Abram S. Hewitt (fireboat): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Fire Boat, 'Abram S. Hewitt', during the 1905 Terminal Fire, Hoboken, N.J. Postmarked May 9, 1908.jpg|thumb|the Fire Boat, 'Abram S. Hewitt', during the 1905 Terminal Fire.]] |
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{{Infobox ship image |
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The '''''Abram S. Hewitt''''' was a coal-powered [[fireboat]] operated by the [[Fire Department of New York City]] from 1903 to 1958.<ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/> |
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|Ship image=[[Image:Fire Boat, 'Abram S. Hewitt', during the 1905 Terminal Fire, Hoboken, N.J. Postmarked May 9, 1908.jpg|300px]] |
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She was the department's last coal-powered vessel. |
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|Ship caption=''Abram S. Hewitt'' in 1905. |
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{{Infobox ship career |
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|Ship name='''Abram S. Hewitt''' |
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|Ship owner= |
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|Ship country=United States |
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|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|government}} {{shipboxflag|New York}} |
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|Ship operator=[[Fire Department of New York City]] |
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|Ship registry= |
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|Ship route= |
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|Ship ordered= |
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|Ship builder=[[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] |
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|Ship yard number= |
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|Ship original cost= |
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|Ship laid down= |
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|Ship launched=July 11, 1903 |
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|Ship acquired= |
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|Ship maiden voyage= |
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|Ship in service=1903 |
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|Ship out of service=1958 |
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|Ship identification= |
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|Ship fate=Abandoned at [[Staten Island boat graveyard]] |
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}} |
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{{Infobox ship characteristics |
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|Ship type=[[Fireboat]] |
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|Ship tonnage= |
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|Ship displacement= |
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|Ship length={{convert|117|ft|m}} |
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|Ship beam={{convert|25|ft|m}} |
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|Ship height= |
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|Ship draught= |
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|Ship draft={{convert|10.5|ft|m}} |
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|Ship depth= |
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|Ship notes=Pumping capacity 7,000 gallons per minute |
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{{italic title|Abram S. Hewitt}} |
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The '''''Abram S. Hewitt''''' was a coal-powered [[fireboat]] operated by the [[Fire Department of New York City]] from 1903 to 1958.<ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/><ref name=AroundManhattan/> |
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She was the department's last coal-powered vessel and had a pumping capacity of 7,000 gallons per minute. |
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She was commissioned in October 1903, and was named after recently deceased former mayor [[Abram Hewitt]].<ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/> |
She was launched on July 11, 1903, at the shipyards of the [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] in [[Camden, New Jersey]].<ref name=NYTimes1903-07-12/> She was commissioned in October 1903, and was named after recently deceased former mayor [[Abram Hewitt]].<ref name=NYTimes1903-07-12/><ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/><ref>{{cite web |title=The "Abram S. Hewitt" and the "Firefighter" extinguishing a pier fire. |url=http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~29~29~793348~115613:bpb_ii_0662?qvq=q:abram%2Bhewitt&mi=0&trs=1 |publisher=New York City Department of Records and Information Services |accessdate=10 November 2018}}</ref> |
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==Operational history== |
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According to some accounts, she was the first fireboat called to the burning of the [[PS General Slocum]], where over a thousand people lost their lives.<ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/> |
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According to some accounts, she was the first fireboat called to the 1904 burning of the {{ship|PS|General Slocum||2}}, in which more than a thousand people died.<ref name=ForgottenNY/><ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/> |
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Other accounts say the [[Zophar Mills]] was the first fireboat to be dispatched.<ref name=ForgottenNyNorthIsland/> |
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Other accounts say the ''[[Zophar Mills]]'' was the first fireboat to be dispatched.<ref name=ForgottenNyNorthIsland/> |
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On July 25, 1909, ''Abram S. Hewitt'' and {{ship||David A. Boody|fireboat|2}} fought a cargo fire aboard the [[Ward Line]] steamship {{SS|Vigilancia||2}}. {{ship||Seth Low|fireboat|2}} relieved ''Abram S. Hewitt'' before the fire was extinguished.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vigilancia burns and sinks at pier |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |date=26 July 1909 |page=1 |access-date=26 March 2024 |via=Times Machine |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/07/26/101891515.html?pageNumber=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1909-07-26/ed-1/seq-1/ |title=Fire sinks Ward liner |newspaper=New-York Tribune |date=26 July 1909 |page=1 |via=Library of Congress |access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" <!-- when the quotation template doesn't work tables can pinch-hit --> |
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|+ specifications<ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory/> |
