The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-03-22
AN IMPORTANT WORK.
The Daring Men Who Guido Ships Into
Port.
Especial Corrcspondence.I


Port.
Especial Correspondence
Boston, Feb. 25.-Tho severe storms
that have recently swept across the seas
have drawn especial attention to most
hardy class Of men-the pilots. 1t can I'M
doubtedly be stated with perfect truth that
nowhere else in the world IS there n moro
daring, more successful set of pilots than
those who guide the ships OF the world
into the ports along the eastern coast OF
North America.
Though not al born IN America, these
men are all Americans in the best sense
OF the term. They are necessarily sailors
Of exceptional ability, they are sober IL
their habits, and they love this country,
whether it be theirs by birth or adoption.
y largo proportion Of them arc natives Of
Maine, that state of rockbound coast
which has furnished so many stanch ships
and so many skilled mariners to navigate
them.
1t is not an easy thing to win the right
TO servo Us an Atlantic coast pilot. The
young man who wishes to pass his life at
tho business of guiding ships safely into
this port or tho port CT New York must
serve a long novitiatc. At New York lie
must first be an apprentice for two years,
after which, If he shows especial ability,
he may DO promoted to the post OF boat
keeper. After he has been a boatkeeper
for five years continuously he may take
the pilots examination, and il he pass
that he may then act nS pilot on ships
which draw no moro than Is feet Of water
this IS, If there be a vacancy, but not
otherwise. After ho has shown his compe-
tency by the successful plotting OF vessels
of lighter draft for one year he may re-
ceiye full license. Sometimes tho would
lie pilot has to wait years before he can TO-
ceive his certificate, for only one pilot can
enter the service frCm the Same boat in
five years, and no one can leave one boat
for another without special permission
from tho commissioners
II there is prettier sight In the world
than that presented by the feet Of pilot
boats of tho potts OF Boston and New
York, the writer has yet to behold it. The
little vessels are schooner rugged, with
bulls Of graceful, taper build, and their
white sails contrast eIquisitely against
the dark green of the waves. Seen from
the deck Of an incoming steamer, they ap-
pear To its passengers like the harbinger5
Of the approaching end OF the voyage, and
as they rise on the crests of the pillows the
red OF their bottoms often shows distinct
y, presenting note of lively color that
seems to perfect the picture.
The dangers to which the pilotboat men
are exposed are manifold, one OF the most
notable being that of being run down at
night or when becalmed and in q fog In
stormy weather the pilot takes his life in
his hands whenever he boards a ship. and
when tho winds and the waves are high
there are almost the dangers Of the lee
shore But, though many pilots lose life
by accident, moro perhaps are carried of
By pneumonia, for notwithstanding their
hardness this dread disease carries OF
mum bers of them. Within three weeks of
january this year there were eight deaths
from this cause among the little band of
pilots whose headquarters are at New
York. +. 3. LEWIS.