New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-26
The CASE az THE RICHARD Il. FOX.
A POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION BY THE PILOT con-
MIssIoNERs As To HER ABANDONMENT
THE PROJECT OF STEAM PILOT
BOATS DISCUSSED.

The strange abandonment OF the Sandy HooA
ni,ot -boat Richard X. Fox OF Rockaway the Other
NIGHT said one of the oldest steamboat men and
r,,o,s in this port TO a Tribune reporter yeser
day has led renewed discussion as to the feas
bility OF adopting steam instead OF sail for pilot
heats As to the mysterious desertion OF the Eos
nv her pilots. by whom she was owned and hef
hoa ,keeper and crew. prefer TO express no opinion
Among pilots and boatmen generally however. II 70
regarded as exceedingly remarkable that soon OF
almost Immediately after the pilot-owners ano
their crew had been rescued by the Government
ufe-savers. and had scattered TO their homes 10
different parts OF this city and Brooklyn, the lie
savers should also easily save the stranded pilot
hoa, and take her safely staten Island In con-
d,tion which needed, virtually. only trhing repairs
at comparatively sma, cost TO make her as sood
as new No one charges cowardce. for that is an
accusation never made against the SANDY Hoos
n,,ots. The strange action Of the owners Of the
rox who were experienced and skilful branch
pilots however. calls for rigid investigation wnics
,,l doubtless be made by the Pilot Commissioners
and the true inwardness' OF the mystery laid bar~
AN Unsuccessful experiment" continued the
sneaker was tried with steam pilot-ooat some
twelve or thirteen years ago. think IN 49, ms
Anchor Line Steamship Company and some otnes
Transatlantic steamship lines thought that by the
90. q, steam pilot boats they could save much vau'
able time in receiving and dropping pilots tndef
their patronage encouragement, the iate Sap.A'"
Noble OF South Brooklyn then one OF the odes'
nots in this port and some other we-known
nIots also chartered the seagong tugboat Hercules.
which was built in Camden. ~ j.. IN lsso Sne was
s,anch boat i0s feet In length. q feet breadth. II
feet in depth and OF i55 10 tons gross ana % ~ tons
NOT tonnage The commander Of the Hercules was
the late Captain Jeptha b. Parks. then one OF the
oldest New-York hsrbor and river steamboat men.
who in 1859 or 1850 took the tugboat Martin white
from this port around the Cape OF Good Hope te
Shanghai. China whence he returned IN issS: ana
who mrnanded several excursion steamers .uan;ne
to Rockaway Beach and elsewhere Inc hsscu ,s
Pilot Commissioners. and Its projectors FOUND II %
he 40 expensive that they soon gave up the cost
NJ maintainng the boat being considerably IN ex:
Cess ~ the fees for pilotage. The 9reat cost OF
rvnnn1 steam pilot boats Will PROBABLY prevent
their General adoption. Another serious ooJect!o1
10 The system Ia that II Il should De adopeeu the
niots would be left with large number OF saiiina
pot boats in which their lifelong savings are IN.
vested. and which not suitable for profitable use
In any other service 4. 4. -. r.r...u,
believed that the steam plot-boat system VIII %
ADOPTED although Is barely possible thas some ar:
rsnsemcnt could be made by which say couple o.
steam pilot boats. might lie In the track q ,hs
cruising say from 100 TO LIS miles to the eastwsrS
and so or 90 miles to the southward. TO intereeps
other craft"