there was not enough water for the steamer to go alongside. The surfmen then ran a hawser to the tug, after which they manned the hand-pumps on the schooner and freed her of about two and a half feet of water that the steam-pumps could not reach. At this juncture the tug pulled the schooner ahead nearly two hundred feet, when the latter had to be still further lightened. At the next attempt to float her the line parted and the sta- tion crew ran the hawser a second time. The craft was finally moved inside, where lines were made fast to the breakwater, and by means of the windlass and capstan, she was hove into deeper water. The tug succeeded in getting her clear of the ground and towed her to the steamboat wharf. The keeper restored the lines that had been used on the breakwater to the captain of the schooner, and also procured for him additional supplies from a neigh- boring store. He was profoundly grateful to the life-saving crew for their valuable service, for under less favorable circumstances his vessel might have proved a complete loss. September 22.—At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, during a strong wind and heavy sea, the lookout of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, discovered a fishnet, that had been placed at the end of the north pier, breaking adrift. The life-saving crew immediately proceeded to the scene and hauled the net to a safe place, where the owner subsequently took possession of it. September 22.—At 11 o'clock in the morning, during a heavy northwest wind and rough sea, as a schooner was standing in for the harbor at Saint Joseph, Michigan, she lost about two thousand feet of her deckload of lumber, which washed ashore on the south beach. The crew of the Saint Joseph Station (Eleventh District) recovered most of it, and kept it under protection until called for by the owners. Later in the day the same crew discovered the Government pile-driver and dump-scow, which had broken from their moorings in the bay northeast of the station, rapidly drifting across the river. They ran a hawser to the crafts, and succeeded in checking them before any damage was done. The officer in charge of the public works in the harbor said that the prompt action of the surfmen undoubtedly saved the pile-driver from losing its leader and hammer, for had it been allowed to have gone much farther, it would have collided with a steam-barge lying on the opposite side of the stream, which would have resulted in injury to both vessels. September 22.—At about half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon, during a heavy northeast blow, the lookout of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, saw a man washed off the north harbor pier by the high seas. The alarm was at once given and the life-saviug crew quickly launched the surf and supply boats and set out to the rescue. The strong head wind, with which they had to contend, made progress slow, and the man soon sank out of sight. Meanwhile two sailors from a schooner lying near, having observed the accident, ran out on the pier with lines for the purpose of rendering assistance, when they, in turn, were swept into the lashing waters. The surfmen arrived on the scene just in time to save these two men, who were struggling desperately to keep themselves afloat, and who were pulled into the boats almost exhausted. The man whom the crew started for was drowned. Diligent search was made for the body the following day, but it was not recovered. On the 27th it was found by one of the surfmen, conveyed to the station, and turned over to the city authorities. September 22.—A fortnight previous a lumber-laden scow, bound from Bay de Noquette, Michigan, to Chicago, Illinois, broke adrift from tbe tug which --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -121- had her in tow, and went ashore near the depot at the foot of Wisconsin street, Milwaukee. Early in the morning of this date, while the wind was to the westward and the water calm, a gang of men commenced operations to raise the craft. It was the intention to secure timbers across the latter's decks, sink pontoons under the projecting ends, pump the pontoons out, and thus lift the stranded vessel. While this work was in progress, at about l0 o'clock, the wind suddenly shifted to the northeast and increased to a gale, making up a high sea in short order. One of the pontoons was driven on the beach, while the other was kept afloat until the tug DEXTER came and towed it into the harbor. Seven men, most of them employes of the Milwaukee Ship yard Company, had been left on the scow and, as their small boat had filled and been swept adrift, their situation became one of extreme peril. The surf broke furiously over the vessel, and there was several hundred feet of raging water between it and the shore. When the dangerous position of the men was realized a crowd of anxious people gathered on the railway platform, on the breakwater, and along the bluffs. At halfpast 12 o'clock news of the trouble reached the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, three miles to the southward. The surf-boat was speedily launched and, in tow of the tug J. B. MERRILL, the life-savers hastened to the scene. After getting as close as practicable to the scow they cast off from the steamer and by skillful management dropped down alongside the stranded craft. As opportunity offered, between the fiercely-rushing waves, one by one the party jumped into the boat. One man leaped short, but he was quickly pulled from the foaming waters and saved. All hands were thoroughly drenched to the skin. The surfmen now bent their united energies to the oars, and, cleaving the heavy breakers that beset them on all sides, safely reached the tug, where the men were placed aboard. The scow subsequently pounded to pieces and became a total wreck, though most of her cargo was recovered. A local paper, referring to the above incident, said: "The rescue reflects great credit on the life-saving crew and afforded the spectators a practi- cal illustration of the value of the Service." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -123- September 23.—At about half-past 2 o'clock In the morning, during a heavy northwest blow, the steamer MONTEAGLE, with three schooners in tow, hove to off the entrance to the Genesee River and signaled for a tug. The gale was raging with unabated fury at the time and none of the harbor boats would venture out to her assistance. Seeing no prospect of obtaining aid, the captain of the vessel decided to try and get his consorts inside. As the tow approached the harbor the schooner JOHN R. NOYES sagged to leeward and fell into the trough of the sea. It was seen that she would not clear the pier-head, so her tow line was cast off and the craft struck the outer end of the east breakwater, doubled round it, and drove towards the shore. Both anchors were let go, but they failed to hold her, and she dragged on the beach about one mile northeast of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario. The vessel hailed from Oswego, New York, and was bound from that port to Charlotte, in ballast, with seven persons on board. When the keeper heard of the accident he at once mustered his crew and pulled across the river in the surf-boat, where the men disembarked aud hurried down the beach. They found the schooner stranded opposite a high and precipitous bluff where it was impossible to launch a boat. A fire was quickly lighted on the bank, and the surfmen hastened back to the station for the beach- apparatus. The mortar-cart was hauled to the railway station, put on a hand-car, and run on the track over the drawbridge to a road that led directly to the shore. The gear was then removed from the car and taken to a position abreast of the vessel. The life-savers loaded and skillfully trained their gun, shot a line over the schooner, and in a short time established communication by means of the breeches-buoy. The latter was drawn back empty, since none of the sailors offered to come ashore, and one of the surfmen was sent off, who ascertained that the crew had decided to remain on board, as there was no immediate danger of the craft breaking up. The captain requested the keeper not to displace the apparatus, and said that he would hoist a signal in the rigging in case the vessel commenced to go to pieces. Shortly before noon the master was landed in the buoy and went to the telegraph office, where he dispatched a message to his owners for a wrecking-tug. During this and the succeeding day (24th,) the surfmen remained on the bluff ready for action. Towards evening of the 25th the wind and sea moderated and the weather cleared. There being no further cause for apprehension, the life-saving force returned with the apparatus to the station. The following morning the tug CHARLEY FERRIS arrived with steam-pumps and freed the schooner of water. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -124- Later in the day she was pulled afloat, a sail hauled under her forefoot to check the leaks, and towed to Oswego, New York, for repairs. September 27.—At 11 o'clock at night the patrolman of the North Mauitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, descried a vessel standing in to danger. He flashed his Coston signal, when she at once sheered off shore. September 30.—Shortly before 8 o'clock in the evening the lookout of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, reported a vessel ashore at the head of Niagara River,, two miles northwest of the station. The keeper, by the aid of his glass, made out the craft to be a small steamer hard aground on Horse Shoe Reef. While the surf-boat was being manned the harbor-tug ANNA P. DORR arrived with the information that the stranded vessel was the GEORGE S. DONALDSON, of and from Buffalo, with three men and a passenger aboard, on her way to Tonawanda, New York, and that while trying to make the outer channel, the weather being thick and smoky, she --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -125- had missed her reckoning and struck on the reef. The tug procured a large hawser and then towed the surf-boat to the scene of the mishap. The station crew sounded around the steamer to ascertain the depth of water, so that the harbor-boat could approach near enough to enable them to run the line. This task was finally accomplished and the vessel pulled afloat, without damage, at about half-past 9, in condition to resume her trip. The captain was very thankful to the life-saving crew for their energetic work. September 30.—At 10 o'clock at night, the atmosphere being smoky, the patrol of the Muskallonge Lake Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, discovered a large steamer heading directly for the shore, and so close in that he could hear the voices of the people on board. He quickly burned a red Coston signal to warn her of her danger, when she at once altered her course and stood off. In a few moments more she would have been on the beach. October 1.—At 10 o'clock in the morning the sloop IMPERIAL, of Sand Beach, Michigan, bound to Cheboygan, in the same State, in ballast, with a crew of two men, came alongside the wharf of the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, to have her windlass, which got out of order the previous night, repaired. The vessel not having timber or suitable tools for such work the keeper and one of the surfmen went on board and assisted, during the entire day, in putting the gear in good condition. When the job was finished, at about 10 o'clock at night, the sloop was enabled to resume her voyage. The captain was very thankful for the aid given him. October 2.—Shortly before 10 o'clock at night two men were cast ashore in a small schooner-rigged boat, about one mile east of the Two Heart River Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior. A fresh northwest wind was --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -126- blowing, and a high sea running at the time, and tbe weather was cold and rainy. The patrol found the men shivering in the wet, almost chilled through, holding on to their craft, and conducted them to the station. The station crew were roused and at once went to the scene of the accident and succeeded, with tackles, in hauling the vessel safely out on the beach. The men were furnished with dry clothing, given warm food, and comfortably cared for until the following day, when they started for their home, in Grand Marais, Michigan, very grateful for the kind treatment they received at the hands of the surfmen. The boat was left in charge of the keeper, and when the storm abated it was launched and moored in the river. October 2.—At half-past 7 o'clock in the evening, during the prevalence of a light fog, a steamer was discovered by the lookout of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, heading directly for the beach, just north of the entrance to the harbor. The lifesaving crew were summoned and hastened to the end of the pier. Efforts were made to hail the vessel and turn her from her course, but to no purpose. It was afterwards ascertained that the wheelsman had quitted his post and heedlessly gone below, leaving no one in charge on deck. The craft stranded in three feet of water. She was the steam canal-boat DOCTOR HANLEY, of Muskegon, Michi- gan, bound from Black Lake to Saugatuck, in that State, with no cargo, and carrying a crew of four men. The captain sent off a line to the surfmen, and by their aid, and the backing of the engines at the right time, the vessel was floated. This proved a fortunate result, for had she remained fast until sunrise she would doubtless have gone to pieces, as a northwest wind commenced to blow in the night and made up a heavy and dangerous surf. The master was very thankful to the station force for their efficient help. October 2.—In the afternoon of this date a fisherman found a corpse floating in the water about a mile to the southward of the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. He signaled to the surfmen, who immediately went out and conveyed the body to the station. The next day, in response to a telegram sent to Milwaukee by the keeper, a man arrived and identified the remains as his brother, Julius Mathaison, captain of the schooner MILTON, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a vessel that was wrecked in the lake, and which drifted ashore five miles northeast of the station on September 8th. Subsequently, on October 8th and 10th, two more dead bodies were recovered, one of which was supposed to be that of the mate of the vessel alluded to, and the other was identified as that of Edward Mathaison, a member of the crew. Both were buried in the cemetery by the station men under direction of the proper authorities. All hands belonging to the ill-fated schooner were lost before she drove on the beach. Some of her torn canvas and a small yawl were the only things found by the life-saving crew worth removing. October 2.—Shortly after dark, during the prevalence of thick, foggy weather, the keeper of the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) hearing a tug sounding her whistle about a mile outside, went out on the pier with a lantern, (there being no light at this point,) by which means he guided the vessel safely into the harbor. She proved to bo the W. C. TILLSON, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with a schooner in tow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -127- October 3.—Shortly before noon the lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, observed the small sloop-yacht LADY IDA leave the harbor for a pleasure sail, with three boys and two ladies on board. As it was thought that those in charge were not experienced hands in the management of a sail-boat a sharp watch was kept on the party from the station. In a half-hour's time a brisk breeze sprang up from the southwest, and the sloop, being awkwardly handled began to ship water and came near capsizing. The surfmen immediately manned the dingey and started to her assistance, but before they could reach the craft she was driven against the Government breakwater and her occupants, who by this time were badly frightened, attempted to scramble up on the pier. The station men called out to them not to adandon the yacht, and, going alongside, took charge of her, reefed the canvas, and sailed her safely back into the harbor. October 3.—Early in the morning the sloop IMPERIAL, of Sand Beach, Michi- gan, bound from Cheboygan to Spensville, in that State, sought shelter in the harbor near the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, during a heavy northwest gale and rain-storm. She was in ballast, with two men on board. The vessel came to off the end of the pier, but her anchor would not hold, and she commenced to drag towards the beach. The life- saving crew were at once summoned, and speedily ran lines and hauled her to a safe berth. This work was accomplished just in the nick of time, as in a few minutes she would have been ashore. The captain heartily thanked the station men for their prompt and opportune assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -129- October 4.—At about 4 o'clock in the morning, during a strong westerly breeze, while the tug PROCTOR was making Oswego harbor for shelter, with five coal-laden barges, the end of the tow swung against the east break- water, and the HATTIE L. JOHNSON and TUSCARORA broke adrift and drove on the beach about an eighth of a mile east of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario. Both vessels hailed from Ogdensburg, New York, and were bound for Canadian ports on the Saint Lawrence River. The life-saving men speedily pulled off to the scene and found that seven of the crew belonging to the TUSCARORA had taken to their own boat, but the heavy surf rolling in along the beach made it unsafe for them to land. After consider- able difficulty they were transferred to the surf-boat and taken to the station. The surfmen then returned to the east breakwater and took off one of the same crew who had previously jumped from the barge to take a line, and was left there. In the meantime the people of the HATTIE L. JOHNSON, numbering six all told, managed to reach the shore unaided, after a ven- turesome trip in their yawl, and were also conducted to the station. During the day the life-saving force succeeded in boarding the stranded vessels and obtained the personal effects of the castaways. The latter were shel- tered over night at the station and comfortably cared for. Both barges were totally wrecked and only a small portion of their cargoes was recovered. The subjoined letter was given to the keeper: "Oswego Life-saving Station, October 4, 1885. "We desire to express thanks, in behalf of ourselves and crews, to the keeper and crew of this station for their promptness in rescuing us, and for their unvarying kindness to us after we reached the station. Their promptness and efficiency are worthy of all commendation and deserve favorable recognition by the Department. "John F. Murphy, "Master of Barge HATTIE L. JOHNSON. "B. Brunette, "Master of Barge TUSCARORA." October 4.—On this date, at about half-past 8 o'clock in the morning, while four men in the fishing-boat WHITE FAWN were engaged gathering fish from their nets, they were suddenly overturned by a flaw of wind, about a mile and a half northeast of the Fairport Station, (Ninth District), Lake Erie. The lookout witnessed the occurrence and immediately gave the alarm. The life-savers forthwith put off to the scene, while a hurried gathering of interested spectators on the shore of the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -130- lake watched their progress with anxious hearts. The wind was blowing fresh from the westward and quite a sea was running. In twelve minutes the surf- boat, yielding to the vigorous strokes of the sturdy oarsmen, reached the capsized craft, and the imperiled fishermen, who had coolly clung to their vessel, were placed out of danger. They were safely landed and received the congratulations of the people on the shore. Later in the day a steam-tug recovered the fishing-boat and towed it into the harbor. A local paper, remarking on this event, took occasion to say: "The lifeboat crew are entitled to much praise for the promptness with which they entered upon the discharge of their duty, and the skillful mauner in which they performed it." October 4.