Boy Scout Fire Fighters

by Richard Harding Davis

  CHAPTER XII

  THE SCOUT LIFE GUARDS' BEACH PATROL

  Bruce and two companions, Romper Ryan and Jiminy Gordon, were passing thePost Office just as Morton McCabe, the little old man who delivered mailin the southern district of Woodbridge, came down the broad stone steps.

  "How are you, Mr. McCabe?" saluted Bruce.

  "Hello, boys; fine, fine, thanks. Say, did you get your letter?" saidthe diminutive postman, Who always talked very fast and tried to crowd asmany sentences as he could into a single breath.

  "Letter?" demanded Bruce, "what letter?"

  "Why, I left a letter up at headquarters for you this morning. It wasaddressed to you, care of Quarry Troop No. 1, of Woodbridge. Came fromOld Harbor Beach, Maine. Saw the postmark. Big letter. Lookedimportant."

  "Is that so? Thank you, Mr. McCabe," said Brace.

  "Who do you know at Old Harbor Beach, Bruce?" asked Romper.

  "That's what I was wondering. I can't figure it out. The letter must bemeant for all of us, or else it wouldn't have been mailed toheadquarters. Come on, fellows, we'll see what it is."

  Ten minutes later the three lads arrived at headquarters. There was thebig blue envelope sticking under the door. Bruce picked it up and rippedit open, while his companions crowded around and looked over his shoulder.Hastily the patrol leader's eyes ran through the first paragraph. Then,as if he could not believe what he had read, he started to go over itagain.

  "Out loud, out loud. Don't be so blamed stingy," said Romper, who waseager to hear the news it contained.

  "I--er--aw, say, this must be a joke. Gee, if it isn't, it's thebiggest piece of luck the troop has had in some time. Listen, fellows:"

  Bruce Clifford, Chief of the Motor Cycle Fire Department, Woodbridge, Vt.

  My Dear Bruce: From what I have heard of your motor cycle fire departmentI have come to the conclusion that the members of your troop are exactlythe boys I need to help me this summer. I would like to hire theservices of ten scouts to take charge of a motorcycle life-saving corps Iam organizing at Old Harbor Beach.

  I own all the bathing concessions here and we have a strip of the finestbeach along the Atlantic Coast. It is fifteen miles long, just as firmas concrete. The bathing here is treacherous at times, however, andthere have been several lives lost far this summer. I do not care tohave any more such accidents and I want a good crew of life savers tohelp me. This crew will cover the beach on especially designedmotorcycles. I know you scouts are trained in first aid work and arewell fitted for these duties, and that is why I am eager to have yourservices. Of course I want only the ten best swimmers in the troop.

  It is necessary that you come to Old Harbor Beach at once, as theInternational Automobile Races will be held here next week, and thesewith several large conventions will bring thousands of people to OldHarbor from now until the end of the summer. I will pay transportationfor ten scouts and will board you and pay each of you $5.00 a week. Ifthese terms are satisfactory, wire me at once and I will send a cheek tocover expenses.

  Very truly yours,J. Arthur Herrick,President,Old Harbor Improvement Association.

  "By Jiminy, what do you think of that?" exclaimed Gordon in amazement.

  "Jove, I can't believe it. Seems like a--well, I think some one is makingfun of us," said Bruce. "Wait, I'll read it over again and see if I cansee a joker in it somewhere." Once more he read it aloud, while Romperand Jiminy Gordon listened.

  "Sounds mighty good on second reading," asserted Romper.

  "It sure does," exclaimed Gordon enthusiastically, "and just think,fellows, if we go we can see the Internationals. Jove, I was lookingover the entry list in the paper this morning. The best automobiledrivers in the world will be there--St. Clare, Dublan, Osterhout,and--and--best of all, Dan Dacy, the American, who has been smashingall of the old records. The papers say Dacy is the favorite. He's goingto make a new record in everything from five to fifteen miles and trimthe Frenchmen and the Germans an--"

  "Oh, say, quit! We're not there yet. Gee, you almost make me believeI'm really going," said Romper.

  "But what's to prevent?" demanded Jiminy.

  "Well--well--I don't know, unless this letter is a joke."

  "We'll find out if it is or not by sending a wire immediately," saidBruce, who had been thinking the situation over.

  "Yes, but first why not get the troop together and see if we can get tengood swimmers whose parents will let them go? We can call a meeting thisafternoon and send our telegram to-night," said Romper.

  "Right-o; good suggestion," said Jimmy.

  "And I really think we should submit the whole thing to Mr. Ford and gethis opinion before we take definite action. If some one is joshing us,he'll be able to see through it all right."

  But subsequent events proved conclusively that the letter was not a joke.The scouts called their meeting immediately, and after a careful studyof the troop's merit badge list, and a painful process of elimination,the ten oldest and best fitted scouts of the troop were selected tobecome members of the life-saving crew. Then Bruce, Romper and Jiminytook the letter to Mr. Ford and gave him the whole details of the case.