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On August 14, 1913, a fire was discovered at a large oil storage yard, on what was then [[Long Island City]], and the ''Abram S. Hewitt'' was sent to try to put it out.<ref name=NYTimes1913-08-14/> While extinguishing the fire her "bow gun", her frontmost water cannon, burst from her footings, flying into the air, and striking Bertram Johnson, the firefighter assigned to it. He was declared dead, at the scene. |
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|- |
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| '''length''' || {{convert|117|ft|m}} |
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On January 28, 1927, the ''Abram S. Hewitt''{{'}}s captain, John Connoly, was jolted into the [[Hudson River]] by a collision.<ref name=NYTimes1927-01-28/> Although he was burdened by heavy fire equipment he was able to swim to a barge, where he clung to a boathook lowered to him by a crew member. It took the ''Abram S. Hewitt'' half an hour to return and rescue him, because it was damaged by the collision. |
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|- |
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| '''width''' || {{convert|25|ft|m}} |
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On April 29, 1930, the ''Abram S. Hewitt'' responded when [[Cornelius Vanderbilt III]]'s luxurious yacht, the [[Winchester (ship, 1916)|''Winchester'']], was set ablaze following a boiler explosion.<ref name=NYTimes1930-04-29/> |
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| '''draft''' || {{convert|10.5|ft|m}} |
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The ''Abram S. Hewitt'' was called to assist other fireboats when a large fire burst out of control a second time.<ref name=Nytimes1944-08-12/> The fire burst out at pier 4. Barrels of flammable liquids had destroyed the pier, and two neighboring piers, but firefighters thought the blaze had been brought under control. However, when it burst out again the ''Abram S. Hewitt'' was better suited to navigate through debris, close to the fire. |
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|- |
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| '''pumping capacity''' || 7,000 gallons per minute |
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The ''Abram S. Hewitt'' was eventually taken to the [[Staten Island boat graveyard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oboylephoto.com/boatyard/by8.htm|title=The Boatyard - Shaun O'Boyle|work=oboylephoto.com|accessdate=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211185029/http://www.oboylephoto.com/boatyard/by8.htm|archive-date=11 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Fireboats in New York City]] |
* [[Fireboats in New York City]] |
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*{{ |
*{{commons category-inline|Abram S. Hewitt (ship, 1903)}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist| |
{{Reflist|refs= |
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<ref name=Nytimes1944-08-12> |
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refs= |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/08/12/85630567.html?pageNumber=1 |
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| title = Loss of millions |
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| work = [[The New York Times]] |
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| date = 1944-08-12 |
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| accessdate = 2018-11-25 |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=NYTimes1930-04-29> |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1930/04/29/archives/vanderbilt-yacht-afire-after-blast-gasoline-explosion-rips-up-the.html |
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| title = Vanderbult Yacht Afire After Blast |
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| work = [[The New York Times]] |
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| date = 1930-04-29 |
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| page = 16 |
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| accessdate = 2017-03-24 |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=NYTimes1913-08-14> |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1913/08/14/archives/fireboat-nozzle-kills-a-fireman-blown-off-by-the-force-of-water-it.html |
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| title = Fireboat Nozzle Kills a Fireman |
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| work = [[The New York Times]] |
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| date = 1913-08-14 |
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| page = 18 |
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| accessdate = 2017-03-24 |
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| quote = When a costly fire started early yesterday morning in the case factory of the Devoe oil yards at the foot of Ninth Street, Long Island City, the Abram S. Hewitt was one of the fireboats that came in from the water side to supplement the fourteen land companies that were fighting the blaze from the shore. |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=NYTimes1927-01-28> |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1927/01/28/archives/fireman-saved-after-half-hour-in-icy-river-jolted-off-fireboat-he.html |
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| title = Fireman Saved After Half Hour in Icy River; Jolted Off Fireboat, He Clings to Boathook |
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| work = [[The New York Times]] |
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| date = 1927-01-28 |
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| page = 21 |
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| accessdate = 2017-03-24 |
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| quote = Lieutenant John Connolly, 58 years old, of 932 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, narrowly escaped being frozen or drowned at daybreak yesterday when he was jolted off the deck of the fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which he commanded, into the icy waters of the East River with the temperature only 1 degree above zero. |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=NYTimes1903-07-12> |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1903/07/12/archives/fireboat-abram-s-hewitt-launched.html |
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| title = Fireboat Abram S. Hewitt Launched |
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| work = [[The New York Times]] |
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| date = 1903-07-12 |
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| page = 1 |
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| accessdate = 2017-03-24 |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=ForgottenNyNorthIsland> |
<ref name=ForgottenNyNorthIsland> |
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{{cite news |
{{cite news |
