The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 27

THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. NEW YORK. MAY 2T. I91T. .3 fc La inniee nn If 6- i publicity would have resulted.

A brief and life savers who suffered everything notice, a few broken heart3 down" In a i save death in that unequal battle with group of cottages on an Isolated shore, 1 the elements. then a great searching of the elligible To get a boat off the beah was a phya-lists from which another crew must be leal Impossibility; yet the life savers, at selected. the peril of their lives, ran their boat Difficult to Secure Men for Kecruiting i down lnt0 the sea of lce and waited for the command to shove off. They man- aged to drive the boat a short distance It has been prophesied that the time int0 the toe-laden breakers, then the seas is rapidly coming when the eligible lists causht the smaI1 cratt an(j hurled It will fail. Clear back in 19S they were on to the shore.

For two days and wholly to fill the vacancies two nights the combat continued, but no constantly occurring. It was practically boat could be launched. The beach cart, upon them. It was a moment of terrible struggle and one which the United States life Baver must face not once, but many, many times in his life of sacrifice. The keeper, with difficulty forcing himself to be stern, saved the situation.

The women were compelled to stand back and permit the launching of the boat which, as soon as the crew was aboard, was almost instantly lost to sight. Tho wind was now blowing a gale from the Bouthwest and the tide was running out at the rate of four knots an hour. There was one mile to go through the break of surf before the boat could get into the channel and, far down on the bar, in the trough made by the outgoing tide, lay the lltitle larneh, at anchor. It was Impossible to see its position now, but the boat from tbe station followed the flat shoal as a guide to where the small vessel was supposed to be, then, dropping anchor, the surf-men turned head against the tide and let the boat slowly drop down farther, and farther until, in that total darkness, they were able to get hold of the cable of the launch and bring it alongside. Had Said His Last Prayer.

The shipwrecked mariner had said his last prayers but a moment before. Tbe tide was going out rapidly and the Immense breakers, towering high above him, were momentariiy coming nearer and nearer. Another ten minutes and all would have been over. He had broken one oar. He had no light.

He had heard fn-f ft the breeches buoy and the Ljie gun were brought into use, but to little purpose. To the horror of the life savers, tha men on the Bhip made no effort to catch the line by which thev could haul off tha whip and hawser and so receive tha breechcB buoy to carry them to shore. "They are freezing to death" was the awe-struck cry and the crews redoubled their efforts to launch a boat. As fought to get their boat through the wail of broken ice and tumbling waters they wept as the.y saw those whom they sought to aid freezing and falling headlong into, the sea. At last a boat reached the vessel and two survivors were, bro'y'i' ashore.

Commended by the Legislature foa Bravery. Captains Rorke and Baker and their crews of the Lone Hill and Bluepnint stations were commended by the Leglslatara of New York State for their bravery and heroic endurance on this occasion; but the surfmen's families still subsist on the low pay; the same lonely habitatlon3 must be made homelike and attractiva as possible to the brave men who spend but one diy a week with their families and the rest of the time in patrolling the beach through loneliness, danger anil dreariness of the night and storm. All look forward to the bright day when pensions will be granted. It has been said that it is the single lure which, makes it possible to keep the stations efficiently manned. Older men whose knowledge of coastwise navigation and surf fishing would have been sufficient tJ bring them much greater gain in prlvsta business undertakings without- the risk of life and health remain in the s-Tvice because they have passed their prima and consider it -low too late to make any change.

Without their skill and experience the service of to-day would amount to little. Tho sea and lake coast of the United States, exclusive of the coast of Alaska, has an extent of more than 10,000 miles. Upon these coasts there are less than 300 life saving stations, nearly 200 of which are on the shores of the Atlantic. Generally these stations are situated among the low sand hills common to ocean beaches and sufficiently back from high water mark to be beyond the reach of storm tides. The station house itself is designed to serve as barrack room for the crew and to afford storage for tha boats and apparatus.

The first floor Is divided into four rooms boat room, mess room, keeper's room and storeroom. There are wide doubU mrnm Km CffPT GE ODD WD SX'r- never photographed nor emblazoned in public print. A simple little statement was heard to the effect that a naphtha launch belonging to W. K. Vanderbilt on Its way from above the Bronx to has been written for the benefit of man that he should render to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute Is due; honor to whom honor.