—Shortly before 8 o'clock in the morning a schooner was sighted about six miles west of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District), Lake Michigan, standing toward the harbor with a signal hoisted for a tug. There was a high sea running with a fresh northwesterly breeze, and, as the ves- sel labored heavily and was erratic in her movements—first hauling on the wind and then going off before it—she was carefully watched by the lookout. Not many minutes elapsed before her ensign was half-masted and her dis- tressed condition made manifest. The alarm was given and almost immediately the lifesaving crew were proceeding to the scene in the surf-boat. In the meantime a messenger had been dispatched for a steam-tug, with directions to follow and lend whatever assistance was possible. The surfmen had pulled out about four miles when, to their horror, the tottering craft lurched heavily and went over. She partly righted, but a furious on-rushing wave struck her down the second time, where she remained on her beam-ends swept by the foaming seas. With redoubled energy the men urged their boat on to the rescue. At about fifteen minutes to 11 they succeeded, after much hard pulling, in reaching the vessel, and found the imperilled crew of six men clinging to her weather side. As opportunity offered they were taken off, one by one, in a benumbed and perishing condition, the captain being the last to leave the wreck. The tug ARCTIC had by this time arrived, but the heavy weather precluded any attempts being made to save the vessel. The castaways were taken as quickly as possible to the station, provided with dry clothing, and otherwise comfortably cared for. The schooner was the ANNIE TOMINE, of Chicago, Illinois, from Muskegon, Michigan, bound for Michigan City, Indiana, with a cargo of lumber. The captain recounted that he had left port early in the morning, and a lew hours afterwards dis- covered that his vessel was leaking badly. He tried to make a harbor, but she continued to rapidly fill, notwithstanding the efforts of the crew to keep her free with the pumps, and in the short space of fifteen minutes was completely waterlogged. Rolling heavily she became unmanageable, and getting into the dangerous trough of the sea, the force of the waves cap- sized her. He also stated that when rescued he was so numbed with cold and exposure that he had lost the use of his lower limbs, and he felt certain that none of his men could have held on an hour longer. In the afternoon the life-saving crew went out in tow of the tug, with the hope of being able to bring the abandoned craft into port. She had drifted about six miles to the southward and was found to be fast going to pieces. The sea was so high that the lines which were run to her parted, and the attempt had to be relinquished. The next morning (5th,) the surfmen made efforts to save something from the schooner which had finally stranded on the beach seven miles south of the harbor, but she had broken up and was a total wreck. A portion of her cargo was subsequently recovered. The shipwrecked --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -131- crew were sheltered at the station for twenty-four hours, when they de- parted for their homes. The subjoined communication appeared in the Grand Haven Venture under date of October 14th: "editor Grand Haven Venture: "Kindly permit me space in your valuable paper to insert the following: "Commander and Crew Life-Saving Station, Grand Haven, Michigan: "To you we owe a debt of gratitude which mere thanks are incompetent to repay. Your timely arrival at the wreck of the schooner ANNIE TOMINE, on the morning of the disaster, was the means of saving the lives of all on board, as the seas were breaking over us and the chill, cutting winds were fast wasting our almost exhausted strength; but a short time longer and all would have been lost. The rapidity with which you performed your duty was proof positive to us that commander and men were well fitted to fill the responsible positions you occupy. Your pull of five miles against a north- west sea and fresh breeze inside of sixty minutes was something that re- quired the nerve and muscle of just such men as you have proven yourselves to be. Your kindness in furnishing us with dry clothing and kindly caring for our many wants while at the station will ever be kept in grateful remembrance by myself and crew. The life-saving service has proven its great value on the chain of lakes in the past years, as many a shipwrecked mariner will testify who has been saved from a watery grave by the assis- tance of commanders and crews at the different stations. Again permit us to tender our heartfelt thanks for the rescue from death, for duties well performed, also for the many kindnesses received from you while at your station; and should the future ever offer a chance we stand ready to be- friend you in any way we can, and with a willing heart and ready hand. A kind God bless you, shipmates, and may your future be a prosperous one. "In friendship, "John Disbrow, Late Captain of Schooner ANNIE TOMINE. "Muskegon, Mich., October 11, 1S85." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -132- October 5.—At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, during a fresh northerly gale with stormy weather, the lookout of the Crisp's Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, reported a small vessel adrift on the lake, about four miles to the northward, with a distress signal flying. The lifesaving crew pulled off to the craft, which proved to be a derelict schooner-rigged boat, forty feet long, with all the sails gone. It was towed to the station by the surfmen and the circumstance of its recovery duly advertised. Subsequently it was claimed by the agent of the Hudson Bay Company at Sault Ste. Marie. It was ascertained that the boat's canvas had been blown away in a gale of wind two days previous on the opposite side of the lake, near Michipicoten River, Ontario, and that the crew of two men had been taken off by a fishing lugger. Thus abandoned it had drifted across the lake. On October 31st the keeper went with the craft as far as White Fish Point, where two men were engaged to deliver it to the owners. Word of its safe arrival was received soon after from the agent at Sault Ste. Marie, with expressions of thanks to the life saving crew. October 5.—At about 5 o'clock in the morning of this date the crew of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were towed out by the tug SPORT to a burniug vessel, which was discovered by the lookout about twelve miles northwest of the station. She proved to be the steam- propeller ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, of Chicago, Illinois, bound home with a cargo of lumber from Manistee, Michigan. On reaching her it was found that her cabin was totally destroyed and the deck load in flames. The crew of seven men had been previously taken off by a passing steam-barge. An attempt was made to tow the craft into shallow water and the surfmen made a line fast to her anchor, which was hanging from the bow. As soon as the tug brought a strain on the line, however, all the cable ran out of the hawse-pipe, and, as there was nothing else on the vessel to secure to, she was reluctantly abandoned. With some difficulty the anchor was hoisted clear of the ground and both it and the chain were towed near the station, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -133- where they were let go. The life-saving crew subsequently landed them on the pier. The steamer, with the cargo, was entirely consumed. The origin of the fire could not be ascertained. The men of the Grand Point au Sable Station also endeavored to render assistance on this occasion, but on the way out, meetiug the steamer GEO. C. MARKHAM, with the crew of the burning vessel on board, and learning that matters could in nowise be helped, they returned to their quarters. October 7.—The steam tug GEORGE R. PAIGE, of Fairport, Ohio, took fire at about 2 o'clock in the morning while lying at her wharf, a quarter of a mile to the southward of the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The night patrol first discovered the flames and gave the alarm. The life- saving crew quickly launched their boat and, taking with them the station force-pump and hose, hurried to the vessel, which was in great danger of burning to the water's edge. Her crew of three men were ashore when the fire broke out, but they arrived shortly after the surfmen. The latter worked effectively in extinguishing the flames, and through them the tug was saved from total loss. A portion of her cabin and pilot house was destroyed, all of which was fully covered by insurance. Her engines received but slight damage. October 7.—At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon the keeper of the Ship Canal Station, (Tenth District), Lake Superior, noticed tugs at work on a stranded steamer in Portage Lake, about a hundred yards from the canal. The life saving crew launched the surf boat and pulled to the vessel, which proved to be the propeller NYACK, of Buffalo, New York, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -134- bound thence to Duluth, Minnesota, with a general cargo and a crew of thirty-six persons. She had run aground in the night and lighters were alongside discharging her. The surfmen set to work handling the freight and, soon afterwards, she was pulled afloat and steamed into the canal. There the station men assisted to transfer a load of pig iron back on board from one of the lighters, and at 6 in the evening returned to their quarters their services being no longer required. October 7.—The schooner JENNIE MULLEN, of Chicago, Illinois, in ballast, bound thence to Muskegon, Michigan, when about to enter the harbor at the latter place, in a fresh southwest breeze and heavy sea, carried away her main-boom and drove on the beach two hundred yards north of the pier. The accident was observed, at half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, from the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District.) a short distance to the eastward. The surf-boat was hurriedly hauled over the point of intervening land to a spot abreast of the stranded vessel and launched. A line was at once carried from the stern of the craft to the pier-head, set taut and made fast, after which the crew, numbering seven men, together with their personal effects, were safely lauded through the surf. It was thought that the schooner, in her dangerous position, would soon pound to pieces. By an unforeseen and fortunate circumstance she was, however, saved. The pre- vailing wind, blowing with increased fury from across the lake, with great suddenness raised the water more than a foot along the shore, and the strain brought on the line attached to the pier sprang the craft afloat. The station men quickly manned their boat and set the captain and part of his crew on board, who succeeded in keeping the vessel clear until a tug was obtained, when she was towed safely into the harbor, to the great surprise of every one. The timely presence of the life-saving force, and their prompt and efficient action, evidently averted a disaster. During the work of putting the crew back on board the stem of the surf-boat was split from end to end, as the schooner at that time offered no lee in going alongside, being held stern to the wind and sea by the operation of the line. October 7.—Shortly after dark the lookout at the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, reported a schooner in the offing, burning signals for a pilot. Not receiving a response she tried to make the harbor, but after three unsuccessful attempts, the wind blowing half a gale from the southeast, came to an anchor right between the pier-heads. Her position in the middle of the narrow channel was one of much danger, as she was liable to be run down by passing vessels or to drag on the beach in case of a shift of wind to the westward. The thick and threatening weather heightened the apprehension for her safety. The keeper summoned the crew, and, putting a small hawser in the surf-boat, proceeded alongside. A line was made fast on board and carried to the south pier. The life-saving men then landed and hauled the craft abreast of the station to a secure berth. The captain was very thankful for this opportune service. The schooner was the SANDY MORRISON, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bound from Chicago, lllinois, to Grand Haven, Michigan, in ballast, with a crew of two men. October 8.—Shortly before 2 o'clock in the afternoon the small fishing- schooner PLOW BOY, of Hammond's Bay, Michigan, was noticed from the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, working up along the coast under close-reefed sails. She was making bad weather of it, on the starboard tack, against a strong northwest wind. The sole occupant of the boat made three successive, attempts to put her about and stand off shore, but each time she came up into the wiud and misstayed. At the fourth trial --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -135- a heavy sea struck her amidships and she capsized about a half mile to the eastward. The life-savers immediately launched the surf-boat and put off with all speed to the scene of the accident. Two of the crew being absent for supplies they found it difficult, short-handed, to cross the reefs abreast of the station, but, after a hard pull, finally reached the over- turned craft, which was tossing about in the breakers with the imperiled man clinging to her side. With some trouble he was taken into the surf-boat and safely landed. The surfmen then returned to the station, obtained lines and tackle and the life-saving dress. When they went back the vessel was pounding heavily in the surf with her foremast gone. She was hauled on the beach and bailed out. By the prompt action of the station men the man was unquestionably rescued from drowning and his boat saved from being dashed to pieces. October 8.—At about 8 o'clock in the morning, during the prevalence of a strong northwest gale, a scow containing two men was seen to strand on the beach, a quarter of a mile north of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The life-saving crew proceeded to the scene in the surf-boat and endeavored to tow the craft inside, but the attempt proved futile, owing to the high sea, and they were obliged to temporarily abandon her. Returning to the station the Surfmen obtained a number of long lines, and, after two hours of hard work, during which they became thoroughly drenched, finally succeeded in hauling her into the harbor, where she was safely turned over to the owner. October 11.—Shortly before 2 o'clock in the morning Patrolman Niesly, of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, being hailed from the opposite side of the river, manned the dingey, rowed over, and ferried across a deck-hand belonging to the steamer DAVID BALLENTINE, which was lying alongside the coal-wharf east of the station. The surfman noticed that the man was under the influence of liquor, and therefore determined to watch him until he reached his vessel. The sailor had proceeded nearly to the end of the Government pier, when he made a misstep and fell into the river. The patrolman, who was ready with his boat, quickly shoved off and succeeded, after some difficulty, in rescuing the imperiled man and landing him on the pier. He was then conducted, without further trouble, to the steamer and put safely on board. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -136- October 12.—During thick and misty weather, at about 6 o'clock in the evening, the British schooner H. P. MURRY, of Oakville, Ontario, bound from Lemington to Kingston, in the same Province, mistook the west for the east pier, in attempting to enter Fairport Harbor, and stranded about a third of a mile north of the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The life-saving crew witnessed the accident and immediately proceeded to the relief of the distressed vessel. They ran lines to the pier and suc- ceeded, after considerable effort, in heaving the schooner afloat. They then helped to make sail and worked her safely into the harbor. By this timely assistance the wrecking of the craft was fortunately averted, as the wind freshened to a gale from the northeast, making up a heavy sea, which would soon have dashed her to pieces. The captain was very thankful for his escape from what otherwise might have proved a very serious disaster. The vessel was loaded with wheat and had six men on board. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -138- October 13.—The crew of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, were employed during the night in keeping the scow J. U. PORTER, of Lorain, Ohio, (the same vessel assisted on August 2d,) from being blown adrift from the wharf to which she was moored, during the prevalence of a heavy easterly gale of wind. The four-inch hawser belonging to the station was used to secure her, and the services rendered undoubtedly saved the craft from breaking away and being beached by the storm. October 13.—At about half past 7 o'clock in the morning, while two of the surfmen of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, were re- turning from their patrol they were attracted by a signal of distress on a barge lying out at the breakwater. They immediately reported the cir- cumstance to the keeper, who caused the surf boat to be manned. The life- saving crew, on arriving alongside, found the vessel to be the GEORGE KELLY, of Saint Clair, Michigan. She had sprung a leak early in the day while running down the lake, during a northeast gale, in tow of the steamer Missouri. She had loaded with lumber at Oscoda, Michigan, was bound to Toledo, Ohio, and had a crew of five men. The latter were completely worn out by their efforts at the pumps, and the craft had been obliged to put into Sand Beach Harbor for shelter. There were twenty-two inches of water in the hold when the surfmen turned to and relieved the sailors. The former worked until nearly midnight, when a part of the force went ashore to ob- tain something to eat. They soon returned to the vessel and resumed their labors, succeeding at about 1 o'clock in the morning (the 14th,) in freeing her of water. While the station men were engaged at this task the barge's --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -139- crew partook of much needed rest and were not roused until half-past 4, when they were able to take care of the craft without assistance. October 13.