HMCo #181p Duquesne

"[1894-10-09] Tue 9: Set up frames on str #181 [Duquesne]. ...
[1894-10-25] Thu 25: Began planking #181 [Duquesne].
[1894-12-19] Wed 19: Deck frame in str #181 [Duquesne]. ...
[1894-12-31] Mon 31: Str #181 [Duquesne] planked up.
[1895-01-01] Tue 1: ... #181 [Duquesne] all planked & deck frame is in. A good deal of inside work made; pilot house ready to put up.
[1896-06-18] Sat 18: ... Dugusne [sic, i.e. #181p Duquesne] here with Mr. Brenchard[?].
[1901-12-14] Sat 14: Strong SSE [wind]. Clear [in] AM. Cloudy & threatening [in] PM. Highest temp[erature] 58deg. Hauled out Duquesne [#181p] at head of cove.
[1902-04-08] Tue 8: Heavy NE rain storm all day. Some thunder & lightning in afternoon. Very high tide. Launched ... Duquesne [#181p, originally built in 1894] up cove. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1894 to 1896. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1901 to 1902. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"... A large steam yacht will be commenced this week for Mr. Hostetter, of Pittsburgh, Pa., of Hostetter Bitters fame. This model yacht will receive especial attention from the firm, as she is to be built of the very best material throughout, and finished and furnished in the highest style in yachting art trimmings. This fine model of beauty will be about 131 feet over all, and 15 1-2 feet beam and will be constructed with every modern improvement known in the construction of a first class yacht.
A large force of men will be put at work as the process of construction is advanced and she will be ready for launching, in the early springtime of 1895, and will be built for a fast one of her class.
The steam yacht Judy [#162p] now lying at the wharf of the works, was built by the firm a few years ago for a New Orleans gentlemen and was purchased by Mr. Hostetter, who turns her over in part payment for the new yacht, which can show a speed of sixteen miles an hour, and was considered when built, to be one of Herreshoffs' finest built crafts in point of speed and finish. She is 102 feet long and 91 feet water line. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Yachts at Herreshoffs." Bristol Phoenix, September 22, 1894, p. 2.)

"From the Providence Journal.
The work on the two large steam yachts [#181p Duquesne and #182p Eugenia II] at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company's shops is well in hand. The keel, stem, and stern post are in position, and the frames are all set up for the new steam yacht that is being built in the north shop for Theodore R. Hostetter of Pittsburgh, Pa. ...
Steam yacht Judy [#162p], that was built by the company three years ago for parties in New Orleans, and taken in part payment the past summer from Mr. Hostetter for the new steam yacht that is now being built for him at the shops, was put out of commission by J. B. Herreshoff the last of last week. The Judy was stripped of her sails, rigging, masts, and funnel and was hauled up for the winter on Monday on the marine railway on the Pappoosesquaw shore. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Boats. New Steam Yachts Under Way. Craft Being Hauled Up for the Winter." New York Sun, October 21, 1894, p. 8.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., Dec. 8 [1894]. --- The Herreshoffs are not so rushed with work that they could not take an order for a cup defender, yet there is a fair amount of work on hand and a prospect of more. There are two steamers [#181p and #182p] and three sailing yachts [#449s, #450s, #451] now on hand in the shops, and a moderate force of men at work, which could be largely increased should a rush of work come.
The largest steamer is a 130-footer [#181p Duquesne], for T. R. Hostetter. She is of wood, of solid build, and will have triple-expansion engines, and a speed of about sixteen miles an hour.
The owner's quarters are forward, and there is a comfortable deck saloon over them. The yacht steers from the bridge over the saloon. She will be schooner rigged and have an electric-light plant and all the latest devices for comfort and safety. She is being built in the workshop and is nearly planked, and could be launched within a month should her place in the shop be needed for the building of a cup defender. ..." (Source: Anon. "Ready for Orders. The Herreshoffs Can Start Cup Defenders on Short Notice." New York Times, December 9, 1894, p. 23.)