The United coast guards are not men tioned by name. It seems Incredible that It should be necessary to do bo. Their life of hardship, self-sacrifice and everyday heroism merits such great honor and tribute that all dwellers along the coast who know the truth wonder at the lack of recognition which they receive. "Why," say they, "should the great heroes of the police force and -fire departments be praised and lauded and the heroes of the lonely beaches and roaring waves be lost to memory as well as to Bight?" Why should the sorrowful scenes enacted day after day and night after night In the immediate neighborhood of each lonely station when the surfman's wife and family are called to see hira disap- pear amid the waves, perhaps never to return, bring no sympathetic sigh from those In other walks of life? Why should the widowed and the fatherless of those who have lost their own lives in seeking to save others be left practically dependant upon the thoughtful care of those other members of the service, who have banded themselves together for mutual benefit, and out of their meager earnings pay into the general relief fund? Why should tho aged and disabled surf-man be left so lacking in comforts and the means of maintenance after he has given the best years of his life to the service of others? These are some of the many questions that dwellers along the coast are asking. This is why so much interest has been aroused in the pension bill now pending, which is designed in some small measure to Improve the condition of the life-saving service.

For a brief space 'recently the crews from several stations appeared in the limelight on the decks of a great steamer run aground. It was but for a moment and all admit that elements of danger and heroism were entirely lacking. They laugh the hearty laugh of the Jovial longshoreman when they talk of their suddenly achieved fame. But they never speak very publicly of tbe hundreds of small boats and shipwrecked mariners rescued in the midst of dangers and difficulties beyond the comprehension of those who know not the sea. For these unknown acts is the honor due; for these should trtbute be given.

They all occur in the darkness of the night. There is no limelight; there are no reporters, as on the recent occasion, when a district superintendent referred to the number of Journalists on the scene as quite outnumbering the little band of life savers; there is no large shipload of passengers to praise, encourage and admire the bravery of the surf-men. There la only the terrific howl of the storm, the beat of waves on a sandy the pitiful group of tearful wives and children saying a last goodby and begging their loved ones to take no needless risk. Tne day is not yet over when "men must work and women must weep" while the harbor bar is moaning. The little boat goes forth, freighted with its hidden servants Its unhonored heroes to whom tribute is given ut the rate of $74 a month, ten months in the year, with a special honor of a vacation without pay for the remaining two months.

One of the Most Thrilling Rescues. What has been frequently spoken of by the district superintedent, Captain Arthur Dominy, as one of the best and most thrilling rescues ever performed on Long Island coast was never reported except in the barest and most official manner to headquarters. For this particular piece of heroism honor is due the crew of the Oal: Island station. It is there one hears the story. On a stormy day, some years ago, the watch discovered, about sun- down, a small boat down on the bar at Fire Island inlet.

On the boat a man was seen, evidently waving an oar. The keeper of the station was away for his day off and a signal was quickly set to hasten his return. Meanwhile the surf boat was made ready, but darkness came on quickly and a heavy sea was running. In the hurry and darkness the first attempt to launch the boat was unsuccessful. The signal set to hasten the return of the keeper had been seen by others.

Grouped near the station were the little cottages occupied by the wives and families of the surfmen. Those families knew as well as the men at the station the danger of such a sea. They knew and they determined to prevent, if possible, the loss of lives to no purpose. Before the boat could be launched a second time, wives, sisters and mothers were down on the shore and again "the women stood weeping and wringing their hands as the harbor bar was moaning." For the men the task became doubly difficult. Were they husbands and fathers and had they not human hearts that could suffer even though they were men unknown to the world at large, unhoa-ored, underpaid, and to whom no tribute is given? They knew that if they never returned from out that awful blackness which lay beyond those billows what little p'ovislcn there was for their dear ones.

They knew how little they had been able to spare out of their small pay for In-1 surance and what the inevitable result ut be to the helpless ones dependent Y) impossible to secure men for recruiting crews at many stations. Nearly all were more or less crippled and the situation was publicly denounced as discreditable to the nation. Since that time no greater inducements have been offered to young men to risk their lives, the happiness of their families and all their future prospect for the sake of shipwrecked and suffering humanity. The situation remains practically unchanged. The heroism and rescues are continued by the old guard, among whom is Captain Goddard of the Lone Hill (L.

