The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-10
FOR A PILOT LAW.
CAPTAIN Biondi Defends the
Proposed Measure.
SHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN Loo'
He Cites Instances Where Pilots "o0i'
Have Been Very sersiceao'o
Water Front News.

Capt E. Bionii, OF Port Townsend "a,
the following letter 20 the PosT-lsT
replyinr 20 some OF the arguments iiias "a -
been made against g eoI1paisoiS
for the Sound:
T-nter the heading "PiIots Not Needed 10 80 :.
issue Of January see statement LIS - xoean;
old-tir1e mariner 20 the effect .ls. 'ilS ps.~et
effort made 10 establish pilot avs ~. - i Sia
sound ..s gotten up Ia the interest 81 O to1 -
pilots around Port townsend lh9as4 tsn
been resident OF this place 10! 'iiS Psr.ars
years aud always taken "A Interest ~ =. =, al,
apf.ertaiuing to shipping. | have nessi ~ 90
that tiGae heard the matter oIscHe-ss1- ,-- ora
/ ara personally acquainted VITA essi' s sr
who has followed that occupation HHa -. -
never heard one say that he vas ANXIOUS - 81
to the cape aud Tdlo: ships H. since ~ : sr !.
nv commission pilot comEnisslohe. se
received but two applications Ior piio' '.'e''~.
aud those from up sound cites ~, =, .,e
The same gentleman remarked: ~ a., 20
vessels that have come TO the ooaiia :. -
never known Of one being iost coming ,s.es
can only say that he has nos keps 80. -
as matter OF record Will mentloG lev % =
seis that were lost while making fhe satisaa
the straits within nay recollection. bh' u
sGry ! could add many more. Inc Ali-iI> :.
bark Austria. Capt. DeLauo, went ashore Z.
FiGtteFy rocks on January CO. ls5p. anu oeca -
Il total loss. The captain ID now itca.ea IA -, "a
coma. British chip Duchess, OF afgy1es ~ -.
vessel o. ,Gyg tons in command OF Capt hsfIs
went ~ bore during fog on December ., iosI
near san Juan hafb0T. and became tota, .ose'
E3G was valued at &EljtDSa rs Sill DC
Capt. Gibson. struck reef near Boniiia POM
during log on November -. lnsa ana oeoains
Il total loss. Bark Lizzie Iarshali, Capt bdEs-
man, struck on the reef tie year before, "A
& fog and was lost Bark Revere. CAPT. Hinds,
struck on a rec! in that vicinity n year or tso
before and was destroyed Chilean bark sagola
was lost taFee years ago by running On ~ ~
gcncss spit. Steamer Costa RIca. Capt. Ae.a-
tyre, struck rock near Race C1anneI II 40
vcmber, 1922. and was ;owe3 off a. great eS-
pcuse. The cost OF repairs III the Esquimais oEg
dock amounted to over s51.t00 :
Being obliged to telegraph 10 underwriters ali
casualties to shipping, by oFeraauiing my rec,
oTGs ] could no doubt furnish tue names "a
many more. Ihough It Is very true that fhe Ell
trance 20 the Straits il wide and free from OBJ
kgrgctions, the currents on tie Coast are win
some winds rapid and varying in direction. 10
Il stranger making the land about toe eape es-
pscially during the foggy season, the aid OF
pilot would be very acceptable Aany snip
master. have expressed themselves TO me 70
that effect
While perhaps with Il fair wind and elea.
weather they would feel perfectly safe in mex
ing the entrance and sailing up the Straits as TAI
Port Townsend, still, when the weather gel.
thick they would willing incur the expense OF
pilot IL often happens that vesse. has Gu
tered the Straits with fair wind. but finds al
adverse one on the inside. Had she a pilot on
board she could keep on working to windHard
but without SUCH careful master, even II
clear weather. when night comes on prefers &c
lie outside until daylight or accept the services
Of a tug boat IL one Is To be had. But IL often
happens that during the foggy season or III
thick weather several days are consumed in get
ting back To the Straits
The pressut pilot law isinoperative and there
fore, whether Il ship arriving at the cape re-
quifes pilot or not, there Is none 10 be OBJ
tanned. What IS necessary al present is such
legislation as viii encourage experienced and
thoroughly reliable men tn build anu operate q
fast, staunch, weHthcriy boat tn cruise outside
the cape and offer the services OF u pilot ff
such Of the growing iieet Of foreign vessels as
may require them. Ii IS but day or two age
that, in speaking al this matter with Capt. A.
L. Davis, of the dre-masted schooner Gov
Amcs, that gentleman said ise would willingly
have given 500 81 s pilot To bring his vessel in
on her arrival oil the Straits, as he had been VI
two nights and felt worn cur.
The national government has recognized the
necessity Tor suitable laws governing pilots and
steamers, and coEpsEs tile employment of sucf
tor every steamer carrying passengers II 4
sailing ship can so ali about the sound without
the services of a pilot, why are they necessary
O. steamers coming toaad plying between poTt
ON the sound; Tho captains ol these steamer
that trade regularly between these waters ans
outside ports are well posted in the uaviga
tion of the Sound those who ret as pilots
Pilots receive from sitJ to $50 per month
The same argument brought forth ny many tina
pilot Law for the sailing vessels would be i
tax and unnecessary burden on shipping mus
certainly acknowledge that the same burden il
borne by steamers. some time ago the secretar,
OF the navy ruled that commanders Of naya
vessels, when entering our haTbors and inlan,
waters, should not employ the services oil pilots
a. naval officers were supposed TO have 81 nj
Client training To make them competent to nay;
Fate their own vessels But the losses an,
casualties 10 government vessels have been $
numerous OF late that the secretary aanel ute,
Il rescind the order Even our revenue eutte
nov employs pilot while cruising nhont m
Straits and Puget sound