Wyoming on the High Seas

Wyoming, being a landlocked state, seldom has anything much to do with either coast. It is over 1000 miles to the West Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, and over 2000 miles to the9 east coast. So why did Wyoming have a ship named after her? Here is her story.

In 1894, the Percy and Small Shipyard in Bath, Maine, wanted to build huge wooden cargo ships, but needed financing. They sought investors from the Western states, including Bryant Butler Brooks, Governor of Wyoming from 1909-1911. Brook invested in the shipyard, in 1907, the “Wyoming”, was ready to launch.

Wyoming Tribune (Cheyenne), November 29, 1909 – Will Governor’s Daughter Christen Ship? Reported at Bath, Maine The Daughter of Governor Brooks will Christen Six Masted Schooner “Wyoming” – Special to The Tribune. Bath Main, Nov. 29 – It is reported here that one of the daughters of B.B. Brooks of Wyoming will christen the world’s greatest schooner. the six-masted schooner, “Wyoming,” from a shipyard here on December 14. This is the largest wooden vessel ever built in this country, and the largest sailing vessel of American registry. Her official measurements give her a gross tonnage of 3,730, thus placing her ahead of the schooner William L. Douglas the present title holder with a gross tonnage of 3,7808. The Wyoming is 350 foot overall, 329.5 feet knell, and 30.4 feet deep.

Ed – From inquiry at the governor’s office in this city, it has been learned that the launching of the Wyoming has not taken up with that office, although arrangements might have been made with Governor Brooks, who is now in the east.

The Lusk Herald, March 3, 1910 – “Wyoming” Becoming Popular. Wyoming occupied the spotlight in Atlantic shipping circles this week by the publication of pictures and descriptions of the immense sailing schooner “Wyoming.”

She loaded her maiden cargo of coal from Baltimore for Boston, and the newspapers of Baltimore gave the event prominent space. Captain Angus McLeod in command of the schooner, will endeavor to make a record run to the Massachusetts port.

The “Wyoming” enjoys the distinction of being the largest wooden vessel afloat and one of the largest sailing ships in the world. Her maiden cargo consisted of 5,822 tons of soft coal. Local shipping men are unanimous in saying that the boat is a fine specimen of the shipbuilder’s art and a splendid vessel in every particular. She has a gross register of 3,730 tons or 306 tons more than the big six-masted steel schooner, Edward B. Winslow, which, until the launching of the Wyoming, was the largest sailing vessel afloat.

The Wyoming cost about $200,001, is 392 feet, 3 inches long, 50 foot beam and a depth of hold of thirty feet. She has three decks with five discharging hatches. A telephone system connects the mastery office with that of every officer, and every labor-saying device known to modern ship building has been installed.

This from Wyoming Tribune (Cheyenne), December 21, 1909

Christens Ship With Flowers. The Boston Globe gives the following account of the christening of the schooner “Wyoming” by Miss Lena Brooks, under heavy headlines which read, ”Flowers Christen Big ship. Wyoming Governor’s Daughter Spurns Wine.“

Bath Me, Dec. 16.— Flowers were scattered over the bow of the six-masted schooner Wyoming today by Miss Lena Brooks, the sponsor, instead of the ceremonial of shattering a bottle of wine to christen the vessel, the daughter of the governor of Wyoming officiated, not only in an original manner, but named the largest wooden sailing vessel in the world. Skippers of old-time “wlndjammers” would have marveled not only at the size of the leviathan but at the luxuries witch which such a modern schooner is equipped.

This big wooden sailing craft has all the modern luxuries of a modern house, telephone, steam heat, a bath room with open plumbing, and hot and cold water. All it lacks to be classed with apartment houses is a fancy entryway and uniformed hall service.

Many States Honored. Although Maine sends the Wyoming to sea, many far off sections contributed to built this giant. Nearly 700 tons of oak were brought from Virginia for the keel and hull, and 1,250,000 feet of hard pine from the south from the south for the ceiling and planking.

From the state of Washington came the Oregon pine masts, 124 feet long, and topmasts 62 feel long. The ship’s hull is crisscrossed with straps of iron which would do much to prevent her going to pieces. There are five deck hatches and the distance to the bottom of the hold is 30 feet.

The Wyoming, which is named for the western state, cost $190,000, and is owned principally by her builders, Percy & Small, although western capitalists are interested in the vessel. Captain Angus McLeod of West Somervillle, Mass., will command the Wyoming, and she probably will sail inside of a week for a southern port to take on a coal cargo. She was built for the coal carrying trade and has a capacity of about 6,000 tons. The Wyoming will hail from Bath.