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| title = North Brother Island |
| title = North Brother Island |
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| publisher = [[Forgotten NY]] |
| publisher = [[Forgotten NY]] |
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| date = |
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| page = |
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| location = |
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| archiveurl = |
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| archivedate = |
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| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
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| deadurl = No |
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| quote = |
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}} |
}} |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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<ref name=ForgottenNY> |
<ref name=ForgottenNY> |
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{{cite news |
{{cite news |
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| url = http://forgotten-ny.com/2010/01/ship-graveyard-rossville-staten-island/ |
| url = http://forgotten-ny.com/2010/01/ship-graveyard-rossville-staten-island/ |
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| title = |
| title = Ship Graveyard, Rossville, Staten Island |
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| publisher = [[Forgotten NY]] |
| publisher = [[Forgotten NY]] |
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| author = |
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| date = |
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| page = |
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| location = |
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| archiveurl = |
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| archivedate = |
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| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
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| deadurl = No |
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| quote = One of the rusting hulks, er, retired vessels is the fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which was in active service from 1903-1958. The fireboat, named for NYC mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903) was built by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, NJ and launched the year the mayor died; she served in the NYC fireboat fleet until 1958. It was the last coal-burning fireboat in operation. |
| quote = One of the rusting hulks, er, retired vessels is the fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which was in active service from 1903-1958. The fireboat, named for NYC mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903) was built by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, NJ and launched the year the mayor died; she served in the NYC fireboat fleet until 1958. It was the last coal-burning fireboat in operation. |
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}} |
}} |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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<ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory> |
<ref name=Marine1FdnyHistory> |
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{{cite web |
{{cite web |
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| url = http://marine1fdny.com/fireboat_history_new.php |
| url = http://marine1fdny.com/fireboat_history_new.php |
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| title = Fireboats Through The Years |
| title = Fireboats Through The Years |
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| publisher = |
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| author = Clarence E. Meek |
| author = Clarence E. Meek |
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| date = July 1954 |
| date = July 1954 |
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| page = |
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| location = |
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| archiveurl = |
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| archivedate = |
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| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
| accessdate = 2015-06-28 |
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| |
| url-status = live |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131062305/http://marine1fdny.com:80/fireboat_history_new.php |archive-date=2012-01-31 }} |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=AroundManhattan> |
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{{cite news |
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| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4RTxzui1OG4C&q=Fireboat+John+P.+Devaney&pg=PA114 |
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| title = Around Manhattan Island |
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| publisher = [[Fordham University Press]] |
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| author = Brian J. Cudahy |
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| date = 1997 |
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| pages = 112–114 |
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| location = |
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| isbn = 9780823217618 |
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| accessdate = 2015-06-29 |
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| quote = |
| quote = |
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}} |
}} |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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{{New York City Fire Department}} |
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[[Category:Fireboats of New York City]] |
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{{Uncategorized|date=June 2015}} |
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[[Category:Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] |
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[[Category:1903 ships]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:36, 26 March 2024
 Abram S. Hewitt in 1905.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
  Vereinigte Staaten | |
| Name | Abram S. Hewitt |
| Operator | Fire Department of New York City |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Launched | July 11, 1903 |
| In service | 1903 |
| Out of service | 1958 |
| Fate | Abandoned at Staten Island boat graveyard |
| General characteristics | |
| Typ | Fireboat |
| Length | 117 feet (36 m) |
| Beam | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Draft | 10.5 feet (3.2 m) |
| Notes | Pumping capacity 7,000 gallons per minute |
The Abram S. Hewitt was a coal-powered fireboat operated by the Fire Department of New York City from 1903 to 1958.[1][2][3] She was the department's last coal-powered vessel and had a pumping capacity of 7,000 gallons per minute.
