12181. Karentz, Varoujan. The Life Savers – Rhode Island’s Forgotten Service. Amazon. 2012. 252p. Soft wraps. An incredible story of men against the sea and the U.S. Life Saving Service of the 19th century. For almost 40 years, between 1878 and 1917 nine U.S. Life Saving Stations along Rhode Island’s coastline and Block Island saved both ships and crews in weather that froze hands, feet and limbs. The Life Savers were remarkable men of courage and endurance patrolling beaches and signaling ships standing in danger. They rowed their surfboats into dangerous seas or rigged beeches buoys rescuing lives. Their lost stories and history have been captured by Karentz from official government archives and told in their own words. Included are synopsis of Rhode Island’s worse marine disasters as the passenger steamer SS Larchmont in the dead of winter was holed and sunk by the schooner Harry Knowlton with a loss of 145 lives, to the rumored purposeful shipwrecker’s on Block Island who decoyed wayward vessels to their doom to salvage wreckage and cargo. Dozens of shipwrecks and rescues by the men assigned to the Life saving stations are covered with direct words from the rescuers themselves. The Life Savers will intrigue you as how these gallant men fought the elements and how they saved lives. (M). $14.95.