The Wyoming came to a tragic end on March 11, 1924. The huge ship left Norfolk, Virginia, bound for Canada, loaded with 5,000 tons of coal. A nor’easter storm hit off the coast of Massachusetts, and in the storm and the heavy seas the Wyoming snapped in the middle and sank. The 14 crew members were lost in the wreck.

Wyoming Semi-Weekly Tribune, December 21, 1909

The Wyoming wasn’t the first ship to make history in Wyoming. One famous ship is the ‘Ship of Death’, the ghost ship that is said to appear on the Platte River near Guernsey. According to the Legends of America website, the ship was first seen in 1862 by a trapper. It rises out of a strange mist, which quickly becomes a heavy fog. The sails and masts are covered with frost. There is a corpse on the deck surrounded by the crew, also covered in frost. When the corpse is reveled, the person is known to the witness, and dies within hours of the sighting of the ship.

And other ships were named after our state. This from The Daily Enterprise, January 28, 1911 – The Wyoming Battleship To Be Launched In 90 Days – In calling attention to the launching of the United States battleship Wyoming, one of the latest models and largest fighting ships in the world, and wishing to show their appreciation of the honor of having the name of the state bestowed upon the craft which is to glide into the waters for the first time within s short time. Governor Joseph M. Carey, Wednesday, sent a communication to both branches of the state legislature a copy of which is as follows: State of Wyoming. Executive Department, Cheyenne, Joseph M. Carey, governor. To the Honorable President and the Members of the Senate: Within ninety days there will be launched at Cramp’s ship yards in Philadelphia a great warship, second to none that has ever been constructed on this continent. This warship will be equipped in the best possible way and all told will coat $12,000.000 She will be christened “Wyoming”- a name that has become very dear to the people living in this state. Nearly one hundred years before the territory of Wyoming was given its name, Wyoming, as a name, was made conspicuous by the terrible massacre by Indians of pioneer American who had settled in the Wyoming valley of Pennsylvania, which history tells us was directed by the English. This event stamped the name “Wyoming” Indelibly upon the American mind.

Before the civil war there were constructed sister warships, which were then considered great and formidable. One of these ships was called the Kearsarge and the other the “Wyoming.” Each of them became famous by the successful sea battles in which they were engaged; the “Kearsarge” by the destruction of the rebel privateer “Alabama,” in the sea opposite Cherbourg. France: and the “Wyoming” by the great battle in the Sea of Japan- a successful one— with her twenty-six guns arrayed against the forty-eight guns of the Japanese pirates. When the organization of a new territory was being considered in congress, Hon. Simon Cameron, a Unit ed Stales senator from Pennsylvania, secretary of war in Lincoln’s cabinet, and a minister plenipotentiary to Russia. asked that the name “Wyoming” be given to the territory, because of his fondness for the people who lived in the Wyoming valley. It will be remembered by you that a dozen years ago a monitor was built by the United States and named for this state. This did not suit the ambitious of our representatives in congress, and after a somewhat protracted siege, it was agreed that the monitor’s name should be changed from “Wyoming” to Cheyenne in order that one of the great battleships then contemplated might be christened “Wyoming.”

Thus much desired result is now about to be consummated in the launching of a great warship which will be christened “Wyoming ” It has been customary for the states and cities after which American battleships have been named to contribute some memorial slowing their appreciation of the honor. I am informed that a fund was raised, which is still on deposit in a bank, largely through the solicitation’s entertainments. etc. made and given by the women of the state, which now amounts to $1,115, but because of the prospective change in name it was not applied to that purpose, so there appears to be two debts — one for the “Cheyenne” name and the other for the “Wyoming” name. These memorials are usually in the shape of a silver set. For the young state of Wyoming to be extravagant would not be in good taste; to do nothing would show a lack of appreciation.

Through the courtesy of Senator Francis E Warren, I have been furnished with correspondence which has taken place between himself, the president of the United States and the navy department, which shows the steps taken and leading up to the expected christening of the great warship. It is now a question before this legislature to say what they are willing to do in this matter, so far as raising the money to purchase the appropriate silver and to bear the expense which will be incidental to a Wyoming woman christening the the ship. Whether it is better to make a direct appropriation or to appoint committees in all sections of the state, who shall be authorized to request and solicit money I leave to the legislature to decide. Very truly yours. Joseph M. Carey Governor, Cheyenne, Wyo Jan 25,1911.

Carbon County Journal, November 27, 1914

So, Wyoming has made its mark not only in the Rocky Mountain West, but also on the high seas.

(photos taken by Cynthia Vannoy at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth, England, 2000. Representative sailing ships)