HMCo #170p Tranquilo [Tranquillo]

"[1892-02-23] Tue 23: Launched steamer no 170 [#170p Tranquilo]. ...
[1892-05-26] Thu 26: ... Tried st[eame]r #170 Tranquilo.
[1892-06-07] Tue 7: ... [#170p] Tranquilo left for N.Y. [#170p Tranquillo had been built on speculation by HMCo and was in New York in June of 1896, advertising herself and her builders.]
[1892-06-16] Thu 16: ... [#170p] Tranquilo returned from N.Y.
[1892-07-05] Tue 5: Started on cruise in [#170p] Tranquilo to Eastward with all the family.
[1892-07-11] Mon 11: Returned from cruise in [#170p] Tranquilo.
[1892-10-04] Tue 4: Tranquilo [#170p] sold to Mr. Sexton. Juliet [#78p] taken in part pay." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1892. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"Just before 1890 Captain Nat had developed a type particularly for cruising that had small, compact machinery with very little fuel consumption. Several of these were of about eleven feet six inches beam and of different lengths on the same molds. Among the first of this type were 'Judy,' built in 1890 for F. T. Howard, and 'Tranquillo' built the same year for E. D. Morgan [ [sic, i.e. for HMCo stock and then for S. B. Sexton]]. These little steam yachts ranged in length from a bit over one hundred feet down to the cute little 'Reposo.'
They were all very similar in appearance with clipper bows and overhanging sterns. 'Reposo' was seventy-three feet on deck, sixty-eight feet water line, eleven feet six inches beam. In many ways these yachts were superior to anything we have today: they were remarkably good sea boats, in fact one of them went through the tail end of a hurricane off Cape Hatteras in about 1895 when she was under the command of the late Bristol captain 'Bill' Torrey. These little yachts usually kept sails bent and often carried sail on long trips.
They were altogether remarkably comfortable little ships, entirely free from the danger of fire, and made runs about as long as the modern power craft. They usually could maintain a speed of ten miles per hour. Because sailing on them was so very restful they often ran ten or twelve hours a day whereas the modern cruiser, while it may be capable of fifteen or twenty miles per hour, still it is usually slowed down to ten or twelve miles when in a seaway, and on account of the tiresome noise, smell, and vibration usually does not run more than eight hours a day." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 241-242.)

"Tranquilo, steam yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Oct. 1891.
20.33 tons; 68.8 ft. x 11.3 ft. x 7.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, plain head, transom stern.
Surveyed and measured, October 27, 1891." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Tranquilo.)

"... Under the guidance of Mr. John B. Herreshoff the writer was shown over a new steamer [#170p Tranquillo] which is nearly completed and which has many novel features. This steamer is intended specially for cruising, and with that end in view will have large coal-carrying capacity and a boiler which will do a large amount of work with a small consumption of fuel. There will be no forced draught, and not even a jet in the stack, but with natural draught a speed of at least 10 knots an hour is expected for the boat. The engine will be a compound one, instead of one of the triple-expansion type usually placed in steamers when speed is desired.
The steamer is 68 feet water line, 82 feet over all, 11 feet 6 inches beam and 5 feet draught. She is flush decked, with quite a large pilot house forward, and is built of wood, with white oak frames and pine planking, The planking is double and the outside of the boat is as smooth and free from seams as the finest piece of joiner work. Her construction is light but very strong, and added stability is given by weight on the keel outside. She has a high freeboard, a handsome sheer and graceful overhangs forward and after. She will be schooner-rigged and the masts will be set upon the deck instead of passing through to the keel.
In her interior arrangements she shows a wide departure from the usual model. The galley and the quarters for the crew are aft the engine-room, while the owner's quarters are forward. A stairway from the pilot house leads to the owner's quarters, where there are two staterooms and a large cabin, with four hanging berths of novel design. A toilet-room and plenty of lockers are also to be found. The finish of the staterooms and cabin is butternut, and the whole effect is light and airy. She could be launched in a few weeks.
The firm seem to have obtained in this steamer a maximum of room and comfort with the minimum of outlay both as to first cost and subsequent maintenance. ..." (Source: Robinson, W. E. "New Gloriana." Boston Globe, November 15, 1891, p. 21.)

