In 1871, the Federal Government formed the United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS) to operate primarily along the Atlantic coast. In 1874 when commercial shipping was booming in the Great Lakes, federal legislation expanded the USLSS to this region. These brave men saved lives by battling cold Lake Michigan surf in light boats to remove stranded crew from sinking ships. In 1915, the USLSS merged with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to form the United States Coast Guard.
In the Arcadia area, the nearest U. S. Life-Saving Service stations were in Manistee and Frankfort. The Manistee station was built in 1879. Construction began on the Frankfort station in 1886. When ships were in trouble in the Arcadia area, if there was time, life-saving crews were dispatched from one or both of these stations.
U. S. Life-Saving Station, FRANKFORT, Mich.
This is a colorized postcard showing the station in Frankfort designed by Albert
Bibb and constructed in 1886. This photo was probably taken prior to 1915, when
the service was renamed U.S. Coast Guard. Note the crewman keeping watch on the
roof walkway. -- Matteson Postcard Collection
Life-saving crews had several ways to save lives. Sometimes life-saving crews were able to ride out through the surf to the side of a ship and remove the ship's crew that way. At other times when the water was just too rough, the USLSS used a Manby mortar or, after 1878, a Lyle gun to fire a projectile with a line from shore, set up a breeches buoy, and remove a ship's crew one at a time. In either case, they often tried to resuscitate the "apparently drowned" using a simple but fairly effective form of artificial respiration.
Life-Saving Crew Practicing
This is a colorized postcard photo showing the keeper at the stern and six
crewmen manning oars. A seventh crewman is keeping watch on the roof walkway. In
1911, the Frankfort station got a motorized lifeboat.
-- Matteson Postcard Collection
A life-saving station crew was constantly practicing, learning each other's skills, and watching for trouble around the clock. For example, USLSS regulations required beach apparatus drills on Mondays and Thursdays, and lifeboat and surfboat practice were required on Tuesdays, weather and circumstances permitting. For all this practice and danger, the most senior member, the keeper, earned $800 per year in 1880 and $1,000 per year in 1912 not including uniforms.
Practicing in the Surf
This is a photo showing a USLSS crew bringing a lifeboat to shore. Note the
keeper on the left straining hard to control the ship and the crewman in the bow
getting ready to reach the shore. Teamwork was key to saving lives. (Click
here for a closer view.) --
Matteson Photo Collection
Practicing on the Beach
A Lyle gun could fire an eighteen pound bullet-shaped projectile about 300 yards
on a full charge of 8 ounces of black powder. The projectile had an eye at the
back end to which a shot line was tied. Note the box on the left and the
spindles just to its right (normally kept within the box). This is a faking box
used to help the shot line play out without tangling. The intent was to send the
line across a ship so that someone on the ship could grab the line and pull in a
much heavier line. The heavier line could then be used to set up a breeches buoy
or a life car used to bring people from the ship to the beach. (Click
here for a closer view.) --
Matteson Photo Collection