USCGC ''Seneca'', or before 1915 USRC ''Seneca'', was a
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
cutter built and commissioned as a "derelict destroyer" with the specific mission of locating and then destroying abandoned shipwrecks that were still afloat and were a menace to navigation. She was designed with excellent sea-keeping qualities, a long cruising range, good towing capabilities, and by necessity the capacity to store a large amount of
munitions
Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other weap ...
.
[Larzelere, p 12] She was one of five Coast Guard cutters serving with the U.S. Navy in European waters during World War I.
[Larzelere, p 72]
Construction
''Seneca'' was built as Revenue Cutter 17 by
Newport News Shipbuilding
Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the largest industrial employer in Virginia, and sole designer, builder and refueler of United States Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy ...
, hull number 85 at
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News () is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the 5th most populous city in Virginia and 140th most populous city in the Uni ...
at a cost of 244,500 and designed specifically to be used as a derelict destroyer for the Atlantic coast.
[Record of Movements, p 385] Floating wrecks, derelicts, were a common menace with international discussions and agreements concerning their elimination and some special cruises made to locate and destroy them. The United States Congress appropriated $250,000 for a vessel to be dedicated exclusively as a "derelict destroyer" equipped and crewed to most effectively eliminate the menace to navigation. Arrangements for vessels spotting derelicts to report them by wireless to the destroyer were planned. As of 1912 the United States was the first nation providing such specialized vessels. As the ship entered service hopes were expressed that her success would inspire other nations to join with such vessels.
She was powered by a
triple-expansion steam engine
A compound steam engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.
A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure ''(HP)'' cylinder, then having given up he ...
with two
Scotch boilers rated at . ''Seneca'' was fit with four 6-pounder rapid-fire guns and an unusually large ammunition magazine for the express purpose of destroying floating shipwrecks.
Prewar service
''Seneca'' was accepted by the government on 26 June 1908 and was commissioned by the
Revenue Cutter Service
)
, colors=
, colors_label=
, march=
, mascot=
, equipment=
, equipment_label=
, battles=
, anniversaries=4 August
, decorations=
, battle_honours=
, battle_honours_label=
, disbanded=28 January 1915
, flying_hours=
, website=
, commander1=
, co ...
at the
Revenue Cutter Service Depot at
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, on 6 November of that year. On 8 November 1908 she proceeded to
Tompkinsville, New York
Tompkinsville is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City. Named for Daniel D. Tompkins, sixth Vice President of the United States (1817-1825), the neighborhood sits on the island's eastern shore, along the waterfront facing U ...
, to assume her principal mission as the
derelict destroyer for the Atlantic coast.
[Larzelere, p 37] Her cruising district included the Atlantic Ocean to the eastward of the United States bounded by a line from
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 in April 2020. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, the 104th-largest metropol ...
, to
Sable Island, Nova Scotia
Sable Island (french: île de Sable, literally "island of sand") is a small Canadian island situated southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about southeast of the closest point of mainland Nova Scotia in the North Atlantic Ocean. The island i ...
, thence to the
Bermuda Islands
)
, anthem = "God Save the King"
, song_type = National song
, song = "Hail to Bermuda"
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, mapsize2 =
, map_caption2 =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name =
, es ...
, and then to
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
.
[King, p 126]
On 29 November she destroyed her first derelict, a wreck off
Hog Island, and then returned to Tompkinsville. On 23 January 1909 ''Seneca'' assisted
USRC ''Gresham'' in the rescue of the crew of the
White Star Line
The White Star Line was a British shipping company. Founded out of the remains of a defunct packet company, it gradually rose up to become one of the most prominent shipping lines in the world, providing passenger and cargo services between t ...
SS ''Republic'' after a collision with the
Lloyd Italiano
Lloyd, Lloyd's, or Lloyds may refer to:
People
* Lloyd (name), a variation of the Welsh word ' or ', which means "grey" or "brown"
** List of people with given name Lloyd
** List of people with surname Lloyd
* Lloyd (singer) (born 1986), American ...
liner
SS ''Florida'' southeast of
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket () is an island about south from Cape Cod. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and County of Nantucket, a combined county/town government that is part of the U.S. state of Massachuse ...
