Evening journal., 1897-07-10
DELAWARE PILOT SERVICE.
THE PHILADELPHIA WILL GO INTO
COMMISSION NEXT WEEK.
ONE OF THE FINEST PILOT BOATS
AFLOAT-SHE WILL AWAIT IN
COMING VESSELS OFF CAPE
HENL OPEN.

AFLOAT-SHE WILL AWAIT IN
COMING VESSELS OFF CAPE
HENLOPEN.
Philadelphia, July l0.-Next Thurs
day the new steam pilot boat Philadel-
phla is TO be commissioned at Lewes,
Delaware, and thencefOrward the old
fashioned pilot cutters and schOoners
that have done such good service in the
past will practically be put out of COM
mission, and the cramped quarters and
ofttimes uncomfortable conditions that
have been the portion of the Delaware
pilots will give place to saloon cabins,
spacious decks and the comforts of a
well-appointed and roomy steam yacht,
which is claimed to be the superior of
any pilot boat ahOat, either in this or
any other country. Strength, speed and
comfort were the requirements of the
Pilots Association of the Bay and River
Delaware, and the builders have met
the demand by constructing a boat that
marks a distinct advance in the steam
pilot service of the country.
After the exhibition trial trip last
Thursday, the Philadelphia came up the
river 10 Pier g. South Wharves She is
to leave here on Tuesday next for Cape
May, where she is to remain one day.
On Wednesday she is to steam across
the bay to Lewes, and the following
evening she is to be placed in commits
sion and 90 into active service. She Is
to be stationed in a line with Cape Hen
lOpen, bearing west, about four miles
from the cape and about six miles out
side the Overfall shoals, and i'm the di-
f,ff Of
the Delaware coming from Europe. as
well as CT coasting steamers, either
from the North or South. The Phila-
delphia will drift and steam in the i'm
mediate vicinity of The meeting point
of these ocean paths to the Delaware
channel, taking off pilots from outward
bound and placing pilots On inbound
vessels
The Philadelphia is built of mild
steel. She is 143 feet in length, of %
feO beam and has a depth of IA feet G
inches. Her net tonnage is 161 tons
while her gross burden is a fraction
over 800 tons. The single propeller is
driven by compound engines of $50 in
dicated horse power, the cylinders be-
ing 20 inches and 40 inches respectively
with a stroke of 2S inches. Steam is
| furnished by q Scotch boiler II feet
deep by 13 feet inches in diameter
fitted with three corrugated furnaces
With a steam pressure of 122 pounds
and 1873 revolutions of the screw a min
ute a speed of 10 95-100 miles an hour
was made over the measured mile al
Deep Water shoal on Thursday last.
A high bulwark runs completely
round the deck, which is of Oregon
pine. A trunk cabin runs the length o.
the ship The dining-rOOm is forward
and over the trunk cabin, and over thii
again is the captains room and th'
pilot-house. The after cabin is finish
ed in hard wood 1t is fitted with six
teen berths, all enclosed within oal
sliding doors, and, in addition, Their
are two lavahOries, cOatrOoms, locker
and pantry An oak table extends alonl
the centre. while the other furnishing
include an oak sideboard. crimson
plush-covered seats on each side of tn
cabin, steam-heating pipes and heav
Wilton carpo.. The skylight is finishe
on the inside in white and gold. In tn
forward cabin there are twelve berth
for the crew, and it looks almost a
comfortable as the after one. Under
Is the stOre-rOOm and ice-house. Will
a second refrigerator capable of hOldin
two tons of ice is abaft the fOrwar
cabin. The galley is Immediately be
! hind the forward cabin and the chic
! engineer has quarters on the starboar
side Of the boat.
Throughout the vessel is lighted b
y electricity. A powerful search light
= placed en- top of the pilOt-house, frcl
e. whhin which It can be operated at viii
y High on the foremast is an arc incar
4 descent signaling fash light. An ind
e Gator i'm the plot-house automaticall
shows whether or not all lights al
burning
The steamer is fitted with two heay
bits, so that towing assistance can 7
? given disabled vessels. There is ais
L a large wrecking and fire pump, cap
a. BILE of pumping many thousands of ga
e Ions a minute. Among the other fittinl
% of the ship are steam steering gea
o steam hosting engines, steam windlas
n three water-tight bulkheads and a &C
s lision bullihead in the bow. She HI
p two Oregon pine masts. She carri
e three skiffs amidships. The funnel
IS painted yellow, with black top. al
l. ON each side a big letter "P" is paint'
l. in red The steamer is painted white
l. On The exhibition trial trip on Thur
1t day the Pilots Association had son
nj fifty guests on board. among who
l. were Joel Cook, William R. Tuck'
" Murrell Dobbins, Charles II. Large al
Is Frank NJ. Chandler, of the Board
ID Port Wardens; President George
II Earnshaw, Vice. President Thom
lie Winsmore, Secretary f. r. Sharwo
le and Directors George II. Higb'
In Charles +. Giller George d. Ali and
: Humburg, Of the Philadelphia Maritir
Exchange; Collector Cooper and de
uty collector of the port of Wilmingt
and DR.. Gilpin, of Delaware. A sts
was made at 1890 a. m. and the r.
il, was 10 Fort Delaware and return, t
> Philadelphia arriving at pier 3 about