Vigilant
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas Tech University Libraries
Abstract
Ship Name: Vigilant; Sailed: 1920-1946; Type: Wood 5-masted schooner; Built by: Hoquiam, Washington by George F. Matthews of Matthews shipbuilding Co., successors to Hitchins and Joyce; Dimensions: 241.9' x 44' x 29'; Tonnage: 1603 tons.
Description
Vigilant came not only late to the sail trade, but stayed late. While there were still ships being launched in the early 1920s, a result of the wartime shipping boom, most had short lives. Vigilant was the exception. Vigilant and another 4-masted schooner, Commodore, achieved local notoriety when they would “race” between Honolulu and Puget Sound in the twenties and thirties. Vigilant was generally considered the faster of the two, but the whole idea of sailing ships racing made too much good copy to not be repeated. In addition, there are many photographs of these two ships because the schooners worked so long into the twentieth century.
Vigilant was a lumber schooner and remained in that trade throughout its career. Vigilant was an up-to-date sailer with steam winches, stockless anchors, and large carrying capacity. The square yard across its foremast is another characteristic of many latter-day west coast schooners. The photograph, 30c, obviously taken from an airplane, may be of Vigilant in Lake Union. The last photograph, 30d, shows to what depths old ships can sink—a pirates’ picnic.
Vigilant hauled lumber up and down the Pacific coast and to Hawaii for U.S. owners (E. K. Wood Lumber Company) until 1940. During this time Vigilant was captained by Matt Peasley notable as the “Cappy Ricks” of Peter B. Kyne’s sea tales. In 1940 Vigilant came under Canadian ownership and was renamed City of Alberni. In 1946, City of Alberni burned.
Rights
Availability
Unrestricted.
Keywords
Merchant Ships, Ships, Vigilant (Ship)