NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Vol. XII 
AND REMINDER 
Manchester, Mass., Friday, meus. 28, 1914 
No. 35 
A Visit to the Gloucester Life Saving Station 
By N. HENRY SEABURG 
oP HE summer resident of the North Shore, who finds 
that he has an abundance of time upon his hands, 
will discover that a visit to the Gloucester Life-Saving 
Station will reveal a fountain of considerable interest to 
a landsman. Here one will see things, and learn things, 
that are certain to open one’s eyes in incredulity and 
fascination. We all admire the heroic life of a fire- 
man, but what must we think of that of the life-saver 
when we know of his strenuous career. Howling bliz- 
zards, foggy nights, inpenetrable snow-storms, and waves 
of gigantic formation are the forces against which the 
life-saver must always contend. Does not the life and 
work of these men who struggle fearlessly with the wild 
elements of Nature arouse the interest of the reader? 
If it does, then he should visit the Life-Saving Station 
and satisfy that awakened curiosity. 
There are many roads that one may take in order 
to get to the station. The main road from Manchester 
to Gloucester,—Summer street,—is perhaps, the ost ad- 
visable one for the automobilist. Another road suitable 
for the motor vehicle is Hesperus avenue, commencing 
at Magnolia Point, and joining the Gloucester road near 
the Life-Saving Station. Both of these roads furnish 
much that is interesting. sut the most delightful and 
picturesque way of reaching the Station is by the patrol- 
path leading from the white patrol-box at Rafe’s Chasr, 
and skirting the entire wooded coast to the watch-house, 
where there is another patrol-box. It is a somewhat long 
journey, but the beauty and charm of the views obtained 
by the visitor will sufficienty repay the extra amount of 
time and labor expended in traversing it. It is one long 
etretch of natural beauty. Norman’s Woe, Eastern Point, 
and numerous crafts of all descriptions all form such 
scenes of picturesqueness, that they will not soon be 
forgotten. 
The Life-Saving Station is situated in a small cove 
beside Dolliver’s Neck, and commands an ideal view of 
the entrance to Gloucester Harbor. It is a shingled 
building, painted a bluish-gray color. A square tower 
in the middle at once distinguishes it from a dwelling. 
A board-walk of heavy planks, with two tracks of three 
rails each, leads from the two large double-doors of the 
station into the water. It is upon these tracks that the 
life-boats, resting upon the slender frame-work of a truck, 
are quickly rolled into the sea when needed. It requires 
but the minimum of time for this act, and shows to what 
efficiency the work of life-saving has been reduced. It 
is necessary, too, for a few minutes of wasted time may 
mean the cost of many human lives. 
On the Sunday afternoon that I visited the station, 
I found everything outside, as well as inside, very quiet. 
(Afterwards I learned that all of the members of the 
crew, except those on duty, were asleep up-stairs.) En- 
tering the station, I saw, through two connecting doors, a 
stout, heavily built man in white canvas trousers, In 
dustriously engaged in paring apples. It was his “turn” 
as cook. I approached him and inquired if I was per- 
mitted to “look about.” He assured me that I was, and 
willingly accompanied me to the large room where the 
life-boats are housed. Here he explained to me the ex- 
cellent equipment for life-saving with which this station 
1s efficiently supplied. One will see things here that will 
undoubtedly tend to bring forth a torrent of eager 
questions. 
The room contained two, large up-to-date life-boats 
(another large life-boat was anchored a little way off 
the shore ) and the life-car. The life-car was the most 
interesting object, containing, as it does, the gun, the 
breeches-buoy, the different chests and coils of rope whici 
vary from one-quarter of an inch to an inch or so in 
thickness, the rockets, the charges for the gun, and nu- - 
crous other minor articles that are necessary. Each has 
its definite place in the black, strongly-built life-car. Oc- 
cassionally, when the car is reauired to be hauled so'ne 
distance, the services of a neighbor’s horse is necessary, 
and for this service the government recompenses the 
owner. 
In explaining the order in which the different ropes 
were shot out to a disabled craft, my inforrant showéed 
me a long, black paddle which was attached to the end of 
one of the ropes, and upon which was painted in white 
letters, in English on one side and in French on the 
other, directions for making fast the rones to the rast, 
o-. in case the ‘rasts are gone, to the hizhest part of the 
ship. About the subject of the signals used with this 
part of the work, I do not wish to write, as they are of 
too complex a nature. 
However, the reader must not think, that on account 
of ~-y enthusiasm about the life-car, the life-boats were 
not interesting. They were, and exceedingly so. Tne 
largest boat, which, I believe, my zuide said weirhed 
about 12,000 pounds, was a type of the latest construc- 
tion. It is self-baleable, i. e. it is so constructed that 
whatever water comes over the gunwales runs im ~edi- 
ately out of it through several small scuppers in the bot- 
ton of the boat. The other boat is a much lighter one, 
and consequently used more frequently since greater 
speed can be made with it. 
Attached to the ceiling is another s‘rall boat about 
five feet long, capable of holding three or four people, 
and which is sometimes used instead of the breecnes-buoy. 
The top of it is entirely covered over, and admittanc? to 
it is through a-trap-door on top of it. 
Now that I have briefly described the equipment of 
the Life-Saving Station, it is appropriate that I say a 
few words about the men who-use this equipment. Dur- 
ing the summer months eight men are stationed here, and 
another one issadded on the first of October Kach man 
takes his turn as cook, according to a definite arrange- 
ment. Watch and patrol-duty are also divided equally 
among the members of the crew. The coast between 
the watch-house and Rafe’s Chasm must be patroled twice 
every night during the summer months , and four times 
during the winter months, beginning the first of October. 
Cleaning and repairing the life-boats, and several other 
duties, fill‘up the rest of the time of the crew pretty 