. She assisted ''Gresham'' with the tow in very threatening weather but ultimately ''Republic'' sank. ''Seneca'' took the crew to New York City.
[Evans, pp 184–186] In February the cutter visited
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
and in June visited
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
. By 29 May 1909 ''Seneca'' had destroyed eleven good sized obstructions. On 21 September she was in New York for the
Hudson–Fulton Celebration
The Hudson–Fulton Celebration from September 25 to October 9, 1909 in New York and New Jersey was an elaborate commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River and the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton's ...
. On 17 May 1910 ''Seneca'' visited the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
at
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...
, and on 28 June she patrolled the
Harvard–Yale Regatta
The Harvard–Yale Regatta or Yale-Harvard Boat Race (often abbreviated The Race) is an annual rowing race between the men's heavyweight rowing crews of Harvard University and Yale University. First contested in 1852, it has been held annually s ...
at
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decades ...
. In June 1911, she escorted the presidential yacht , which had President
William Taft
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pre ...
and his party on board, from
Manhattan Beach to
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state.
Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...
.
On 23 May 1912, she was at Philadelphia representing the Revenue Cutter Service at the convention of
Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses. On 29 June she patrolled the course of the
Intercollegiate Rowing Association
The Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) governs intercollegiate rowing between varsity men's heavyweight, men's lightweight, and women's lightweight rowing programs across the United States, while the NCAA fulfills this role for women's ope ...
at
Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie ( ), officially the City of Poughkeepsie, separate from the Town of Poughkeepsie around it) is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It is the county seat of Dutchess County, with a 2020 census population of 31,577. Poughkeepsi ...
. During 4–6 September ''Seneca'' was at New London for the Fifth Convention of Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association. From 12 to 15 October, she patrolled the Navy Mobilization at New York City. On 2 September she patrolled the
British International Trophy races at
Huntington, Long Island
Huntington is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located within the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 18,406 at the 2010 census. The hamlet serves as ...
. During the winter of 1912–1913 she took the place of on winter cruising.
First International Ice Patrol
On 29 March 1913, ''Seneca'' was assigned to the
International Ice Patrol
The International Ice Patrol is an organization with the purpose of monitoring the presence of icebergs in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and reporting their movements for safety purposes. It is operated by United States Coast Guard but is fund ...
.
[King, p 146] The disaster of 14 April 1912, and the loss of 1,517 lives, raised a universal demand for the patrol of the ice zone. Two U.S. Navy scout cruisers, and , had performed this patrol for the remainder of the 1912 ice season. The duty was then turned over in 1913 to the Revenue Cutter Service starting with the ''Seneca'' and the
USRC ''Miami''.
[King, p 146][Kroll, p 97] The two cutters alternated patrols that were based out of
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
.
[Kroll, p 99]
Rescue of ''Columbia'' survivors
On 16 September 1913 she towed the ''Lottie Russell'', a derelict, into Halifax.
[Record of Movements, p 386] On 12 April 1914, while on ice patrol, ''Seneca'' rescued four survivors from a
lifeboat
Lifeboat may refer to:
Rescue vessels
* Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape
* Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues
* Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen
A ...
which had been drifting in the North Atlantic for ten days. Originally 14 survivors of the British freighter ''Columbian'' had put to sea in this boat, but ten had died of hunger, thirst, and exposure. On 5 July 1914 she proceeded to
Labrador
, nickname = "The Big Land"
, etymology =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Canada
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 ...
to observe and investigate conditions governing the origins of the ice flows.
On 10 August 1914 she was ordered to cooperate with the in the enforcement of the neutrality of the United States after the outbreak of war on the European continent. In the winter of 1914–1915 she was again on winter cruising from
Gay Head
Aquinnah ( wam, Âhqunah) is a town located on the western end of Martha's Vineyard island, Massachusetts. From 1870 to 1997, the town was incorporated as Gay Head. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 439. Aquinnah is known for its beaut ...
to the
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
breakwater.
