The Life-Boat
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE LIFE-BOAT. JOURNAL OF THE IRo^al IKational %ife*Boat Jnstitution, (ISSUED QCABTBBLY.) VOL. XIX. -No. 211.] IST FEBRUARY, 1904. [WM IMPORTANT. CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Owing to Expiration of Lease the Committee of Management have been compelled to REMOVE the Headquarters of the Institution from 14, John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C., where they had been since 1855, to 20, CHARING CROSS ROAD, London, W.C. — — - - -- 1 — — ' '— • • •'•" ' — •' ••* — — - •- •• • . — « ^^.i-. -- .fr ~-»^r. .-=.,..- - *. •'"* _ " VOL. XIX.— No. 211.-— LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. B THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST FEBRUARY, 1904. THE DUTY OF WATCHING THE COAST FOR CASUALTIES. THE exact position which the ROYAL deal of encouragement and praise from NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION occu- the public press, which at the same pies with regard to keeping a watch time does not hesitate, and rightly so, for casualties seems to be very little to call for investigation should mistakes understood by the general public, the be made. Life-boat men understand result being that on several occasions this. What however does press heavily the Coxswains of Life-boats and others on them are accusations of failure to responsible for the management of the carry out duties which are not theirs, branches have incurred unmerited the result often being that the names censure at the hands of writers to the of Coxswains and crews are bandied public press for not having launched about the locality for having shirked their Life - boats. Accusations made their work. The imputation sticks, for without a sound knowledge of the the explanation does not get the same subject have generally a very dis- circulation as the accusation, and very concerting effect—in fact do not tend often is not even seen or heard. On towards the object which the writer such occasions men are apt to resign has in view, namely, to smarten up the their offices in dudgeon, the local organi- organisation which he has been at some sation is completely upset and the pains to criticise. This is especially the writer of the criticism has produced case in Life-boat work, for it must be the reverse effect of what he, in perfect remembered that, to a great extent, the good faith, intended. Now this question organisation is a voluntary one, and of watching the coast is precisely one of consequently unmerited censure falls these pitfalls, and it is hoped a word heavier than it would on an under- of explanation with regard to it may taking run on the usual business lines, make the position of the Institution as where such fault-finding would be dis- to this duty clear to the public. regarded. It is not intended to con- In the first place the duty of watching vey by these words that the Life-boat the coast and reporting casualties lies service is so sensitive that a different with the Institution's best friends and code of criticism must be employed for allies, H.M. Coastguard, and in such its special benefit. Far from it. Such parts of the coast of Great Britain and matters as the efficiency and design of Ireland where the Coastguard is estab- the Life-boats, the method of manning lished the Life-boat authorities look them, the general organisation and primarily to that body to be informed finances, often have been the subject if the services of the Life-boat are likely of keenest and unrestricted discussion; to be required. The Admiralty instruc- and those responsible for the manage- tions are most precise on this point; ment of the Life-boat Institution would and since the introduction—as the result be the last to raise objection or say of the Institution's effort—of the elec- that they were entitled to any special trical communications along the coast, treatment. It is the subjects which the Admiralty have further shown their directly affect the honour of the men appreciation of the work undertaken by who man the Life-boats which are the the Life-boat Institution, by issuing most delicate to handle. more detailed instructions to the Coast- Life-boat work must, in its nature, guard as to the duties to be observed be very prominent. It is usually done in informing the Life-boat stations in difficult circumstances, and those should a casualty be seen or reported who do it deservedly receive a good | by telephone or telegraph. IST FEBRUARY, 1904.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 3 The first paragraph of the Admiralty | may be ; but the object of connecting regulations, dealing with the Coast- the stations by telegraph or telephone guard's duties in connection with re- is that the Life-boat authorities may at porting casualties, reads as follows :— once be informed if any vessel is seen 1. " At places where a Royal National in distress, and on them rests the Life-boat is stationed, the station officer responsibility of launching the Life- will communicate, in any cases of boat." casualty, with the members of the Enough has been quoted to show local institution, who take all responsi- clearly where the responsibility of bility as to the launching of their boat, watching the coast and of informing the and the risk of launching the Coast- Life-boat authorities of casualties lies. guard boat should be avoided when a The duties of the Coastguard and those more serviceable one is at hand." of the local officials of the ROYAL This paragraph very clearly shows NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION are the attitude which the Admiralty expects distinctly laid clown, the latter's responsi- the Coastguard to take up with regard bilities beginning when they have been to the Life-boats, and at the same time informed of the apparent need for the shows the confidence that is placed in services of their Life-boat. Although the Life-boats by expecting that they paragraph 5 in some measure particular- should be launched instead of taking ises as to the Coastguard informing the the risk of sending the Coastguard windward Life-boat, and throws a certain boats into danger. The next para- amount of responsibility on them (the graphs have already been quoted in Coastguard) as to which Life-boat to this journal when dealing with the report the casualty to, there is no subject of electrical communications ambiguousness about paragraph 1, which (see Vol. XVII., No. 189, August, distinctly lays down that at places where 1898), but paragraph 5 bears so much a Life-boat is stationed, and the Coast- on the matter in discussion that it is guard see or hear of a casualty, it is worth while quoting it again. their duty to give notice to the Life- 5. " In the event of a Coastguard boat authorities. This is a very im- officer or man observing a vessel in portant rule, especially advantageous distress (including vessels ashore), or on occasions when information may signals of distress, or hearing guns have been obtained by the Coastguard, denoting a vessel in distress, he will through the telephone or other sources, at once take the necessary steps to of a casualty at some distance off, and inform the authorities connected with out of sight of the Life-boat station. the windward Life-boat either by tele- The Life-boat authorities are, or should phone or telegraph, as the case may be, be, informed, and the necessary steps unless he should consider the circum- taken to get the boat ready for launch- stances require the launch of another ing or transporting; if the latter, early Life-boat or other Life-boats, in which information is most valuable, for horses case he will advise the authorities of and their attendants can be summoned ; such Life-boat or Life-boats accordingly." in the meanwhile further information The next paragraph also is much to can be obtained as to the nature of the the point. casualty, and even if the services of the 6. " All officers and men of the Coast- boat are not required, no harm is done guard are to bear in mind the importance by having everything ready. of carrying out these orders implicitly. In order to ensure, so far as possible, It is not a question of using their own that casualties shall be reported, the judgment as to what use the Life-boat Life-boat Institution has made the B 2 THE LIFE-BOAT. .[IsT FEBRUARY, 1904. following oft'er, which has been freely There are parts of the coast of Great published, and also appears in the Britain where the inhabitants have General Regulations hung up in every formed themselves into salvage com- boathouse: "A reward of seven shillings panies, and at these places a continuous to be given to the person who brings watch is kept, and as their livelihood intelligence of a wreck in such a position depends on promptness in rendering assist- as not to be in sight of a Coastguards- I ance to vessels in distress it requires no man on duty, or other responsible look- great stretch of imagination to conceive out man." This has been found to be what a perfect system of look-out this a considerable incentive to bring in- j must be. At such places there is usually formation to the Life-boat authorities. a Life-boat, and if the salvors have Although by far the greater part of started in their salvage-boat, the Life- the coast of Great Britain in the neigh- boat is ready to follow the moment she bourhood of Life-boat stations is watched is wanted. by the Coastguard, unfortunately there There is one other provision made by is a considerable portion which is not.