Wreck of the Queen Louise, Manasquan, NJ – 1914 The steamer "Queen Louise" aground in the surf at Manasquan, NJ circa 1914. You can see the rescuers bringing a passenger to shore using a Breeches Buoy. Once used by the U.S. Life Savers service, it is a pair of canvas breeches hanging from a belt–like life buoy which was usually made of cork. This contrivance, including the person to be rescued, was hung by short ropes from a pulley which ran on a rope stretched from the ship to the shore, and was drawn to land by hauling lines.