June 14, 1917
A little over two months after the United States entered World War I on the side of the Allied Powers, the steam yacht Legonia II was commissioned in Baltimore for service in the U.S. Navy. This vessel had been purchased only eight days earlier from William B. Hurst, a prominent Baltimore resident.
The ailing 58-year-old Hurst died at Johns Hopkins Hospital the week after his one-time yacht officially became part of the Navy’s wartime fleet. The Baltimore Sun reported, “He was at once a director or a stockholder in several banks, president of two hotel companies, head of associations of business men, member of civic commissions, patron of the arts, church member and sportsman.” This article further noted, “With his widespread business and civic activities, he found time to own of the finest yachts on the Chesapeake, and to use it.”
In 1903, Hurst became the owner of a yacht that he named Legonia. At the time, this vessel had the distinction of being one of the biggest yachts found anywhere on the Chesapeake Bay. Hurst purchased an even bigger yacht early in 1914. This steam yacht, which had been built five years earlier by the Delaware-based shipbuilder Pusey & Jones Corporation, was originally known as Lydonia and then renamed Walucia. After becoming this vessel’s owner, Hurst ended up perpetuating the name of his previous yacht.
“William B. Hurst’s New Yacht, Legonia II,” read the headline for a Baltimore Sun article announcing his purchase of this vessel. “No Baltimore yachtsman so thoroughly enjoys the breezes of the Chesapeake, its tributaries and the seashore as Mr. Hurst,” asserted this article. “Finding the Legonia too small for the comfort he desired, Mr. Hurst decided to get a larger craft, and in the beautiful Walucia he met his wishes. Being a fine sea boat and carrying fuel for a large steaming radius, she can make trips anywhere.”
The Baltimore Sun also highlighted the furnishings on board Legonia II. This article noted, “Rich in finish, the dining room, social hall and music room are on the main deck, while below, in harmony, are the saloon and accommodations for 14 guests, which can be increased if needed.”
After being commissioned into the Navy in 1917, USS Legonia II (SP-399) was based at Norfolk, Virginia, for the remainder of World War I. Her assignments during this time included serving as a dispatch vessel for safely and securely delivering military messages in various situations – from ship to ship, from ship to shore, or even from shore to shore.
In addition, Legonia II helped guard ports and carried out coastal patrols in the vicinity of Cape Henry, Virginia (the southern boundary of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay). Legonia II also escorted merchant ships traveling through the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina; and helped monitor anti-submarine nets that had been set up to better protect that area of the Eastern Seaboard against potential enemy attacks.
Legonia II remained in naval service after the armistice ending the war went into effect on November 11, 1918. She was decommissioned on August 1, 1921. The following month, she was sold to Dr. John Miller Masury of Norfolk.
(The above photo of Legonia II was taken prior to her wartime service.)
Photo Credit: Public Domain
For more information on USS Legonia II (SP-399), please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Legonia_II
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