Transfer to the newly formed U.S. Coast Guard
When the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the
United States Life-Saving Service
The United States Life-Saving ServiceDespite the lack of hyphen in its insignia, the agency itself is hyphenated in government documents including: and was a United States government agency that grew out of private and local humanitarian effort ...
to form the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
on 28 January 1915, she became known as USCGC ''Seneca'', a
United States Coast Guard cutter
United States Coast Guard Cutter is the term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. They are or greater in length and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. They carry the ship prefix USCGC.
Histor ...
.
["U.S. Coast Guard General Order No. 1", Historic Documents & Publications, U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office] After winter cruising, she conducted another ice patrol in 1915. She again conducted a winter cruise in the winter of 1915–1916 and then an ice patrol in the spring of 1916. On 13–14 September 1916 the crew participated in the Marine Parade at Philadelphia. The winter of 1916–1917 was her last winter cruise before the war.
World War I
The United States declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917 and ''Seneca'' and her crew, along with the rest of the Coast Guard, were transferred to the
Navy Department Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to:
* United States Department of the Navy,
* Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), in the United Kingdom, 1964-1997
* Confederate States Department of the Navy, 1861-1865
* Department of the Na ...
. A battery of four guns were installed at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a semicircular bend ...
. The cutter was assigned to the Atlantic Patrol Fleet, Squadron Four, with headquarters at Key West, Florida. She arrived there on 22 May, and was assigned the duty to search the waters of Cuba and the Bahama Islands for enemy submarines.
[Larzelere, p 38] On 18 July she was reassigned to Seventh Naval District headquartered at
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
and assumed coastal patrol duties.
[Larzelere, p 38]
Refit
''Seneca'' was then selected for convoy duty overseas along with five other larger Coast Guard cutters. She was overhauled and refitted with depth charge equipment at the
Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company
The Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company was a major late 19th/early 20th century ship repair and conversion facility located in New York City. Begun in the 1880s as a small shipsmithing business known as the Morse Iron Works, the company grew to ...
shipyard in New York.
[Kroll, p 115] Captain J. H. Brown was detached and Captain William J. Wheeler assumed command before the ship left the United States in the latter part of August.
[Larzelere, p 38]
Gibraltar convoy escort
She arrived at
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
on 4 September 1917 and was assigned to Squadron Two of the Patrol Forces of the Atlantic Fleet. She began escorting convoys from Gibraltar to
Tangiers
Tangier ( ; ; ar, طنجة, Ṭanja) is a city in northwestern Morocco. It is on the Moroccan coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. The town is the capit ...
and other nearby points.
[Kroll, p 115] She escorted six of these convoys and sighted one enemy submarine on 2 October. On 19 October she escorted her first convoy to England, being the lone escort of eleven merchant ships to
Pembroke, Wales
Pembroke ( ; cy, Penfro ) is both a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 7,552. The names of both the town and the county (of which the county town is Haverfordwest) have a common origin; both are derived from the C ...
, where she arrived on 29 October. During this convoy two of the merchant vessels collided, and one, ''Usher'', was sunk.
[Larzelere, p 54] On 3 November she escorted 14 ships back to Gibraltar, arriving the 11th. On 26 November a submarine was sighted in the moonlight about distant. ''Seneca'' fired two shots, forcing the submarine to submerge.
On 17 February 1918, lookouts sighted another submarine at astern. ''Seneca'' fired one shot, but owing to the darkness of the night, was unable to determine the results. On 4 March, one of the ships in ''Seneca''s convoy was torpedoed and sunk, but the submarine was not sighted. On the 22nd, new and improved
depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...
releasing gear was installed on the cutter.
