Commentary: The importance of the 1874 Life-Saving Station Celebrations
As an internationally published author of the United States Life-Saving Service on the iconic North Carolina Outer Banks, I commend the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (LSS) and Museum for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the seven 1874 stations added to the treacherous North Carolina coast.
However, the 1874 date in the history of this amazing Service is far more important than just North Carolina’s seven stations. Twenty-five stations were added for saving lives, (besides the seven in N.C.), which included stations for the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and our neighbors in Virginia.
Even more important than that was that the genius of Superintendent Sumner I. Kimball was introduced to our entire nation in that year. The following extract is verbatim from the popular magazine Harper’s New Monthly:
The Revenue Marine, surveyed in 1873, by order of Congress, the vast and varied coasts of the oceans and lakes, investigating personally the characteristics of the dangerous localities, and holding consultations with under-writers, ship owners, captains of vessels, and veteran surfmen. The report of this commission placed before Congress a minute account of the disasters to vessels on every mile of coast for the previous ten years; a bill based upon it, prepared by Mr. Kimball, became a law June 20, 1874.
It provided for the extension of the field of this great national work of humanity; for the bestowal of medals of honor upon persons risking their lives to save others; and empowered the collection and tabulation of statistics of disaster to shipping, which, by reference to the periodicity of marine casualties, aided in determining the points most needing protection, and in various other ways benefited both government and maritime interests.
In reorganizing what there was of the Service, he prepared a code of regulations for its absolute control. The duties of every man employed were minutely defined. The lazy, the careless, and the unworthy were dismissed, and men chosen to fill their places with sole reference to integrity and professional fitness. Politics was abolished. That is, experts in the surf were regarded as of more consequence to drowning victims than voters which human of any particular political ticket. Houses [ Ed- meaning “stations”] were repaired and increased in numbers as fast as the means less remarkable than the courage and afforded by Congress would allow; appliances for life – saving were restored, improved from year to year through best inventions and discoveries in this or any other country, and a rigid system of patrol was inaugurated.
It is impossible to exaggerate the awful circumstances attending a shipwreck. The important machinery contrived for saving life and station and property is hardly less remarkable than the courage and the skill required to manage it successfully.
A matter of public record, and generally known to the country, that through his practical devotion to the cause this has been so nearly accomplished.
- Harper’s New Monthly, Volume LXIV, December 1881 to May 1882, p.360.
That original text was but a small part of the seventeen-page article in this magazine which had large pages and small print!
The extreme thoroughness and details of Sumner Kimball’s system immediately and dramatically increased the percentage of lives being saved. This national gift of genius not only was celebrated internationally, but it also became the blueprint for our extremely efficient and heroic United States Coast Guard.
So, we really should have held this sesquicentennial celebration in June!
Keeper James Presentations TM is a series of live programs presented by local historians, historical interpreters and performers Keeper JamesTM Charlet and Linda Molloy. Each program about the U.S. Life-Saving Service consists of vignettes of true, exciting, highly dramatic Outer Banks stories of ‘America’s Forgotten HeroesTM.’ For more information, see www.KeeperJames.com/programs.
