Year: 1879

CRUISING OFF SANDY HOOK-THE STEAM PILOT


RACING WITH THE SAILING PILoTs--HER


FIRST JoB-INDIGNArIoN AT THE PILOT COM


MIssIoNERs' OFFICE.


The pilot boat Hercules after lying all night
in the Horseshoe went to sea in tho morning. She
was gayly dressed honor of the with blue
peter. bearing the device "No 1O' at the fore and
the Stars and Stripes and flag with her name at
the peak and truck of the mainmast. A black "X'
was riveted each side OF the white funnel thst
her number might be disting guished in two direc.
tions. She is fitted with two steam whistles. one
for ordinary and second Of great power. sound
ing like caliope that be used in foggy weather
or in any of emergency.


At about Ave o'clock A. NJ. the watch sang out


BOW. q light on the port bow"


"Aye ave." answered George Cisco. the pilot who
had the first turn. tumbling into his clothes with
lightning rapidity.


Everybody turned out wished to miss
seeing the first vessel boarded It still dark.
but the vessel was presently made out to be OF
the German steamers The Hercules ran up under
her stern and found that she had already secured
pilot from OF the of-shore boats. The early
rsers were soon consoled with cup Of coffee and
in couple of hours they sat down to
with sood appetite About 9ss sshs Ign
and the wheel was put hard port, heading the Her
cules toward the east. where dim speck was visible
on the horizon. Pilot boat No. 10 was on the port
bow, but did not appear to have noticed the ap-
preaching steamer After running about fifteen
minutes the Hercules hosted her number aud pres
emily made out the steamer to be the Germanic. OF
White Star line At first the pilots thought that
the Germanc had secured pilot. but in
to the fore and the Hercules lowered away
her boat. AS soon as George Cisco was seated
the waves and in few minutes the first pilot from
pilot boat had taken charge of the big steamer
AS the boat returned aud was secured on the
davits the Hercules resumed her cruise and hunted
up fresh vessels. She ran out to the southward and
eastward for about six seven miles and then came
slowly back without making prize; during the
afternoon she had short race with pilot boat No. l9s
but after short burst at full speed the little speck
on the horizon proved to be veseei bound to
| the southwark The pilots could not have had
better day. on which to try the Hercules
and lind out what she was good for. as three was
quite heavy sea on all day. The Hercules behaved
very well. rolling pretty badly. but still with a
very easy motion. During the afternoon her canvas
| was brought out and rigged. She has maiusail.
mainstaysail and jb. that occasionally come in very
Staten Island at twenty minutes past four r. NJ and
after transacting business returned at once to
the lightshp. about which point she intends to
cruise.


The arrival of the Germanic under the charge Of
the first pilot to board vessel from the Hercules
it had been reported that the Pilot Commissioners
were gong to have him arrested on sight and locked
up in Ludlow Street Jail. Inquiries At the office OF
the White Star Company elected the information
that they quito favor OF the steam pilot boat
and that they intended to have their captains take
their pilots from her on every possible occasion.
They did not appear to believe that the Pilot COM
| missoners had tho power to prevent the use OF
steam vessel in the business. The case will proba-
| bly, have to be decided IN the courts. At the Pilot
office nothing else talked Of aud the pilots look
to the Commissioners for tho immediate punish
ment of the offenders. II is understood that George
Cisco to be tried at for the violation Of the
following provisions OF law:-


First, no ship shall be boarded from steam vesse!
while pilot In sight second vessel propelled
by shall pilot boat without the OF the
third boat la the service shall
be placed in service but by consent Of the


They also say that any vessel refusing the services
OF regular pilot and taking one from the Hercules
will be responsible for the Zee Of the pilot refused