Rescue of ''Cowslip'' survivors
Early in the morning of 25 March the men on ''Seneca'' heard a loud explosion within their convoy, and shortly afterward saw distress rockets in the air. They found the British ship ''Cowslip'' had been torpedoed and was sinking. Immediately a boat was put over with Third Lieutenant F. W. Brown in charge. They soon returned with 15 of ''Cowslip''
's men, along with one of ''Cowslip''
's boats with 19 others. Boatswain P. W. Patterson and a fresh boat crew took ''Cowslip''
's boat back, while Lieutenant Brown returned with ''Seneca''
's boat. Patterson's boat took 20 survivors on board and towed seven others in a small dinghy. Brown's boat rescued the last 19 on board the sinking vessel. Only five officers and one enlisted man were lost, and they had been killed in the explosion. This rescue was beyond the call of ''Seneca''
's duty as the escort vessels were to attack enemy submarines, but it was understood that when a ship was torpedoed the escorts were not expected to expose themselves to a similar fate by stopping to rescue the survivors. However, Captain Wheeler was commended for taking what was considered a "justifiable risk".
Torpedo near misses
On 29 April 1918 ''Seneca'' while escorting a convoy near
St. Vincent
Saint Vincent may refer to:
People Saints
* Vincent of Saragossa (died 304), a.k.a. Vincent the Deacon, deacon and martyr
* Saint Vincenca, 3rd century Roman martyress, whose relics are in Blato, Croatia
* Vincent, Orontius, and Victor (died 305) ...
had one torpedo cross her
bow ahead of her bow and during the avoidance maneuver for that torpedo, a second torpedo passed under her
stern
The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Ori ...
, apparently ''Seneca'' being too close to the attacker for the torpedo to arm.
[Larzelere, p 66] On 19 May ''Seneca'' joined up with what would be her 20th convoy at
Falmouth, England
Falmouth ( ; kw, Aberfala) is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,797 (2011 census).
Etymology
The name Falmouth is of English or ...
. On the 20th she dropped a depth charge over a suspicious oil spot, whereupon a very heavy oil slick came to the surface.
On her next convoy ''Seneca'' sighted a submarine on 8 June. After firing a torpedo at the cutter that passed close the ''Senecas bow, the submarine submerged. ''Seneca'' attacked with depth charges and may have sunk the submarine, but they could not remain in the area to investigate further.
Rescue of ''Queen'' survivors
On 25 June, while escorting 29 merchant ships to Gibraltar, ''Seneca''
's men heard a terrific explosion, and observing the steamer ''Queen'' sinking, they drove ''Seneca'' at full speed to the rescue. So badly was the ''Queen'' hit that within five minutes of the explosion she was completely out of sight under the water, taking 25 of her men with her, including the commodore of the convoy. Twenty-seven survivors were clinging to the small boats and pieces of floating wreckage. ''Seneca''
's No. 1 lifeboat with Third Lieutenant F. W. Brown in charge, was lowered to pick them up. All 27 were safely on board ''Seneca'' within 40 minutes. For the remainder of the convoy's run, Captain Wheeler assumed command.
Submarine false alarm
On her next convoy, the 23rd, she was escorting 25 ships to England when on 13 July one of the ships in the convoy sounded the submarine warning and hoisted a signal reading "submarine to starboard." ''Seneca'' immediately stood in that direction, dropping two depth charges on the flank of the convoy as a precautionary measure, and stood full speed in the direction of the submarine some off. ''Seneca'' then began firing, and expended 28 rounds. Upon closer approach the submarine proved to be a dead whale, floating on its side and bearing a striking resemblance to the
conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer in charge can conn the vessel, controlling movements of the ship by giving orders to those responsible for the ship's engine, rudder, lines, and gro ...
of a submarine. Four holes in the carcass testified to the accuracy of the ''Seneca''s guns.
Drama of the ''Wellington'' rescue
The next convoy the ''Seneca'' escorted arrived at Gibraltar 15 August and the following convoy back to England arrived 2 September. The 26th convoy for ''Seneca'', OM-99 (Outbound–Milford Haven), consisted of 21 ships bound for Gibraltar.
