Storm warriors. That was the name given to the men of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, who stood watch over the safety of seamen on the inland seas during the early beginnings of the Great Lakes maritime history. Ever ready with only oar-powered life boats, they braved wind, waves and freezing cold to rescue those whose ships wrecked or were in danger of sinking.

Wreck Ashore, now in its second printing with a lively new cover design, is filled with exciting stories of these storm-tossed lifesavers who rowed through towering waves to do whatever was necessary to save lives. Many lost their own lives in the process. So high in public esteem were the lifesavers that select crews were featured performers at virtually every important exposition during the late-1800s and early 1900s, as well as having one crew travel with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show for a year.

Wreck Ashore records Life-Saving Service adventures in the telling of the crews’ daring rescues and the occasional tragic capsizing of life boats. As a true preservation of these heroes’ lives, the book also examines the sometimes tedious station routines of the average crewmen who walked long, lonely stretches of beach at all times, staying alert for any sign of a distressed ship, and daily practiced the handling of the rescue equipment. Stonehouse explores every aspect of the service, from its men and choice of station locations to the types of equipment used.

But it is the author’s stories of the valor of the lifesavers that highlight the pages of this book and make it compelling reading. Feats that sound fantastical in modern times seem to have been commonplace among this rare breed who dedicated their lives to the safety of sailors and passengers when Great Lakes travel was the major method of moving mid-continent goods and people. This is a fitting memorial to their bravery and their dedication.

“Of all of my books, this is the one I am most proud of,” Stonehouse says. Frederick Stonehouse has written 17 books on the Great Lakes, both adult and children’s volumes including Haunted Lakes and Haunted Lakes II. The new release of Wreck Ashore also reduced the price to $19.95 (mail order, add $5.95 shipping and handling). It is available through book and gift outlets or from the publisher at 325 Lake Avenue South, Suite 600, Duluth, Minnesota 55802. For more information, call 888-BIG LAKE (244-5253) or logon to www.lakesuperior.com. Lake Superior Port Cities Inc. has published 18 books on regional history and lore. It also publishes Lake Superior Magazine, a full-color consumer publication printed six times a year in Duluth, and Lake Superior Travel Guide, updated annually.