HMCo #171p Lotus Seeker II

"Providence, R. I., Dec. 26 [1891]. --- At the Herreshoff Works at Bristol has just been commenced the construction of a fast steam yacht for a New-York gentleman. The vessel is to be built in passenger style and will have a triple-expansion engine of 175 horse power and a Herreshoff boiler. She will be double-planked on the out-side with yellow pine and finished with mahogany inside. Her dimensions are to be 75 feet over all and 68 feet on the water line. She will resemble the fast yacht Katrina, built for O. L. Hubbard of Norwich, Conn.
Mr. Herreshoff declines to give the name of her owner, but says he is a wealthy resident of New-York, who has a summer residence upon the St. Lawrence, where the yacht is to be operated as a pleasure boat. ..." (Source: Anon. "A New Steam Yacht Building. To Be Used on the St. Lawrence by a New-York Gentleman." New York Times, December 27, 1891, p. 6.)

"... The 78-foot steamer for the St Lawrence is being planked, and is bottom up as usual. It looks queer to see a big boat being built in that way, but the advantages are obvious when there is a powerful crane overhead to turn the craft right side up when the proper time comes. ..." (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 new steamer [#171p Lotus Seeker] for the St. Lawrence River, the duplicate of the Katrina [#163p], is now nearly planked, the boat being built keel upward." (Source: Anon. (W. P. Stephens?) "Building at Bristol." Forest and Stream, January 28, 1892, p. 93.)

"Bristol, R. I. April 18 [1892]. --- ... The steamers which the Herreshoffs are building are well along and work is being pushed. The 73-footer [#171p Lotus Seeker] for the St Lawrence has most of her machinery in and looks nearly ready for launching. ..." (Source: Anon. "Tried on all Tacks." Boston Globe, April 19, 1892, p. 11.)

"Lotus Seeker, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
7.72 tons; 69.9 ft. x 8.7 ft. x 4.8 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, plain and overhanging low head, transom stern.
Surveyed and measured, April 29, 1892." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Lotus Seeker II.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 11 [1892] --- The new Herreshoff boats are getting afloat one by one, and the present outlook is for a clearing of shops early in the season, save for the steel steamer [#172p Truant] for Mrs. Newberry of Detroit, which will not be ready until late in the summer.
... The Detroit steamer is nearly plated and the St-Lawrence steamer [#171p Lotus Seeker] is about ready for launching. There is but little more work to do on the smaller boats." (Source: Anon. "New Yachts Afloat. Fin Keel Reaper Has Been Tried Under Sail. Seems To Be Fast, And Very Much Resembles The Kersey 25-Rater." Boston Globe, May 12, 1892, p. 2.)

"The 'Lotus Seeker' a 73 feet steamer, built by the Herreshoff Mnfg. Co., for Mr E R Holden. of New York, was successfully launched about 5 o'clock Monday evening [May 23, 1892]. The vessel is for pleasure cruising on the river St Lawrence and vicinity." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, May 28, 1892, p. 2.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 155:]
Lotus Seeker, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1892.
7.72 tons; 69.9 ft. x 8.7 ft. x 4.8 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 27, 1892. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff.
Surrendered [license] June 20, 1892 at New York. ([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. Lotus Seeker.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 28 [1892]. --- The Herreshoffs are nearing the end of their season's work, ... The Lotus Seeker [#171p], the fast 73-foot steamer for the St. Lawrence, will soon sail for her destination in the Thousand Islands. She is a trim-looking craft, and a speedy one.
Now on the way to Bristol is the original Lotus Seeker [#139p] which the new one will replace. She is a fast 48-foot launch, and would be a good buy, for any yachtsman wanting that kind of a craft. ..." (Source: Anon. "With The Herreshoffs. Season's Work of Bristol Firm Drawing to a Close." Boston Globe, May 29, 1892, p. 1.)

"... The fastest yacht on the river is the Lotus Seeker. She is owned by E. R. Holden, Vice President of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, who is now at his cottage at Thousand Island Park with his family. ..." (Source: Anon. "The Thousand Island Resorts. Promising Outlook for a Brilliant Season --- Many Guests from Many Places." New York Times, July 16, 1893, p. 12.)

"Thousand Island Park, N. Y., July 21, 1889. --- The boiler of the fleetest yacht of the St. Lawrence, the Lotus Seeker, was blown up at about five o'clock this afternoon while lying at the private dock of the owner, Mr. E. R. Holden, of New York, vice president of the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, who has a cottage at the park.
The boiler was under a pressure of 350 pounds, its limit, and was blowing off when the accident occurred. One end was blown out. The two occupants, the engineer and fireman, were unharmed.
The yacht was built two years ago by Herreshoff, and could easily make twenty miles per hour. Its cost was $9,000 and it is damaged $l,000." (Source: Anon. "A New Yorker's Yacht Blown Up." New York Herald, July 22, 1899, p. 6.)

