The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-19

boat to. replace the Atlantic ap
pears nearer within the PURCHASING
power Of the city than at any TIM
during the four years chase tn
department has given.
The newyboat must be IN keep!h:
with modern methods Of freight
ing as learned by the six men WI;
-ow command The Atlantic. accord
ing to Fire Chief J. Ludie Groom
who says that he has found thF
type boat he wants at the Nava
Reserve Fleet basin ir Charleston
S. c.
The two boats under considera
lion for purchase by the city. one
q 65-Sooter with. a 16 foot beam
The other a 60-footer with a 16 Too
beam and Of steel construction
have varying features which cHS
and fire department officials fine
interesting and make a decision
between, the two boats difficult,
they say.
The Atlantic which the city has
used as a fire boat for the past st
wears. has al overall length of 81
feat with IA foot beam. She is
skippered by Captain Charles Reg
;ster who on last Wednesday cele-
brated his 9th anniversary aboard
the faithful ship.
From the tip Of the Atlant!c's
bog to, the sternrnost part OF her
fantail. the devout river craft IS to-
day. eonsidered in top condltic9 de-
spite her age. Engines and pump
ins facilities are kept in AL condl-
ton for any emergency. :,
She glides along the river at II
miles per hour today, and mem
bers Of her crew proudly point out
that Just recently she made the
tWo-mile trip down the river to the
shipyard in less than II minutes
nat. The still sturdy fire-fishtlag
equipment aboard the craft is pols-
81 in readiness daily. and accord
ing to records at the station house,
isthauled to answer an average OF
sbout IS alarms per year.
= The Atlantic carries 1000 feet OF
hose aboard and at fuu
steam ahead commands the re.
speet Of all river craft in time OF
stress. despite the fact that she re-
sernbles an ordinary shrimper and
carries no distinguishing siren
alarms. Her appearance and her
stock whistles are her only distin-
gushing features except for the
long nozzle pointing skyward
through the cabin top. =
Although the average life Of such
q: boat is considered by Captain
Register at IS years, the sturdy
Atlantic was built in 1911 by Cap
tain Jim Arnold, Southport fishing
enthusiast who according to Regis
ter put his ''soul' and the very
best pine and oak timbers avail
able into. her, plus the skill gained
from a long life Of boat building
and sailing.
Several shrhnpers tooay r vie
ing for the purchase Of the Atlantic
when She Is declared surplus by
the city: They know that Captain
Jim had planned to use her in his
ahriinping industry but was per-
Suaded to sell her to the City Of
Wilmington.
AT the Grace street fire docks,
the oily place along the waterfront
Wharves that a person may freely
practice the use of tobacco burning
pipes and cigarettes, the crew Of
the Atlantic pursue daily tasks of
IN environment stepped with the
targy marshy air which makes
members feel at home.
All the members chose the At
lantic because they yer either
born and reared ION the Sound"
where they could see and feel the
atmosphere Of which the Cape Fear
river patrol offers a counterpart.
The two-platoon system Of work.
ing the water shift was originated
Ia Wilmington in 1919 by Captain
]. H. Litgen, skipper il charge of
the Atlantic then. He was ably as
sisted in his duties by Lieutenant
GIG. Smith who later left the fire
oats employ, according
to Captain Register. Others on the
force At the time were L. r. Frost,
81; who. became city fire inspector
in 1913, and Register.
~EFSAaf Srrno ~ o@nF n ar% 80 H.
boat. in 1888 and Register was
uppedst to the rank of lieutenant on
the same day the latter succeeding
the former in command of the YES
sci when Frost was made inspec-
tor, in 1s43.
A1onza Russ who serves next in
command to Register became a
lieutenant on. the force in 1913. He
has II years service on the boat
and has been a member of the
fire department 18 years. II like
Il there rye messed with boats all
my life he said.
On present duty, besides Regis
tyr and Russ are Privates H. F.
Waters. Ralph Powell and ga.
jones who came to the Atlantic
several years ago and E. e. Cas-
teen who has II years service
aboard the craft.
I'VE have become accustomed
to the Atlantic, and she under.
stands US and we'll hate to part
company, but we all feel the vital
need Of a: new and larger boat.
Russ told reporters with a hint Of
nostalgia in his voice.
Captain Register. said that. the
faithful hull has done cher duty.
and well, but Wilmington needs a
!neF boat with facilities for mod
ern3rnethods of fighting sires."
For IS years the Atlantic has
BEEN deteriorating, Captain Regis
ter said and: each year since 1880
she has been pulled to the dry
docks for repairs. During the past
year her ailments have increased
and she has been undergoing ex-
tsnsiye repairs. which have put her
II .hp-top'' shape as nearly as
could be for a boat her age.
The men who work in relays, of
A.x.l n.Ef