The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-30
PENSACOLA PILOTS MAY
CLOSE FOR THE HAMILTON
Vessel Was Recently Sold by the Revenue Cutter Service and uca
Pilots Want Her for PiIOtage PupOSeS--Ths Steamer
Florida Will Be Traded or Sold
COMMITTEE OF ELEVEN PILOTS
FROM PENSACOLA HAS BEEN
IN MOBILE EXAMINING THE
VESSEL, AND WILL REPORT TO
THE ASSOCIATION,

A number of the pilots who went
from Pensacola a few days since to
Mobile to inspect and examine the
former revenue cutter Hamilton,
which the Bar Pilots Association de-
sireS TO purchase and use as a pilot
boat, have returned to the city. Sew
eral Of the pilots are still in Mobile,
but will probably return home this
morning.
The committee that went from
here was composed of eleven pilots,
but those who have returned have
but little to say regarding the pur-
chase of the Hamilton. They stated
that the deal for the purchase of the
vessel had not yet been closed, and
it is probable that a meeting of the
association will be held before any
further action is taken. In the event
that the Hamilton. which is a vessel
40 feet in length, is purchased. the
pilot boat Florida will either BE used
in the TRACE or else will be sold.
Speaking of the visit of the pilots
10 that city, the Mobile Item of yes
terday contained the following:
"A committee from the Pensacola
Capt. Charles Perry, chairman of the
executive committee of the organiza-
ton. who arrived here last night
from Pensacola and secured quarters
at the st. Andrew, have been busily
engaged to-day at the Pinto Pass
docks of the Bruce & Olinger COM
pany making a rigid inspection of the
steamer Hamilton. formerly a govern
ment revenue cutter, and purchased
by Capt. Lee KimbalL
Negotiations for the purchase of
the Hamilton by the Pensacola pilots
have been under way since early
last week and this is the second visit
of the committee to Mobile. TO iav
the entire committee was taken to
the Hamilton on a tug where they OK
amined the bottom and interior OF the
vessel This afternoon the boilers 0t
the vessel will be inspected.
Some Of the committee came back
to the city this afternoon and return
ed to Pensacola on the early train.
Capt Perry and a majority Of the
committeeman remain in order to De
present at the inspection of the
boilers. Some of the pilots leaving
FOR home expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with that part of The
Hamilton which they have already in
spected.
There is but little doubt that the
Pensacola pilots will purchase the
Hamilton. She is regarded as a YES
sci most suitable for the use intend
ed as a pilot boat. as her accOmmoda-
lions are ample. and otherwise ad-
uirabIv arranged and of sufficient
depth to withstand the toughest
weather. II is more than likely that
the boiler test will prove satisfactory
IL all concerned, and as this. it is
now understood, is all that is neces-
sary to complete the sale, the negc-
t;stions will probably be closed 10
morrow. i
Members of the committee stated
that the purchase price OF the HAM
iiton would not be made public lot
tie present but the pilot boat FiOr-
ida. now doing service on the COAST
of Pensacola. was a part or the con-
siCeration. The Florida was built Oy
Cant Kimball and sold to the Pensa-
cola pilots six years ago Tor $lO.OOU.
She is regarded as still IN the pes
of condition and is only dlscafdeI
that a larger and more commodluoS
vessel can be obtained.
. All members of the committee
seen expressed themselves as favor
ably impressed with the steamer.
The committee is composed OF Cap
tains Charles Perry, George AIMS
worth. James Schools, P. w. Jones, 81
NJ. Finn. T. s. Caro-, L. Anderson, 5.
I. Clifford w. J. Oldmixon' Z d.
I angfOrd ana H. L. White.
when the negotiations were first
opened one of the Pensacola papers
stated that there was some PROBABLE |
itv of the Florida falling into the pos
session Of the Mobile bar pilots. Sew
eraI members of the organization
denied the statement, se'-
ing that they had no Use for the YES
sci. -.
cd that the purchase price OF the
if negotiations were closed. f,
would be close to 100000, taking IN
consideration the value of the
Florida"