"... BRISTOL, R. I., Jan. 12 [1895]. --- ... The steamer [#181p Duquesne] is about ready for her boilers and engines, and the company would get them into her before she was put overboard. Workmen are now busy with the interior work, and are making the customary neat and good-looking job. ... The engines for the large steamer are also ready. ..." (Source: Anon. "Ready To Build Cup Defenders. Improvements in the Herreshoff Plant for Yacht Building." New York Times, January 13, 1895, p. 6.)

"Work is being pushed ahead rapidly on the new steam yacht for T. R. Hostetter in the north shop. The wood workers are busy on the interior, and are finishing up on the work with all possible speed.
The crew's quarters on this steamer are forward and are being finished with white pine. The cabin is being finished in polished butternut with all possible trimmings. The engine for this yacht has been made and was taken down to the yacht a few days ago. The workmen are also busy on the big mahogany deckhouse, which is being made on the floor of the shop. The white pine decks, which were laid last week, are being calked today." (Source: Anon. "Work at Bristol." Boston Globe, February 24, 1895, p. 14.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 6 [1895] --- The steam yacht Duquesne, built by the Herreshoff's for Theodore R. Hostetter of Pittsburg, was launched this evening at 5 o'clock. The new boat is 130 feet over all, 110 feet waterline, 15 feet beam and 5 1/2 feet draft. Her stem, sternpost and keel are of white oak. The plank is of yellow pine below the waterline and white pine above. The decks are of white pine." (Source: Anon. "Launching At Bristol. Steam Yacht Duquesne Run Out of the Herreshoff Works." Boston Globe, April 7, 1895, p. 2.)

"Saturday [April 6, 1895] afternoon at 5 o'clock the handsome steam yacht 'Dusquene' [sic, i.e. Duquesne] was Iaunched from the Herreshoff works. Only a few people witnessed the launching outside of the Herreshoff families and the workmen. The Dusqnene was built for Theodore R. Hostetter of Pittsburg, Pa., and is one of the finest steam yachts built in Bristol for many years. Mr Hostetter formerly owned the Judy [#162p], but exchanged her in part payment for the new boat. The Dusquene is 131 feel long over all and about 110 feet on the water-line. She is 15 feet beam and has a draught of 5 1/2 feet. She is expected to attain a speed of sixteen or seventeen miles an hour, and is equipped with an eleven-stroke triple-expansion engine of 150 horse power. She has a Herreshoff water-level tubular boiler. The stern, sternpost, keel and frames of the steamer are of the best selected white oak. The planking below the water line is of yellow pine and above the water line of white pine, the decks being of the same material, the seams of the decks being filled with marine glue. The crew's quarters, which are very commodious for a boat of her size, are forward and are finished in white pine. The owner's quarters, which are aft, are handsomely fitted up and are finished in polished butternut. She will be richly upholstered. Every convenience for comfortable cruising is aboard of her and there is no reason why her owner, who is a young man, should not have a very enjoyable season in her. She has a very large and handsome deck house, which is of mahogany, with brass trimmings. The deckhouse will be used for a pilot house and reception room. The boat has a wheel, so that she can be steered from the bridge. The hatch coamings and skylights are also of mahogany. The new steamer will be schooner rigged and will be given a trial in Bristol harbor in a few days. She will be used by her owner in cruising along the Atlantic coast." (Source: Anon. "Yachting News." Bristol Phoenix, April 9, 1895, p. 3.)

"Duquesne, screw schooner yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
41.38 tons; 119.6 ft. x 15.7 ft. x 8.9 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, plain head, elliptic stern.
Surveyed and measured, May 1, 1895." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Duquesne.)

"... The steam yacht Duquesne, built by the Herreshoffs for Theodore Hostetter of Pittsburg, had a very successful trial of her engines on Tuesday [May 7, 1895]. She will have a speed trial over the mile course in Bristol Harbor May 15 [1895]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bits of Yachting News." New York Times, May 12, 1895, p. 6.)