"Frontenac, N.Y. August 24 [1901] --- Of the numerous steam vessels, both public and private which are daily seen plying the waters of the St. Lawrence River, the best models and the ones which elicit the most praise are the property of prominent New Yorkers summering in the Thousand Island region. ...
Several years ago E. R. Holden, the retired millionaire coal merchant of New York, brought a yacht named Lotus Seeker [#139p] to this region which was the astonishment of the steamboat men then sailing these waters. Her like for speed had never been seen before on the St. Lawrence.
She was a Herreshoff model and finished in mahogany. She set very close to the water and presented a pretty appearance as she rapidly glided along. For two or three years this speedy craft was the finest on the river.
In the spring of 1882 Mr. Holden brought forth another new yacht of the same name [#171p], but speedier. For several years this 72-foot Herreshoff boat, was ceded the title of the fastest yacht on the river. ...
From those first days in this history of yachts on the St. Lawrence River to the present the Lotus Seeker has been a formidable factor in all yacht races. ... " (Source: Anon. "Steam Yachting on St. Lawrence River. Many Speedy Brooklyn Boats. St Lawrence River Squadron is Probably the finest Inland Fleet in the World." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 25, 1901, p. 11.)

"Lotus Seeker
Ira Cupernall was Captain of the Lotus Seeker from 1902 to 1914. The boat was owned by Mr. E.R. Holden, railroad President, of New York City and Thousand Island Park, New York. After his death in 1920, she was purchased from the Holden estate by George W. Mercier of Clayton, New York and sold to Clarence Bretsch of Gary, Indiana, who was a native of Theresa. Mr. Bretsch, a criminal lawyer, entertained many politicians on the yacht.
The Lotus Seeker was designed by Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1892. She was one of those fascinating, fast (about 20 M.P.H.) Steam Yachts of the above mentioned Company that were used at the Thousand Islands at the turn of the Century and during a number of years thereafter. Others were the Clover [#212p], Jean [#194p], Now Then [#142p] and Stroller [#209p].
We do not have a record of the Lotus Seeker's Home Port when owned by Mr. Holden. She was based at Thousand Island Park; her Port of Registry was New York City. We have neither of these items pertaining to the boat when she was owned by Mr. Bretsch. However, she was based at Fishers Landing, New York, where he had a Summer residence.
The dimensions of the Lotus Seeker were as follow: Net Tons, 7; Gross Tons, 15; Overall Length, 72' 11"; Waterline Length, 68'; Beam 8' 9"; Depth, 4' 10"; Draft, 3' 11". Construction was of wood. We regret that our records are incomplete as to her power-plant. We are certain, however, that she had a 3-Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Engine (of slightly smaller dimensions than the one of the Jean, described elsewhere herein) and that she had a Water Tube Boiler. Both the engine and boiler must have been constructed at the Herreshoff plant. The Lotus Seeker's Registration Number was 141200.
The steering wheel was originally located in the forward cabin, as the accompanying photo indicates. Sometime before 1920, it was removed from that location and placed on the forward deck. This afforded much better visibility to the helmsman and must have made maneuvering in small areas less difficult.
Probably in 1923 Mr. Bretsch sold the Lotus Seeker to Navy Lt. William S. Rhodes of the New York City area. He was a connoisseur of Steam Yachts and purchased them on speculation. Later, we heard that the Lotus Seeker had been destroyed by fire while being operated by smugglers to transfer liquor during Prohibition from ships outside the three-mile limit to the Eastern coast of our country. If this is true, it is certainly a pity that the career of an unusually beautiful and admired yacht ended in such a dreadful manner.
References:
Lloyd's Register of American Yachts, 1907 and 1910." (Source: Mercier, Gilbart B. Pleasure Yachts of the Thousand Islands. Clayton, New York, 1981, s.v. "Lotus Seeker".)

"Registry and Rig Information
Vessel Name: LOTUS SEEKER
Nationality: U.S.
Official Number: 741200 [sic, i.e. 141200?]
Rig: Steam Yacht
Dimensions and Tonnage
Length: 69.75
Width: 8.58
Depth: 4.66
Masts: 0
Gross Tonnage: 15.44
Net Tonnage: 7.72
Hull Material: Wood
Vessel History
Rebuilds:
History: Designed by N.G. Herreshoff. Enrolled at New York, NY, 1892-1894; Cape Vincent, NY, 1894-1901; New York, NY, 1901-1907.
Disposition: Dropped from List of U.S. Merchant Vessels in 1907/1908 while documented at New York, NY; presumed abandoned.
Build Information
Builder: Herreshoff Machinery Co.
Place Built: Bristol, RI
Year Built: 1892." (Source: Bowling Green State University (publisher). Great Lakes Vessels Online Index, s.v. "Lotus Seeker." http://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessel/view/004373, retrieved June 2, 2015.)

