1930: Bill, the U.S. Life-Saving Services Horse of Fire Island, New York » The Coston Flare
If a ship came to close to shore, a surfman would strike his red Coston flare against a rock, which could be seen for 20 miles. The flare warned the ship’s captain that he was too close while also alerting the station crew of a pending disaster.
U.S. Life-Saving Station surfman uses a Coston flare.