  Mr. Ford read the letter slowly, carefully considering every detail.Then he laid it down and removed his glasses.

  "Well, boys, if you want my opinion on the whole matter, I would say thatyou were quite the luckiest lot of chaps I've ever heard of. I spent asummer in Old Harbor Beach three years ago, and, of course, I met Mr.Herrick. He is quite the finest man I ever hope to come in contact with;big, stout and jovial, and as good-hearted as can be. If your parentswill let you, I would advise every one to accept the offer."

  "Cracky, we are in luck, fellows. I move we telegraph our acceptanceright away," said Romper.

  "I move we turn the matter over to Mr. Ford and let him telegraph. He'sour Scoutmaster, and I'm sure Mr. Herrick would feel better about thewhole thing if he found he was dealing with a grown-up person," saidBruce.

  "Right," said Jiminy and Romper.

  "Well, if that's how the wind lies, I'll do it," said Mr. Ford; "only youboys consult your parents first and tell me what they have to say."

  "Whoop-e-e, we will see the Internationals!" exclaimed Jiminy.

  "Yes, and we get a month at the seashore. When'll we start?" demandedRomper.

  "Just as soon as the money arrives. About Tuesday, I should guess," saidBruce, as the lads left Mr. Ford's house.

  It is hardly natural for ten thoroughly healthy scouts to be confined tothe restricted limits of a day coach for four solid hours withoutbecoming extremely weary of the monotony of it all. Bruce and the restof the members of Quarry Troop No. 1 became quite restive before the longjourney to Old Harbor Beach ended. Indeed, the lads were thoroughlypleased when, after the engine whistle had emitted a prolonged shriek,the conductor poked his head in at the door and drawled--"'OldHar-b-o-r--, Old Harbor Beach! Next stop Port Junction."

  "Thank goodness we're here at last," exclaimed Nipper Knapp, as he beganto gather his luggage together.

  "That's the best news I've heard to-day," insisted Bud Weir, swinging hissuitcase to his shoulder and crowding out into the aisle with the rest ofthe scouts.

  A stout good-natured looking man with a little five-year-old girl in abathing suit perched on his shoulder and a big collie dog romping by hisside, was easily the most conspicuous individual on the long stationplatform. Bruce caught sight of him as he descended the steps of thecoach.

  "That's Mr. Herrick, or I'm a duffer at guessing," he said to Romper, whowas just behind him.

  "You're not a duffer, for here he comes to welcome us," said Ray Martin,who had overheard the remark.

  Indeed, as soon as the big man saw the group of uniformed scouts leavingthe train he hurried toward them.

  "Hello, there, boys. I'm the one you're looking for, I guess. My name'sHerrick."

  "My name is Bruce Clifford, Mr. Herrick," said the patrol leader,extending his hand, "and the
se are the life-savers you have been lookingfor."

  "Good, I'll learn your names later, boys, and if I don't, I'll give younames that'll be just as good, won't I, May? Boys, this is my daughterMay. Now come along with me to my office on the pier and I'll outlinejust what my plans are. I want you to go on guard as soon as you can,for the crowd at the beach is getting larger with every train that pullsin. The Internationals start to-morrow, you know. The racing cars areall here. For a week past they have been tearing up and down the beachfrom sunrise until the bathers begin to turn out for their morning dip.Sort of tuning up for the big events."

  "Will we be able to see the races?" asked Gordon eagerly.

  "I don't see why not. They start to-morrow and will last for threedays," replied Mr. Herrick.

  "Won't that be great," exclaimed several as they fell in line behind Mr.Herrick and accompanied him through the resort toward the pier.

  Old Harbor Beach was like all other high-class watering places along theAtlantic Coast, only a great deal larger than the average. At least adozen tremendous hotels were located on the heights back of the beach.There were the usual number of shore restaurants and candy stores, too,and a board walk that stretched along the entire waterfront. Below thiswas a great wide beach of pure white sand as firm as a well-paved road,and fairly crowded with bathers. This beach was known throughout theworld as an automobile race course, and many a speed record had been madeon it.

  "So this is the famous Old Harbor Beach race course?" said Jiminy, as heeyed the straightaway.

  "That's what it is, son, and if you'll look away down there you'll see anumber of low green sheds. Those are the garages where the speed maniacsstore their high-powered cars."

  "Jiminy!" whispered Gordon, thoroughly awed.

  Mr. Herrick's office was in the big white building at the shore end ofthe steel recreation pier. Without any ceremony he ushered the lads intothe room and had them make themselves at home. This invitation thescouts accepted by promptly taking a seat on whatever was handiest,including window sills, tables and even the floor; Mr. Herrick sat downat his desk, while the collie curled up at his feet and his daughter tookher place on his knee.

