Need help with researching a Yacht!

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Douggto

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and it seems to be really good. I don't really know if anyone here can help me but im at a loss now.

Basically im trying to find out information regarding a Schooner Yacht by the name of ENDYMION, She was built in 1899 by George Lawley and Sons in south Boston. She was owned by a chap by the name of George Lauder Jr who was the Nephew of Andrew Carnegie (very famous philanthrapist).

Before the very Famous 4 masted Schooner ATLANTIC broke the speed record across the Atlantic Ocean, ENDYMION held the record. The New York Times described her in 1905 as the most beautiful vessel of her size.

I know she was a 2 masted Schooner of about 136 ft with 5 staterooms and was designed by Tam, Lemoine and Crane of New York city.

However i do not know what happened to her past 1916 and i don't even know what she looked like. After George Lauder died the Yacht dissapeared from the headlines.

If anyone has any information or can point me in the right direction i would be VERY appreciative.

Avenues i've tried i've emailed the owner of the current recreation of ATLANTIC and i've emailed the New York Yacht Club and also "Mystic Seaport" but so far no responses.
 
Endymion

Good luck with your research into what sounds an amazing yacht. The Boston Daily Globe newspaper of 5th March 1916 reported that Endymion was to be broken up. There are several reports in the New York Times of races as it seems that she was quite newsworthy.

It is possible that she would have been registered with Lloyd's and if so there is an outside chance they would hold plans or surveys. If would like details of how to search at Lloyd's please let me know.
 
Endymion

Hello Yarco,

Yes she was rather Newsworthy it seems, some bad and some good. If you could possibly explain how i can search Lloyds i would be forever indebted. This yacht seems to have got under my skin a little bit. :rolleyes:
 
The canadian maratine museum seems to hold records on about every vessel, i wrote to them once about tracing a boat they were more than happy to reply with all the info needed.
 
Douggto said:
. . . If anyone has any information or can point me in the right direction i would be VERY appreciative. . .
Click to expand...

http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/6yacht/inactive/lawley.htm

http://www.archive.org/stream/illustratedhisto00gill/illustratedhisto00gill_djvu.txt

With the latter entry, you can do a text search from the ships name:


BASIN -AT LAWLEY S YARDS.


mentioned the " Alcaea" and " Ingomar," and cup defender, " Jubilee," in steel ; the schooners " Latona '' and " Endymion " ; steam yachts '• Alcedo," " Aquilo," " Currier," " Inca," "Varuna , "Kaleda," and "Valda."

One of their latest contracts has been . . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawley_&_Son
 
Endymion

Thanks very much for the help everyone. I'm going over to Lloyds in London on Thursday to have a look and try get some more info.

I refuse to believe a yacht as popular as this has no photographs. :cool:
 
Endymion

Ah by the way David (Lenseman). I tried one of those links and the response i got from the chap was

"The only Endymion I know is the 100-foot schooner yacht built by Lawley in South Boston in 1899 - hull 407. I know nothing about what happened to her."

So pretty much exactly what his website says.
 
The Rosenfeld collection would seem the best place to look for a photo of the boat. By far the best source for big boat sailing in America at that time in history, rather the equal to Beken in Cowes.
 
ENDYMION

Thanks for that Woodlouse.

I have just had a response from "Mystic Seaport" saying that they have a copy of an Article pertaining to ENDYMION published in 1900 in a publication called "Rudder". I'm going to get a copy sent to me asap.

A bit of a wierd twist. The New York Times published an article in 1902 about an Ocean Race from Newport to Sea gate, Brooklyn in which it mentions the fact that Endymion won. The interesting thing is that the Newspaper states that she was owned by a chap by the name of Edward S. Thomas.

This is wierd because George Lauder Jr bought her from the Estate of George Lord Day who had commisioned her but succumbed to illness just a year after her Launch. So if GLJ owned her in 1900 and still in 1905 when she raced against the 3 masted Atlantic... Who is Edward S Thomas??

Also it seems that George Lauder Jr also still owned her when it was reported on March 18th 1902 that she had been Dismasted at Sea.

The Report saying she won the Sea Gate Race was published in July 1902
 
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Endymion

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone is interested or not but i thought i'd post all the same as none of my friends are interested :o.

I came home today to a A4 sized letter postmarked "Mystic - CT. USA". In it was a photocopy of an article in a Magazine called "The Rudder" from around 1900. Since my scanner has packed up i'll write the article in and when i get the scanner fixed i'll post it along with the photograph of ENDYMION on the slipway the day of her launching. According to the article there's another picture of the yacht "Taking water" which i assume means "going in" i don't have this picture so i'll get back to them for a copy. Anyway here goes.

THE RUDDER, Circa 1900. Courtesy of The G.W. BLUNT WHITE LIBRARY. Mystic Seaport, Mystic CT.


The Endymion, designed by C.H. Crane, is in every sense of the word a cruising boat, and it is very pleasing to see such a boat built, as most of the cruising is now done in steam yachts and the few schooners that are built tend toward the racing type to the extent that they are rather poor sea boats. Endymion is of composite construction with steel frames and yellow pine planking. Her dimensions are : Length on water line, 100 feet; over all, 130 feet; beam, 24 feet; and an extreme draught of 14 feet.

In looking over the design of the boat probably the first thing noticed is the return from the full spoon bow to the clipper stem of the older boats. This change is without doubt a wise one, as the boat is designed for off shore cruising and to be able to make the trip around the Horn, and it is certain that this is the far better bow in a seaway. The after overhang is rather long but not extreme, and gives a very handsome appearance.

Under water she is very clean-lined, and yet she has a full midship section and a generous displacement, and is sure to give a good accunt of herself in a hard chance. She has the ordinary schooner rig, with small topsails and pole bowsprit, but carries a yard for a square sail on her foremast All her deck fittings companions, skylight, etc., and also her planksheers and rails are of teak, and give her a very handsome and shipshape appearance on deck.

Her cabin is extremely well arranged, and has five owners' staterooms, two large bathrooms, chart room, main saloon full width of ship and 14 feet long, four officers' mess room, and a forecastle with berths for 12 men.

From the fact that she has in hold an ice box to carry three tons of of ice, large store room space and water tanks with a capacity of three thousand gallons one can judge how well-equipped she is for long cruises.

Endymion was built at Lawley's,......................Boring Schpeeel.

After leaving her builders hands Endymion came to Erie Basin, where she fitted out, leaving there in January for a long cruise, her first stopping place being the Bermudas. C.D.M.

Incidently she made record time over to the Bermudas.

Hopefully some will find this as interesting as i did.
 
Douggto said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone is interested or not but i thought i'd post all the same as none of my friends are interested :o.
Click to expand...

LOL. Don't worry, that is what we are here for. Welcome to the forum, friend.

R
 
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Endymion

Hi Guys,

I have had a bit of a breakthrough. I have located the original Plans for Endymion and am hoping to have copies sent to me. :D
 
I found a sail plan for Endymion in The Golden Age of Yachting By L. Francis Herreshoff. She also gets a few mentions, but nothing major I don't think. I only got to browse the book in the shop and couldn't afford it. However, it's still a very good looking book and lots of very interesting and rare pictures in it, such as pictures of the damage on Satanita and Valkyrie II after they collided on the Clyde in the 1890's. Interesting stuff.

Anyway, seems like you've struck gold almost, though still no photograph. Good luck.
 
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