New York Harbor Police boat Patrol capturing pirates

SUMMARY
This was probably filmed in the southern part of the Upper New York Bay looking towards the Narrows, with Fort Lafayette partly visible in the far background. The subject is a simulated capture by the police gunboat "Patrol" of three "pirates" in a rowboat. Puffs of smoke appear as the gunboat fires several rounds from the bow cannon, which can be clearly seen later in a side view of the boat [Frame: 3642]. The "Patrol" was a steel, twin screw, 135 foot, 118 ton police boat, built in 1893 at Sparrow's Point, Maryland.

From a contemporary Edison film company catalog: NEW YORK HARBOR POLICE BOAT "PATROL" CAPTURING PIRATES. The "Patrol" is seen chasing a row-boat containing river pirates. The pirates are pulling at the oars with all their strength, but a few shots from the Police Boat weaken their nerves and they give up. When the "Patrol" comes up near them, it lowers a dory and a number of policemen make the capture. As the pirates are landed on the Police Boat a fierce fight takes place between them and the police, but the latter overcome the offenders and land them safely on the boat. Code word Uramyies [code for telegraphic orders]. Length 125 feet. Class B. $15.00.

OTHER TITLES
N.Y. Harbor Police boat ""Patrol"" capturing pirates

CREATED/PUBLISHED
United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1903.

NOTES
Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 20May1903; H32027.
Camera, James Blair Smith, Edwin S. Porter.
Photographed May 10, 1903. Location: Upper New York Bay.
The Library of Congress copy of this film was deposited prior to editing and may not contain all of the scenes described in the Edison catalog summary.

SUBJECTS
Harbor police--New York (State)--New York.
Watercraft police--New York (State)--New York.
Gunboats--New York (State)--New York.
Police patrol--New York (State)--New York--Specialized units.
Pirates--New York (State)--New York.
Boats and boating--New York (State)--New York.
Police training--New York (State)--New York.
Short films.
Silent films.
Nonfiction films.

RELATED NAMES
Porter, Edwin S., camera.
Smith, James Blair, camera.
Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)

DIGITAL ID
lcmp002 m2b48027 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/lcmp002...