1.) station, who was himself shipwrecked cast up on the beach within the patrol limits of the station, where he Is now in charge. That was many years ago, when Cap tain Goddard was first mate of the bark Roslna of Bardo, France, and an old Long Islander, Simeon Tearson. by name, was captain. Women and children were fry aboard, among them the young woman who afterward became Captain Goddiird's wife. The story of that wreck Is thrilling, for it was before the days of the coast guards on Long Island and it was almost miraculous that the small boats which put off from the doomed vessel, ever reached sufficiently near the shore for the occupants, when thrown Into the sea, to manage to reach the beach without being caught by the undertow.

When the coast service was estab- lished, Goddard first went on duty at the Blue Point station, where he served surfman until 1S07, when he was ap- nninfeH keener nf the T.nne Hill ctntinn By breeches buoy and surf boat he has during hlB experience assisted in bringing ashore no less than 200 persons, among whom were two of the cnew of the schooner Louis V. Place, wrecked in 1SD5 the most terrible wreck ever known on the Long Island coast. The horrors of that wreck still live in the minds of those who worked so nobly, albeit so fruitlessly; to save the lives of the frozen victims afterward found swinging so pitifully from the rising. That wreck went down in history and official tribute if not financial recognition was given to those surf fighters OF COURTESY ever since been a power to promote and protect its interests, to establish and enforce the rules of the game, and to designate the links upon which the amateur, open, and women's amateur championships shall be played. There are two classes of membership, associate and allied.

Only the associate members are empowered to vote and are eligible to election, and the championship may bo held only on the links of an associate club. The first amateur championship of the United States wns held at the Newport Golf Rhode Island, in 1SS5, and by C. B. Maciunahl. An open cham pionship was aisn held at that club, and wos won by Horace Kawlins.

The women's championship was held at the Meadowbrook Golf Club, Long isUnd. the same year, and was won by Mrs. C. S. Brown "He likes to make friends with dogs and children." Yes; he says does don't want any thing, and children don't want much." Louisville Courier-Journal.

no sound but the roar of the wind and waves. Not until the cable was caught up and his little boat commenced to move through the water did he have any Intimation that rescue was at hand. All day long the sea had been rough and he had kept far from shore to avoid the breakers. For this reason he had passed from Coney Island to Fire Island without being sighted by any man along the coast. He did not even know where Fire Island was except that It was west of tho lighthouse.

Upon reaching the Inlet he had learned his position by the buoys and had almost succeeded In his attempt to run In to shore. Then a heavy sea engulfed him and the engines ceased to work. The boat, already under good headway, ran on until it was possible to cast anchor Just clear of tho breakers. As the tide slacked the danger increased but the life savers feared to give any encouraging sign of their approach lest the man in the small boat should change Its position and so get beyond their reach and knowledge of Its exact "Had the least mistake been made or the slightest accident happened," said Captain Dominy, when talking of the rescue, "not one of the crew that went down there could have escaped, under the conditions that existed that night." mm0 1 doors and a sloping platform extending from the sills to the ground to permit the running out of tha heavier pieces of equipment. There.

are two rooms on tha second floor, one used as a sleeping room for the men and the other supplied with, spare cots. for rescued people. In soma of the larger stations there are two extr rooms. Surmounting every station is lookout or. observatory in which a dy watch is kept.

The roof3 upon the stations exposed to view from the sea ara usually painted a dark red. which makes them distinguishable a long distance otf Tllpre als flas5taff sixtv eet high, used in signaling passing vessels by tho international code. A Well-Equipped Service. The service attained its pre-eminenco largely by means nf its equipment. Its boats are well-nigh perfect and the stations are generally supplied with two surf boats, a boat carriage, two sets of breeches buoy apparatus, a cart for the transportalon of the apparatus, a life car, twenty cork jackets, two heaving sticks, a dozen Coston signals, a dozen signal rockets, a set of signal flags, a medicine chest with contents, a barometer, a thermometer, patrol lanterns, patrol checks or clocks, all tools necessary tor the repair of boats or apparatus, all things necessary for housekeeping and the succor of shipwrecked people; fuel, food and oil.

