New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-15
For Twenty-three Years
Craft Pursued New
YOrk'S River Thieves.
SWIFTER VESSEL
TO REPLACE HER
Figured in Night Battles and
Rescue Work Until Motor
Boats Outpaced Her.

The police boat Patrol, for twenty
three years the terror Of river pirates,
has passed from the service. Since
January / she has been tied at Pier A,
at the Battery. waiting TO be sold to
the highest bidder at public sale.
Proposed by Police Commissioner
Woods 20 take the place OF the faithful
old Patrol will be the most modern
police boat in the United States.
The new craft will be 100 feet in
length. motor driven and built on the
lines Of torpedo boat destroyer. The
speed which the vessel, probably 10 be
named Police, il "a said, will be capable
Of making is u miles an hour. With
such craft it will be possible 10 reach
City Island or Rockaway Beach in less
than half an hour.
THE Patrol has outlived her useful
ness" Was Commissioner Woods's ex-
PLANTATION of the removal Of the flagship
from the Marine Division fleet. River
thieves are now using high powered
motor boats, which the Patrol, able
60 mako only 10 TO II miles an hour,
cannot overtake."
When tho Patrol was built. in 1893,
her speed was il miles an hour, and
there were few craft engaged IN dcprc
dations along the waterfront which she
could not overhaul She is of 231 tons
register, 1855 feet in length and carried
q crew OF II men. Fourteen Of that
number were civilian employee. hired
az an annual cost TO the city Of Sl4,OOO.
That amount VIII be saved ON the new
craft.
The Patrol was equipped with two
ouc-pOuud cannon and two .3O-callbre
Colt rapid-irc guns and searchllghtf.
The Police will have n larger arma
meut. more powerful lights and Will
also bc equipped with lifesavlng de
"Tie city has AS miles of water
front" said Captain Haiiock. OF the
Marine Division, yesterday. ne new
vessel will be- expected 20 cover 100
miles each day iu inspection Of the
police launches which do patrol duty.
I'm the last twcuty-three years more
than Eve hundred river thieves nave
been arrested bv aid OF The condemned
Patrol Late each night size would
leave the Slip at the Battery ana s'e"4
past the wharfs, with all iehts OUT
Suddenly a brilliant shaft or iIgn-
would dart from her deck house hash-
ing over tho piers and the sco"s OF
lighters moorcd between tnem. RE
.u,,cntlv thieves were interrupted IN the
act Of removing part Of cargo from
freight boats to their motor craft,
So greatly was the Patrol feared that
frequently sentries would be posted p,
the BATTERY. and when the Patrol would
leave for her nightly tour oil lhSPec
zion the guard would telephone TO ms
coufedcrstcs the direction taken oS
the vessel. Running fights between me
Patrol and the smaller boats OF INC
pirates were frequent
Tho machine guns on her upper decs
were frequently brought into play OF
staten Island. where oyster pirate.
from New Jersey stole over 10 prey
,,pon tho oyster beds. Once across tho
state line they were safe from pursuit
but Captain llailock often cul on the''
retreat, then I.ddled their @ai. 3 VIII
bullets 90 prevent their escape
Al the time OF the Slocum d'Saa Oei
the Patrol played AN important pSrt 'l
che recovery Of bodies. Her decks ii.
time. were piled ten deep with dead.
Police officials of former admlnlstra
tious found the commodious cabins OIL
The Patrol an excellent place 70 enter
tain visitors while showing them the
city from the water Incoming steam
sLirs with ugitiycs from justice re-
turning under arrest We're met by tn'
Patrol off Sandy Hook and The charge
of tho law transferred before the liners
went into Quarantine.
The annals Of the condemned vesse
tell how she frequently left the Battery
10 meet returning excursion boats upor
which fights had broken out ard caused
the captain 10 send for hclp. Instance.
are on record where she brayed stormy
seas outside Of Sandy Hook 20 rescue
disabled pleasure and fishing craft