[Larzelere, p 25] On 16 September at 11:30 hours the steamship ''Wellington'', a ship in convoy OM-99, was torpedoed and ''Seneca'' proceeded at full speed to her assistance. At 11:31 a submarine was sighted a few hundred yards from ''Wellington''. ''Seneca''s crew fired three shots at the submarine before it submerged. Depth charges were dropped and additional shots fired to keep it from resurfacing.
[Larzelere, p 26]
''Wellington'' was in bad condition, having been torpedoed in the
forepeak. Her master believed she would stay afloat, but all but eleven of his men refused to remain on board. '' Seneca'' First Lieutenant F. W. Brown at once volunteered to assist ''Wellington''s master, and almost the entire crew of ''Seneca'' wanted to go with him. Nineteen of these ''Seneca'' volunteers were selected to go with Lieutenant Brown to the ''Wellington'', while eleven of the 42 men in ''Wellington''s crew also remained with the master. Lieutenant Brown was to be in charge of the ship, but the master was to navigate her into the nearest port which was
Brest, France
Brest (; ) is a port city in the Finistère department, Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French mi ...
.
At 12:35 ''Seneca'' left ''Wellington'' and rejoined the convoy. was on her way to assist ''Wellington'', expecting to reach her by 17:00. Arriving aboard ''Wellington'', Lieutenant Brown posted lookouts, broke out ammunition and started drilling a gun crew, for they were still in sub-infested waters, and on a stricken ship carrying valuable cargo to the allies. Repairs were made below decks and by 12:50 hours the ship began to move ahead.
[Larzelere, p 27] By 14:10 the speed was increased until they were making . The ship was taking water in the number 2
hold
Hold may refer to:
Physical spaces
* Hold (ship), interior cargo space
* Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane
* Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Hold (musical term), a pause, also called a Fermat ...
, but by driving the pumps, the crew held it to a level of . At 18:46 the ship was down by the head, and although Lieutenant Brown was able to stop her and bring her head back up long enough to regain his course, her head went down again and her engines were helpless.
A storm had come up and the seas had grown very heavy, with waves crashing over the bow. There was only one lifeboat on ''Wellington'' and Lieutenant Brown mustered all the men abreast of this except for the radio operator and three men on the pumps. It was his intention to remain with these four until all hope of saving the ship was gone, the other men meanwhile standing by in the lifeboat. One ''Seneca'' man and seven ''Wellington'' men were lowered with the boat, the others to slide down the falls into the boat as soon as it reached the water. Fearful lest the boat be smashed against the ship by the heavy seas, one of ''Wellington''s men chopped the
painter
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
and the lifeboat with its eight men drifted away rapidly. They tried to row back, but inexperienced in a pulling boat, they were no match for the heavy seas and strong current.
[Larzelere, p 30]
Lieutenant Brown was left stranded with 18 of his men and five of the ''Wellington'' men. He set the men to constructing life-rafts. The bow continued settling. The radio operator was in contact with ''Warrington'' and continued sending position reports. Rockets were fired from ''Wellington'', and at 14:30 on the 17th answering rockets from ''Warrington'' were seen off the port bow. ''Wellington'' listed rapidly and Lieutenant Brown gave the order to abandon ship. He continued signaling with a hand flashlight to ''Warrington'' about away as the ship's
keel
The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
turned to a sixty degree angle. Then her boilers exploded and the vessel rose up for her final plunge. Lieutenant Brown jumped and swam clear, searching about for something to which he could cling.
Responding to cries for help he swam about, and finding men clinging to planks advised them to keep their mouths closed to keep out the sea water. Next he swam to some calcium lights and extinguished them so they would not lure his men away from their planks. After about three and a half hours in the water Brown was picked up in an unconscious state. From his long exposure he developed pneumonia. Eight others of ''Seneca''s crew were picked up from the water, but one died shortly afterward. In all, 11 ''Seneca'' and five ''Wellington'' men perished.