She was launched on July 11, 1903, at the shipyards of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey.[4] She was commissioned in October 1903, and was named after recently deceased former mayor Abram Hewitt.[4][1][2][5]
Operational history
[edit]According to some accounts, she was the first fireboat called to the 1904 burning of the General Slocum, in which more than a thousand people died.[1][2] Other accounts say the Zophar Mills was the first fireboat to be dispatched.[6]
On July 25, 1909, Abram S. Hewitt and David A. Boody fought a cargo fire aboard the Ward Line steamship Vigilancia. Seth Low relieved Abram S. Hewitt before the fire was extinguished.[7][8]
On August 14, 1913, a fire was discovered at a large oil storage yard, on what was then Long Island City, and the Abram S. Hewitt was sent to try to put it out.[9] While extinguishing the fire her "bow gun", her frontmost water cannon, burst from her footings, flying into the air, and striking Bertram Johnson, the firefighter assigned to it. He was declared dead, at the scene.
On January 28, 1927, the Abram S. Hewitt's captain, John Connoly, was jolted into the Hudson River by a collision.[10] Although he was burdened by heavy fire equipment he was able to swim to a barge, where he clung to a boathook lowered to him by a crew member. It took the Abram S. Hewitt half an hour to return and rescue him, because it was damaged by the collision.
On April 29, 1930, the Abram S. Hewitt responded when Cornelius Vanderbilt III's luxurious yacht, the Winchester, was set ablaze following a boiler explosion.[11]
The Abram S. Hewitt was called to assist other fireboats when a large fire burst out of control a second time.[12] The fire burst out at pier 4. Barrels of flammable liquids had destroyed the pier, and two neighboring piers, but firefighters thought the blaze had been brought under control. However, when it burst out again the Abram S. Hewitt was better suited to navigate through debris, close to the fire.
The Abram S. Hewitt was eventually taken to the Staten Island boat graveyard.[13]
See also
[edit]- Fireboats in New York City
Media related to Abram S. Hewitt (ship, 1903) at Wikimedia Commons
References
[edit]- ^ a b c
"Ship Graveyard, Rossville, Staten Island". Forgotten NY. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
One of the rusting hulks, er, retired vessels is the fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which was in active service from 1903-1958. The fireboat, named for NYC mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903) was built by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, NJ and launched the year the mayor died; she served in the NYC fireboat fleet until 1958. It was the last coal-burning fireboat in operation.
- ^ a b c Clarence E. Meek (July 1954). "Fireboats Through The Years". Archived from the original on 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
- ^ Brian J. Cudahy (1997). "Around Manhattan Island". Fordham University Press. pp. 112–114. ISBN 9780823217618. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ^ a b "Fireboat Abram S. Hewitt Launched". The New York Times. 1903-07-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
- ^ "The "Abram S. Hewitt" and the "Firefighter" extinguishing a pier fire". New York City Department of Records and Information Services. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ "North Brother Island". Forgotten NY. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
- ^ "Vigilancia burns and sinks at pier". The New York Times. 26 July 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 26 March 2024 – via Times Machine.
- ^ "Fire sinks Ward liner". New-York Tribune. 26 July 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 26 March 2024 – via Library of Congress.
- ^
"Fireboat Nozzle Kills a Fireman". The New York Times. 1913-08-14. p. 18. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
When a costly fire started early yesterday morning in the case factory of the Devoe oil yards at the foot of Ninth Street, Long Island City, the Abram S. Hewitt was one of the fireboats that came in from the water side to supplement the fourteen land companies that were fighting the blaze from the shore.
- ^
"Fireman Saved After Half Hour in Icy River; Jolted Off Fireboat, He Clings to Boathook". The New York Times. 1927-01-28. p. 21. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
Lieutenant John Connolly, 58 years old, of 932 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, narrowly escaped being frozen or drowned at daybreak yesterday when he was jolted off the deck of the fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which he commanded, into the icy waters of the East River with the temperature only 1 degree above zero.
- ^ "Vanderbult Yacht Afire After Blast". The New York Times. 1930-04-29. p. 16. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
- ^ "Loss of millions". The New York Times. 1944-08-12. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
- ^ "The Boatyard - Shaun O'Boyle". oboylephoto.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.