—In the afternoon, while the crew of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, were practicing in the life-boat, during a moderate easterly gale, they passed near the schooner WILLIAM YOUNG, of Port Huron, Michigan, at anchor a short distance southwest of the station, and were hailed by those on board. The surfmen rowed up under the lee quarter of the vessel and were told by the captain that he had shipped nine men at Alpena the previous day to help load the schooner with cedar at Monaghan's Landing, and, as he could not reach the wharf on account of the weather, the men had become dissatisfied and wanted to be put ashore. He had no boat which he could trust to lower in the high seas, and the station men went alongside and, after considerable trouble, succeeded in taking off the men and landing them on the main shore, two miles away. On the trip back the master of the same schooner asked the keeper to take his wife and boy, who were seasick, to the station. The request was complied with and they were both cared for over night and the following day by the keeper's wife. They were afterwards taken to the schooner very much re- freshed, and pleased at the kind treatment they received. The life-saving crew, during the work alluded to above, pulled a distance of at least ten miles in the heavy sea and high wind. October 14.—Near noon the lookout of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, observed a small sloop-yacht capsized on the lake about a half mile to the eastward. In twenty minutes the lifesavers were alongside. Two men were found clinging to the overturned craft, who were immediately taken into the surf-boat. Their situation was critical in the extreme, as a southwest breeze which prevailed at the time was blowing them offshore. The timely arrival of the surfmen evidently saved them from being lost. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -140- The crew righted the sloop and towed it into the harbor. The men related that they were bound on a hunting trip and were suddenly upset by a flaw of wind. October 14.—Three gentlemen wishing to visit White Fish Point employed a boatman and embarked in a sailing skiff near the Muskallonge Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior. A fresh northwest wind was blowing, and the sea was running so high that the district superintendent, who was at the station, tried to dissuade the party from attempting the trip. They, however, persisted in going, and the lifesaving crew, wading in the surf up to their waists, launched the craft for them. They proceeded but a short distance when a heavy sea struck the boat, filled it with water, and dashed it back broadside on the beach. The station men bailed it out, and when the occupants were again ready launched it as before. The party succeeded in getting to the outer bar, when their rudder broke, the craft became un- manageable, and they set a signal for assistance. The surfmen put off and rescued the imperiled men, and brought the sail boat safely ashore and hauled it out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -141- October 18-22.—During these five days a sick man who came from the lumber camp to the Two Heart River Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, was sheltered and kindly cared for. He was given medicines and food, and on the last named date left on the steamer ST. MARIES for his home in Canada. October 19.—In the afternoon of this date the life-saving crew of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District.) Lake Huron, went off to the schooner ANNIE SHERWOOD, of Erie, Pennsylvania, that parted her line while in tow of a steamer during an easterly gale and thick weather, and directed her to a good anchorage under the lee of the island. October 19.—The crew of the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at 4 o'clock in the morning of this date, went to the assistance of the schooner T. Y. AVERY, of Chicago, lllinois, which, while entering the harbor, struck the light-house trestle on the pier-head, and carried away her jib-boom. She was from Charlevoix, Michigan, with a crew of seven men and a cargo of cord-wood and tan-bark. At the time of the accident the wind was blowing strong from the uortheast and a high sea was running. The life-saving force quickly boarded her and helped to clear up the gear. After two and a half hours of energetic work the vessel was finally got to her berth up the river. October 19.—The schooner TOM PAINE, of Cheboygan, Michigan, in ballast, while attempting to make the harbor at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, during the prevalence of a strong northeast wind, with rainy and stormy weather, ran against the south pier, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and was in great danger of being dashed to pieces, as quite a heavy sea was running in the channel. Her crew of three men were unable to manage her, and had it not been for the prompt arrival of surfmen from the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, they would doubtless have lost her. The life-savers, who witnessed the mishap, crossed the harbor in their boat and hurried out on the piers, where they ran lines and succeeded in hauling the imperiled craft to a snug berth inside. The captain and crew warmly thanked the station force for their timely assistance in saving the vessel. She suffered some damage and was obliged to remain in port a short time for repairs, after which she proceeded to Manitou Island, Michigan, whither she was bound from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -142- October 20.—During a heavy southwest storm the can buoy which marks the reef, three quarters of a mile east-southeast of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, broke from its moorings and in the morning of this date was seen adrift in the lake. The surfmen at once manned the life- boat and, after a hard pull of three miles in the heavy sea, the buoy was picked up, towed to the shore, and secured near the station. The gale was so violent that the life-saving crew had to anchor their boat several times on the return trip in order to rest themselves. On November 7th the buoy was turned over in good condition to the light house steamer DAHLIA. October 20.—In the evening of the 19th the schooner S. P. WILSON, of Chicago, Illinois, left Grand Haven, Michigan, bound home with a cargo of pine slabs, and a crew of six men all told. Near midnight the wind veered and freshened, and soon afterwards blew a gale from the west-south west, making up a heavy head sea. The vessel had proceeded about thirty miles on her course when the increasing violence of the storm decided the captain to put back into port. At 8 o'clock in the morning of the 20th, some fifteen miles from the harbor entrance, the schooner sprang a leak. She at once began to fill and, in spite of the efforts of the crew at the pumps, became completely water-logged. The canvas had been gradually taken in, and when the accident occurred the craft was running under bare poles. Laboring heavily she became unmanageable, and the tremendous seas that broke over her from all sides threatened every minute to capsize her. The crew, by tying themselves to the masts with long lines, to save themselves from being washed away, succeeded in throwing a part of the deck-load overboard, but the situation still grew more alarming and signals of distress were hoisted. The lookout at the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, observed the vessel acting strangely as she approached from the distance, and when the colors were half-masted the life-saving crew at once launched the surf-boat, but the heavy weather made it impossible to get out between the piers, and so another boat, kept on the south side of the harbor, had to be used instead. It was with difficulty got off the beach and worked through the surf, which was tumbling in with terrific force. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -143- Three times the boat was nearly swamped, but two of the crew, constantly bailing with buckets, kept it afloat, and while the oarsmen were exhausting themselves in a vain attempt to make headway, the keeper had to quickly elect between alternatives—whether to take the chances and give battle to the surging breakers with all hands at the oars, or be driven back on the beach. He chose the former, and by a bold dash, with every muscle strained to its utmost tension, the boat was sent through the foam-lashed waters and reached the less dangerous sea beyond. In its perilous passage it half filled and had to be bailed out ere the life-savers could press forward again. The propeller WISCONSIN, in the meantime, had made several attempts to get a line to the distressed vessel, but failed, and, as the latter drifted near the shore, the steamer was obliged to abandon her. The waves were sweeping the decks of the schooner and the crew had taken to the rigging. Shortly past noon she struck on the outer bar, a short distance south of the piers. The station men managed to beach their boat to leeward of the stranded craft and then jumped out into the surf up to their armpits, and dragged it, amid the floating slabs, as close as possible to the wreck, from which point it was pulled under the lee of the starboard fore rigging, where the sailors had taken refuge. The imperiled men were speedily taken off, safely landed, and conducted to the station, where their wants were cared for and they were sheltered over night. The surfmen were nearly all more or less bruised after their gallant work, and it was said by old seamen, who witnessed the events described, that they had never seen greater courage displayed or a boat handled in better shape. The subjoined extract is taken from a statement subsequently made by the captain of the lost schooner: ''The vessel was in danger of going to pieces every minute. The waves were dashing over her sides and the entire crew were lashed in the rigging, with no means of escape, our yawl-boat having been lost some time before. It would have been suicidal for any one to have made an attempt to swim or get to shore. The life-saving crew with great difficulty reached us and suc- ceeded in rescuing myself and crew from what would have been certain death but for their heroic efforts. The vessel was a strong and staunch one, but nevertheless she was entirely broken to pieces by 5 o'clock P. M. of the same day. I feel that I never can adequately repay the debt of gratitude I owe to Captain James Beauvais and his crew for their brave and intrepid conduct in saviug the lives of myself and crew." A communication received at the office of the General Superintendent, signed by the mayor and a number of prominent citizens of Grand Haven, after briefly reciting the circumstances of the above rescue, concludes as follows: "Knowing Captain Beauvais and crew of the life-saving station at this place, and knowing all the details of their heroic deed, which was far beyond their line of duty, we do hereby express to them our most cordial recognition of their nobility of heart, and commend them to the favor of the head of the humane service to which they belong." October 21.—During thick weather, with rain and bail, at about 7 o'clock in the evening, the crew of the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, heard repeated blasts from a fog horn and loud shouts for help. The surf- boat was launched, and after a row of half a mile to the northward the life-saving men reached the schooner WILLIAM L. AXFORD, of and from Port Huron, Michigan, which had missed tbe entrance to the harbor, drifted to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -144- tbe eastward, and anchored. The surfmen returned to the station, procured a line, and ran it from the craft to the pierhead, after which they hauled her inside to a place of safety. Tbe vessel had a lot of wrecking gear on board and was bound to Fairport with a crew of four men. October 21-23.—The schooner NEW HAMPSHIRE, of Detroit, Michigan, bound thence to Alcona, in the same State, put into the latter port for a cargo of cord-wood. She carried a crew of three men. While lying at her moorings the wind freshened from the southeast during the night of the 19th, causing her to thump so heavily against the wharf that she waterlogged and sank. Shortly past noon of the 21st the keeper of the Sturgeon Point Statiou, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, was informed of the above particulars, and the life-saving crew launched their boat and started to the scene of the wreck. The captain decided to strip the vessel, and the surfmen at once set about divesting her of the running and standing rigging, which they safely stored in an adjacent warehouse. They then cut away the spars and put them on the wharf. The following day (22d,) the station men returned and completed the work, and stowed all the gear on the schooner SEA BIRD, which was loading with tan-bark near by. They were employed until nearly dark discharging the cargo of wood, there being about forty cords in the hold, and promised to be on hand the next morning (23d,) to continue the task of unloading. At the appointed time the life-saving force arrived at the wreck, but found that the schooner had moved, and was so deeply submerged (her bulwarks being covered) that no further assistance could be rendered. Before leaving, however, the station crew helped to haul the schooner SEA BIRD, which had commenced to pound on the bottom, to a safe berth. The NEW HAMPSHIRE was subsequently towed on a reef by a tug, where she broke up, and the remainder of her load was washed ashore and recovered. The owner was very thankful to the surfmen for saving so much of his wood. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -145- October 22.—Shortly after 1 o'clock in the morning a tug, that was waiting outside for a tow drifting dangerously near the shore, was warned off by the patrol of the Grand Point au Sable Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. In going about, however, she grounded on the outer bar, but got safely afloat in about ten minutes' time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -146- October 20.—Shortly after dark the tug JOS. GOLDSMITH, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, towing two scows loaded with logs, arrived off the entrance to Two Rivers, in a strong northeast wind, and sounded her whistle for lights on the piers. Surfmen from the Two Rivers Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, went with lanterns and piloted her safely inside. October 28.—Shortly alter 9 o'clock in the morning the keeper of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, received a telephone message that a schooner was ashore near the range light at the entrance of Sandusky Bay, seven miles to the southward, and that the crew were in need of assistance to get her off. The life-saving men manned the surf-boat, took a four inch hawser and kedge, and started, in tow of the steamer AMERICAN EAGLE, to the point designated. The stranded craft proved to be the MARY AMELIA, of Detroit, Michigan, bound from Amherstburg, Canada, to Sandusky, Ohio, in ballast, with four men on board. The surfmen at once commenced operations and laid out an anchor. Fortunately there was very little wind and no sea, and, after four hours of diligent labor, they succeeded in heaving her ahead into deep water. Sail was then made and the vessel worked into the bay without having sustained any damage. The station crew got back to their quarters at 4 in the afternoon. October 28.—On this date a sick man came to the Two Heart River Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, from a neighboring lumber camp and was taken charge of by the keeper. For nine days he was sheltered and kindly cared for at the station and furnished with food and medicines, but, growing no better of his malady, he finally left for his home in Canada on the steamer ST. MARIE, November 5th. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -148- October 29.—At about half past 7 o'clock in the evening the crew of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, put off in the surfboat, during a severe northeast gale, to the schooner ADDIE MEMBERY, of and from Sackett's Harbor, New York, which was hurled against the breakwater by a heavy sea while trying to enter the river fifteen minutes before. She drifted into the new harbor and drove agaiust the west pier. The surfmen hauled down her sails, but discovered no one on board, her crew of three men having leaped on the breakwater when she struck. They were soon found and conveyed to the station. The vessel, which was loaded with lumber, proved a total loss; her cargo was saved, though much of it was damaged. October 29.—Observing a signal on the light-house, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, during a heavy northeast blow, the crew of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District.) put off in the life-boat and found that the light-keeper was unable to reach the south pier, on account of the heavy seas tumbling in over the breakwater, and therefore could not put up his light. The surfmen took the assistant keeper with them and succeeded in performing the task, although the high waves surging into the harbor made the trip one of no little, risk. October 29.—In the evening of this date, during a strong blow from the northeast, with a high sea running, the sloop IMPERIAL, of Sand Beach, Michigan, (the vessel assisted on the 1st and 3d of this month,) attempted to run into the harbor near the Hammond's Bay Station, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -149- (Tenth District,) Lake Huron. The weather being heavy, with only two men on board to handle her, she failed to make an entrance, when the life-saving crew ran lines from the wharf and succeeded in hauling her behind the breakwater to sheltered moorings. October 30.—For the particulars of the total destruction by wreck of the three-masted schooner GEORGE B SLOAN, of Oswego, New York, while attempting to enter that port during the night, and the loss of one of her crew, the stewardess, see page 20. Assistance was rendered by the crew of the Oswego Station (Ninth District) to the full extent of their ability. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -150- October 31.—The lumber laden schooner MYRTLE, of Chicago, Illinois, having a crew of seven men, arrived at Evanston in the morning of this date, and commenced to discharge her cargo at the south pier. At half-past 5 o'clock in the afternoon she had finished unloading, at which time a fresh southeast breeze was blowing, accompanied by rain, aud a heavy sea was making up. The pier, which extends east and west, has a jog on the south side making an angle around which it is difficult to haul a vessel without fouling her jib-boom with the two derricks that stand on the structure at that point. The craft was lying on the weather side, and the wind and waves, besides pressing her close up against the pier, made her position one of constantly increasing danger. The keeper of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, comprehending the situation, went to the captain to find out what arrangement, if any, had been made to get the schooner away. It was learned that every means had been exhausted to obtain a tug, but, owing to the threatening appearance of the weather, all --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -151- declined to venture out. Not being able to move the vessel unaided, it being a hazardous undertaking at best, and, as something had soon to be done to save her, the keeper tendered the services of the life-saving crew, which proffer was gladly accepted. Shortly after 8 o'clock the surfmen commenced to haul the schooner, and, with great difficulty, succeeded, by careful and skillful management in getting her safely to the end of the pier. They then went aboard and helped to make sail and, at about fifteen minutes to 11, she stood off to the northward for Ford River, Michigan. The captain rejoiced at the fortunate turn of affairs and was hearty in his expressions of gratitude. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -152- November 1. — At about midnight of the previous day, during a thick snow- storm, the steam-propeller WILLIAM T. GRAVES, with the schooner GEORGE W. ADAMS in tow, ran ashore on Dover's Point, nine miles southwest of the North Manitou Island Station, (Eleventh District.) Lake Michigan. Both vessels hailed from Toledo, Ohio, and were on their way from Chicago, Illinois, to Buffalo, New York, laden with grain, the schooner's company numbering eight men all told. Intelligence of the accident was first received at the station at about 10 o'clock in the morning of this date, and the crew immediately manned the supply-boat and proceeded to the scene. It was found, on reaching the stranded crafts, that no assistance could be rendered and so the men returned to their quarters. Towards evening it began blowing fresh from the northwest, with occasional snow-squalls, and the keeper sent one of the crew to the south point of the island, five miles distant, where a watch could be kept on the two vessels through the night. Shortly after 10 the surfman heard whistles of distress proceeding from the steamer, and at once burned his Coston light in answer to the summons, and also for the purpose of calling out the station force. The latter, as soon as the signal was observed, speedily put off in their boat and reached the imperiled vessels at midnight. It was ascertained that the schooner was leaking and that assistance was needed to keep the pumps in operation. The life-saving men worked them until half-past 6 o'clock in the morning, (2d,) after which time the mate thought that he could keep her sufficiently free with his own crew, as the wind had shifted more to the northward and the land now afforded them something of a lee. The schooner got off by aid of the tugs on the 4th, though it was found necessary to jettison a portion of her cargo. Every effort was made to save the steamer, but without success. During the night of the 15th she went to pieces, and, with her cargo, became a total loss. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -153- November 2.—At about half-past 11 o'clock at night the schooner J. R. PELTON, of Cleveland, Ohio, bound home in ballast from Toledo, in the same State, with a crew of five men, arrived off the breakwater pier, a half mile sonthwestof the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. A high wind was blowing from the westward at the time with a heavy sea running. A tug went out to tow the craft into the harbor and succeeded in getting a hawser from her, but the crew of the latter failed to catch a turn and the line was snatched from their grasp as the tug steamed ahead. The schooner drifted towards the beach into shoal water, where the steamer could not reach her. The patrol witnessed the mishap, and immediately reported the facts to the keeper. The surfboat was accordingly manned, and the life- saving men put off, with all haste, to the scene. It was ascertained that the schooner had no line of sufficient length which could be used, so the surfmen returned, as quickly as possible, to the station and procured their longest hawser. This was finally run to the vessel, and the station crew boarded her and assisted to heave up the anchors, which, in the meantime, had been let go. After entering tbe harbor in safety the captain warmly thanked the crew for their timely and valuable services. November 2.—On this date, as a steamer was leaving the wharf at Marblehead, Ohio, a man tried to leap ashore, but in the attempt missed his footing and fell into the lake. A surfman belonging to the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, fortunately happened to be at the landing, who got down on the side of the wharf and pulled the man out. The latter came very near being drowned, as he was turned over several times in the eddying back-water from the vessel's wheels before the surfman got bold of him. He was taken to the station, where his clothes were dried, after which he proceeded to his home. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -154- November 3.—Shortly before 1 o'clock in the morning the lookout at the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, discovered a fire in a building occupied by William Ditche as a grocery. The crew were immediately called out aud actively assisted in removing a quantity of merchandise from the burning structure, and in saving an adjacent house from the flames. November 4.—During a fresh southeast wind the small schooner RED CLOUD, of Port Clinton, Ohio, in ballast, bound home from Marblehead, in the same State, anchored near the light-house, about three miles to the eastward of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The vessel could not be seen from the station, and, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, some fishermen informed the keeper that the craft had a distress-signal flying. The life-saving force went to her in the surf-boat and ascertained that her crew of two men were unable to get the anchor up. The surfmen helped them out of their difficulty, and got the schooner underway so she could proceed. November 4.—Shortly alter 2 o'clock in the morning of this date the crew of the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, went to the assistance of the schooner E. J. McVEA, of Chicago, Illinois, which had grounded on a shoal and was pounding heavily alongside of the north pier, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -155- where she was lying. A strong southeast wind and heavy sea were sweeping into the harbor and the vessel was in imminent danger of going to pieces. The surfmen ran lines to the opposite pier, and, after two hours of hard work, succeeded in hauling her into deep water and across the river to a sheltered berth. This timely help evidently saved the craft from loss. She was loaded with lumber, had a crew of eight men, and was on her way home from Alpena, Michigan. November 7.—The keeper of the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, received word during the night that the small fishing schooner ROBIN had broken from her moorings at Spensville, two and a half miles to the eastward, and was drifting, bottom up, along the outer sand bar, in a heavy southeast wind and high sea. Early in the morning the life-saving crew, with suitable gear, started out in search of the craft and found her in the breakers, where it was very difficult to reach her. Finally, how- ever, a line was made fast to her, and she was towed into deep water, but -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -156- it was found impossible to right her. She was therefore grounded on the bar, and, by means of tackles, hauled over the shoals and out on the beach, where the owner subsequently took possession of her. November 7.—For an account of the wreck of the schooner R. B. King off Muskegon Harbor, Lake Michigan, and the rescue of part of her crew by the crew of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) see page 23. Two men were lost. November 8.—At 2 o'clock in the afternoon a small sail-boat was seen from the Two Heart River Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, heading for the beach. On approaching nearer it was observed that the occupants were trying in vain to raise the center-board. The lifesaving crew ran down to the water's edge, and arrived there just as the boat capsized. They rushed through the surf, which was high at the time, to the rescue of the two men, and succeeded in getting them on shore, and also saved all the household furniture with which the craft was loaded. The station crew then hauled the boat on the beach, bailed it out, cleared the center board, and at 4 o'clock the men re-embarked with their effects, and resumed their journey, thankful for their safety. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -157- November 9.—At about half past 7 o'clock in the evening the steamer WILLIAM H. BROWNE, of Grand Haven, Michigan, while making Ludington Harbor in the darkness, struck the south pier under a full head of steam and split open her stem. She had made the trip up the coast from Pentwater, with a misc- ellaneous cargo, and had on board one passenger and a crew of three men. The surfmen of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at once put off in their boat and met the vessel coming in the harbor. They boarded her when she got alongside of her wharf, by which time there was at least three feet of water in the hold. The keeper set two of his crew pumping to keep the craft from filling, while with the others he speedily discharged her cargo. The life-saving crew then obtained the services of a tug and had the steamer towed into shoal water in Pere Marquette Lake. Had it not been for their active work the vessel would undoubtedly have sunk at her wharf where she would have sustained considerable damage, and where the subsequent task of raising her would have been a difficult and an expensive undertaking. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -158- November 11.—At about half past 3 o'clock in the morning two of the crew of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, while on patrol were attracted by loud cries for help coming from the direction of the Bennett Elevator, a short distance northeast of the station. They immediately manned the ferry-scow near by and hastened to the scene, where they found a man in the water trying to save himself from drowning by clinging to the side of the wharf. A number of excited canal-boat men had gathered near the spot and were vociferously calling for assistance, not being able to render any themselves owing to the height of the wharf. The surfmen pulled the imperiled man into their boat and conveyed him to the station, where he was stripped of his wet clothing and put to bed. He proved to be a fireman belonging to the steamer CHICAGO, and stated that he had walked off the wharf while intoxicated, and when rescued was almost exhausted and could not have held out much longer. After breakfast he returned on board his vessel, first thanking the keeper and crew for their timely aid and kind treatment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -159- November 12.—At about 3 o'clock in the morning, while three men who had just landed from the steamer MACKINAW were on the point of leaving the wharf at Sand Beach, Michigan, they stepped aside to let an omnibus pass by, and one of them, in so doing, accidentally slipped and fell into the lake. The cries of his companions attracted the attention of Patrolman Prescott, of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, who hastened to the scene of the mishap, quickly got down on a spile, and when the man rose the second time, caught him and pulled him out. He was then conducted to the station, supplied with dry clothing from the stock re- ceived from the Women's National Relief Association, and cared for until alter daylight. He informed the keeper that had not the surfman promptly arrived he would surely have drowned, as he could not swim, and the men who were with him were too old and feeble to have rendered any assistance. November 12.—During a fresh south wind and moderate sea, at 4 o'clock in the morning, the schooner NAIAD, of and from Chicago, Illinois, attempted to sail into Muskegon Harbor, whither she was bound, but, owing to the darkness and also to the fact that the captain was a stranger to the locality, missed the entrance and ran ashore about three hundred yards west of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District.) Lake Michigan. The lookout, who witnessed the accident, gave the alarm and ignited his Coston signal. The surf-boat was immediately manned and the life-saving crew were soon alongside the stranded craft. The keeper went on board and requested the master to allow a line to be run to the pier, which would prevent her from going farther on the beach. This plan was not at once acceded to, as the captain believed his vessel lost and had given directions to the crew to scuttle her. The keeper arrested him in his purpose, however, by assurances that there was no cause for immediate apprehension, as she could be easily floated with proper means. He was then landed in the surf-boat and secured the services of a tug. The latter arriving soon after daylight took a hawser which the surfmen had, in the meantime, run from the vessel to the pier, and, in thirty minutes, pulled her off without apparent damage, to the great satisfaction of the master, who thought his schooner fast for the winter. She was in ballast and carried a crew of eight men. The wind, soon --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -160- afterwards, suddenly shifted to the northwest and blew a gale for three days, which, had the craft not been promptly released, would have made short work of her. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -161- November 13.—Shortly after dark of this date the lookout of the North Manitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, discovered a vessel standing dangerously near the shore. He warned her by quickly igniting his Coston signal, when she changed her course and stood off. November 14.—Shortly before noon, during a brisk westerly breeze with falling snow, the keeper of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, in company with three of his crew took a long hawser and went on board the tug JAMES AMADEUS, which was dispatched to the assistance of the city garbage-scow that had broken adrift, about three miles offshore, while being towed out into the lake, and was in danger of driving on the beach. The surfmen got their line to the craft, and the latter was brought safely back into the harbor. November 15.—Shortly before 9 o'clock at night a surfman of the Vermillion Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, while on patrol, about a mile west of the station, discovered a vessel running towards the shore. There was a fresh northwest wind at the time with thick snow-squalls. The patrolman fired a red Coston light as a warning, but as the craft seemed difficult to manage she did not at once go off. On flashing a second signal, however, she changed course as quickly as possible and stood out into the lake. November 15.—In the afternoon of this date, while the keeper and a surfman of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were re- turning from a visit to the north patrol post, they found the body of a drowned man floating in the surf. They pulled it out on --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -162- the beach and immediately notified the coroner, who took charge of the remains. No marks or papers were found to lead to identification. November 16-20.—On these days the crew of the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, searched for the body of Matthew Gormon, who was knocked by a locomotive from the railroad bridge on the first-named date and drowned in the river, but they did not succeed in recovering it. The remains were not found till the following spring, (April 3d,) when they were discovered by the keeper of the Salmon Creek Station near the mouth of a small stream emptying into the lake. November 17.—Shortly before 6 o'clock in the evening the patrol of the Two Heart River Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, observed two lights up the beach about five miles distant. The life-saving crew launched their boat and rowed to the scene and found a man on the shore who had lost his way and was without food. He was taken to the station and cared for until the following morning when he left for his home in Sault Ste. Marie. Before going, however, he gave a letter to the keeper expressive of his gratitude for the assistance and kind treatment he received, saying that he would certainly have perished had not his signal fires been promptly answered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -163- November 19.—The lumber-laden schooner PEORIA, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while on her way from Sturgeon Bay, in that State, to Chicago, Illinois, in tow of the steam-barge THOMAS H. SMITH, was overtaken by heavy northerly weather, and, when off Grosse Point, some thirteen miles from her des- tination, parted her tow-line. Having only four men on board she was obliged to continue her voyage under short sail. In trying to make port, at about 1 o'clock in the morning of this date, she was thrown to leeward of the harbor entrance and struck the breakwater, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -164- head on, four hundred yards east of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The lookout witnessed the accident and at once sounded the alarm. In twenty minutes the life-saving crew were alongside the vessel and fouud her pounding against the pier, though an anchor which had been let go kept her somewhat clear and prevented serious damage. The station men, after taking in the situation, pulled back with all haste into the harbor, roused the crews of several tugs, and requested their immediate assistance. Returning to the scene of the mishap two of the surfmen swung themselves from the pier on board by means of a line made fast to the vessel aloft. The pumps were tried, but it was ascertained that she was not leaking. About this time a tug arrived. A hawser was soon run to the distressed craft, her anchor chain was slipped, and she was towed safely inside, one of the life-saving men standing by the wheel as she entered between the piers, while the other assisted to clear up the head-gear, which had suffered complete wreck. The following day the station force swept for and recovered the schooner's anchor. November 19.—Early in the morning of this date a small sloop, hailing from Holland, Michigan, with two men on board, dragged ashore in the harbor, during a strong northwest wind, about five hundred yards from the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The keeper took his men, and, by means of lines and tackles, hove the craft afloat, to the great satis- faction of the captain, who warmly thanked the lifesaving crew for their services. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -165- November 22.—An old pile-driver that had been hauled out on the beach near the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, would have been set adrift by the heavy seas and high water washing away the sand from under it, had not the life-saving crew promptly gone to the craft and secured it with chains. The keeper then notified the owner regarding the circumstance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -166- November 23.—During the prevalence of a strong northeast blow, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, a schooner lying at the pier, near the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, parted her mooring-lines, drifted amongst some short piles, and was in danger of being stove. The life-saving crew pulled to the vessel's assistance in the surf-boat, and with lines hauled her to a place of safety. They also moved a large lighter, that was pounding heavily against the wharf, up the river beyond reach of the seas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -167- November 24.—Shortly after dark, during a fresh northeast breeze, the patrol of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, while making the circuit of the island, discovered a schooner standing into danger towards the Can Buoy Shoal. He fired his Coston signal as a warning, when she at once sheered off, stood for the channel, and came to in a sheltered anchorage. The timely action of the surfman undoubtedly kept the vessel from stranding. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -169- November 27.—The south patrol of the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, shortly after dark of this date, heard a steamer blow four successive whistles near the outlying reefs. He at once flashed his Coston signal, when the vessel stood offshore into the lake, clear of all danger. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -175- December 1.—In the morning of this date a pile-driver got adrift in the lake and the owner requested the keeper of the Sturgeon Point Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, to assist him in getting it to a safe place. The life-saving crew manned the surf-boat and towed the vessel a mile and a half to the shore, where they put rollers under it, and hauled it about thirty rods out on the beach. The owner was very grateful for this service, saying that otherwise he might have lost his craft. December 3.—At twenty minutes past 11 o'clock in the night the patrolman alarmed the crew of the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, by firing Coston signals about a mile to the westward of the station. The surfmen hastened to the spot, where it was ascertained that the body of a drowned man had been found washed up on the beach. It was immediately conveyed to the station, and at daylight the coroner at Painesville, Ohio, was duly notified of the circumstance, and shortly came and viewed the remains. The man's name—James Lynn—was indelibly pricked in ink on the right arm. At sunset the body was placed in a coffin and buried on the beach by the life-saving crew. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -177- December 5, 6.—Shortly before midnight of the 4th, during a heavy northeast storm, the steamer CITY OF CONCORD, of Port Huron, Michigan, broke from her moorings at the breakwater at Sand Beach and was blown ashore, about a quarter of a mile from the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron. On account of the snow that was falling thickly at the time the vessel was not discovered until early in the morning of the 5th. The life- saving crew launched the surf-boat and went to her aid, but as no good could be accomplished until the wind abated, the captain decided not to undertake to float her until the weather changed. He requested the keeper to send off some dispatches for him, which was accordingly done. The steamer was on her way to Port Hope, Michigan, with a light cargo of coal and a barge in tow, and had a crew of sixteen persons. During the morning the wind moderated somewhat and the craft got off without help. The next day (6th,) she left for her port of destination, but a wind and snow-storm came up and she was obliged to put back to the harbor for shelter. Wanting to moor alongside of the steamboat wharf she whistled for the assistance of the life saving crew. The latter at once responded to the signal and got the vessel's chain ashore, (all her fasts having been lost when she broke adrift from the breakwater,) but that parted, and the surfmen then hastened to the station and obtained lines while the vessel was held up under steam. On their return they succeeded in securing the steamer to the wharf. The master stated that had it not been for the timely action of the lifesaving force his craft would probably have been driven ashore, as he could not have handled her in the heavy gale and blinding snow-storm. When she was ready to proceed on her voyage the keeper loaned the captain a hawser to tow the barge with, as he had no lines suitable for that purpose. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -178- December 5.—Shortly before 7 o'clock in tbe morning, during tbe prevalence of a heavy northeast gale with stormy weather, the lookout of the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, observed a signal of distress on a schooner at-anchor in the harbor. The ice had formed so thick against the boat-room doors that the life-saving crew had to chop and shovel it away, and were thirty minutes before they succeeded in launching the life boat. There was so much floating ice in the harbor, and the wind was blowing so strong, that, after a hard struggle of an hour and a half, the surfmen were forced to return to the station, as they were unable to make any further progress towards the vessel. An attempt was then made in the surf-boat, and, by the most strenuous exertions, the men at last succeeded in pulling a distance of three-quarters of a mile and reached the craft. It was learned, on arriving alongside, that a man on board had broken his leg and needed surgical treatment. The station crew at once returned to the shore and obtained a surgeon. In the meantime the sea moderated somewhat, and, when ready to go off again, the harbor master took his steam launch and towed the surfboat, with its occupants, to the schooner. The surfmen assisted to set the broken limb, and then conveyed the surgeon back to the shore. The following day (6th,) the injured sailor was brought to the station, where he was kindly cared for two days, and afterwards taken to comfortable quarters in the hotel near by. December 5.—At about 8 o'clock in the morning, during a fresh north wind, a small schooner, covered with ice and snow, was seen off the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, standing in for the harbor with a signal set for a tug. There being no tug in port, and, as it seemed evident that the craft could not get inside without aid, under her short spread of canvas, the keeper obtained the services of two volunteer surf- men, the station being closed for the winter, and proceeded out on the pier, where they hove a line to the vessel and succeeded, after a two hours' task, in towing her up the river to a safe berth. It was with the greatest difficulty that they kept her from pounding against the pier. She proved to be the MAMIE JEPSON, of and from Manistee, Michigan, with a cargo of apples and potatoes. Her crew of two men were almost worn out with work and exposure, as she was in a nearly helpless condition, having lost her anchors and boat and most of her sails. As the keeper expressed it, "she looked more like a floating iceberg than anything else." December 5.—Shortly after midnight, while the schooner MILWAUKEE BELLE, of Chicago, Illinois, which had arrived from Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, the pre- vious day, with a cargo of telegraph-poles, was moored opposite the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, a northwest wind sprang up that soon increased in violence to a gale, causing the vessel to part some of her lines and to pound heavily against the wharf. The captain, who was alone on the schooner, signaled for a tug and also for the assistance of the life-saving crew. The latter speedily pulled over to the imperiled craft, boarded her, and hurriedly got lines up so that she could be towed to a place of safety. But the tug, at the last moment, on account of the prevailing high wind and sea, declined to take hold of her without the aid of another boat; so the surfmen at once set to work and got the anchor ready to let go, cast off the fasts that still held, and scudded the vessel under bare poles into the basin, where they skillfully brought her to, and where she rode out the storm unharmed. December 5.—At 5 o'clock in the morning the schooner NAPOLEON, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with no one on board, broke from her moorings, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -179- during a strong northwest wind, and drifted ashore in the harbor about four hundred yards to the southward of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. At the captain's request the life-saving crew ran a hawser to a tug, but it was not until a channel had been dredged out for the vessel that she was finally pulled afloat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -182- December 7.—On this date the crew of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, made a diligent search along the beach several miles for the body of a man supposed to have been lost on the 4th while on his way in a small craft from Sandusky to Marblehead. The oars and sail be- longing to the boat and the load of shingles were found washed up on the shore, but no traces of the man were discovered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -183- December 7.—At half-past 7 o'clock in the morning the lookout of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, sighted a vessel about eight miles west of the harbor, with a flag hoisted for a tug. One of the crew was forthwith dispatched for a steamer, amd when she was ready three of the surfmen set out on board of her with a view of lendiug assistance, if necessary, as the wind was blowing fresh and the weather had been stormy for several days. The schooner had both her anchors down and proved to be the CHALLENGE, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bound for Ludington, with a cargo of oats and hay. She was badly iced up and her canvas was in ribbons. Her yawl was lowered and sent for two of the life-saving men, who went off in it and helped weigh her anchors. The vessel's crew were all nearly worn out with exposure and fatigue, and the captain was very thankful for the aid rendered him. The craft was towed safely into port. December 7.—The schooner LUCINDA VAN VALKENBURG, of Chicago, Illinois, on her way home from Ludington, Michigan, with a cargo of pine lumber and a crew of seven men, encountered a fierce westerly storm, and, when off Racine, Wisconsin, lost her rudder and drifted helplessly toward the east side of the lake. Early in the morning of the 6th, to save her from driving on the beach, the anchor was let go, which brought her up about five miles northwest of the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. She was covered with ice to her cross-trees. At 9 o'clock a flag of dis- tress was run up. As it was practically impossible for the crew to row the life-boat against the fury of the gale, the keeper made every effort to obtain the services of a tug, but none would venture out. All that could then be done was to hoist a responsive signal to inform the imperiled sailors that their situation was observed. Meanwhile the life-saving force had been doubled by the arrival of seven volunteers, and during the night the beach was steadily patrolled and big fires were kept burning where it was thought that the vessel, in case she dragged or parted her chains, would be likely to come ashore. At daylight (7th,) she was still riding heavily at her anchor. The keeper made another urgent appeal for a tug and succeeded in persuading the CHARLES E. BIRD to undertake the task of towing the life boat to the rescue. The latter was accordingly launched and, at half-past 7, with eight men at the oars, started forth. After a hard and manful struggle of an hour and a half's duration, amidst floating ice and tumultuous seas, the schooner was finally reached, and her nearly frozen crew were taken off. They were conveyed at once to the station, where they received dry clothing, stimulants, and warm food, and were comfortably sheltered over night. They had been without fire for two days, as almost every sea that boarded her washed through and flooded the cabin. The decks were coated with ice in places several feet thick and the distressed men had suffered intensely from cold and hunger, and, when succored, were in a nearly exhausted condition. On the 8th there was a favorable change in the weather, and the vessel was towed safely into port. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -184- December 8.—Shortly past noon, during the prevalence of a blinding snow- storm, the crew of the Lndington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michi- gan, pulled out about three miles in the surf-boat to the assistance of the steamer LAWRENCE, of Grand Haven, Michigan, which was blowing her whistle for a pilot. The keeper informed the captain the proper course to steer, and the vessel soon arrived safely in the harbor. She cleared from Luding- ton in the morning for Chicago, but, her machinery giving out, put back to port. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -186- December 9.—At 7 o'clock in the morning, during a fresh easterly wind with snowy weather, a schooner was observed at anchor about three miles southwest of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, with her colors at half-mast. The life-saving crew launched the surf-boat and reached the craft just after a tug had got alongside. The distressed vessel was found to be the LUCIA A. SIMPSON, of Manistee, Michigan, bound home. She was thickly covered with ice and snow, and the captain, anti- cipating stormy weather, wanted help to weigh his anchors so that he could get inside. The surfmen went on board and rendered the assistance required—a service that was warmly appreciated. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -189- December 14.—The keeper of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, seeing a schooner rounding Grosse Point, just before dark, in a very light wind, and the thermometer registering six degrees, with the weather growing colder, telephoned to Chicago for a tug, which shortly came and towed the vessel inside. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -203- January 2.—At about half-past 2 o'clock in the morning the small schooner MAMIE JEPSON, of Manistee, Michigan, bound home from Muskegon, in the same State, with a cargo of barreled apples and a crew of two men, went ashore a mile and a quarter south of the Grand Point au Sable Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The night was dark and misty and the vessel was standing up the coast under a light southeasterly breeze. Near daylight the keeper was roused by the captain of the stranded craft who called at the station to request assistance. The regular life-saving force being off duty for the winter a volunteer crew was mustered, and, with lines, tackles, and an anchor, repaired as soon as possible to the scene of the mishap. Some delay was occasioned on account of a raft having to be built with which to transport the anchor. The surfmen lightened the schooner of about a hun- dred barrels of apples and then set to work in an attempt to heave her off. Towards evening a small fishing steamer that came along lent them some aid, but all efforts to float the craft proved unavailing. As darkness shut in, the crew returned to their homes, and the captain, through the advice of the keeper, proceeded to Ludington to obtain the services of a tug. Early the following morning (3d,) the surfmen resumed their labors and made another fruitless trial to heave the vessel into deep water. Shortly before noon the tug JOHN D. DEWAR arrived and succeeded in pulling the schooner off the beach, though not without tearing away the latter's windlass, which was jerked overboard. She was then towed into Hamlin Harbor where the station men reloaded the portion of the cargo that had been removed, and, late in the evening, she proceeded in tow of the steamer ONEKAMA to Manistee. It was fortunate that the craft got clear when she did, as that night the wind freshened and subsequently increased to a gale from the northwest, making up a heavy sea that either would have dashed her to pieces or carried her high and dry on the shore. During the above operations valuable assistance was also rendered by the keepers of the adjacent stations at Manistee and Ludington, who came to the scene on the tugs, the latter bringing with him a stout hawser with which the schooner was towed into port. On the 4th the men from the Grand Point au Sable Station, after much difficulty, recovered the anchor that had been slipped the previous day. January 3.—In the forenoon of this date two of the surfmen of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, went to the assistance of two small boys, who had gone out in a row-boat a short time before, and, losing themselves in the fog, brought up near the south breakwater, where they began shouting loudly for help. They were badly frightened and were, piloted to the station, whence they left for their homes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -208- January 7.—At 9 o'clock in the morning, while the steamer CITY OF LUDINGTON, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was on her way out of Manistee harbor, bound home with a cargo of salt, carrying six passengers and a crew of thirty-one persons, she grounded on the bar an eighth of a mile west of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The station being closed for the winter, the keeper put off alone in his skiff to her assistance. He succeeded in running lines to the pier, sounded out the channel, and helped the vessel into deep water. The captain heartily appreciated this timely service, which was performed in weather bitterly cold, the thermometer registering two degrees below zero. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -224- January 19.—At half-past 9 o'clock at night the acting keeper of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, as he was on the wharf, discovered a man coming down the river on the ice. He was stag- gering along in a peculiar way and shortly after was observed to fall. Summoning assistance, the regular life-saving crew being off duty for the winter season, the surfman went off and brought the man to the sta- tion. The latter's despondent and singular actions gave cause for apprehension, so the police patrol-wagon was sent for and he was taken in charge by the city authorities. The weather being extremely cold he had a narrow escape from freezing to death. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -236- February 18.—Two lumbermen, who came from the woods, where they had been at work, were, on the night of this date, furnished with lodgings at the Muskallonge Lake Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -237- February 20.—Two wayfarers, journeying to White Fish Point, stopped at the Muskallonge Lake Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, and were given food and sheltered for the night. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -238- February 22.—Between 12 and 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the keeper of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, discovered two men in a dangerous position on the ice a couple of miles from the station. There was an opening of clear water of about a mile in width between the breakwater and the floating ice, and the wind was blowing strong off shore. The regular life-saving force being off duty for the winter season, six men were speedily mustered to transport and man the boat, which was dragged on a hand-sled to where it could be safely launched. The feat was accomplished with no little difficulty and risk, as when near the water's edge the crew broke through the ice, but finally managed to get into their boat and make the start. The imperiled men were brought off and landed on the pier. They had been trying, with grapnels, to recover their nets, which had been set before the ice made, and while so engaged the opening occurred. Had a rescue not been thus promptly effected they would undoubtedly have been swept far out into the lake and probably lost. The surfman broke through the frozen surface several times on their return, but succeeded, at 3 o'clock, in reaching their quarters without further accident. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -249- March 13.—On this date, during the prevalence of a cold north wind and snow-storm, a wayfarer was sheltered over night at the Muskallonge. Lake Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -264- April 3.