[Larzelere, pp 32–33]
The following awards were made by the Navy: To Acting Machinist William L. Boyce, posthumously: the
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 and is presented to sailors and Marines to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritoriou ...
and citation. To the following deceased members of the crew, posthumously, the
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
and citation: Water Tender William H. Best; Cook Russell Elan; Gunner's Mate Second Class P. L. Marvelle (USN); Boy First Class James J. Nevins; Coxswain Merton Stellenwarf; Water Tender R. H. Tingard, and Assistant Master at Arms August Zuleger, Coxswain Carl S. Newbury; Water Tender M. M. Ovesen; and Seaman William H. Prime.
The remaining living members of the rescue party were awarded the Navy Cross and citation: First Lieutenant F. W. Brown; Oiler Second Class George W. Christy; Seaman Raymond J. Gorman; Assistant Master at Arms D. E. Grimshaw; Electrician Second Class M. C. Mason; Seaman Anthony Orhelein; Coxswain James C. Osborn; Coxswain Jorge A. Pedersen; and Machinist First Class M. J. Ryan.
Rear Admiral Grant, senior British naval officer at Gibraltar, had this to say of the volunteers: "Lieutenant Brown and the gallant volunteers set an example worthy of the highest traditions of any Service or any Nation."
"Seldom in the annals of the sea has there been exhibited such self-abnegation, such cool courage and such unfailing diligence in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties. America is to be congratulated".
[Larzelere, p 33]
After the ''Wellington'' episode the ''Seneca'' escorted four other convoys, several times encountering submarines.
Wartime service summary
She was at Gibraltar on 11 November 1918 when the
Armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the La ...
was signed, ending World War I. ''Seneca''s wartime service included escorting 30 convoys consisting of about 580 ships.
Only four were lost, and from them 139 survivors were rescued. Twenty-one responses to submarines were made and only one of these proved to be false—the "dead whale" episode. The cutter had four close calls with torpedoes, and was believed to have sunk one submarine.
Postwar service
After the war ''Seneca'' remained at Gibraltar for several months, then returning to the United States via Algeria, France, and England. Several vessels in distress were assisted during this period. When ''Seneca'' was returned to the
United States Treasury Department
The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the Treasury, national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an United States federal executive departments, executive department. The departme ...
on 28 August 1919, she resumed her station at Tompkinsville. In the spring of 1920 she was back on ice patrol. On 14 July she patrolled the International Yacht Race at
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.
The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern en ...
. Again in 1921 and 1922 she was on ice patrol.
[Record of Movements, p 387]
Run aground and refitted
On 31 July 1922 a new set of guns were installed at the
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy.
The Yard currently serves as a ceremonial and administrativ ...
.
On 5 August she ran aground in the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augus ...
, off
Mathias Point, but suffered no serious casualty. After her ice patrol in the spring of 1923, she patrolled the Harvard–Yale Regatta at New London on 21 June. In July 1923, she was overhauled in Brooklyn and repainted at
Annapolis
Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
.
Seizure of rum runner
On 15 November 1923 the Commandant ordered the Coast Guard to seize the vessel ''Tamoka'' (ex-''Arethusa'') and arrest her crew. This vessel belonged to
William S. McCoy, notorious
rum-runner
Rum-running or bootlegging is the illegal business of smuggling alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law. Smuggling usually takes place to circumvent taxation or prohibition laws within a particular jurisdiction. The ter ...
, and had been hovering along the coast between Nassau, Bahamas and Canadian ports, peddling liquor. On 22 August she had fired upon a boat from Manhattan, attempting to board her.
At 1030 hours on the morning of 24 November ''Seneca'' hailed ''Tomoka'' in latitude 40° 21.6' North, longitude 73° 49.7' West and ordered her to heave to and be prepared to be boarded and examined. A
surfboat
A surfboat (or surf boat) is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.