"... Finishing touches are being put on the cruising steamer [apparently #170p Tranquillo] which the firm is building for a market. Her cabin has just had added to its furnishings a handsome mahogany sideboard and a folding table of the same wood, which has at ine end a range of drawers and at the other a closet for dishes. The table is a particularly neat and ingenious piece of work.
The steamer is steered by a handy horizontal wheel in the pilot house, and there is also a positive signal system to the engine room to do away with the ordinary bell calls." (Source: Robinson, William E. "Has Come To Stay. Herreshoff's Opinion of the Ballast Fin. Shrewd Yacht Designer Tells Why He Believes in the New Type. Order for a 25-Footor for New York. Work on Hand at the Bristol Shops." Boston Globe, January 24, 1892, p. 22.)

"... The cruising steam yacht [#170p Tranquillo] before described is still in the shop, as is the 25ft. cat [#413s Sayonara] for the Jersey coast." (Source: Anon. (W. P. Stephens?) "Building at Bristol." Forest and Stream, January 28, 1892, p. 93.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 26 [1892]. --- ... Another Herreshoff boat given a trial today was the Tranquillo, the 60-foot steamer built for a market. She ran very smoothly and attained nearly the speed expected of her, 11 miles an hour. She is intended for a cruiser. ..." (Source: Anon. "Is Fast Under Sail. Trial Of The New Herreshoff 30-Foot Fin At Bristol." Boston Globe, May 27, 1892, p. 4.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 921:]
Tranquilo, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1892.
20.33 tons; 68.8 ft. x 11.3 ft. x 7.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, plain head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 27. 1892. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Aug. 27, 1892. Owner: same. Master: same.
Surrendered [license] May 3, 1893 at Albany. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Tranquilo.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 28 [1892]. --- The Herreshoffs are nearing the end of their season's work ... The Tranquillo [#170p], the 80-foot cruising steamer, has been tried under steam and runs well." (Source: Anon. "With The Herreshoffs. Season's Work of Bristol Firm Drawing to a Close." Boston Globe, May 29, 1892, p. 1.)

"Beautiful weather, a cracking breeze, and some excellent racing, all combined to make the fourth annual regatta of the Marine and Field Club of Bath Beach the most successful one in their history.
The Wasp [#414s] and El Chico [#418s], two of Herreshoff's latest designs, won signal victories in their respective classes. The El Chico, which sailed in the 25-rating class, simply smothered all her rivals and beat the Iroquois, her nearest competitor, by over thirty-seven mInutes, while the Wasp had almost as easy a task in defeating the Nautilus, one of last year's 40-footers. ...
Just as the yachts finished the steam yacht Tranquillo, with J. B. Herreshoff, the blind boatbuilder and part designer of the Wasp and El Chico, came up along side of the judges' boat and asked what they had won by.
The judges had apparently never seen him before, and as they were rather busy with tables, they answered rather brusquely that they would tell him later.
Upon being informed that it was Herreshoff, the famous yacht builder, who wanted to know, they almost fell over each other in their anxiety to tell him the good news.
He seemed very much pleased when he found that the El Chico had won so easily, but did not manifest much interest as to the Wasp's time. ..." (Source: Anon. "In A Spanking Breeze. Some Tall Sailing In The Marine And Field Club's Regatta." New York Sun, June 12, 1892, p. 6.)

"The latest craft from the Herreshoff shops, seen this week at all the New York regattas, is somewhat of an exception, to recent Herreshoff yachts the main object being accommodation and comfort rather than extreme speed. She is a cruising steamer of 82ft. overall. 68ft. [?] l.w.l., 11ft. 6in. beam and 5ft draft. She is of the usual Herreshoff construction, steamed oak frames and double skin. The yacht is arranged to give a maximum of room on a small cost of running, her engine and boiler space being quite small, and the coal consumption very economical, though a speed of 12 miles is easily made. The main cabin is quite large, with good headroom, located just forward of the engine space. The steerage has room for a winding stairway from the pilot house on starboard side and toilet room to port. Further forward are two good staterooms, with wardrobe, closets and lockers. The deck is roomy, being but little cut up by hatchways. Altogether the yacht is a most desirable cruiser superior both in speed and accommodation to many larger steam yachts." (Source: Anon. "Tranquilo." Forest and Stream, June 16, 1892, p. 574.)

