Enoch Turley

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The Irwin Lighthouse, Storm Raging by John Wilson Carmichael.jpg
Pilot boat Enoch Turley near the Irwin Lighthouse, Storm Raging by James Wilson Carmichael
History
US flag 37 stars.svgUnited States
NameEnoch Turley
NamesakeCaptain Enoch Turley
OwnerGeorge W. Pride, Harry Long, John H. Kelley, James R. Kelley, John S. Kelly, Morgan B. Saunders, Harry M. Parker, James A. Orton, Charles D. Schellenger, Peter R. Schellenger, Luster D. Schellenger, William Edwards, John Maull, George Conwell, Gus Clampitt, George Wallace, Lew Wallace, Samuel West, John West
OperatorCharles D. Schellenger, John S. Kelly, Morgan B. Saunders, Harry M. Parker, James A. Orton, James Clampett, Joseph Snodgrass, William Baker, John West
LaunchedNovember 1842
Out of serviceApril 6, 1889
FateSank
General characteristics
Class and type Schooner
Tonnage47-tons TM [1]
Length73 ft 6 in (22.40 m)
Beam18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
Depth7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
PropulsionSail

The Enoch Turley was a 19th-century Pennsylvania pilot schooner built in 1842 in Baltimore, Maryland. In the 1880s she was caught up in the competition and rivalry between New Jersey and Pennsylvania pilots and the Delaware pilots. She survived the Great Blizzard of 1888, but was swept away in 1889, with all hands lost, during a powerful gale.

Contents

Construction and service

The two-masted pilot boat Enoch Turley was built in Baltimore, Maryland in November 1842 for George W. Pride. She went on her first trial run on November 25, 1842. A large party were on board. [2] She was named in honor of Captain Enoch Turley of Philadelphia, whose son, Enoch Turley Jr., was appointed harbormaster for the port of Philadelphia (1856) and later served as the president of the Society for the Relief of Poor Shipmasters. Charles D. Schellenger worked on the pilot schooner Enoch Turley. [3] Her pilots were John Kelley, Luster D. Schellenger, James Clampett, William Edwards, Joseph Snodgrass, James A. Orton, and William Baker. [4]

In the spring of 1843, the Enoch Turley was in a race with the pilot boat John G. Whilldin, which was from Philadelphia to the breakwater at the Delaware capes. She was in another race on September 12, 1844, with the pilot boat Herald. The boats left Southwark, Philadelphia crowded with ladies for the race and excursion. The stake was a banquet for all hands to be paid by the losing boat. [5] [3]

The Turley was stranded ashore near Indian River Inlet in the winter of 1843. She was raised, repaired and a new keel was replaced in the spring of 1844. [3] She was rebuilt several times, and by Mr. Moore at Wilimington in 1862 and again by Jackson & Sharp at Wilmington in 1880. She was a favorite among Delaware pilots. [4]

After the American Civil War, the Turley toured the Chesapeake Bay and viewed the deserted rebel fortifications and half-sunken hulks from the war. She started from Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia and returned to the Fort the next day. [3]

The Enoch Turley was registered as a pilot schooner with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1881 to 1885. Her owner at this time was George W. Pride; built in 1842 at Baltimore, Maryland; and her hailing port was the Port of Philadelphia. Her dimensions were 73.6 ft. in length; 18.8 ft. breadth of beam; 7.2 ft. depth of hold; and 47-tons Tonnage. [1]