Sometimes a supply boat is provided and, at stations where they cannot be hired, a team of horses is provided in order to facilitate the transportation of boats and apparatus ta scenes of shipwreck. Nowhere has the telephone proved of greater service than along the coast where fifteen hundred miles of line have been in operation for years. The telephone booths along the beaches. In many places midway between stations, enable the solitary patrolman to send in a call by wire and then remain near the wreck until the life saving apparatus arrives. Tho beach patrol kept up during the day only in thick weather, but never omitted at night is one of the hardships for which honor Is Not an empty honor of words without deeds, but an honor which recognizes tiie surfman's right to pensions and privileges accorded to every other branch of the government service, every city official and department employe.

Substantial tribute and recompense are not too much to offer to thos who so steadily, faithfully, cheerfully, spend their lives in superhuman eHortd to. save those of their fellow meo. Was it surprising that the women and children watched on the beach, with tears and prayers, until they saw tho boat come safely back to shore? Yet It was only an incident. It was FROM THE FIRST TEE TO THE LAST HOLE GOLF IS A GAME OLF, above all other games, enjoys the distinction of being from the first tee to the last hole the game of wide courtesy. While a player may at all times display In certain of our other and more strenuous pastimes respect and tenderness for the feelings of an opponent, golf not only presupposes, but actually enjoins a cour- Great River had been temporarily de iayed and slightly damaged down near Fire Island.

That was all. Had the result been different the life savers never returned it is unlikely that much greater saries of Fort Orange and Village of Beverick, having heard divers complaints from the Burghers of this place against playing at Golf along the street, which causes great damage to the windows of the Houses, and exposes people to the danger of being wounded, and is contrary to the freedom of the Public Streets: Therefore their Worships, wishing to prevent the tame, forbid all persons playing Golf in the streets, on pain of forfeiting i5 florins for each person who sbf.il be found doing so." But it was not until the end of the lf roH ltd real hold in the United States. In 1SP4, two clubs held meetings, and each claimed the championship title, but this situation led to the formation of an or authority. In the winter of 15:14, representatives from the Chicago Golf Golf Club, and Shinnecock Hills Golf iclub met in New York and organized the1 United SUta Golf Association, which has only when earned by the favor of the sovereign or some other member of the royal house. In most cases the clubs which bear the title have actually received royal patronage through a royal personage having held an honorary office in the club.

King William IV, while declining the patronage of the St. Andrews Club, was graciously pleased to accede to its request that It should be called "The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews." Conversely, a club which has obtained royal patronage is not thereby entitled to use the term, which is a separate distinction and must be granted. In England and Wales there are seventeen clubs which have had this honor conferred upon them, While Scotland has six, Ireland three. the channel islands have two, and the colonies have eight.

teous disposition and bearing on the part tional pastime of Scotland It has become of each contestant. A man may be dls- more and more a fashionable game. We gusted with himself when he plumps a find, too, in the early notices of the game ball into a bunker; he may even rail at 'that it enjoyed the same distinction that his club or his errant ball, but he may is related in this series of articles re-not turn his questionable language upon garding football, for it was forbidden, tury Magazine. In early English history it was tennis that required a property qualification, as Is shown by an edict to "suffer none to play save noblemen, gentlemen and merchants, or such, as shall be entered in the Book of Subsidies at flO in land or goods." But time has changed standards, and during the four centuries that golf has been the na and "utterly cried down and not to be used," lest it should interfere with the pursuit of archery. As early as 1503 nine shillings was paid in England for the royal club and Balls.

A century later, James 1 appointed one William Mayne club-maker to Hienes" all the davs of his life. time. But in Great Britain the artiee. the "roval." when applied to a eolf-rluh. has a specific meaning, and may be ued I his opponent.

And he must, if he be a traditionally good golfer, always be In the spirit, not necessarily outspoken, of admiration for an oppoent's good stroke or successful putt. It Is a striking fact that the came now widely coupled with the term "royal" had ror itB prototype a rustic pastime of the: Romans which was called paganica, be- cause it waB practiced by the common people, writes Walter Camp In the Cen- The first definite record of golf in I Club of Chicago, Country Club of Brook-America lies in the following ordinance, I line, Newport Golf Club, St. Andrew passed by the authorities of Fort Orange (now Albany), on December 10, 1839: "The Worsh, Commissary and Commls-.