"... The Herreshoff cruising steam yacht Tranquillo left Bristol, Thursday, for Boston with Mr. J. B. Herreshoff on board. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, June 26, 1892, p. 21.)

"Vineyard Haven, June 29 [1892]. --- The steam yacht Tranquillo broke down in Vineyard Sound, off East Chop, this morning, and was taken in tow of the steam yacht Polly [probably #120p]. The craft proceeded west and will put into Newport. The Tranquillo's machinery gave out off West Chop. Both yachts had parties
aboard." (Source: Anon. [No title.] New York Times, June 30, 1892, p. 3.)

"Newport, R. I., Oct. 8 [1892]. --- The Herreshoffs have sold the steam yacht Tranquillo to S. B. Sexton of Hyde Park. The Tranquillo was built last Spring on speculation. She is a small steam yacht, fitted with compound engines. Her length is eighty feet." (Source: Anon. "The Tranquillo Sold." New York Times, October 9, 1892, p. 3.)

"Mr. S. B. Sexton's steam yacht Tranquilo is in commission. She will be seen out during the naval parade. The Tranquilo was built by the Herreshoff's last year, and was used by Mr. John B. Herreshoff." (Source: Anon. "Of Interest to Yachtsmen." New York Times, April 24, 1893, p. 11.)

"[Tranquilo (Steamyacht) owned by Samuel B. Sexton, Port: New York; LOA 80ft; LWL 68.8ft; Beam 11ft; Draft 5ft; designed by Herreshoff Mfg. Co. and built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co in 1892.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 15)

"The steam yacht Talisman has been sold through the office of the Gas Engine and Power Company, and Charles L. Seabury & Co., Consolidated, to Samuel B, Sexton, who will use her for cruising in Eastern waters and on the Hudson. Mr. Sexton will retain the crew, which he had on the steam yacht Tranquillo. The Talisman was formerly owned by J. H. Ballentine, who recently purchased the steam yacht Hiawatha. The steam yacht Tranquillo, formerly owned by Samuel B. Sexton, is at the storage basin at Morris Heights, and will be put in commission at an early date." (Source: Anon. "The Talisman Sold." New York Times, March 21, 1897, p. 15.)

"Dumont Clarke of the New York Yacht Club has sold, through the agency of Stanley M. Seaman, to Frederic Nicholls, of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, his Herreshoff steam yacht Tranquilo. She is 80 feet long over all, 65 feet on the water line, 11.4 feet beam, and 5 feet draught. She has a flush deck, her dining saloon on deck, three staterooms, and a speed of twelve miles an hour. She left New York last week for Toronto, and will go by way of the Hudson River, Erie Canal, and Lake Ontario. She will be used this season by Mr. Nicholls running between Toronto and Lewiston, and next year she will be taken to Lake Simcoe." (Source: Anon. "Dumont Clarke Sells the Tranquilo." New York Times, May 9, 1897, p. 7.)

"H. H. Hogins, Atlantic Yacht Club, has purchased the steam yacht Tranquilo through the down-town office of the Gas Engine and Power Company and Charles L. Seabury & Co., and will use the boat at his Summer home on the Sound, at Roslyn. L. I. Mr. Hogins was formerly owner of the schooner yacht Fearless and sloop yacht Enterprise. ...[This note is apparently in error, because Tranquilo was listed as being owned by Frederic Nicholls until after 1910.]" (Source: Anon. "Troubles on the Cruise." New York Times, August 15, 1897, p. 4.)

"... [Rear-Commodore Nicholls of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club who has a summer residence on Lake Simcoe] is the owner of the Canada's Cup boat, Temeraire, and the steam yacht Tranquilo, and is one of the most enthusiastic in this hive of yachtsmen. (Source: Anon. [Title?] Power Boating, 1906, vol. 2, [p. 125?].)

"ALBION, Aug. 31 [1921]. --- The Tranquillo a 90-foot Canadian pleasure yacht grounded outside Point Breeze in a heavy sea yesterday afternoon, and was released by Captain Frank Phipps and Lieutenant John Roche, who towed the boat into deep waters. Six women and three men were aboard besides the crew. They refused to give their names, but said their captain was William Rumley of Toronto. They had left Toronto 10 days ago and were on a return trip from the Thousand Islands. (Source: Anon. "Pleasure Yacht Aground." Buffalo Evening News, August 31, 1920, p. B1.)