In 1882, there was competition and rivalry between New Jersey and Pennsylvania pilots and the Delaware pilots. The Delaware pilotage laws had hurt trade in the Port of Philadelphia. Because of this, on September 21, 1882, the Board of Port Wardens of Philadelphia approved a resolution to assign seven pilots, that were attached to Delaware boats, and assign them to Pennsylvania boats. There were five pilots assigned to the Cape Henlopen boats, Thomas Howard and Enoch Turley and two pilots assigned to the Cape May boats, John G. Whilldin and E. C. Knight . [6] The resolution said that there would be no further connection with the Delaware pilots and that the Delaware pilots would not be able to board the New Jersey and Pennsylvania pilot boats. [7] [8] The Delaware pilots had only the pilot boats Henry C. Cope and the Thomas F. Bayard, which refused to be governed by the new rules. [9] On August 3, 1886, the Board of Port Wardens of Philadelphia met and adopted two new resolutions that amended the September 1882 resolutions. The Pilot Commissioners of the State of Delaware declared that the pilot boat Thomas Howard would become a Delaware pilot boat. As a result, the board recognized four pilot boats, the E. C. Knight,John G. Whilldin,Enoch Turley and Christian Bergh. The Pennsylvania pilots were instructed to have the abbreviation "Penna." placed on the sail, which contained the boat number. [10]

On February 15, 1888, John West, one of the pilots on the Pennsylvania pilot boat Enoch Turley, fell into the water trying to board the steamship Indiana. He was able to survive the ordeal. [11] Weeks later, in the Great Blizzard of 1888, the Turley was snagged on a shoal near the Lewes breakwater where she lost her masts. [3] The Cape Henlopen lifesavers arrived on the scene and were able to rescue all seven crewmen and their boat. [12]

End of service

The Enoch Turley was last seen by pilots on the pilot boat J. H. Edmunds on April 6, 1889, 25 miles southeast of Fenwick Island light ship. [4] It was reported that she sank with all hands lost during a bad gale. Owners and pilots Charles D. Schellenger, John S. Kelly, Morgan B. Saunders, Harry M. Parker and James A. Orton lost their lives on the pilot boat. [13] After the accident, the community of Lewes, Delaware created a benevolent fund of over $6,000 to aid the widows and children of the pilots. [14]

The Turley was replaced by the pilot boat William W. Ker , which was launched on November 27, 1889, from the Jackson and Sharp yard in Philadelphia. She was named in honor of Assistant District Attorney William W. Ker. James R. Kelley from the Turley was present at the launch. [15]

See also

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<i>David Carll</i> (pilot boat) New York Pilot boat

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Joseph N. Lord New York Pilot boat

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William W. Ker 19th-century American pilot schooner

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<i>Ebe W. Tunnell</i> (pilot boat) Pennsylvania Pilot boat

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J. Henry Edmunds Pennsylvania Pilot boat

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References

  1. 1 2 "Record of American and Foreign Shipping". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  2. ↑ "The New Pilot Boat". Public Ledger. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 25 Nov 1842. p. 2. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lost on the pilot boat Enoch Turley by MICHAEL SCHREIBER". philahistory.org. 11 Jan 2020. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lost Pilots. The Turley's Disappearance Recalls Losses in Past Days". Delaware Gazette and State Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 2 May 1889. p. 6. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  5. ↑ "Boat Race". Public Ledger. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 12 Sep 1844. p. 2. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Pilotage Service. Important Action Taken by the Board of Port Wardens". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 21 Sep 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Pilot Difficulties Over". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 23 Sep 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  8. ↑ "Oppression. Two Great States Combine To Crush Delaware On A Count Of The Pilot Law". Daily Republican. Wilmington, Delaware. 23 Sep 1882. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  9. ↑ "A Pilotage Crisis. Pennsylvania Pilots Taking Out Delaware Licenses". The Daily Gazette. Wilmington, Delaware. 8 Jun 1882. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  10. ↑ "River Notes". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. 30 March 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  11. ↑ "Pilot West's Terrible Experience". The Times. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 15 Feb 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  12. ↑ Shomette, Donald G. (2007). Shipwrecks, Sea Raiders, and Maritime Disasters Along the Delmarva Coast, 1632–2004. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 170. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  13. ↑ "No Hope For the Turley. Pilots and Mariners Alike Convinced That Her Safety Is Extremely Problematical". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 16 Apr 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
  14. ↑ Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 64. ISBN   9780937822692.
  15. ↑ "The Enoch Turley Replaced. A New Pilot-Boat Launched At Wilmington". The Times. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 28 Nov 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 13 Sep 2021.
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