  "Scouts," he said, "there have been three very sad occurrences at thebeach this Summer, and while in each case the fault lay entirely with thebather, I feel very much disturbed by the accidents, and I don't want anymore to take place this year. I have called upon you boys to help meprevent them. Remember, from now on you lads are the guardians of thelives of bathers at Old Harbor Beach." He spoke the last sentence veryimpressively.

  "Here's my plan," he continued after a pause. "Last Winter I was out toCalifornia, and at one of the beaches I saw a motorcycle life-savingcorps that had been organized by an old-time lifesaver. It pleased me somuch that I decided to have the same sort of a patrol on my beach. Iordered two motorcycles built along the lines of the machines used there.They arrived here two days ago and are now in their garages waiting foryou. These cars are equipped with all kinds of life-saving and first-aiddevices, including a stretcher, a pulmotor, bandages and medicines of allkinds. There will be two men to a motorcycle; a driver and a man on thetandem seat, ready to spring from the wheel and plunge into the surf andmake a rescue. He should be the best swimmer of the pair, of course.

  "All along the beach I have had signal towers built, each of which willbe manned by a scout. He will keep constant vigil, and, at the firstsign of trouble in his vicinity, he will flash a warning to the nexttower. The scouts in that tower will flash the signal on until itreaches the lookout at the garage. Then the motorcycle will be off tothe scene of trouble, tearing down the beach at a mile-a-minute clip.How does that strike you?"

  "Great," exclaimed several of the scouts in unison.

  "Well, don't get the idea that it's all fun. Indeed, it's mighty seriousbusiness, I'll have you know. On your quickness to respond to an alarmand upon your bravery and cool-headedness in a crisis will depend a humanlife, perhaps several of them," said Mr. Herrick.

  "We realize that," said Bruce soberly.

  "I guess you'll do, all right. I've heard a great deal about you Vermontscouts and I guess you'll be able to do what I ask of you and do itright. Now, if you are ready, we'll go down to one of the garages; thereare two of them. If you will look out of the window you will see oneabout a mile down the beach there. The other is a mile to the north ofus. The distance between the two stations includes all of the beachreserved for bathers and it will give each machine about a mile topatrol.

  "The garages have just been completed. Each will contain sleepingaccommodations for five boys. You will divide your crew into twopatrols, with a leader for each patrol. One patrol will occupy the northstation and the other the south. There will be two life savers and threewatchmen to each patrol. Do you understand?"

  "Indeed, we do," said Bruce.

  "Good," said Mr. Herrick. Then, after sending his little daughter out onto the beach to romp with her collie companion, he continued: "Come onand we'll inspect your new quarters." And, with Mr. Herrick in the leadthe scouts filed out upon the pier and down a long iron stairway to thebeach below.

  Through crowds of bathers the lads made their way until they arrived at along, low structure built near the board walk. This was the southstation.

  Carpenters and painters were putting the finishing touches on to thebuilding, and it looked to the scouts as if they were going to have acapital home in which to spend the month of August.

  Inside the big double doors were two rooms. The rear room was equippedwith five white iron beds and several chiffoniers and wash stand, whilethe front apartment contained the life guard's motorcycle.

  "Jimmy, look at that machine," exclaimed Gordon, who was the first one toenter the building.

  "Cracky, it's the best make on the market, too," said Nipper Knapp,examining the maker's name plate.

  "Bet it will burn up the beach, eh, fellows?" said Romper.

  "It sure will. It's a two-cylinder tandem. It'll make fifty miles anhour, or I'm no judge," said Bruce enthusiastically.

  "Like it, boys?" queried Mr. Herrick, who had been watching them as theyinspected the apparatus.

  "Like it! Gee, we couldn't help but like it. It's a corker. But what'sthat side car paraphernalia, that long box and the cigar-shaped tin canand the reel with wire cable on it, and all that?"

  "I'll explain that to you right away," said Mr. Herrick. "That long,flat-topped box on the side car serves several purposes. When you wantto take an unconscious person to the emergency hospital over on BeachAvenue you can use the box as a stretcher. Just put your patient on tothe top of it and while the man on the tandem seat holds him fast thedriver can rush the machine off to its destination at top speed; regularmile-a-minute ambulance service, you see.

  "Under that flat top are a lot of interesting things. The box containsseveral compartments in which are all sorts of first-aid preparations,including bandages, medicines, aromatic stimulants and the like. And,last of all, there is a pulmotor."

  "Oh, I've heard of the pulmotor and always wanted to see one in use,"said Bud.