"Cleveland, O., Aug. 18 [1921]. --- Capt. William L. Curry of Toronto, Canada, six other men and four women were captured by police early to-day in a thrilling raid on a large steam yacht, declared by the police to be used by one of the strongest whisky rings running booze between the United States and Canada.
Ninety-five cases of various kinds of wines and liquors were found aboard the yacht, which was seized at Whisky Island, west of the Cuyahoga River.
Captain Curry is believed to have been in command of the rum runner Tranquillo, which was captured at Rocky River near here June 8 [1921], with a cargo of Scotch whisky aboard which was later divided by members of the Police Department of Lakewood, a Cleveland suburb, and cost the resignation of Chief D. S. Christiansen and 14 of his men.
Police Act on Tip.
To-day's arrest and seizure followed a tip from Capt Hans Hansen of the United States coast guard that the yacht Venice, with a merry party aboard, was acting suspiciously in the outer harbor late last night.
A watch was set, but it was not until nearly daylight this morning, with lights darkened, she made for the wharf of the Great Lakes Docking & Dredging Co.
Two flying squadrons of police readied the dock just as men began to hurriedly load the liquor into a five-ton truck which was waiting. As the police arrived lines were hurriedly cast off by the boat, but not before officers had leaped to the deck, entered the cabins and at the muzzles of revolvers put those on board under arrest. Charges of violating Federal prohibition laws were placed against the men. The women will be held by the Federal officers, pending an investigation. ..." (Source: Anon. "Smugglers Arrested In Act of Landing 95 Cases of Liquor. Seven Men and Four Women Are Taken Into Custody by Raiders Acting on a Tip." Utica (New York) Herald Dispatch, August 15, 1921, p. 1.)

"Tranquillo 116256 [official number] Toronto, Ont." (Source: Dominion of Canada (publ.). "Sessional Papers of the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada." 1922, vol. 7, [p. 105?].)

"... That on August 18, 1921, the steam yacht Venice was seized, 90 cases of liquor taken therefrom, and a number of individuals arrested thereupon ... NOTE. --- Pursuant to court order, the Venice sold on September 26, 1923, to L. B. Broderick for $775. The Tranquillo sold same date to same man for $337." See telegram United States attorney, Cleveland, to Attorney General, dated May 24, 1924, file No. 217968-1. This completely disproves statement made by Burton [former Federal prohibition agent] that these boats are still 'tied up'. ..." (Source: United States. Congress. Select Committee On Investigation Of The Attorney General. "Investigation of Hon. Harry M. Daugherty, Formerly Attorney General of the United States, Parts 9-11." 1924, [p. 3200?].)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) letter stamped at the top 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co' and beginning with'Foot 26th N.Y. Jun[e] 8 [18]92. Dear Mr. Nat:- Just arrived 3.30PM, all well, yacht worked splendidly. Below is time of trip: …' followed by a time log of a trip from Bristol to New York. With penciled distance and speed calculations by NGH, concluding with '166.9 miles' in '16.05[hours]' for an 'Av[erage] speed [of] 10.34 miles'. (NGH's diary shows the yacht to have been #170p TRANQUILO)." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01490. Letter. Folder [no #]. 1892-06-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§27: #170p TRANQUILO [TRANQUILLO] Trial Run (1892-05-26)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #170p Tranquilo [Tranquillo] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Tranquillo (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Tranquilo (HMCo-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Tranquillo
Type: Steam
Length: 38' [sic, i.e. 88']
Owner: Morgan, E. D. [sic, i.e. S. B. Sexton]

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Tranquilo
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Tranquilo
Type: 68' 8" steam
Owner: E. D. Morgan [sic, i.e. S. B. Sexton]
Year: 1892
Row No.: 690

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1891
E/P/S: P
No.: 170
Name: Tranquillo
OA: 88'
LW: 64' 8"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (29.09) from the 1896 Manning's American Yacht List (Net Register Tons were reported as 20.33) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.