Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-07
RIVER PILOTS AT WAR;
A Kick Against What Are Called
"Parlor Car Men,"

Delaware Pilots Interested--The Phila-
delphta Port Wardens Called Upon to
Act--A Meeting to be Held This After
noon.
Philadelphia Record, Tuesday.
The Pennsylvania. Delaware and New
Jersey pilots are again at war among them
selves over the right of certain pilots to go
by rail to nearby points to secure vessels
instead of taking their turn from the off
shore pilot boats. 1t is claimed that the
regular boats lose so much business by
such means that it is impossible to main
tain pilotage service for Philadelphia's
commerce, aud the agitators have called for
an indignation meeting to be held at the
Maritime Exchange on Thursday after
noon next.
The fight was declared Yesterday. when
the request signed by the local pilots and
renewing the subject agitated last year and
once decided was received by the Board OF
Port Wardens and referred to the com
mittee on navigation and pilots. The
petition was signed by nearly 20 active
pilots, and read thus;
WHEREAS, The custom of pilots going to
New York aud other ports 80 bring vessels to
Philadelphia has become denoraliaing and
must eventually bring dscredit on the pilot
service of this port of Philadelphia:
Therefore, we. tho undersigned pilots hold
ing licenses granted by your board, do earn
eStly request you 10 pass SUCH reSOlllUOns rs
may elevate the service and reward the men
who go to sea and look for incoming ships.
The fight is being waged on the one side
by the men who work entirely from the
boats and the ''parlor car pilots. as they
are called. because il is claimed that they
travel to neighboring ports in parlor cars
and secure the deepest draught vessels that
are ordered to Philadelphia for cargoes.
The pilot bringing the vessel to port takes
her to sea again, being paid for his services
so much per foot, according to the vessels
draught. The so-called ''parlor car men"
claim that by their perseverance and hard
work, and because they are always ready,
they are able to secure vessels which the
opposition could never get, and declare
that jealousy is back of the fight.
tits claimed that the pilot boats have not
been able to pay expenses by the out-port
work, sand this claim is based on the
assertion that the pilot boat Kerr, during
the month of January, put pilots on board
only two vessels, while the other boats did
but little better.
Harry Long, one of the pilots who goes
to New York and elsewhere for vessels.
said last night that two-thirds of the men
who signed the port warden's petition
would be afraid TO pilot vessels like the
Southwark or kensington from deep water
to Philadelphia, owing to the great depth
| of water they draw. He says that the
] association he represents proposes to make
u fight before the port wardens and show
that, instead of injuring Philadelphia
commerce. thew have encouraged it by
| prompt and efficient service, especially on
time-chartered craft.
The meeting on Thursday will be at
tended by j. p. Virden, n Delaware pilot
commissioner, representing the pilot boat
Bayard; Frank Eldridge. representing the
boat Il. G. knight; Lewis Wallace, repre-
senting the boat Kerr; n. Hughes, for the
boat Edmunds; r.. Chambers, for the
Tunnel; Peter Chambers. for the Cope,
and n. Smith, for the Whilldin. Presi.
dent Earnshaw, of Maritime Exchange
w. +, Hagar, f. l., Neall, John L. Nichol'
son, j. b. Hamel, Jr., Bernard Hamburg,
Christian X. Ross, George Ali and Others
interested in the ports prosperity will
discuss the matter and recommend to
the port wardens their conclusions and
suggestions. ......