  "Well, I'll tell you how they work," said Mr. Herrick. "It is the latestthing in the way of first-aid appliances. It pumps oxygen into the lungsof an unconscious person automatically. Firemen and life savers all overthe world are using them now. That blue tank there contained oxygen.This machinery under the glass covering is a pump that works by thepressure of the oxygen. A little of the oxygen escapes from the tank andmoves the pump, which forces the life-giving gas into those long pipes.That muzzle at the end of the pipes is placed over the victim's mouth andnose, and in that way the oxygen enters the lungs. You boys can studythe directions for its use on the cover of the box here. When you have apulmotor around you won't have to resort to the artificial respirationdrill described in your Handbook. Try it out on each other until youknow exactly how to handle it."

  "You bet we will. We'll work out a regula
r rescue exercise, won't we,fellows?" said Bruce.

  "Right-o!" exclaimed half a dozen lads in unison.

  "Fine. Now, I'll explain the way a rescue is made by the California lifesavers. That reel of wire cable and the cigar-shaped float attached tothe rear end of the side car is a very important factor in rescue work.The float has a life belt attached to it, as you can see. When a rescueis to be made the motorcycle comes to a stop at the water's edge and theman on the tandem seat leaps off and seizes the float. He buckles thelife belt on to him as he plunges into the water and the man on shorereels out the cable as the rescuer swims to the person in trouble. Whenthe life saver reaches the man or woman he is after he does not have tostruggle to keep afloat, for the buoy holds him on top of the water. Ifhe has to dive for the drowning one, he merely unbuckles the life beltand when he comes to the surface the buoy is right there for him to seizehold of, or, if he chose to, he could strap it fast to the one he istrying to save. The wire cable is very light, but very strong, and whenthe buoy is made fast to any one, the man on shore hauls away and dragsthe body out, just as he would haul out a big fish."

  "Jove, but _that's_ an outfit for you," exclaimed Romper.

  "Well, I'm glad you like it, Scouts. The outfit in the north station isidentically the same. I didn't spare any money to have your equipmentthe finest."

  "That's mighty good of you," said Bruce.

  "Why, it's to my own interest, lads. A single life saved is worth moreto me than all the money I've put into this scheme. Now it's up to youboys to make good my investment."

  "We'll do it," shouted the scouts in unison.

  "Alright, boys, that's all I ask. I'll leave you now. You can organizeyour own patrols and select your own leaders without my help. When youget hungry, go to the Pine Grove Hotel I've arranged to have all yourmeals served to you there.

  "You can spend the rest of the afternoon becoming familiar with theapparatus, and I guess you'll have all the time you want to practiceduring the next two or three days, for while the races are on no batherswill be allowed on the beach. Well, good-by and good luck to you."

  And the genial bath house proprietor left the scouts to their own devices.

  "Jiminy, fellows, I can't believe it. Some one pinch me, please. I wantto see if I'm awake. Just think of being in charge of such an outfit,"said Gordon after Mr. Herrick had left.

  "It does seem like a dream, doesn't it?" said Bruce, examining thecontents of the first-aid chest that formed the body of the side car."Come on, let's dig into this and see what we have to work with."

  That invitation was unnecessary, for several of the lads were rummagingthrough the chest while others were inspecting the machine and stillothers were wandering through the building looking their new quartersover. So occupied were they in this pleasant occupation that theycompletely forgot the time. Indeed, it was after six o'clock before theyrealized it. And since six o'clock was the dinner hour at the hotel thelads hustled off up the beach to find their boarding place.

  For an hour after they left the hotel the scouts wandered through theresort acquainting themselves with the place. At eight they all returnedto the south station, for they realized that they still had a great dealto do that evening.

  When the electric lights were lit and the scouts were comfortablysituated in the bedroom of the Station, Bruce called a meeting. The fourbest swimmers were selected first. They were Jiminy, Romper, Bud andBruce. After a vote Jiminy and Bruce were selected to man the motorcyclein the south station, while the two others were appointed operators ofthe apparatus in the north station. The six remaining lads wereappointed lookouts to man the beach towers. Three were attached to thenorth station crew, of which Bud was made leader, and the other threewere appointed members of Bruce's south station crew.

  Before the meeting adjourned it was decided that all ten scouts remain inthe south station for the night, since there would be very little workfor them to do next day. Bruce also thought it wise to have all the ladstogether while they were learning to use the pulmotor and becomingfamiliar with their apparatus. Then, too, the south station was betterlocated to afford the lads a view of the automobile races next morning,which counted for a great deal.

  By sleeping two in a bed and disregarding any slight discomforts the tenlads found that they could occupy quarters meant to accommodate onlyfive. And after a round of pillow fights and similar nocturnaldiversions they were finally all tucked in and ready for sleep.

  "Well, good-night, fellows. Hope we all sleep comfortably," shoutedRomper after the lights had been turned out.

  "Good-night yourself," shouted Jiminy. Then he added, "Hi, fellows, theInternationals to-morrow! Whoop--e-e-e!"