David T. Leahy

New York pilot-boat David T. Leahy, was launched on 3 September 1890 from the C. & R. Poillon shipyard at the foot of Clinton Street, Brooklyn, New York. The launch was witnessed by over thousand people. Lulu Cooper, daughter of Pilot John Cooper, broke the champagne bottle across the bow to christened the new pilot-boat the David T. Leahy. She was said to be the fastest of the twenty-eight pilot-boats in the New York and New Jersey fleet. She was owned by Dennis Reardon, Jeremiah Reardon, John L. Godbey, James D. M. Beebe and Stephen H. Cooper. She took the place of the yacht Macomes. Mr. David T. Leahy, for whom the boat was named, provided the food and entertainment.[1][2]

On October 1, 1890, the David T. Leahy, went on her trail trip. She was pulled out from her moorings at the foot of Peck slip, New York, by a tugboat Adelaide.[3] One hundred and fifty guests were on board as she was towed out to the bay. Speeches were made by the Asssistant District Attorney John Clark, Brooklyn Major Joseph Powell, David T. Leahy, New Jersey Pilot Commissioners Captain Robert Simonson, and others. She was known as the Number 5 and took the place of the one lost in the blizzard of 1888. Captain Dennis Reardon was the ship Master. The tugboat dropped the line and the boat sailed out into the bay, but because of the lack of wind, she was towed back.[4] Mr. David T. Leahy was a wealthy retired woolen merchant in New York. The David T. Leahy, cost 20,000.[5]

On June 12, 1893, the New York pilot-boat David T. Leahy, No. 5, collied in a thick fog, with the Royal Phelps Carroll's Yacht Navahoe, 250 miles off Sandy Hook. Pilots Dennis Reardon and Charles Warnor were on the Leahy during the collision.[5] The pilot-boat was damaged and lost her bowsprit and wrenched her stern.[6]

On 6 Nov 1897, Captain Gus Tennessen, one of the oldest members of the New Jersey Pilots' Association, died of a heart attack on board the pilot-boat David T. Leahy, off Sandy Hook. There were seven pilots on board the boat.[7]

The David T. Leahy was rechristened in 1899 with the name of an older pilot-boat the James Gordon Bennett, which was disposed when the pilots consolidated their business in 1896.[8]

On August 18, 1901, the pilot-boat James Gordon Bennett, formerly known as the David T. Leahy, sank off Sandy Hook when the German Atlas Line steamship Alene, hit the Bennett on a clear day. Four of the crew on the Bennett drowned. Pilot Fred Hopkins and Alexander Dexter were rescued by the steam pilot-boat New York. Five other crewmen were saved.[8]

On 12 May 1870, the James Gordon Bennett, No. 6 was launched from the Lawrence & Foulkes shipyard of North Fifth Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. About one thousand people witnessed the launch. The pilot boat replaced the A. T. Stewart, that was lost in 1869. She was 75 feet in length and 54-tons. Her captain was D. C. Chapman.[9][10]

On 14 Jan 1893, the pilot-boat James Gordon Bennett went ashore and broke up with her masts gone and part of her deck.[11]

On 7 Aug 1893, a new pilot boat James Gordon Bennett was launched at the C. & R. Poillon shipyard at the foot of Clinton Street, Brooklyn, New York. She was part of the New York pilot fleet.[12] See also James Gordon Bennett Jr. who was the youngest Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and personally won the first trans-oceanic yacht race.[13]

On 26 Nov 1897, the Sandy Hook pilot-boat James Gordon Bennett was bought by Miller J. Morse of the Atlantic Yacht Club, who made her into a yacht and changed her name to the Hermit.[14] On 24 May 1900, the Hermit, was sold to the F. A. Higgins.[15]

• List of Northeastern U. S. Pilot Boats