"... Clarence Bretsch was a criminal lawyer who had a practice in Gary, Indiana in the 1920s, but frequently visited his birthplace in Jefferson county. Around 1920 he owned the steam yacht Lotus Seeker, which a Watertown Daily Times article states was considered one of the finest privately owned pleasure craft on the St. Lawrence in the early 1900s. Mr. Bretsch, born in Theresa, NY, 20 Sep 1876, reportedly entertained many city and county officials on the yacht. He is probably the same Clarence Bretsch who, as of 9 Jan 1900, was postmaster at Fishers Landing, Jefferson, NY." (Source: http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/tid48.htm, retrieved June 2, 2015.)

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'Gilsey House, New York' stationery:]
Dear Nat
I have had a long talk with Mr. Holden [about #171p Lotus Seeker II] and Mr. Brooks [about #189104es Unbuilt Schooner for J. E. Brooks]. The steamer plan suits the former - in fact he says it is exactly what he had in his mind, except that he wants 'the other fellow' to take the oil burning apparatus and he will use coal. I am quite sure we will get an order from him before long. He has a telegram from his sailing master that the old stack[?] does not fit our new boiler. So please have a new [p. 2] steel stack made, unless there was one sent with the boiler.
He wishes to get it as soon as possible and forward it as follows 'E.R. Holden. Clayton, N.Y. by American Ex. Dead Head Pass 20174'.
Now for Mr. Brooks. He is a very clever fellow - wants a steel schooner, 89ft 9in water line, as long as you think best overall, width also left to you which I told him I thought you would have between 23 & 25 feet. The[?] keel settled upon instead of centerboard. [p. 3]
The draft of water not to be over 16 feet. What he wants to use his own words is a light but very fast cruising schooner, suitable for offshore work after he has had one season like that Mr. Morgan had in the GLORIANA [#411s] I should think a midship section with as little displacement as possible with extreme depth for low ballast and reasonable beam and ample free board. He says the sail plan like the GLORIANA was according[?] to his views lower sails wide and not too high, but very large light sails. He wishes us to [p. 4] make a model with all the necessary calculations, also a sail plan and a rough[?] cabin plan with the the[?] ideas carried out. He substantially agreed upon the price being for[?] outside limits $70,000. He would like to have a yacht built and ready for use by May next [1892] and will come to Bristol in two weeks or as soon as we have the model etc as described ready for his inspection there, and in case model etc. should not suit him and no order is given, he will pay us for our tie and professional services and we to retain our model & work. We talked cabin plans [p. 5] a little which I can explain on my returning. He would want you to see him through the principal regattas such as June and August next year. He seemed to have the SEA FOX [steel centerboard schooner designed by A. Cass Canfield and built by Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. in 1888. LOA 115ft. LWL 89.5ft. Beam 23.10ft] and MERLIN [centerboard schooner designed by Edward Burgess and built by Lawley in 1889 for Ralph F. Forbes. LOA 106ft. LWL 89-6ft. Beam 23-6ft] on his mind, and hoping we could beat them both.
Since writing the above Mr. Books has made us another call, and also Mr. Joy[?]. Mr. Brooks means business. He wants you to let him know if anything more is needed before going ahead with the model. If so let me know by return mail or telegram at the Astor House on Monday & I will arrange to talking with him again before returning home.
15 feet draught would suit him better than many[?], but I thought you would require nearly 16.
At any rate let me know if you can if the general information I have given him is what you will adopt. As I suppose he will [p. 6] try & see me on Monday. We are both [JBH & KWH] well. I talked with [sister-in-law] Emilie by telephone [Giles House is known to have been the first hotel in New York to offer telephone to its guests], found that [brother] Francis was in Canada. Ask [HMCo secretary Charles Wesley] Young to write me tomorrow and Sunday as we will may[?] stay until Thursday noon.
As always your brother John
[?] K [dictated to and written by his daughter Katherine Kilton Herreshoff]" (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02870. Folder [no #]. 1891-10-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Two affidavits of 'Benjamin H. Wood, Foreman of Herreshoff Boiler Manufacturer, Relative to Samples of … for Boiler or Steamer'. [#146p Augusta II, #171 Lotus Seeker II]." (Source: Young, Charles Wesly, Notary Public (creator). Affidavits. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.110. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Boilers - Tensile Tests and Affidavits. 1899-04-13 and 1904-05-10.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #171p Lotus Seeker II even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Lotus Seeker (HMCo-made index card)
• Lotus Seeker (MIT Museum-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: Lotus Seeker
Type: Steam
Length: 72'10"
Owner: Holden, E. R.

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

• Lotus Seeker
• 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: Lotus Seeker
Type: 72' 11" steam
Owner: E. R. Holden
Year: 1892
Row No.: 380

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.: 171
Name: Lotus Seeker
OA: 72' 10"

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.

"Steam engine rating 225hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 5 5/8 & 9 & 14 x 9, 600[rpm], 225[hp]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (15) from the 1905 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 7) 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.