Alexander M. Lawrence

Alexander M. Lawrence was the last of the 19th-century sailing schooners to be in the New York pilot boat service as a station boat.[2] She was one of the largest and fastest in the Sandy Hook fleet.[3] Her boat model won a medal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair illustrating the perils of the pilot-boat service.[4][5]

Alexander M. Lawrence
History
US
Name: Alexander M. Lawrence
Owner: N. Y. Pilots, Michael Murphy, H. B. Cogswell
Builder: C. & R. Poillon shipyard, Brooklyn, New York
Cost: $16,000
Launched: 21 May 1879
Out of service: 10 September 1897
General characteristics
Class and type: schooner
Tonnage: 87 Thames Measurement[1]
Length: 97 ft 0 in (29.57 m)
Beam: 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
Depth: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Propulsion: Sail
Sail plan: 75 ft 6 in (23.01 m)
Notes: Stern of white oak, with live oak aprons and hooks. Floors are double Maryland oak

Construction and service

On May 21, 1879, the new 87-ton pilot-boat Alexander M. Lawrence was launched from the shipyard C. & R. Poillon in Brooklyn, New York at Bridge Street. She was built to take the place of the old Number 4, for Captain Michael Murphy. She was built by Cornelius & Richard Poillon based on a design by William Townsend who modelled the yachts Dreadnaught, Clio, Ariel, Peerless and others.[1]

On May 19, 1885, boatkeeper Sullivan reported that the Lawrence, No. 4, was about 20 miles east of Nantucket when a black whale ran headlong into the port bow of the vessel. None were hurt in the narrow escape of the Lawrence.[6]

The Lawrence was one of the representative pilot boats of the fleet and her pilot-boat model was exhibited by the Pilot Commission of New York at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair along with oil paintings illustrating the perils of the service. Her model won a medal at the Fair.[4][5]

In 1895, the pilot-boat Alexander M. Lawrence, Number 4 was on duty as a station boat when the first steam pilot-boat New York went into service near the Lightship Ambrose off Sandy Hook.[7]

On July 15, 1897, during a bad storm, the Alexander M. Lawrence, rescued the crew of the sinking Virginia sloop Fawn off the Sandy Hook lightvessel.[2]

Out of service

On September 10, 1897, the Alexander M. Lawrence was sold by the Pilots' Association to the Pacific Mining and Trading Company.[8]

Owners
  • 1881-1885 - Michael Murphy; owner was N. Y. Pilots[9]
  • 1898-1900 - H. B. Cogswell; owner was A. C. Bruner[10]

Abraham Leggett
Abraham Leggett, No. 4

New York pilot-boat Abraham Leggett, No. 4, was built in 1870 and would later be replaced by the Alexander M. Lawrence. The Abraham Leggett, was built by Daniel Westervelt at the Westervelt & Co. shipyard at the East River in New York City.[11] She was listed in the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1876 to 1879 as 82 foot in length, 20.8 feet in breadth, 8.4 feet in depth, 55-tons with Michael Murphy was the ship's Master.[12]

On 3 February 1879, the Abraham Leggett was hit by the steamship Naples, when the pilot-boat came along the side of the steamer attempting to board her. The damage was so bad that the pilots abandon the pilot-boat and came on board the steamer.[2]:p20[13]

In 1879, the Alexander M. Lawrence, No. 4, was built to take the place of the old Abraham Leggett, No. 4, and was launched on May 21, 1879.[1]

See also

References
  1. "The New Pilot Boat Alexander M. Lawrence for Admiral Murphy and His Partners". Times Union. Brooklyn, New York. 1879-05-21. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  2. Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore From sail to Steam. New York: The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations.
  3. Russell, Charles Edward (1929). From Sandy Hook to 62°. New York: Century Co.
  4. "Famous Pilot Boat Sold". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. 1897-08-17. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  5. "A Fortnight With Pilots". The Brooklyn Citizen. Brooklyn, New York. 1895-11-17. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  6. "Run Into By A Whale. The Narrow Escape of the Pilot Boat Alexander M. Lawrence". The Buffalo Commercial. Buffalo, New York. 18 May 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  7. Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 73.
  8. "Wharf And Wave". The Hawaiian Gazette. Honolulu, Hawaii. 1897-09-10. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  9. "Index to Ship Registers 1881-1885". research.mysticseaport.org. Mystic seaport. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  10. "Index to Ship Registers 1898-1900". research.mysticseaport.org. Mystic seaport. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  11. "The American Yacht List: Containing a Complete Register of the Yacht Clubs, List of Pilot Boats, Port of New York". L. H. Biglow & Co. Printers And Stationers, 13 William Street. New York. 1874. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  12. "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1884". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  13. "Disasters". Boston Post. Boston, Massachusetts. 3 Feb 1879. p. 4.
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