Work of the Life Savers.
The annual report of Supt. Kimball, of the life saving service, shows that there were 243 marine disasters on the great lakes during the last fiscal year. The value of the vessels involved was $2,167,715, and of the cargoes $429,290, a total of $2,597,005. The number of persons on board the vessels at the time of the disasters 1,149, of whom seven lost their lives. One hundred and nine persons were succored at stations for a total of 121 days. The value of property saved was $2,344,340, and of that lost $252,865. Nine disasters involved the total loss of vessels.
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The following is an abstract of the report of the general superintendent of the life-saving service: At the close of the last fiscal year the establishment embraced 264 stations, 192 being on the Atlantic, 56 on the lakes, 15 on the Pacific, and one at the Falls of Ohio, at Louisville, Ky.
The number of disasters to documented vessels within the fields of operations of the service during the year was 402. There were on board these vessels 3,113 persons, of whom 12 were lost. The estimated value of the vessels and cargoes involved was $7,168,390. Of this amount $6,410,530 was saved, and $757,860 lost; 663 shipwrecked persons received succor at the stations; the number of vessels totally lost was 29.
In addition to the foregoing there were during the year 365 casualties to small craft, on board of which there were 874 persons, of whom ten were lost; value of the property involved $199,705, of which $177,825, was saved. Fifty-six other persons were rescued who had fallen from wharves, piers, etc., the most of whom would have perished but for the aid of the life saving crews.
The crews saved and assisted to save, during the year, 471 vessels, valued with their cargoes at $2,868,655, and rendered assistance of minor importance to 324 other vessels in distress, besides warning from danger by the signals of the patrolman 226 vessels.