"The steam yacht Duquesne, launched about a month ago at the Herreshoff works, Bristol, had a builder's trial trip Saturday afternoon [May 11, 1895]. The new boat was to have a trial in the harbor, but as Messrs. Iselin and Morgan of the cup defender syndicate were going to Newport, they were invited to make the trip on the Duquesne. At 2:30 o' clock the lines were cast off and she steamed away for Newport. The party on board included Mr. and Mrs. John B. Herreshoff, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, Miss Katherine Herreshoff, C. Oliver Iselin, E. D. Morgan and Mrs. Byron De Wolf. Capt. Nat. was at the wheel and as the new boat steamed out past the middle ground buoy her initial run could be seen to advantage.
She turned in about twice her own length and at once speeded away on her course down through the passage between the Islands of Prudence and Rhode Island with a full head of steam. She showed good speed from the start, keeping it up as she grew smaller and smaller, until she disappeared out of sight when close to Newport.
She arrived back at the Herreshoff wharf at 5 o' clock, and Capt. Simeon H. Davis of Port Jefferson, who is her skipper, said that when the start was made the boat ran along at the rate of 16 miles an hour, but she was not pushed to her utmost capacity. When half way to Newport some part of a steam valve got out of place, when she was slowed down. Shortly afterward a fog drifted in from outside, and no accurate account could be kept of the speed or time she made.
Capt. Davis tells that she will easily steam at the rate of 20 miles an hour. The engines worked well during the trip. Mr. Morgan was landed at his summer home at Newport, and Mr. Iselin came back to Bristol. The Duquesne will have her second trial next Wednesday, when Mr. Hostetter will be on board. The Duquesne was built for Theodore R. Hostetter of the Hostetter Bitters Company of Pittsburg, Pa., and was designed from the plans of steam yacht Vivian [sic], formerly the Augusta [#155p]. She also resembles somewhat steam yacht Ballymena [#151p], owned by J. N. Brown of this city [Providence, RI]. Her frames, stem, stern, post and plank shear are of the best of oak. She is double planked throughout, the inside planking is of two-inch cedar and the outer planks of one and one-half inch yellow pine. Her deck is planked with white pine, two and one-half inches in thickness, and the deck beams and carlines are of three-inch oak. The interior finish of the cabin is of butternut, and the boat has several watertight compartments, the bulkheads being of buttonwood [sic].
The engines are of 450 horse-power, triple expansion, with a 12-inch stroke, the cylinders being 9, 12 and 22. The engine is considered large for the size of the boat. She is fitted with Herreshoff boilers and a patent outside double condenser, besides the regulation pumps and syphon. Her principal dimensions are 131 feet over all, 118 feet waterline, 15 feet 6 inches beam and 5 feet draught.
She is painted dark green below the waterline and white above. She is rigged with two masts and a bowsprit and, three sails, foresail, mainsail and jib. She is well furnished with anchors, her ballast is of lead and is bolted on to the outside of the keel with Tobin bronze bolts.
She is also fitted with an electric lighting plant, the work being done under the supervision of William Evans, the agent of the Riker Dynamo Company of Brooklyn. It is a storage battery with a complement of 33 lights, and a search light on the forecastle deck of 3,000 candle power. She was built in exchange for steam yacht Judy [#162p], the Herreshoffs taking Judy in part payment from Mr. Hostetter, for the new boat last August. She will be used by her owner in cruising during the summer season along the Atlantic coast. She is strongly and handsomely built and is as fine a specimen of steam yacht as was ever turned out at Bristol. Capt. Davis of Port Jefferson, is her skipper, and Joseph Innman is chief engineer. The contract requires that she will make 17 knots an hour with natural draught. --- Providence Journal." (Source: Anon. "Trial Trip of the Duquesne." Port Jefferson Echo, May 18, 1895, p. 3.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 246:]
Duquesne, screw schooner yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1895.
41.38 tons; 119.6 ft. x 15.7 ft. x 8.9 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 13, 1895. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] June 20, 1895 at New York, N.Y. ([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. Duquesne.)

