Alexander M. Lawrence
History
United States
NameAlexander M. Lawrence
Owner
  • N. Y. Pilots (1881-1885)[1]
  • A. C. Bruner (1898-1900)[2]
Operator
  • Michael Murphy (1881-1885)
  • H. B. Cogswell (1898-1900)
BuilderC. & R. Poillon shipyard
Cost$16,000
Launched21 May 1879
Out of service10 September 1897
General characteristics
Class and typeschooner
Tonnage87 Thames Measurement[3]
Length97 ft 0 in (29.57 m)
Beam22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
Depth9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
PropulsionSail
Sail plan75 ft 6 in (23.01 m)
NotesStern of white oak, with live oak aprons and hooks. Floors are double Maryland oak

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. She was one of the largest and fastest in the Sandy Hook fleet. She was built to take the place of the New York pilot-boat Abraham Leggett, No. 4, that was hit by the steamship Naples, in 1879. Her boat model won a medal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair illustrating the perils of the pilot-boat service. In the age of steam, the Lawrence was sold by the Pilots' Association to the Pacific Mining and Trading Company in 1897.

Construction and service

Pilot boat Alexander M. Lawrence, painting by Conrad Freitag.

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 for Admiral Michael Murphy and his partners. The Lawrence replaced the New York pilot-boat Abraham Leggett, No. 4, that was hit by the steamship Naples, in 1879.[3]

The Alexander M. Lawrence, was registered as a pilot Schooner with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping, from 1881 to 1900. Her ship master was Michael Murphy (1881-1885) and H. B. Cogswell (1898-1900; her owners were N. Y. Pilots; built in 1879 at Brooklyn, New York; and her hailing port was the Port of New York. [4]

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.[5]

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.[6][7] She was one of the largest and fastest in the Sandy Hook fleet.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

Out of service

On September 10, 1897, the Alexander M. Lawrence was sold by the Pilots' Association to the Pacific Mining and Trading Company.[11] From 1898-1900, her pilot was H. B. Cogswell.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Index to Ship Registers 1881-1885". research.mysticseaport.org. Mystic seaport. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  2. ↑ "Index to Ship Registers 1898-1900". research.mysticseaport.org. Mystic seaport. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  3. 1 2 "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.
  4. ↑ "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1884". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Famous Pilot Boat Sold". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. 1897-08-17. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  7. ↑ "A Fortnight With Pilots". The Brooklyn Citizen. Brooklyn, New York. 1895-11-17. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  8. ↑ Russell, Charles Edward (1929). From Sandy Hook to 62°. New York: Century Co. OCLC 3804485.
  9. ↑ Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 73. ISBN 9780937822692.
  10. ↑ Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore From sail to Steam. New York: The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations.
  11. ↑ "Wharf And Wave". The Hawaiian Gazette. Honolulu, Hawaii. 1897-09-10. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
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