Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-11
New Harbor Boat to Make Her Initial
Trip Today.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT over old ONE
Origin of the Movement for OBJ
tanning Coast Craft.
OFFICERS OF THE NEW BOAT

The trial trip of the new police harbor
boat Vigilant takes place this evening
Harbormaster Sutton recently informed
Commissioner Wight that the boat was
ready for active service, and suggested
trial trip and inspection. This was ar
ranged for to occur today and promptly at
Z o'clock the boat will leave her wharf, on
Water street between NJ and n streets, for
trip along the river front. On board will
be representatives from the several news
papers. the president of the board of trade
and Others. Because of the small accom-
modatfons, it was only possible to invite
very few.
The new harbor boat while she meets in
no respect the actual necessities of a craft
OF her kind, is nevertheless a great i'm
Irovement on the old one, and long step
forward toward a model of the kind which
will combine all the requirements of a
police boat with those of a fre-fighting
craft and an ice boat.
A Home Product.
The Vigilant is a home production. She
was built in Alexandria by Charles Dean
and George McDermott. She is fifty -r,ine
feet long and has a beam OF thirteen feet
Nothing but the best material was used
in the construction, and Harbormaster
Sutton was a constant visitor at the yard
where the boat was built and testifies
to the superiority IN point of workmanship
Forward there is a roomy cabin, twelve
feet long by eight feet wide, fitted up as
well as the small appropriation would per-
nit There is an after cabin. also eight
feet square In the forward cabin there
are four hunks. while there are three COM
Portable hunks in the after cabin.
1t is curious chain of incidents which
led up to the building Of the Nigilant. Har-
bormaster Sutton, in his estimates, urge
an appropriation of $500 to responsil the
Joe Blackburn. After this appropriation
was allowed, he received an offer from a
builder to construct a new boat for the
sum of $1,25O and the hull Of the old police
boat This was considered a good offer,
end upon the urgent request of the harbor-
master, the Commissioners asked for an
increased appropriation. This was granted.
The builder who made the proposition to
do the work was taken suddenly ill and
threw upethe job. No one could he found
willing to do the work for that price, and
once again Harbormaster Sutton went to
Congress and by persuasive effort sue
ceeded in obtaining $1,000 additional This
gave him a working capital of s., 40
Bids were asked and the contract finally
let to Dean & McDermott at $3.50. The
old machinery Of the Blackburn was nut
into the new hull, and now Washington has
a boat that she need not be ashamed Of
although II is far from what the exigencies
OF the situation demand.
Contributions to Comfort,
Already the citizens are contributing to
the comfort and necessities of the new
boat. Harbormaster Sutton desires the
generous people of Washington to know
that he will appreciate any gift which will
contribute to the furnishings of the Vigil
liant. The boat needs two clocks, a set of
lamps, set of colors, chairs, and any
nv
convene noes.
The crew of the Vigilant is as follows:
Captain. ]. r. Sutton; pilot. Russell Dean.
and Oficers s: d. Lewis. J. J. Perry and
Frank Auldridge; engineer, James Neale:
deck hand, Robert Ferguson, and watch
man, James A. Davis.
For many years the necessity Of having
police harbor boat had been apparent to
were made In Congress to get an appro-
priation to pay for one The interest IF
Senator Blackburn was aroused, and dur
Ing 1883 Congress appropriated $500 for
the protection of the harbor and the
prevention of crime along the river front.
1t was understood at the time that q Dor
ton of this appropriation would be used
to purchase boat. This was during the
sioner Wheatley had charge of the harbor,
and after the appropriation had been Sc
cured began to look around for a suit
able boat.
Purchase of Sadie Walker.
A friend told him of the Sadie Walker"
a smart little craft owned by Munroe, the
publisher. in New York. Harbormaster
Sutton was dispatched to the metropolis
to inspect the boat. So pleased was he
with her appearance that he wired the
Commissioners. and they in turn wired
back to close the bargain. The boat cost
8. 800. delivered in Washington. AS a mark
of respect, and in consideration of his ef-
forts, which made 1t possible to secure
the boat. the Commissioners named the
beat Joe Blackburn" Since that time the
little craft has demonstrated her worth
time and again. She has been in patrol
service continuously since 1883, and man.
aged to keep the channel clear, besides
breaking up much unlawful fishing ard re-
covering the bodies of many drowned per-
sons.
Her crew then, as now, was made I'D Of
policemen detailed especially for the serv-
ice.