"Theodore R. Hostetter of Pittsburgh, Pa., owner of the steam yacht, Duquesne, lately launched from Herreshoff's, arrived yesterday morning with a party of friends to give the Duquesne an owner's trial trip. Besides Mr. Hostetter, the party included J. B. Ricketson, Wm. R. Murray, Mr Patton and William Carnegie, nephew of the steel king, Andrew Carnegie. The boat had two entirely satisfactory trips, making 16 knots, or a trifle over 20 knots an hour.
In starting for the afternoon trial the Duquesne injured her propeller somewhat by swinging around against a buoy rock near the wharf. She sailed for Port Jefferson, where she will be hauled out." (Source: Anon. "Owner's Trial of the Duquesne." Bristol Phoenix, May 17, 1895, p. 2.)

"[Duquesne (Steamyacht) owned by T. R. Hostetter, Port: New York; LOA 131ft; LWL 107ft; Beam 15.7ft; Draft 15.9ft; designed by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. and built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co in 1895.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 6.)

"Steam yacht Duquesne, owned by T R Hostetter, was in Bristol harbor Wednesday morning [July 27, 1898], Mr Hostetter visiting the Herreshoff works." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, July 29, 1898, p. 2.)

"The 131-foot ateam yacht Duquesne is having a new boiler put in at McGowan's slips, South Brooklyn on the order of the owner, Theodore R. Hostetter, of the New-York Yacht Club." (Source: Anon. "Yachting. The Craft And Those Who Sail Them." New York Tribune, May 7, 1900, p. 5.)

"A force of men began the work of overhauling the steam yacht Duquesne at Herreshoffs, yesterday, and the boat will be among the first to be put in commission from the yards this season." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, March 21, 1902, p. 4.)

"No. 18 --- For Sale --- Attractive modern Herreshoff steam yacht in excellent condition at reasonable figure, or for charter. Length over all 131 ft., beam 15 ft. 9 in., draught 5 ft. 10 in. Has triple expansion engine and Almy water-tube boilers, new in 1902, all in good condition. Has steam heat, electric light, storage batteries, modern plumbing and all conveniences. Large dining saloon on deck, and owner's quarters below aft consisting of saloon, two double and two single staterooms, baths, etc., all handsomely fitted and finished in hard wood. Has one naphtha launch and three pulling boats. Is unusually fast, making 14 knots natural and 16 knots forced draft. Very economical on coal. Especially adapted for ferry service, and for lake, sound or river use, but is also an excellent cruising boat. For further particulars, plans, etc., apply to Cox & Stevens. 68 Broad Street. New York City. [Though not explicitly identified, dimensions and appearance in the accompanying photo show her to be Duquesne.]" (Source: Rudder, March 1907, p. 223.)

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) trials booklet. Untitled. Relevant contents:
§5: #181p DUQUESNE Trial Run (1895-05-16)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_04190. Folder [no #]. 1892-08 to 1895-05.)
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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:
§31: #181p DUQUESNE Trial Run (1895-05-13)
§32: #181p DUQUESNE Trial Run (1895-05-16)." (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.)
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"N/A"

"[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 #181p Duquesne even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Duquesne (HMCo-made index card)
• Duquesne (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: Duquesne
Type: Steam
Length: 132'
Owner: Hostetter

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

• Duquesne
• 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: Duquesne
Type: 131' steamer
Owner: T. R. Hostetter
Year: 1895
Row No.: 175

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: 1894
E/P/S: P
No.: 181
Name: Duquesne
OA: 132'
LW: 107' 6"

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 600hp 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. 9 & 14 & 22 1/2 x 12, 500[rpm], 600[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 (82.75) from the 1896 Manning's American Yacht List (Net Register Tons were reported as 41.38) 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.