Six Surfmen
Charles Carlin, the captain of the new lifesaving station. During the stormy winter months he had paid help, in the form of six surfmen. In the summer he managed on his own. The crew slept in the lighthouse station and spent most of their time keeping the place clean and practicing in their new boat. The peace and quiet was not to last long...
A Hard Regimen
Shifts for the six surfmen were six hours long. One crewman would stand watch on the tower while two others patrolled the beach, each in a different direction. Captain Carlin drilled his crew constantly on rescue techniques. Perhaps the most dangerous of these techniques, was was firing a Lyle Gun to the bow of a ship to be rescued. The gun was fastened to the front of the lifeboat.
Saving Lives
The groundfloor of the life saving station contained a cloakroom, utility room and self-bailing lifeboat mounted on wagon so that it could be pulled quickly down a wooden ramp to the beach. Upstairs was the crews quarters, with iron cots, clothes lockers and a small apartment used by the Carlins until their home was built..
The Station Layout
During their 42 years at the lighthouse the Armours were gracious hosts. They needed to be, in the middle of nowhere there home was the only haven afforded to the traveler, Indian, shipwrecked sailor or servant alike. In his day Captain Armour was the most important person in the area, he lived up to his name and is still remembered fondly today.
Captain Carlin
Captain Charles Carlin was born in England and began as an assistant lighthouse keeper at Jupiter Lighthouse. He became captain of the Lifesaving station five years after leaving Jupiter. His house became the stopover for weary travellers, where they could be sure of a hearty breakfast from Mary Carlin. Eventualy she became so good at it that the house became a hotel.