The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-28
a 0ugboat

skipper OF CuSpodt IN tnls ndIpor' AHo
other day she got certificate from Capt.
seeley of the United States Steamboat In
spection service, which says:
she is skilled pilot Of steam vessels
and can be trusted to perform such duties
upon the waters Of the harbor Of New York
from Coney Island Point to Fort " ashin gton
Point. East River. and Long Island Sound
tn Captains Island: and she Is hereby IL
oansed to act az a second class pilot on steam
vessels of twenty-five gross tons for the
term Of five years"
Cart Maude ia not captain only. but
also pilot and deckhand OF the Major Ul-
rich, tug or water boat of fifteen tons
burden, that carries water and ice to ship
mig in the harbor, tows anything she can
mil and tests boilers. The Ulrich's crew
consists Of one man. En- gineer Macdonald,
white haired veteran Of the eea, who has
heen in turn on different boats cook. cap
'aia and engineer
A Sun reporter went on cruise with Capt.
Jensen one day last week. At first sight
Cant. Maude looks like child in her short
SKIRT. little Jacket and wide brimmed hat.
Sire confesses to 81, but looks not a day
over tf.
Her features are small, her expression
belng that Of the child rather than
woman. Her figure is slim and childlike.
Black ewes, black hair. full red lips, rosy
cheeks and a skin tanned rich olive, good
teeth and pleasant smile give one the
impression that she is Just nice little girl
mt on a lark.
But that impression changed very quickly.
In the first place, the captain carried
little bag such as a physician uses for
surgical instruments. In it was her
luncheon and her money, for she pays
cash and trusts no one. That gives
her 4. business air. In the second place.
her troubles began as soon as she started
70 take the tug out OF the slip. and no man
could have handled them better
Once on deck, the captain slid out OF
her Jacket and into a wooden jersey, which
made her look more like child than ever,
and replaced her hat with white yachting
can set on jauntily by the aid OF mirror
which she brought forth from hiding
Don't let the men on that yacht see
that looking glass; she said, noddtng
toward a vessel alongside. They would
laugh at me-. They think mirrors have no
rlace on board tug. I always hide 1t. -,
Yes, like the white yachting cap my.
SELF. It belonged to ono Of the Wander
hits. A friendly yachtsmah gave 1t to
me for luck. ~
Ready for work. she began fitting over
the boat. inspected every nook and corner
and chatted with the men on a big white
Yacht which lay alongside about the
weather and trade. The sailors watched
her curiously, some with amusement,
others with. admiration in their eyes, as
they saw how deity she worked.
x,,n n
had to be backed and turned almost in
a circle, before it could start out OF the
narrow quarters. Capt Maude showed
that her mind works quickly and that she
has nerve.
Blowing the whistle and handling the
wheel seemingly both ways at once, so
quickly did she have to reverse it to get
out Of the narrow corner. she was creeping
carefully out between the pier and the
biz sand suckers which lay on the other
side Of her thirty foot wide pathway.
shrill whistle, and big tug cut across the
bow Of the Ulrich. That gave the first
thrill to the visitor. To the inexperi-
enced. eye a collision seemed certain.
But the Ulricb glided past the stern
eafely. A long breath Of relief was hardly
drawn by. the reporter when Capt. Maude
was pulling the whistle and ringing the
bell. Another and bigger tug was coming
straight at the Ulrich.
The girl calculated something stronger
than the ordinations supposed to be
sufficient to express woman's emotions,
and took a fresh grip on the wheel The
biz tug answered her signal with another
10 keep to starboard. But in the instant
between those whistles. while she awaited
the answer and could not tell which way
to steer, her cheeks were flaming and
every muscle was tense. 1t was all over
in much less time than it takes to write
bow the trick was done =.
This peril past. the Ulrich's way seemed
blocked. On the left an oceangoing freight.
or Of large size lowered above her, rnoored
there. Directly in front an impairment
rug was towing another big freight steamer
right across her bow. 1t lowered away
Gbove the little tug.
Il travelled very slowly. but with the
tide running as it was the girl did not dare
II try to pass in front OF it. Go somewhere
she must, and at its stern there was just
enough room for the little tug to pass be-
tween the two big vessels, provided her
pilot steered carefully
All this explanation came afterwaro.
The little captain set her red lips firmly.
ard the color again named over het tdce'
With alert eyes she steered for the narrow
Ii. Of wafer between the steamships. The
tide swept her close. and closer. despite all
efforts ar the wheel, to the moving vessel
The tug poked her nose against the steam
thIr.
4 man aboard stood at the bow OF the
.ls and pushed against the big vessel.
That helped and with few more Turns at
the wheel the tug was past. Her captain
treathed big sigh Of relief.
Well done. nth grill" said the man
aboard And she flushed with pleasure
~ the compliment.
Sow the Ulr!ch was out in the freer waters
ri the bay, but tugs were moving In. every
direction All we're trying to emulate the
sary bird All we've doing just what the
Major Tlrich was doing, looking for trade.
Just when the water in front seemed
'rAe three tugs. all bigger than the Ulrich,
seemed to be coming straight at her: II
vtu want to know how big tug can look
and how fast it can seem to be travelling
@ 1oy-y srna1 II t31ohoat which car