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Story
September 4, 1893
Daily Public Ledger
Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
Criticism in Congress blames inadequate funding and staffing of the U.S. Life-Saving Service for numerous deaths in recent Atlantic Coast hurricanes, particularly highlighting 24 drownings off New Jersey with nearby unoccupied stations. The service is understaffed in summer months despite earlier storm patterns.
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Niggardliness
Lost Many Lives Along the Atlantic Coast
—Severe Criticism of the Life-Saving
Service.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.—In public de-
bate the criticism is often made that
the government conducts its business
in a way that would bring ruin and
disgrace upon any private enterprise.
The late accident at Ford's old theatre
has been pointed to as an instance of
this sort. Now members of congress
have taken up a later case of neglect.
and point to the great loss of life in
the recent hurricanes, partly the re-
sult of the niggardliness of congress in
failing to make appropriations for the
life-saving service.
The real reason why the service has
not been extended is charged by the
friends of the service against the treas-
ury department. The August storms
along the coast have been causing very
serious losses during the past five years.
The fact that 24 men have been drown-
ed off the New Jersey shore alone with-
in a line of 18 miles during the recent
storm, and that there were four unoc-
cupied life-saving stations within warn-
ing distance, has aroused considerable
comment.
There are about seven men to each
station. and of the total of 1841 com-
prising the service, only 102 remain on
duty during the entire year. Of the
others, 352 work eight and one-half
months, 1,023 eight months, and 155
five months. With the exception of
the insignificant handful who work
the year round, there are none of these
men at work between May 1 and Sep-
tember 1, while the records of the de-
partments show that there have been
almost as many wrecks during the
period of intermission as during the
stormy period.
The department, it appears, still
clings to the idea that September is the
proper month to look for storms and
crippled vessels, because in former
years the autumnal storms began dur-
ing first week of September. Investi-
gation and meteorological records have
proved, though, that these storms now
come upon us earlier, and are now due
any time between August 20 and Sep-
tember 1. and each year the wind ap-
pears to blow harder.
Lost Many Lives Along the Atlantic Coast
—Severe Criticism of the Life-Saving
Service.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.—In public de-
bate the criticism is often made that
the government conducts its business
in a way that would bring ruin and
disgrace upon any private enterprise.
The late accident at Ford's old theatre
has been pointed to as an instance of
this sort. Now members of congress
have taken up a later case of neglect.
and point to the great loss of life in
the recent hurricanes, partly the re-
sult of the niggardliness of congress in
failing to make appropriations for the
life-saving service.
The real reason why the service has
not been extended is charged by the
friends of the service against the treas-
ury department. The August storms
along the coast have been causing very
serious losses during the past five years.
The fact that 24 men have been drown-
ed off the New Jersey shore alone with-
in a line of 18 miles during the recent
storm, and that there were four unoc-
cupied life-saving stations within warn-
ing distance, has aroused considerable
comment.
There are about seven men to each
station. and of the total of 1841 com-
prising the service, only 102 remain on
duty during the entire year. Of the
others, 352 work eight and one-half
months, 1,023 eight months, and 155
five months. With the exception of
the insignificant handful who work
the year round, there are none of these
men at work between May 1 and Sep-
tember 1, while the records of the de-
partments show that there have been
almost as many wrecks during the
period of intermission as during the
stormy period.
The department, it appears, still
clings to the idea that September is the
proper month to look for storms and
crippled vessels, because in former
years the autumnal storms began dur-
ing first week of September. Investi-
gation and meteorological records have
proved, though, that these storms now
come upon us earlier, and are now due
any time between August 20 and Sep-
tember 1. and each year the wind ap-
pears to blow harder.
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Life Saving Service
Atlantic Hurricanes
Congressional Neglect
New Jersey Drownings
Storm Staffing
Government Criticism
Where did it happen?
Atlantic Coast, New Jersey Shore
Story Details
Location
Atlantic Coast, New Jersey Shore
Event Date
August 189? (Recent Storms), Article Sept. 4
Story Details
Congressional criticism of inadequate appropriations and seasonal staffing of the Life-Saving Service leads to deaths in early summer hurricanes; 24 drowned off New Jersey near unoccupied stations; storms now occur from August 20.