"There are thirty life-saving stations scattered along the Long
Island Coast from Montauk Point to Rockaway Point, as follows:
Ditch Plain, William B. Miller, keeper.
Hither Plain, William D. Parsons, keeper.
Napeague, John S. Edwards, keeper.
Amagansett, Jesse B. Edwards, keeper.
Georgica, Nathaniel Dominy, keeper.
Mecox, John W. Hedges, keeper.
Southampton, Nelson Burnett, keeper.
Shinnecock, Alanson G. Penny, keeper.
Tiana, John E. Carter, keeper.
Quogue, Charles H. Herman, keeper.
Potunk, Isaac Gildersleeve, keeper.
Moriches, Gilbert H. Seaman, keeper.
Forge River, Ira G. Ketcham, keeper.
Smith's Point, John Penny, keeper.
Bellport, Henry Kremer, keeper.
Blue Point, Frank Rorke, keeper.
Lone Hill, George E. Stoddard, keeper.
Point O' Woods, William H. Miller, keeper.
Fire Island, J. T. Doxsee, keeper.
Oak Island, Edgar Freese, keeper.
Gilgo, William E. Austin, keeper.
Jones Beach, Steven Austin, keeper.
Zach's Inlet, Philip K. Chichester, keeper.
Short Beach, John Edwards, keeper.
Point Lookout, Andrew Rhode, keeper.
Long Beach, Richard Van Wicklen, keeper.
Rockaway, William Rhinehart, keeper.
Rockaway Point, Daniel B. Abrams, keeper.
Eatons Neck, Henry E. Keteham, keeper.
Rocky Point, Harvey S. Brown, keeper.
"When the giant waves cast some battered ship upon the rocks or
sand bar, and the crew faces death in the ice clad rigging, it is
often a scant paragraph which tells the public that 'the crew was
safely taken off by the life savers.' Since Christmas 1901 there
have been more than 30 disastrous wrecks along the Long Island
coast, and over 300 lives have been saved by the life savers.
"During the Winter months hardly a week goes by without urgent
demand arising for their services. The men of the crews are trained
to the work, and are physical giants, chosen for the posts they hold
because of their hardihood and knowledge of the sea. Each of the
life saving stations is in charge of a keeper, who receives $75 a
month, and a crew of seven surfmen, who receive $65 a month while on
duty. The keepers engage their own crews for a term of one year The
Winter men begin work December 1 and quit April 30. The captains
generally remain on duty throughout the entire year, but the surfmen
have a two-month vacation without pay.
"When a patrolmen start on his bear from a station within
communicating distance of another station, he is given a numbered
check, which he carries until he meets the patrolmen from the
adjacent station, with whom he exchanges checks. Each patrolmen
carries with him a beach lantern or Coston signals, or red lights.
At isolated stations are located small houses called key posts. The
men on these beats carry a clock, and on reaching the key psot each
man makes an impression on the time dial with the key secured at
the post, These patrol checks are kept in the keeper's room with the
keys not in use. Each key is numbered, and the keys are numbered,
and the keys in the posts are changed every week to insure the
integrity of the patrol.
"If a vessel is seen too close to the shore during the night, the
patrolman burns a red Coston signal to warn off the captain of the
ship, and if the vessel has been grounded, to inform the captain
that he has been noticed and that help is at hand. The surf boat is
placed on a wagon with wide tires, and hauled along the beach to the
nearest point opposite the wreck, where it is launched if the sea
condition permits. If the launching is impossible the crew prepares
to shoot a line to the ship. The gun, a small mounted cannon, is
loaded and the shot inserted. To the end of this shot is attached a
line tied to an endaboard the vessel. If the shot line reaches the
ship, the attached line with a sign board attached is hauled on
board by those on the wreck. Printed on the board in two languages,
English and German, are the instructions 'Make the tail rope fast to
the lower mast, and if the masts are gone, to the best place
convenient."
"When the lines are bein shot to the vessel, several members of the
life saving crew place the sand anchor and fasten the hawser, to
which is attached a breeches buoy attached, is hauled off shore
above the water to the stranded vessel.
"As soon as the hawser is made fast those on board prepare to leave
the wrecked ship by stepping into the breeches buoy, which is a
circular canvas arrangement made like a pair of trousers. A leg is
inserted into each canvas opening and the person is hauled ashore."
With improved navigational methods it is very seldom that a wreck
occurs along the Long Island coast any more, and most of the life
saving stations that were in operation in 1902 have disappeared.