The daily gazette., 1883-01-05
REpRlNrEp FRoM YESTERDAY
AZ oLn snrP.RuILpER
samuel 8. Hazlstt. and His Career IN IN
Wilmington Boat Yards.


samuel 8. Hnzlstt. and His Career IN the
Wilmington Boat Yards.
Samuel s. Hazlett, for many years con-
uected with the Harlan & Hollingsworth
Company, whose resignation was published
in yesterdays GAZETTE, as shipbuilder,
has had a remarkably successful career in
that capacity. He learned the trade at the
old navy yard ut the foot Of Washing
ton avenue, Philadelphia. From there he
came TO the ship yard of A. & w, Thatcher,
who then were building the wooden portion
Of boats about on the site Of the present
works of the Lobdell Car Wheel
Company. The firm Of Belts, Pusey
Il Harlan, which was the germ
from which sprung the present Harlan s
HOlnngsworth Company did the iron work
on the boats built by the Thatchers.
The yard then was about one-half the size
~ the present yard of the Pusey & Jones
Company. That was some time In the
forties. Mr.. Hazlett went, about lS4l, to
Reading, Pa, where he engaged in the
manufacture of boats for the Schuylkill
Navigation Company, remaining there for
perhaps two years, when the navigation
company began the building Of their own
boats.
He came to Wilmington then, and has
been with the II. & II. company ever since.
The first boat he launched was the "Win-
nissiminitt," ferry boat for the Chelsea
Ferry Boat Company, Boston. That was in
1874. Since then he has been interested in
the launching of 1856 vessels of different
styles-ferryboats men-of-war, steamers,
6reighter, etc.-which included the largest
coasting freight vessel, the Excelsior, F"
ever built In the United States, and the
second largest iron side wheel steamer, the
"City OF Worcester" ever constructed in
this country. Three monitors were also
launched by him, and with all the various
crafts sent out from the yard there was but
once when ever selnblance of an unsuc-
ceesful launch was experienced.
That exception was the monitor Sangus,
built during the war. The boat was cut
loose, and began to slide slowly into the
stream. Noticing that she was not passing
OF with the speed necessary for her safety,
and fearing that she might be strained, hur.
ried orders were given, spikes driven ard
the boat made fast and kept from moving.
An examination showed that the tallow used
on the ways was of poor quality and had
become useless. That was on Saturday
The monitor was then lacked up, everything
gotten in readiness. and on the following
Tuesday the launch was successfully con
summated
Another gratifying fact to Mr. Hazlett 1;
that during his entire service, no workman
was ever seriously injured during launch
On all matters relating to his business he
is considered positive authority and ON NOR,
than one occasion has his experience and
knowledge been sought for by rival ship
builders. At the time of he trouble with
the Pilgrim at Chester last summer, Mr.
Hazlett was called Tor consultation, ant
largely through suggestions Of his, the YES
sell was finally launched in good condition
Mr.. Hazlett handed in his resignation
yesterday, but will remain with the firm, o
which he has so long been an importan
part, until all his business matters are ar
ranged and his affairs with the compan,
settled. He has not definitely decide / what h
and his son who will retire at the same time
Will engage in, but it is very probable the.
will continue in active business of som
kind