...
with an armed boarding party in charge of Lieutenant L. W. Perkins was sent to go on board and take charge of the vessel. At first ''Tomoka'' broke out the British flag and cruised about so that the boarding party would not overtake her. ''Seneca'' called her gun crews to quarters, cast loose the number one gun, and then ordered ''Tomoka'' to permit the boat to board. The master then complied. At 12:00 the boarding officer reported that he was all right and requested the ''Seneca'' to go ahead and he would follow with ''Tomoka''. ''Seneca'' shaped a course for the
Ambrose Channel
Ambrose Channel is the only shipping channel in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey. The channel is considered to be part of Lower New York Bay and is located several miles off the coasts of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and Breezy Point, ...
lightship, but by 12:30 ''Tomoka'' had still not started to follow. Heading back for the rum-runner ''Seneca'' was met by her boarding party, which had been chased off ''Tomoka'' with a machinegun.
''Seneca'' opens fire
''Seneca'' then instructed ''Tomoka'' that she would be sunk by gunfire unless she proceeded toward New York City. The rum-runner started in that direction, but then suddenly started its engine, hoisted the
fore staysail and stood rapidly to eastward. ''Seneca'' gave chase and opened fire. The first shot was fired across the bow of the fleeing
schooner
A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...
, then the range was gradually decreased. After three warning shots, a fourth shot was fired to hit. The shell landed alongside a few feet from ''Tomoka'', and the schooner immediately stopped engines, hauled down the fore staysail and headed into the wind with her foresail idly flapping.
''Seneca'' mustered a force armed with rifles, called away a boat, and ordered the master to haul down his foresail. The crew of the schooner, without waiting for instructions from the master, immediately jumped to the sail and hauled it down. Boatswain I. E. Johannessen took an armed boarding party on board ''Tomoka'' and ordered the "rummy" crew below decks. Meanwhile, ''Seneca'' was lying less than off, with another armed party on the bow. No further difficulty was encountered. The vessels arrived off
Staten Island
Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
at 23:30 and turned ''Tomoka'' and her crew over to ''Lexington'', including Bill McCoy himself.
Various missions
After her 1924 ice patrol she was again overhauled, and again patrolled various regattas. On 26 July 1927 she was placed out of commission at Curtis Bay, Maryland but on 20 April 1928 she was recommissioned and reported for duty with the New York Division.
[Record of Movements, p 388] On 1 March 1929 she arrived in Washington, D.C. to take part in the inauguration of
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...
.
On 23 September 1932 her permanent station was changed to
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the jur ...
, and she arrived there on 23 October.
On 1 June 1934 her permanent station was changed once again when she moved to
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
, where she served until 28 January 1936, when she was selected to be decommissioned. Proceeding to the depot at Curtis Bay, ''Seneca'' had one last opportunity for service when a big freeze came over the Virginia and Maryland coasts. The
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...
and the Potomac River froze over, stranding several vessels in the ice. ''Seneca'' was called to the rescue. From 21 to 27 February, she stayed busy breaking ice, freeing and rendering assistance to five ice-bound vessels.
Decommissioned
On 21 March 1936 she was decommissioned at the Coast Guard Depot and on 3 September 1936, she was sold to the
Boston Iron and Metal Company of Baltimore for 6,605.00. ''Seneca'' was then sold to the
Texas Refrigeration Steamship Line and she sailed with them for only a few months before the company went bankrupt. Boston Iron and Metal Company then bought ''Seneca'' back at auction.
Reacquired as training ship
She returned to Coast Guard service in 1941 and was overhauled. In 1942 she was turned over to the state of Pennsylvania for use in training merchant and naval cadets at the
Pennsylvania Nautical School
Pennsylvania Nautical School existed in Pennsylvania, United States, from 1889–1947.
In an effort to meet the nation's demand for trained seamen, the United States Congress passed an Act on June 20, 1874, giving the Secretary of the Navy the aut ...
from 1942 to 1946. She also served as a schoolship in the maritime academies of the states of Massachusetts and New York. Renamed ''Keystone State'', she stayed in that service through 1948.
She was then returned to the
Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 195 ...
and laid up until she was sold for scrap in Baltimore in 1950.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Seneca (1908)
Ships of the United States Coast Guard
1908 ships
Ships of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Ships of the United States Revenue Cutter Service
Ships built in Newport News, Virginia