—Towards evening, while the keeper of the Salmon Creek Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, was patroling the shore in a small skiff, accompanied by a friend, he was hailed by a man at the mouth of Snake Creek, some miles to the westward of the station, who informed him that a dead body was lying in the water a short distance away. After a hasty examination the keeper, believing it to be the man who was knocked by a locomotive from the railroad bridge at Oswego, New York, the previous fall, lost no time in communicating with the relatives at that place and also with the coroner at Pulaski. Shortly past midnight the brother of the deceased, with several friends, arrived, and were conducted to the place where the body lay. It was at once recognized as that of Matthew Gormon, the identification showing that the presumption of the keeper had been correct. The coroner arrived in the forenoon, (4th,) and after an inquest the remains were taken to Oswego. April 4.—As a boy was returning from attending his fishnets, in Lake Michigan, off Grand Haven, shortly after 11 o'clock in the morning, he undertook to tow his boat while walking along the top of the pier. As the latter was very slippery with ice, he missed his footing and fell into one of the empty cribs. He was in great danger of drowning, as the solid sides were some five feet high and the water was beyond his depth. Surfman Burch, of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, who was on --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -265- watch at the time and observed the accident, hastened to the youth's assistance, and succeeded in hauling him out, though not before he was considerably chilled. This prompt action undoubtedly saved the boy's life. April 5.—During a fresh northeast wind the steamer MYRTLE, of Sandusky, Ohio, bound homefrom Marblehead, in the same State, with a cargo of barrel- headings and six men on board, sprang aleak in a heavy sea, about two miles to the eastward of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, and was obliged to put back for shelter. When she arrived alongside of the wharf, shortly before 2 o'clock in the afternoon, there was over four feet of water in the hold and the furnace fires were nearly out. The life-saving force took the station-pump, and two pumps which they borrowed, and after several hours of hard work succeeded in freeing her and getting at the leak, which they assisted to repair. The steamer then proceeded to an anchorage under the lee of Kelly's Island. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -266- April 6.—The keeper of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, at about 8 o'clock in the morning of this date, received word by telephone that a small schooner rigged fishing-boat had broken adrift from her moorings at Lake Side wharf, a mile and a half to the westward, and capsized. At the request of the owner a part of the life-saving crew, with necessary gear, were dispatched to the scene and succeeded, in a couple of hours, in getting the craft to the pier, where she was secured and saved from going to pieces. The work was made the more difficult from the fact that a northeast gale of wind, with snow, prevailed at the time, and quite a heavy sea was running. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -267- April 8.—Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon while the new fishing- steamer IRWIN, of Saudusky, Ohio, with three men on board, was setting and taking up gill-nets on her trial trip, she ran aground on West Harbor Reef, about four miles to the westward of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The keeper, who observed the mishap, caused the surf- boat to be manned, and, taking with them a good line, the life-saving crew rowed out alongside of her. They took soundings around the vessel to ascertain where the deepest water lay, and, after removing some of the nets and boxes to lighten her, ran their line to the tug SALLIE that had arrived on the scene, and which succeeded in pulling the stranded craft afloat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -268- April 10.—The crew of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, recovered and towed in, on this date, a considerable quantity of timber that had been washed adrift by the high water in consequence of the northeast gale of wind that prevailed with such fury in the early part of the week. April 12.—At about half-past 4 o'clock in the morning, during a dense fog, the patrol of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, heard the repeated blasts of a steamer's whistle, which betook to be signals of distress. He at once reported the fact, and the life-saving crew put off in the surf-boat and pulled in the direction whence the sounds proceeded. After rowing three miles to the south ward they discovered the steam-barge G. P. HEATH, of Saugatuck, Michigan, stranded on the beach. Before leaving the station, the keeper, apprehending that the vessel had likely gone ashore in the fog, dispatched one of his crew for a tug. The surfmen boarded the craft and worked diligently for several hours shifting a portion of the cargo aft so as to lighten her forward, and, finally, with the assistance of a tug, which, in the meantime had arrived on the scene, succeeded in floating her off without damage and getting her safely into the harbor. The steamer was loaded with cedar ties and posts, and was bound from Ahnapee, Wisconsin, to Milwaukee, with a crew of eight men. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -269- April 13.—In the afternoon of this date the crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, pulled out in the surf-boat and directed the captain of the schooner JULIA B. MERRILL to the place where the YORK STATE slipped and lost her anchor the previous winter. The following day the life-saving men swept for several hours in the vicinity and finally grappled the chain which they put aboard the schooner. The anchor was then successfully hove up. April 14.—A dwelling house caught fire, in the morning of this date, a short distance from the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and was in great danger of burning to the ground. The lifesaving crew quickly proceeded to the scene, and, by means of firebuckets and the station force-pump, rendered valuable assistance in extinguishing the flames. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -270- April 15.—While the small steamer JOHN H. THOMPSON, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was returning to port with her catch of fish, in the evening of this date, her engines broke down, a mile and a half to the northward of the Erie Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, and she signaled for assistance. The life-saving crew reached her in the surf-boat shortly after 6 o'clock, and towed her to the piers, whence she was taken to the city by the tug PERIL. The disabled craft had four men on board. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -271- April 16.—For an account of the drowning of George Nugent in Chicago harbor, Lake Michigan, (Eleventh District,) see page 49. The body was recovered by the crew of the Chicago Station the next day. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -274- April 17.—In the forenoon the keeper of the Big Sandy Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, had the metallic life boat launched and pulled out to the schooner FIAT, of Oswego, New York, which was bound into the creek, and instructed the captain concerning the channel and the position and ranges of the buoys, whereby he was enabled to proceed safely inside. April 17.—The crew of the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, in the morning of this date, manned the surf-boat and ran lines from the harbor-tug SPORT to a small scow that had drifted on the beach. The latter was soon pulled off and towed safely into port. April 17.—In the evening of this date the crew of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, prevented a raft of logs, that had broken adrift, from being carried by the swift current out into the lake where it probably would have gone to pieces in the heavy seas and been lost. After making the raft fast to the pier, near the harbor entrance, word was communicated to the owners who soon sent a tug to tow it to a place of safety. April 18.—At half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon two men came to the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, with the intelli- gence that a boy had been drowned about half a mile southwest of the station. The crew promptly proceeded to the scene and soon recovered the body, but as it had been in the water for an hour all efforts to restore life proved unavailing. The remains were taken to the city morgue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -276- April 21.—While three of the crew belonging to the Sand Beach Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, were on their way to supper, at about half past 5 o'clock in the evening, they were informed that Mrs. Drake, an old lady living in the neighborhood, was missing. The surfmen immediately proceeded to the lake and soon discovered the body of the woman afloat near the shore. An attempt was made to restore life by the methods employed to rescusitate the apparently drowned, but the body had been too long in the cold water to admit of success. The remains were conveyed to her former home, where the coroner's inquest disclosed the fact that the case was one of suicide. April 21.—At about half-past 7 o'clock in the evening a small schooner in charge of a man and a boy, attempted to enter the harbor at Muskegon, Michigan. When the pier head was reached, the breeze being unfavorable, the man, with the purpose of helping his craft inside, landed with a line. The latter parted with the strain brought to bear, and the wind and current set the vessel off shore with no one but the small boy on board, who shouted lustily for help. The cries being heard by the surfmen of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) they hastily took their surfboat and rowed the man out to his schooner, which had drifted a quarter of a mile into the lake. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -278- April 24.—At 1 o'clock in the afternoon the captain of the tug FLORENCE YATES, which had gone out in the morning to bring into port the scow HENRY JANSEN, of Rochester, New York, with an engine and pile-driver on board, notified the keeper of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, that the latter vessel had dragged her anchors and driven so far in the breakers that he could not reach her. A fresh northeast wind, with rain, prevailed at the time, and there was considerable sea on. The keeper put two hawsers and the dingey on the tug and started with two surfmen for the scene, about four miles to the eastward. Arriving there the boat was launched and the men ran a line through the surf to the scow and boarded her. They then buoyed and slipped her chain, manned the pumps and worked them rapidly to keep her afloat. The craft was pitching heavily, and as the tug towed her out the water and spray swept completely over her. When clear of the breakers, the scow was held head to the sea while the station men pumped her dry and properly stayed the pile-driver, after which she was taken safely to Charlotte, arriving there at about 4 o'clock. The vessel had four men on board who had been at work with the apparatus building a wharf at Sea Breeze. Had assistance been much longer delayed she would have blown ashore and doubtless been totally wrecked, as when relieved she was only two hundred feet from the beach. April 24.—At about 4 o'clock in the alternoon a small steam-yacht passed the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, going south. Her strange movements attracted attention, and when about three-quarters of a mile away she stopped her engine and began drifting towards the beach. There was a moderate sea rolling in, and to prevent her getting in the breakers the anchor was let go, which, being small, failed to hold and she kept slowly dragging nearer the shore. At this juncture two of the surfmen put off in a skiff and found her to be the POCAHONTAS, of Chicago, Illinois, bound home from Waukegan,in the same State, with only one man on board. It appeared that the machinery, which was operated by means of oil fuel, had got out of order and the man was obliged to bring the yacht to, as described. The life saving men towed her up under the lee of the south pier, where, with the help of the rest of the station crew, she was taken to the beach and hauled out high and dry. In the meantime the man belonging to her, who was benumbed with cold, had been conducted to a neighboring dwelling where he was warmed and cared for. Subsequently he took the train for Chicago, leaving his craft in charge of the keeper. On the 26th he returned, and after repairing the machinery, launched the yacht with the assistance of the surfmen, and proceeded homeward. The prompt action of the life-saving men unquestionably saved the vessel from being washed ashore and destroyed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -281- April 30.—The steamboat EDITH, of Erie, Pennsylvania, bound in from the fishing grounds, lost her rudder about four miles north-northwest of the Erie Station, (Ninth District.) Lake Erie, and whistled for assistance. Shortly after the mishap, at half-past 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the signal was heard at the station and two of the crew were dispatched to the city in the dingey for a tug. The keeper and five men manned the surf-boat and pulled out to the disabled craft. When the nature of the accident was ascertained, they made the boat fast to the quarter, and, by means of three oars, the vessel was safely steered to the channel piers, where she was taken by a tug and towed inside. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -282- May 3.—The keeper of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, was informed, shortly before 11 o'clock in the morning, that a young man in a cat-boat, which he was unable to manage, had drifted past the water-works crib and was in danger of being lost. The lifesaving crew at once put off to the rescue and overtook him fully four miles from the harbor, whither he had been driven by a fresh southwest wind. He was taken into the surf-boat and his craft towed safely ashore after a hard pull of two hours. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -283- May 4.—A few minutes past midnight a surfman belonging to the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, heard a loud splash, as if some one had fallen into the water, in the direction of the Evans' Slip, about two hundred yards northeast of the station. He hurriedly jumped into the dingey and proceeded, with all speed, to ascertain the cause of the noise. Nearing the Auchor Line wharves he discovered a man in the water, clinging to the pilings, unable to get ashore. The latter was soon taken into the boat, but just as a start was being made for the station his friends put in an appearance, and the surfman, at their urgent entreaty, delivered him up to their care. It is more than likely that the man would have perished had not help arived in time, as exposure to the cold river water would soon have benumbed and exhausted him. May 4.—Shortly before noon the keeper of the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District.) Lake Huron, was notified by two fishermen that a steamer, evidently in distress, was lying some six or seven miles north of the station. The life-boat was at once manned and, after a hard pull, the life- saving crew arrived alongside of the propeller LYCOMING, of Erie, Pennsyl- vania, bound from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Buffalo, New York. She was loaded with flour and carried a crew of twenty-six persons. Her machinery was disabled and she had been obliged to anchor in the lake. The surfmen staid by her until late in the afternoon, when she was taken in tow by a passing steam-barge to Port Huron, Michigan. The captain of the LYCOMING was much pleased at the arrival of the station men, as he was enabled thereby to send by them very important dispatches to the manager of his line, detailing the nature of the accident and asking for instructions, which, on account of their immediate delivery, would save the company much time and expense. The following day two of the surfmen carried the messages to Alpena, a distance of twelve miles, and transmitted them. May 5.—On this date two lumbermen came to the Muskallonge Lake Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Superior, and informed the keeper that their brother, who had been seriously hurt in the camp, was lying on the beach, a mile to the eastward, in a painful and helpless condition. The life-saving crew at once manned their boat and conveyed the injured man and his com- panions to the Two Heart River Station, next adjacent, where a sailing- skiff was obtained, and they were given over in charge of a surfman who took them still farther down the shore to the Crisp's Station. At the latter place the men were provided with food and loaned a small boat, when they proceeded on their journey, un-assisted, in search of medical aid. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -284- May 6.—At half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon the wind at Chicago suddenly shifted from the west, quickly developed into a strong northerly blow, and made up quite a sea on the lake. A number of small pleasure-boats were caught outside the harbor and one was discovered about a mile northeast of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, in imminent danger of being swamped. It contained only one man, who was unable to reach shel- ter. The life saving crew put off to his assistance, took the skiff in tow, and brought it safely into port. May 6.—Shortly past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, during the prevalence of a strong northerly breeze and high sea, the lookout of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, observed a fishing-boat capsize in a heavy wind squall, about two and a half miles to the eastward. The craft contained a man and his two sons. The life-saving crew put off for the scene with all haste, but, when about half-way out, met a tug, which had rescued the party, coming in. Subsequently the surfmen obtained a hawser from the station and, with the aid of the same tug, recovered the boat and towed it safely into the harbor. May 9.—Shortly before 5 o'clock in the afternoon two boys in a small row- boat, who had been out on the lake, caught on to a barge as she was being towed up the river, along with several other skiffs, and in trying to cast loose a short distance from the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, they capsized their craft and both were thrown into the water. One of them reached a boat near by and succeeded in saving himself, while the other was rescued by a surfman from the station, who happened to be on the river when the accident occurred. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -285- May 9.