Life Saving Service

The headquarters of the Ninth Life Saving District, which embraces the coasts of Lakes Huron and Superior, was established at Detroit on January 12, 1876, and removed to Sand Beach on July 1, 1882. The special object of the service is to rescue persons in danger on the water through calamities of any kind. There are twelve stations in the district,--eight on Lake Huron and four on Lake Superior.

The building and appliances of each station cost about $6,000. The apparatus consists of life-boats, ropes, rockets to use as signals, and mortars for throwing lines to endangered vessels. Explicit directions concerning the most approved methods for restoring persons apparently drowned are also supplied. Each station has a keeper, at a salary of $700, with house-rent free. In 1883 three of the stations, those of Sand Beach, Thunder Bay, and Middle Island, were manned with eight men, and the others with seven, all under pay for about eight months of each year.

The keepers are selected by the superintendent, but all connected with the service are appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, The service in this district costs the United States about $40,000 yearly. Joseph Sawyer was the first superintendent of the district. He lost his life in the service, and on December 3, 1880, his place was filled by J. G. Kiah.

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