CIRCLE LINE V.

Someone asked me about that boat back in '09. I didn't know about it, but since it was near Petersburg, KY, I figured Tom Schiffer might have some info. Sure enough, Tom had some details, and sent me this photo of the CELT yacht. I'll let him post the info on this!

The photo caption reads:
"Steam Yacht 'CELT'
Yr. Built: 1902 for J. Rodgers Maxwell - New York Millionaire.
Built by: Pusey & Jones Co., Wilmington DE."

Here is a link to a news article about CIRCLE LINE V.

Ship lends ghostly history to Paddlefest

Wesley

Steve, Frank: The CELT was taken over by the Navy in WWI and used for patrol service around Long Island, NY. It was loaned by the Navy to a, at one-time, local boy, Thomas Edison for some underwater research...some say sonar but that was a British invention. It eventually got to the Circle Line of New York where it served to take folks on cruises around Long Island. They are still in business. Robert Miller of Hamilton, I think, bought it and powered by a BIG outboard, sailed it up the Hudson, through the Erie Canal, Great Lakes and Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to here. Those who saw it then said it was a beautiful ship with a clipper bow. It was apparently abandoned in Taylors Creek in Boone County...across from Lawrenceburg. It is only about a hundred yards from the Ohio. It is easier accessed via road although I got close in MISSIE back in 2009. It is muddy, weedy, skeeter-infested venue in season. Coast Guard said it was derelict and anyone could claim it but I'm sure that Miller would take issue with that..he has it chained to a tree on his property. Miller owned a business called Alaskaug in Cincinnati, now apparently defunct. Miller gave me permission to enter or board it in 2008. Efforts to reach him since have failed. Steve, the photo you have came from Mike Fletcher aka Shantyboat Mike. It is a sad sight! There may be more info at the Boone County Historical Society where I deposited my info at that time. Bridget Striker of that place visited it with me back then. We did not go aboard and I do NOT recommend it. I could take you there. John Fryant and I talked about it at Rabbit Hash a few weeks ago but made no definite plans. Cap'n Walnut

Circle Line V in NY

Here is a photo of the boat in service in New York. Great lines!

Wesley

WoW, Wesley. Where did you get the photo? Strangely, it looks a lot larger in your photo than in Taylors Creek! Donno what her capacity was, but there's lotsa folks in sight. I wonder what her power was at that time? We missed a great day here to get in a last steam for the season in MISS BLUE. Anyway, thanks for the response. Cap'n Walnut

It does appear that she had some surgery that cut off that lovely pink stern of her early life. Perhaps this was done when the outboard motor, some of which can be seen in the photos of her rusting hulk, was placed on her tail.

It is interesting to note that she was steam when she came out in 1902.

Great Article !

Frank ,
What a great and insightful article ! What a shame to see her in such a deplorable condition !
Do you think that there is any chance at all that she could be salvaged ?
You would think that the present owner would donate her to some historical or civic organization that would eventually refurbish her ?
Just think of ALL the other boats that have passed into ruins and history because there was no one to give a d_m and to something to save this piece of living history !
Food for thought , and thanks for bringing it to our attention !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141

Frank X. Prudent;28216 wrote: Sitting in the Ohio River's backwaters in Boone County Kentucky across from Lawrenceburg, Indiana slowly rust the remains of the 1902 yacht CELT. During her life she had several owners and names. The last being CIRCLE LINE V, and was operated by The Circle Line in New York Harbor. How and why did she end up a creek in Boone County? Does anyone here know her story?

See YouTube - Broadcast Yourself and search for Cincinnati Ghost Ship and you'll see some videos of how she looked this past summer.

Ted Davisson;28229 wrote: Frank ,
What a great and insightful article ! What a shame to see her in such a deplorable condition !
Do you think that there is any chance at all that she could be salvaged ?
You would think that the present owner would donate her to some historical or civic organization that would eventually refurbish her ?
Just think of ALL the other boats that have passed into ruins and history because there was no one to give a d_m and to something to save this piece of living history !
Food for thought , and thanks for bringing it to our attention !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141

I agree with you 100% and then some. Americans have turned their back on its Merchant Marine for the most part and don't give that, "d_m," you mentioned. Honestly, the American Merchant Marine does all of its work in the open but most of it goes unseen by this country's population.

It was not all that long ago when the then Republican, Fiscal Court Executive Judge of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Rebecca Jackson was considering the end of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE's operation, the DELTA QUEEN sits under-used in Tennessee, the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN is now history, and the S.S. BADGER is caught in a political mess right now. Except for a few on this and similiar boards, most have no idea about any of the above. Yes, it is truly a shame. I don't think in the current political mind set that infects this country things will get better anytime soon, either. It's been said before on these pages support what we have now! Ride the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, NATCHEZ, CHAUTAUQUA BELLE, MINNIE HA HA, QUEEN OF SEATTLE, VIRGINIA V, BADGER, and AMERICAN QUEEN when you can, and then tell your friends how wonderful and why these boats should be experienced!

As far as saving the rusted hulk of an old boat lying in the backwaters of Boone County, Kentucky, I doubt that a million dollars would make much of a dent in her. Let's start where we can truly make a difference.

Celt

After reading the post I searched and found more on youtube. There is a 8 part video of a person touring the general ship. There is not alot left of it. It is full of water and might still have a good hull. Equipment wise not much was shown or might be not much is left. The outboard motor is still there minus the prop. the title of the series is; Sachem "Ghost Ship" Part 1 as I said there are 8 parts all but 2 are short.

Front page story on the Circle Line boat on the front page of Sunday's Enquirer. More information than I had and I told the reporter to check this site also. I told him that a picture then (last Thursday) would not show much and sure enough, only the bow shows in their photo due to the high water...about 42 feet on the Cincinnati gauge at that time...less than ten feet shy of flood! He has more info about owner Miller too. Dunno how to get you a link. Cap'n Walnut

Do any of you know what years that the Circle LineV operated in New York? I think I rode on it in May or June of 1955 during my high school class senior trip to NYC. I distinctly remember that the Circle Line boat we rode on had a clipper bow. However, I don't know if they had any other boats like that at the time.