—The keeper of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, at noon observed a signal of distress on the schooner JOHN RICE, loading with wood at Monaghan's Landing, on the main land three miles southeast of the station. The vessel had a crew of five men and two boys, belonged to Saint Clair, Michigan, and was to sail for Detroit, in the same State. The weather was threatening, with a strong easterly wind blowing, accompanied by light drizzling rain. The life-saving crew at once put off in the life-boat and pulled alongside of the craft, where they learned from the captain that the vessel was thumping to pieces against the wharf and had sprung a bad leak. He wanted assistance to run out a kedge and get her into a safe berth. When coming to he had taken the precaution to drop the port anchor, to aid him in getting under way again, but found that the length of chain would not keep her clear, and if hove short she would be liable to drag ashore, there being less than two fathoms of water under her stern. The surfmen laid out the kedge to windward, and, after landing on the wharf two stevedores who were assisting the ship's crew, returned to the schooner, manned the windlass, and began heaving on both anchors. This work continued for several hours, and the vessel was moved slowly into deep water. At the proper time the heavy starboard anchor was let go. The cap- tain, apprehending that the craft would not swing clear of the wharf if the wind shifted, and also afraid that she might be blown on the beach and wrecked during the night, concluded, after consulting with the keeper, to take the chances and try to work her off shore. She was riding heavily and her port quarter was stove near the waterline, making it necessary for her crew to be employed at the pumps. At the suggestion of the keeper the best anchor was weighed and made ready to let go, which would hold the schooner in case she failed to gather sufficient headway. There was very little room for maneuvering, as the shore was only about twenty rods away and the wind and sea were increasing. The fore and main saiis were spread and the latter held aback to cast her on the starboard tack. Both chains were hove taut, the port anchor was got up, and head sail made, but the kedge did not trip and the schooner fetched up. It was therefore decided to buoy the kedge- hawser and slip it. On the second attempt the vessel filled away, and in a short time was worked to a safe anchorage under the lee of the island, where the sails were furled and everything made snug. The life-saving men later in the evening recovered the kedge anchor and placed it on board the vessel. As she needed no further assistance the surfmen returned to their quarters, having been actively employed for eight hours, receiving very little help from the schooner's crew, most of whom were green hands. The captain was very grateful to the station men and said that without their timely aid his craft would undoubtedly have been lost. May 9.—While the schooner CHALLENGE, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was dis- charging her cargo of wood at the south pier, Evanston, Illinois, the wind began to freshen from the eastward, making her exposed position one of extreme danger. The keeper of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, counseled the captain to seek another berth, but the latter doubted his ability to do so on account of the prevailing head wind. With the assistance of the keeper, however, who helped him make sail, and after- wards to cast off his mooring lines, he succeeded in working the vessel to a safe anchorage. It proved to be a fortunate move, as there was a heavy blow during the night, accompanied by thick and rainy weather. The fol- lowing day the master, appreciating the circumstance, came to the station and thanked the keeper for his timely advice and aid. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -286- May 12.—In the evening of this date a little Polish boy, about four years old, who had strayed from home, was found on the beach by the crew of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The lost child could not utter a word of English, and was, therefore, unable to make known the names of his parents or where he lived. He was taken to the station and kindly cared for over night. Early the next morning the father arrived in search of his missing son, and was thankful to find him safe in the hands of the surfmen. It would have gone hard with the little fellow had he been obliged to remain out all night. May 13.—During the night one of the crew of the Grindstone City Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, discovered a steamer in danger of striking on a reef, to the northeast of the station, and warned her off by flashing a Coston signal. May 15.—The crew of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District.) Lake Erie, early in the morning of this date, picked up twelve skiffs that were drifting on the lake towards the head of the Niagara River, and towed them ashore. The --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -287- boats had previously been hauled out near the boathouse where they be- longed, and a fresh south wind, springing up unexpectedly in the night, raised the water along the beach, which washed them away. The following card appeared the same day in the Buffalo Evening News: "I wish to return thanks to Capt. Tom Williams, of the life-saving station, for saving my property, in the shape of twelve boats, which broke away last night in the storm. "William Cavanaugh." May 15.—On this date the crew of the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, went up the river in search of the body of a man who had been drowned the previous day, but, after working until evening and using every means without success, the attempt to recover it was abandoned. May 16.—Shortly before noon of this date four lives were saved by the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, under the following circumstances: Two men, accompanied by two young women, started out in a small open boat for a pleasure row on the lake. The frail craft was con- siderably overloaded, and the lookout at the station anticipated trouble, as a brisk northerly wind prevailed at the time, with rough water in the harbor. He therefore notified his fellow surfmen to hold themselves in readiness in case their services were required. The warning was not a whit too soon, for the boat got into the trough of the sea and almost immedi- ately capsized. The life-savers sprang into several skiffs near at hand and put off with all possible speed to the scene of the accident. The imperiled persons were clinging to the overturned boat, and struggling frantically in the water when the crew reached them, one of the women having momentarily sunk beneath the surface. The surfmen promptly effected their rescue and took them to the station, where they were given stimulants and dry clothing, a portion of the latter being furnished from the supplies donated by the Women's National Belief Association, most of which was subsequently returned. After recovering somewhat from the consequences of their narrow escape the party proceeded homeward, sincerely grateful to the life-saving men for their timely succor. The capsized boat was conveyed to the owner, from whom it was hired. May 16.—On this date a boy who had been sick several days on board the wrecking-steamer FERN, at anchor off the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, was brought on shore and kindly cared for by the keeper, who afterwards sent him home to his parents. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -288- May 16.—Two men in a yawl came to the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at half-past 3 o'clock in the morning of this date and informed the keeper that they belonged to the crew of the steam-tug C. M. CHARNLEY, of Chicago, Illinois, which had disabled her machinery while on her way home from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was in a helpless condition eight miles to the southward. Word of the accident was at once communicated to the captain of the fishing-tug ALBATROSS (lying in the harbor,) who promised to go to the relief of the vessel as soon as he could get up steam. The life-saving crew started for the scene in the surf-boat, with the yawl in tow, and reached the disabled craft an hour in advance of the fishing-steamer. When the latter arrived the surfmen assisted in running lines, helped to heave up the tug's anchor, and made themselves generally useful until she was towed safely into port. Her crew numbered nine men all told. May 17.—At half-past 10 o'clock in the morning the master of the small schooner ALICE, of Alpena, Michigan, came to the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, and stated that his boat, while bound to Presque Isle, with oats and general merchandise, capsized in the afternoon of the 15th, near Crooked Island, about five miles west-northwest of the station. There were three persons on board, including one passenger, all of whom clung to the overturned craft for three hours until a man put off from the shore in a skiff to their assistance, and rescued them in a nearly exhausted condition. The life-saving crew went to the scene of the accident and found the vessel in bad shape, on her beam ends, and full of water. The wind was blowing fresh from the southeast and a heavy sea was making up. The surfmen unshipped the mainmast, but had to cut away the foremast before she righted. After pulling hard on her in the life boat she finally came off the rocks and floated. The station men then towed her, with considerable difficulty, a distance of two miles to a harbor, where she was grounded and bailed out. The life-saving force were arduously employed on this occasion for nearly six hours, and some of the crew were almost chilled through from working up to their waists in the water. They were the means of saving the schooner, as she would have gone to pieces if she had remained much longer on the rocks. The captain was heartfelt in his gratitude for the service rendered. May 17.—In the forenoon of this date a man from Evanston, Illinois, went out for a pleasure sail on Lake Michigan in a small, cat-rigged boat. The breeze, which was light when he started, gradually freshened, and not being acquainted with the management of a sail-boat, he attempted to run before the wind with the sheet hauled aft, a maneuver which resulted in his craft capsizing about half a mile east of the Evanston Station, (Eleventh District.) Four of the life-saving crew speedily put off to the rescue, and saved the imperiled man, who was conveyed to the station and provided with dry clothing, while his boat was towed in, righted, and bailed out. May 18.—Shortly after 5 o'clock in the evening the lookout of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, saw a cat-rigged pleasure-boat containing three boys capsize in the outer harbor. The wind --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -289- was fresh from the northeast, and in attempting to go about and stand off shore the lads had, by some mismanagement, rolled the craft over. The life- savers put off in the dingey and rescued them from their perilous situ- ation, after which they were taken to the station and provided with dry garments so that they could reach their homes. The clothing, which was from the supplies donated by the Women's National Relief Association, was subsequently returned. The sailboat was towed to the station uninjured. May 24. While the steamer M. SICKEN, of Marine City, Michigan, was on her way to Saginaw, in the same State, with a tow of three empty barges from Tonawanda, New York, she parted her tiller chains in trying to reach the lee of Kelley's Island during a fresh northeast wind, and was obliged to cast off her consorts, which came near stranding on the beach before they could get an anchor down. This happened at about 9 o'clock at night, a short distance from the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The patrol, observing that the crafts were dragging towards the shore, summoned the crew, who speedily launched the surf-boat and put off to their assistance. The steamer soon returned and the life-saving men ran a line to her from the barges and the latter were taken to a safe berth. May 28.—At fifteen minutes past 2 o'clock in the morning surfman Harrison, of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, while on patrol, heard loud cries in the vicinity of the Watson elevator, a short distance east of the station. He at once manned the dingey and put off to ascertain their cause. On nearing the steamer JOHN B. LYON, moored alongside the elevator, the cries were repeated and, at the same time, a man was discovered in the river holding on to the vessel's stem. He was speedily lifted into the boat, and without further delay conveyed to the station, where, after being stripped of wet clothing, he was rubbed briskly, wrapped in dry blankets, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -290- and put to bed. It appears that, on returning to his vessel, and when on the opposite wharf, being under the influence of liquor, he plunged into the river and swam across, but soon became benumbed and exhausted in the cold water, and had it not been for the prompt arrival of help he must certainly have drowned. Before leaving the station he was provided with suitable clothing, the latter being drawn in part from the supply furnished by the Women's National Relief Association. May 28.—In the early part of the afternoon the crew of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, were attracted by a gathering of people on the opposite side of the river and at once manned their boat and rowed across to ascertain the cause. They found that a four-year-old boy had been drowned in the bend of the stream, (at a point not within sight of the station,) and the body had been recovered by some workmen. The surfmen applied the usual methods to restore life, but without successful result, as the child was dead when taken from the water. The body was conveyed to the distressed parents, who had missed the little fellow for about half an hour. May 29.—At about 7 o'clock in the evening, as three men were leaving the yacht EAGLE WING, which was anchored in the harbor a short distance from the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, their yawl cap- sized and the party were in danger of drowning. The keeper and one of the surfmen witnessing the accident speedily put off in a skiff, rescued the men, and brought them safely ashore. May 31.—While the steamer GOLDEN EAGLE was landing horses on Sugar Island, Michigan, one of them got away and started to swim out into the lake. The vessel whistled for the crew of the Thunder Bay Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, who at once put off in the surfboat and brought the animal safely back to the shore, thereby saving it from drowning. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -291- June 1.—Shortly before 3 o'clock in the afternoon the watch of the Middle Island Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, saw the tug ROBERT BOYD, of East Saginaw, Michigan, bound down the lake, strike on a reef two miles southeast of the station. She had a crew of five men. A fresh northeast wind prevailed, and the atmosphere was smoky and misty. The life-saving crew at once manned the surf-boat and went to the assistance of the stranded craft. Arriving alongside, they found her working her engines, trying to get off. At the request of the captain the surfmen took soundings around the vessel to ascertain where the deepest water lay, after which the keeper proposed to return to the station and obtain anchors, (the tug having none,) to aid in getting her clear. While on the point of carrying out this plan the engines began to move her, and, a few minutes later, she slid off the reef and floated. The captain thanked the station men for their services and resumed his voyage, feeling himself very fortunate in escaping the danger that menaced him with so little trouble. June 2.—In the forenoon of this date a surfman of the Grand Haven Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, recovered a skiff which he found adrift in the harbor, and towed it to the station, where the owner subsequently came and claimed it. The boat would probably have gone to pieces against the pier had it not fortunately been seen and cared for. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -292- June 4.—At 1 o'clock in the morning of this date the steam-propeller David W. RUST, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bound from Escanaba, Michigan, to Erie, Pennsylvania, with a cargo of iron ore, and a barge in tow, mistook the buoys and stranded on Starve Island reef, about eight miles to the west- northwest of the Point Marblehead Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. She had a crew of seventeen persons on board. The vessel was discovered by the beach patrol, shortly after she struck, and the mishap reported to the keeper. The latter at once telephoned for a tug, and, as there was no immediate danger, the wind being light and the weather clear, the surf-boat was not launched until after daylight. The life-saviug men assisted to throw overboard a part of her cargo, and when sufficiently lightened, a tug and steamer, that arrived on the scene, pulled her afloat, and she resumed her voyage. The surfmen got back to their quarters at about noon. June 4.—During threatening weather, with a fresh westerly wind and rough sea, the scow ESSEX, of Cheboygan, Michigan, on her way home from Prentis Bay, in that State, when about to come to in the harbor off the Hammond's Bay Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, fouled her anchor and commenced to drag rapidly towards the beach. She was loaded with railroad-ties and had a crew of three men. The lifesaving force managed to get a line to her and succeeded in mooring her in a safe place without damage. She carried away the main-boom of the supply-boat in her progress to leeward and, had it not been for the timely intervention of the surfmen, would have damaged the fire-pumps belonging to the station, which were on a small pier in the harbor.. The captain of the craft was very thankful for the services of the station men. June 4.—Shortly after 1 o'clock in the afternoon a drunken man embarked in a skiff, close by the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and started for Benton Harbor ostensibly to fish. The life-saving crew, anticipating trouble, got their boats in readiness. Not more than ten minutes elapsed before the skiff capsized and its occupant was precipitated into the river. The surfmen put off and saved the man, who, without assist- ance, would soon have drowned, as he could not swim and was in an utterly helpless condition. His boat was hauled out on the wharf and emptied of water. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -293- June 5.—At a quarter-past 11 o'clock at night one of the crew on watch at the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, hearing a loud splash on the opposite side of the river, and fearing some accident had occurred, quickly manned the dingey and pulled off in the direction whence the sounds came. On nearing the wharf at the upper Bennett elevator he discovered a dark object floating in the water, and at once laid hold of it, when, to his surprise, he found himself in possession of the body of a man. Placing it in the bottom of the boat, the surfman rowed with all haste to the station. With the assistance of the keeper the man, who was ascertained to be in a drunken stupor, was restored to consciousness. In wandering about the wharves he had walked off into the river and would have drowned beyond all doubt had not assistance been close at hand. After having recovered to a sufficient degree he was conducted to a street car and sent to his home. June 6.—At about half-past 1 o'clock in the afternoon surfman Morency res- cued a five-year old boy who accidentally fell from the pier in front of the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and was in danger of drowning in the river. June 6.—In compliance with the request of the city marshal and coroner of Racine, Wisconsin, the keeper and three of the crew of the Racine Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at half-past 8 o'clock in the morning rowed up the river about two miles and dragged for the body of a man who was drowned while bathing the previous evening. In half an hour the remains were recovered, conveyed ashore, and subsequently delivered to the authorities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -294- June 9.