Wasp?

[Adam]

She's listed as Destroyed - scuttled in Boston Harbor....I've checked the web - can't find the wreck - does anyone know where she lies??? anyone got coordinates?

[Steve]

Not I.  That would be interesting ... diving on a Herreshoff wreck

[Adam]

My thought if i can find her 

[HerreshoffHistory]

"20 LEE STREET MARBLEHEAD MASS Dear Father: April 12, 1927. {1927/04/12} ... The hull of the WASP is now sunk near one of the briges that I go over by automobile when going to Boston. She is lying on her side and when the tide is low is about a third out of the water. I believe she has been sunk here four or five years and it is very interesting to note that she is still true and fair. Her shear looks perfect and as the water level now cuts across her like a buttock line the curves down through her bilge are absolutely fair. Her construction and scantlings must have been just about right for her weight; in fact it seems to me that she held her shape better than some other more recent boats. " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 3: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

Note, however, that L. Francis was wrong: "... This year [1910] will long be remembered as one when many of the most famous racing yachts of these waters were broken up. Vigilant [#437s] and Volunteer [designed by Burgess], two cup defenders; Gloriana [#411s] and Wasp [#414s], two of the best of the 46-footers, and several others have gone to the junk heap or gone into trade, and the last to disappear is Jubilee, which was built for Gen. Charles E. Paine for cup honors in 1893. ..." (Source: Anon. "Some News and a Little Gossip." Forest and Stream, December 3, 1910, p. 903.)

[Adam]

So are you saying wasp was broken up in '10, and that the hull LFH was seeing was not WASP?

Also, are the reports of her being purposely sunk in Boston Harbor not true then - with this "rumor" coming from LFH's belief?

[Adam]

I'm starting to think that LFH was correct and Forest and Stream wrong... Received this from a Boston Dive guy....

Adam,

Just saw your postings on the search for the Wasp.  In the twenties there were numerous wrecks along the East Boston side of the Chelsea Creek.  Most from old photos are big schooners,  however the Marginal St Bridge would have been a main route from Marblehead to the East Boston ferries.

This email has been sent from Paul F. McCarthy

[Steve]

The Forest and Stream article says that in 1910 several yachts "have gone to the junk heap or gone into trade".  It is hard to tell from this which were broken up and which were sold elsewhere.  LFH is quite specific and sure about what he saw, making me believe that he was correct as well.  Perhaps WASP was one of the ones that "went into trade".

[HerreshoffHistory]

"The cutter Wasp, built by Herreshoff in 1892 for Archibald Rogers, and which defeated Gloriana, the sensational yacht of the previous year, may be broken up soon. She has had her lead keel removed, and unless some one wants a good craft for little money, she will be broken up. Wasp raced in the old 46ft. class and she won many races. She was 72ft. over all, 45ft. 6in. on the waterline, 13ft. beam and 10ft. 8in. draft. She was of composite build. Mr. Rogers raced her very successfully in her first year, winning among other prizes the Goelet cup, and then she was sold to H. F. and R. L. Lippitt, and in the three years they owned her, she won thirty races and several valuable cups. H. W. Harris purchased the yacht in 1899, and then for two years she flew the flag of Cleveland H. Dodge. In 1902 she went around the Cape to Marblehead, having been purchased by Gordon Dexter, and she was sold last year to James Young, who has just had the lead keel removed." (Source: Anon. "Wasp May be Broken Up." Forest and Stream, November 7, 1908, p. 744.)

"[In 1892] Herreshoff turned out Wasp for Archibald Rogers, and Wasp defeated Gloriana as easily as she had defeated the others. ... Of all that fine class of racing yachts, [the Burgess-designed] Oweene and Sayonara are the only ones left in active use. ... Others, including Wasp, have gone to the junk heap." (Source: Anon. "End of Gloriana." Forest and Stream, November 19, 1910, p. 822.)

[Adam]

Thanks HH... but something just isn't right - seems to me LFH would have been well aware that she was broken up - certainly aware of the Forest and Stream articles. Yet his writing to NGH was very distinct. Curious, was there a response from NGH?

OK, lets say LFH was wrong - seems to me it would be unlikely that he would mistake another non-Herreshoff built hull for Wasp. So for arguments sake - lets say it is not WASP. It is, however, a Herreshoff. It would need to be similar in size - and layout. So what hull ?

Altair maybe?

[HerreshoffHistory]

"Coconut Grove. N. G. Herreshoff Bristol, R. I. April 29 1927 {1927/04/29} Dear Francis, ... I was very interested to hear about 'Wasp' for I supposed she had entirely disappeared years ago." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 3: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

Nat's polite way of saying "Sorry, son, you must be wrong"?