The U.S. Lifesaving Service at Work
Practicing for a Rescue
When large vessels grounded on the Barnegat shoals and were pounded apart
by the waves, they were
far enough from land that passengers and crew members were drowned before
they could get to shore.
Dangerous water also made it impossible for shore-based crews to reach grounded
vessels.
One method developed for rescues began with the shooting of a line to the
ship from a small cannon.
Next, a breeches buoy was rigged to the line and people were brought to
shore one at a time.
Both the crew on shore and the people aboard the vessel hoped that this tedious
process could be completed before the ship broke apart.
If that happened, anyone left on board the vessel was usually drowned.
If lifeboats could be launched in the surf, they proved much more efficient
in bringing people off the stranded vessel.
Unfortunately, rough surf often capsized the rescue boats, and sometimes
whole rescue crews were lost as a result.
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