—The crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michi- gan, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, put off to the assistance of five men who had been capsized near the harbor entrance while trying to jibe the sails of their small schooner. The vessel was returning from the fishing grounds. Before the life-savers could reach the scene a tug, which happened by, rescued the imperiled party and landed them on the north pier. From there the men were taken into the surfboat, and after first righting and bailing out their craft the station crew conveyed them safely ashore. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -295- June 10.—In the afternoon of this date the sparks from the smokestack of a steam-tug fired a lumber wharf on the river, opposite the Muskegon Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and the lifesaving crew with difficulty extinguished the flames. June 11.—In the morning of this date a fisherman came to the Ludington Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, and requested the services of the life-saving crew to assist in recovering the body of his brother-in-law who had fallen overboard from the steam ferry-boat RIVAL the previous night and been drowned. The surfmen dragged in the vicinity of the accident during the entire day, but owing to the extreme depth of the water they failed to find any traces of the lost man. June 12.—In the afternoon of this date the Cleveland Canoe Association held a regatta in the outer harbor, and as it was blowing quite fresh from the northeast the keeper of the Cleveland Station,(Ninth District,) Lake Erie, caused the dingey to be manned and rowed to a position where it could be of assistance in case any mishaps occurred during the progress of the sport. Hardly thirty minutes had elapsed when the canoe FANNIE L. was dismasted and capsized. The life-savers were close at hand and lost no time in res- cuing the occupant of the craft from his perilous predicament. The boat was towed to the station, where it was bailed out and delivered to the grateful owner. June 13.—About noon of this date the steam-yacht GEORGE H. HASELTON, of Oswego, New York, with a party of excursionists on board, arrived off Salmon Creek and signaled for a pilot. The station of the latter name, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, having been destroyed by fire the previous spring, the keeper was the only person on duty. He went off to the craft in --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -296- his skiff and ascertained that the captain wanted to reach the pier at the mouth of the creek, but did not know whether there was sufficient water for his vessel to get in. The keeper offered to direct him through the channel, but was doubtful about the steamer crossing the shoals in her loaded condition. When within two hundred yards of the shore she grounded on the bar, and the keeper, with two members of his former crew, manned the surf- boat and assisted to land some forty passengers. After thus being lightened the yacht was able to pass inside. In the afternoon, when ready to start home, the keeper piloted the vessel, with half of the party, to a safe offing, and put the rest of the people on board in the surf-boat. The captain was very grateful for this assistance. June 13.—At 10 o'clock in the morning a small schooner, the NORTH STAR, of Ludington, Michigan, was seen to strand not more than thirty yards south of the Grand Point au Sable Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. A fresh southwest breeze was blowing, but the fog was so dense that the craft was not observed until a moment before she struck. Five men who were on board jumped off, as soon as the vessel touched bottom, and made for the shore. The life-saving crew rushed down to the beach and helped them through the surf. The drenched party were then taken to the station, where their clothing was dried. In the meantime the boat was shoved into deep water and the keeper, with one of his crew, sailed her to Hamlin, three- quarters of a mile distant. It appears that the men, none of whom under- stood the management of a sail-boat, had started out early in the morning on a pleasure trip, when, the wind commencing to blow fresh and a thick fog shutting in, they all became frightened and headed for the shore, with no more serious results than above described. June 13.—One of the crew of the Racine Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at about 6 o'clock in the evening of this date, observing a skiff with a man in it capsize in the river, through careless management, put off to the scene and succeeded in pulling the individual out of the water and landing him on the wharf. His overturned boat was also taken ashore and hauled out. He was very thankful to the surfman for coming to his assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -298- June 14.—Early in the morning of this date the crew of the North Manitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, hearing distress whistles during the prevalence of a dense fog, launched the surf-boat, and, after pulling about five miles to the southward, found that the coal-laden steam-barge SPARTA, of Cleveland, Ohio, had stranded on the point of the island. She was bound from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a crew of eleven persons. Two vessels in tow were cast off in time to enable both to let go their anchors and save themselves from grounding. The steamer had just succeeded in working off the shoal when the surfmen arrived on the scene. They, however, informed the captain of his position, sounded out deep water for him, and ran lines to his consorts. The keeper then piloted the vessels clear of danger to where they could safely resume their voyage. On leaving for the station the master of the barge heartily thanked the crew for their services. June 15.—During the prevalence of foggy weather, at about half-past 10 o'clock at night, the patrol of the North Manitou Island Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, discovered, through the misty darkness, a small -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -299- schooner close ashore and standing directly for the beach. He immediately flashed his red Coston light, when the vessel went quickly about and stood off, just saving herself from stranding. June 16.—At about half-past 4 o'clock in the morning the steam-barge GEORGE BURNHAM, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bound from Chicago, Illinois, to Drummoud Island, Michigan, in ballast, with a crew numbering eleven persons, stranded in a thick fog on the south point of North Manitou Island, five miles from the life-saving station of that name, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The vessel was discovered by the patrolman shortly after she grounded. The surfmen launched their boat and proceeded with all dispatch to her assistance and helped in various ways to float her off—a task that finally proved successful, and which was gratefully appreciated by the captain of the steamer. June 17.—During the morning the small schooner MARTHA ALLEN, of Buffalo, New York, was seen by the lookout of the Buffalo Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, to leave port in charge of one man bound to the westward. It was subsequently learned that after proceeding some five miles up the Canadian shore the wind suddenly freshened from the south and west and the vessel anchored. The weather got stormy, her chain parted, and she was obliged to put back for shelter. While trying to make the harbor under jib and fore- sail, her peak-halliard block carried away, and thus partially disabled she broached to and capsized. The accident was witnessed from the station, and the life-saving crew at once put off in the surf-boat. As they rounded the breakwater they met an eight-oared boat sent out from the United States steamer MICHIGAN, which was lying close at hand. The sailors, however, were forced to turn back, as the heavy seas nearly swamped them. The harbor tug EDWARD FISKE took the station-boat in tow, and on reaching the scene of the mishap the surf-men cast off and rescued the nearly exhausted man who was clinging for life to the overturned craft. The life-savers then cleared up the rigging, righted the vessel, and the tug towed her inside. The man, drenched to the skin, was taken to the station and furnished with dry garments. The adventure was dearly purchased, as he lost a new suit of clothing aud a large sum of money, which were washed overboard. The cargo, consisting of five barrels of oil, was afterwards picked up. June 17.—At 7 o'clock in the evening, during the prevalence of a fresh northwest wind, the crew of the Cleveland Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, discovered the sloop-yacht SILVER SPRAY, which had been at anchor in the bay, with no one on board, adrift from her moorings and driving down towards an old sunken wreck near the station, where, if she struck, she would soon pound to pieces. The surfmen manned the dingey and ran a line, hauled the craft up to the pier, made sail, and took her to a sheltered berth in the river, unquestionably saving her from disaster. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -300- June 18.—The keeper and one of the crew of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, went off to the assistance of a man in a small sloop, who was making efforts to reach the harbor entrance, but, not understanding the management of a sail-boat, and having no oars, there were slight prospects of his gaining the land. One of the life-saving men boarded the craft and sailed it safely into port. June 19.—While Mr. George G. Warren was fishing from the east pier, near the Oswego Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, at about half-past 9 o'clock in the morning, his little daughter, Mattie, playing close by, stumbled and fell into the lake. Fortunately Keeper John Blackburn, who was a short distance away, saw the accident, and without a moment's hesitation rushed to the spot, plunged into the water, and brought the child out un- harmed. Had it not been for this prompt action she would doubtless have drowned. Dry clothing was provided for her at the station from the supplies donated by the Women's National Relief Association, and she was kindly cared for until conveyed to her home. A letter was afterwards received from the grateful parents by the General Superintendent, warmly commending the performance of the keeper, of which the following is an extract: "We find it a great pleasure as well as our duty to report to you the heroic conduct of Capt. John Blackburn, keeper of the Oswego LifeSaving Station, in rescuing from drowning our little daughter Mattie May, aged six years. Too much praise cannot be given him for his heroism and bravery in exposing his own life to save that of our child, and we desire to express our gratitude not alone to him, but to a Government which has organized and is carrying forward such a humane and Christian institution as the Life- Saving Service." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -301- June 19.—Between 12 and 1 o'clock in the day a small boy fell from a dredge that was moored up the river a short distance from the Fairport Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Erie, and was drowned. The life-saving crew were notified of the accident, and succeeded in recovering the body an hour afterwards. Strenuous efforts were made to restore life, but without success, and the remains were put on board a tug and taken to Cleveland. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -303- June 20.—At half-past 11 o'clock in the morning the sloop-yacht ELLA, of Oswego, New York, arrived off Salmon Creek and signaled for a pilot. The station of the latter name, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, had been destroyed by fire several months previous, but the keeper, who still remained on duty, put off to the vessel and brought her safely into the creek alongside of the pier. He then sounded out the channel, and placed buoys on the bar so that the craft could work offshore at pleasure. June 20.—The lookout of the Kenosha Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, in the afternoon of this date put off in his skiff and rescued a drunken man from drowning just south of the harbor piers. He was fouud hanging helplessly over the side of a nearly submerged boat, and had it not been for the prompt action of the surfman would soon have tumbled out and probably lost his life. June 21.—On this date the crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, picked up the body of a drowned man found floating in the basin, and delivered it to the city authorities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -304- June 22.-At about 10 o'clock at night, during rainy weather, while the three-masted schooner LIZZIE A. LAW, of Chicago, Illinois, bound home with a cargo of coal and a crew of nine men, was being taken out of the harbor at Erie, Pennsylvania, by a tug, the latter failed to hold her up against a fresh northeast wind and head sea and the vessel drifted on the south bank of the channel, a quarter of a mile southeast of the Erie Station (Ninth District,) Lake Erie. The surfmen at once went to her assistance and ran a hawser from the craft to the north pier, after which they helped the crew to man the capstans. They worked steadily for three hours, when she floated off without damage and the tug towed her into the lake. June 22.-The twelve-year-old son of the city marshal of Ludington was drowned at about 7 o'clock in the evening while bathing in Pere Marquette Lake. The crew of the Ludington Station (Eleventh District,) Lake Michi- gan, dragged for the missing body until 2 o'clock the following morning, but their efforts were unsuccessful it being recovered later in the day by other parties. June 23.-On this day the crew of the Point aux Barques Station, (Tenth District,) Lake Huron, recovered a rafting chain which had been lost in the lake from a craft that stranded the previous season. It was returned to the owners in Marysville, Michigan. June 23.-The crew of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michi- gan, on this date, recovered the body of a drowned man found afloat in the harbor, and delivered it to the proper authorities. June 24.-Information was received by the keeper of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, that a satchel and hat had been found on the wharf near by, and it was supposed that the young man to whom the articles belonged was drowned. The surfmen at once commenced to drag the river and in a short time recovered the missing body. Papers foun in the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -305- clothing indicated that the man was Frank Lockerty, of Belleville, Ontario. The coroner was duly notified and took charge of the remains. June 24.-Receiving information that a thirteen-year-old boy had fallen from the wharf at the foot of Twentieth street, the previous day, and drowned, three of the surfmen of the Chicago Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, proceeded to the spot in skiffs and after sweeping in the vicinity for about an hour, recovered the missing body and delivered it to the grateful parents. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -306- June 26.-At about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, while a fresh breeze was blowing from the southwest, two boys hired a boat and rowed out on the lake opposite Charlotte, New York. When they had gone about a quarter of a mile from the beach they turned back but were unable to make any headway against the strong wind, and, in spite of their efforts kept drifting further from the land. Two surfmen of the Charlotte Station, (Ninth District,) Lake Ontario, who witnessed their plight, went off in the dingey and towed them ashore. June 26.-Shortly before 10 o'clock in the morning the large steam propeller IRON DUKE, of Detroit, Michigan, bound from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Buffalo, New York, with a cargo of wheat, and twenty-three persons on board, stranded in a thick fog a half mile southwest of the Point Betsey Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan. The life-saving crew reached her in the surf-boat ten minutes after she struck. The vessel had a schooner in tow, which, on being warned by the danger whistle, had cast off, sheered into deep water, and anchored. The captain of the steamer was anxious to obtain the aid of a tug, and so the surfmen rowed to Frankfort, nearly five miles distant, where one was telegraphed for. They then re- turned to the scene of the mishap, and after four hours of hard work, dur- ing which time a portion of the cargo was shifted, the propeller was fin- ally floated off with the assistance of three fishing-tugs. The surfmen staid by until everything was in proper trim for the vessel to resume her voyage. The master warmly thanked them for their willing and efficient services. June 26.-The keeper of the Milwaukee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, at 11 o'clock in the morning, was notified that a man while work- ing on a mud-scow had fallen overboard and been drowned in the river, about three-quarters of a mile from the station. The lifesaving crew proceeded to the scene, and, after dragging awhile, succeeded in recovering the body, which was duly turned over to the coroner. As the man had been in the water for at least an hour, of course any attempt to restore life must have proved ineffectual. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -307- June 27.-At 5 o'clock in the evening, during a fresh northwest wind, the lookout of the Saint Joseph Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, saw the pleasure sloop MAUDE, containing three men, capsize, while going in stays, a half mile southwest of the station. Several of the surfmen quickly put off to the rescue, but the imperiled party were picked up by a fishing-boat, which happened to be near them, before the life-savers reached the scene. The latter, however, righted the sloop and towed it ashore, where it was turned over to the owners, who were very thankful for its recovery. June 29.-Early in the morning the crew of the Manistee Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, after dragging in the river, at a point a half mile east of the station, recovered the body of a little boy that was drowned the day before, and turned it over to the parents. June 30.-In the afternoon of this date, and on several previous occassions, the crew of the Grand Point au Sable Station, (Eleventh District,) Lake Michigan, assisted the owners of the schooner ORPHAN BOY, which foundered in the lake the latter part of the preceeding December, in saving and caring for the wreckage and cargo of the vessel, that were scattered along the shore for a distance of some ten miles. The following letter regarding the servies rendered was received at the office of the General Superinten- dent. "SAINT IGNACE, MICHIGAN, July 5, 1886. "DEAR SIR: While at Point au Sable recently, looking after the wreck- age of the schooner ORPHAN BOY, I was rendered very great assistance by the keeper and crew of the life-saving station at that place, and I take great pleasure in testifying my appreciation of the uniform kind- ness, courtesy, and obliging manner of Keeper James Flynn and crew, and their willingness to do all in their power to aid me. "Respectfully yours, C. T. BENNETT. "HON. S. I. KIMBALL, "General Superintendent U. S. Life-Saving Service, "Washington, D. C." =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other information for Great Lakes Maritime History by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/mi/glm/ ===========================================================================