The Wreck of the Schooner "WYOMING", the Largest Wooden Ship in History

Published 2022-01-22
If you enjoyed this video, please consider joining my Patreon to help create more videos like this! www.patreon.com/PartTimeExplorer
To give a one-time tip, please visit: www.historicalfx.com/support

The monstrous coal-hauling Schooner "Wyoming", built by Percy and Small in Bath, Maine, was the biggest wooden ship to sail the seas. On a routine voyage bringing coal to Saint John, New Brunswick, she disappeared.

The Maine Maritime Museum has an excellent exhibit on the vessel, showing artifacts, models, and photographs of her.

All Comments (21)
  • @ryanp246
    Coal and coal accessories? That was GOLD.
    You even potentially look like a younger Hank Hill!
  • @Malorkus
    I can only imagine how haunting and surreal it was for the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter to see the masts sticking out of the water like that after she sank. Love your channel!
  • @stevennickerson162
    My father, before he passed away, like to claim that he was perhaps the last person alive who saw the Wyoming before she was lost. His story was that when he was six years old, living in North Chatham, Massachusetts he remembered his uncle coming by the house excited that two big vessels were to be seen anchored near Pollock Rip Lightship. He was allowed to take a car ride with his father and uncle to the Chatham Lighthouse overlook where the Cora Cressy and the Wyoming were visible anchored up a few miles offshore. Unfortunately, later that night the storm increased. The Cora Cressy was able to work its way into deeper water and safety where the Wyoming either parted or dragged its anchor forcing it into the shoal water where it was pounded to pieces and all hands lost. My father never forgot the sight of those two huge sailing vessels anchored up together and the fact that a few hours later the Wyoming and all her people were lost forever.
  • So I was reading about some of the other vessels built by Percy & Small. Of the 45 they built, only 4 didn't sink. I knew the clippers were death traps, but wasn't aware that the big schooners were also nearly guaranteed to sink under you a generation later.
  • Absolutely remarkable how small a crew could operate such a massive sailing vessel. The schooner rigged ships with a small steam engine for operating the winches for sail management were an amazing efficient development.
  • @jamesm3471
    I understand why a really good ship’s cook could be invaluable to its crew, but for an African American cook, at this particular time in history, to be the ship’s second best paid crewman, must have been one hell of a cook. I’d love to learn more about him!
  • @old_guard2431
    She was just too long for a wooden ship, even with the bracing. That she lasted so long and it took a major storm to take her out is a testament to both her design and the skill of the shipyard workers who built her.
    Small crews, a major advantage of the schooner rig, work against survival in a shipwreck.
  • @jhtsurvival
    The age of sail was amazing imo. Each ship was basically a small town self sufficient enough to support themselves through long voyages around the world. Amazing feats imo. Even today's modern ships are rather amazing....I am aware this wasn't the age of sail.
  • @DerpyPossum
    “On her maiden voyage, the Wyoming disappeared…”

    “…but then she arrived in port 3 weeks later”
  • Can you imagine what it would've felt like to be under full sail in a beast like that?
  • @will-el3fg
    I went to the museum in bath and they have a scale sculpture of the frame of the Wyoming and the size and scale of it is absolutely jaw dropping
  • @spikehofmann
    A compliment of just 13 could handle a sailing ship that size? Astonishing.
    Also surprised that wooden ship of such size would be built in 1909 when iron was surely the cheaper stronger material at that time.
    What beautiful models. Thanks for the very interesting video
  • @bennettbt8864
    Pull the old bait and switch with the story of the maiden voyage lol. Great work as usual!
  • @skeezicksz
    “Coal and coal accessories” completely dead pan straight face like you’re quoting an academic source.

    That got me off guard lol. Excellent work as usual!
  • @olliefoxx7165
    This guy has combined history, ships and storey telling in a wonderful package. What a delight. Just a pleasure to listen to and watch. Thanks internet...um...you to guy
  • @joeyhudson4847
    I’ve grown up in Bath, and a few years ago had the opportunity to do some renovations on the Percy and Small workshop (the black roofed building on the left), which is now part of the Maine Maritime Museum. The history that’s been preserved there is amazing, and this video answered a lot of unanswered questions I’ve had for a long time about the Wyoming. Great work.
  • @connern5791
    Good work Tom

    Was the "Coal and coal accessories" line a reference to King of the Hill by any chance?
  • @ender5817
    That is INSANE. I visited aboard the USCGC Acushnet before it was decommissioned in 2012 or 13. Onboard were two of my shipmstes from CG basic training. Beautiful ship. The bridge was all teak wood and had a no-shit wooden spoked helm. She was a throw back for sure. I think one of only two remaining cutters that had seen combat in WWII pacific theater.. She moored up next to the ship I served on. Crazy that it served as an active duty vessel that long
  • @CyreneDuVent
    So many of the "film" photographs we see are simply bad copies - the level of detail and crispness in some of these images is just incredible. This was a great video, with an impeccable sense of deadpan humour




    Also anyone who doesn't live here knowing what New Brunswick is just feels wrong
  • Excellent. And some say history is boring!! I love history and I want to thank you for providing it. And a sense of humor to boot...