68 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[February, 
wreck to the shore, and how do yon suppose this is man¬ 
aged 1 This is one of the most interesting tilings about 
the Life-Saving Service ; in speaking of the things to be 
seen in the station house, I mentioned cannon and mor¬ 
tars. The cannon are for signals, to let the poor ship¬ 
wrecked fellows know that they are seen, and also to call 
in help from other stations. The mortars are short wide- 
bored cannon, which do not shoot point-blank, or straight 
ahead, but throw a ball up¬ 
wards, and by properly inclin¬ 
ing the mortar, the ball will 
drop where it is desired to 
put it. A shot is fired from 
the mortar, which is so inclined 
that the ball will fall beyond 
the wreck. The ball has at¬ 
tached to it a small but very 
strong and long line. Bang 
goes the mortar, whizz goes the 
shot, it falls beyond the wreck, 
but the line—that thread of 
hope on which hang the lives 
of so many, falls across the 
wreck. Let us be thankful 
that gunpowder can save life 
as well as destroy it 1 Having 
hold of this line the ship¬ 
wrecked crew are safe; they 
pull-away at it—Oh how they 
must pull!—and it brings them 
a rope—a stronger hold npon 
the shore. By means of the 
rope they can pull the surf- 
car to them. This car has 
at its other end another rope 
controlled by those on shore. As many as it will hold 
enter the car, the hatch is fastened down, the signal is 
given, and lusty fellows on shore pull at it with a will. 
Figure 2 shows the surf-car on its passage. No doubt the 
few minutes that pass between the leaving of the wreck 
and the reaching of the shore seem almostan age to those 
packed in its dark cavity, but when they come out upon 
dry land, and to the warmth and comfort of the station, 
they must be ungrateful indeed if they do not bless the 
government that has provided for their safety, and the 
brave strong men, who all through the stormy half of the 
year, stay at these lonely stations, ready at any time of 
night or day to answer to the cry for help from the ship¬ 
wrecked crew. And they will not forget in their thanks 
the inventor of the surf-car. This is indeed a grand life¬ 
saving invention. It makes no show, no" noise, it is only 
used away off in lonely places by the sea—nevetheless, it 
is grand. Why, on the very first time it was used, it was 
the means of saving from the British ship “ Ayrshire ” 
201 persons ! Knowing that you would like to know who 
invented this surf-car, I looked it up, and find to my great 
surprise and delight that Capt. Douglas Ottinger, of the 
U. S. Revenue Marine Service, invented this blessed life¬ 
saving contrivance, which has brought to land and life so 
many who must otherwise have perished in the sea. Now 
I want to tell you about this same Capt. Ottinger. Some 
25 years ago I was encamped near what is now New San 
Diego, a most dharming harbor on the Pacific Coast. 
Capt. Ottinger was in command of the U. S. Revenue 
Cutter “Frolic,” and while I was stationed there the 
“Frolic” came in for repairs; she was thoroughly 
overhauled, painted, and Used up generally, an opera¬ 
tion that took two weeks or more; during that time 
Capt. O. was frequently at my tent, and I was 
often on his vessel, we met 
often and talked freely. After 
his vessel was in order, he in¬ 
vited a party of several, includ¬ 
ing myself, to go with him on 
a trial trip, and he took us for a 
two or three days’ sail among 
the islands just off the coast. 
The strange thing is this; 
it is only just now, in writing 
this article, and having oc¬ 
casion to find out who invented 
the surf-car, that I learn it was 
my old friend Capt. Ottinger 1 
In all those weeks of free in¬ 
tercourse, he never mentioned 
the surf-car once. I do not know 
whetherthe Captain is living or 
not, but wish to put on record 
this fact, that he was the most 
modest man I ever met. He had 
made an invention, the value of 
which could not be computed 
in dollars. Yet he not only 
did not boast of it, but did not 
even let those of us who saw 
him daily, and who esteemed 
him for his many genial qualities, know of its existence. 
Boys, I have found it so all through life. True merit is 
ever modest. When I began to write about the Life-Sav¬ 
ing Service, I had no idea that I should come out on the 
pleasant shores of San Diego Bay, and have my charming 
excursion on the “ Fr«>lic,” and the pleasant intercourse 
with her officers, brought to mind. I began with think¬ 
ing of a furious storm, I end with thoughts of the placid 
Pacific and the good Capt. Ottinger. The Doctor. 
Fig. 2. —A SURF-CAR IN THE WAVES. 
