Across the United States, numerous abandoned ships fade into obscurity, but few can match the fascinating and layered history of the USS Sachem (SP-192)—later renamed USS Phenakite (PYc-25), Celt, Sightseer, Circle Line V, and, most hauntingly, The Ghost Ship. This vessel began its life as a luxurious private yacht but was twice requisitioned by the U.S. Navy, transforming from a symbol of opulence into a hardened wartime asset. Its journey from leisure craft to military service and eventual dereliction makes it one of the most unique and storied ships ever to drift into forgotten waters.
From luxury steam yacht to US Navy patrol yacht
The story of the USS Sachem begins in 1901, commissioned by railroad engineer J. Rogers Maxwell. Built by Pusey & Jones in Wilmington, Delaware, the ship was launched in April of the following year under the name Celt and served as a luxury steam yacht until the United States entered the First World War.
When the war broke out, the US Navy sought civilian ships for coastal defense as German forces targeted supply lines between America and Europe. Celt was among the vessels acquired for military service and was renamed Sachem.
USS Sachem (SP-192) during World War I
The USS Sachem subsequently underwent modifications, which saw her sides raised to allow her to become more seaworthy, the removal of her masts and the sealing of her ornate brass, the addition of navigational equipment and the fringing of the yacht’s portholes. A new complement of armament was also provided, to ensure she and her crew could fight against any enemy presence in the Atlantic. This featured:
- Depth charge racks
- One Ordnance QF Hotchkiss six-pounder deck gun
- Two QF three-pounder Hotchkiss deck guns
- Two light machine guns
Sachem served with the Third Maritime District during the early part of her naval service, patroling the East Coast, down to the Caribbean. In 1917, she was turned into a “floating laboratory” by famed inventor Thomas Edison, who conducted a number of experiments in his quest to develop effective U-boat countermeasures.
By the time the First World War came to an end, Sachem hadn’t experienced active combat, nor had she reported a confirmed sighting of an enemy submarine. For her and her crew’s service during the conflict, the yacht received the World War I Victory Medal.
Interwar period
As the Great Depression deepened in 1932, Taylor sold the yacht to Jacob Martin of Brooklyn. Seeking to make the most of tough times, Martin outfitted the ship to serve two purposes: offshore fishing charters and upscale leisure cruises. The combination proved to be a reliable source of income during an era of widespread financial hardship.
Renamed the USS Phenakite (PYc-25) during World War II
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the US Navy, again, began looking for civilian vessels to help in America’s defense. In February 1942, the service reacquired the USS Sachem for $65,000, transiting her to Robert Jacobs, Inc. in City Island, New York for modifications. These included new equipment; speed, armor and visibility upgrades; and a newer gray-haze paint scheme.
Just like in World War I, Sachem, by then re-designated the USS Phenakite, saw various types of armament installed on her deck. The weapons added this time around were:
- One three-inch/23-caliber deck gun
- One Thompson submachine gun
- Two Mark VI depth charge racks
- Four M2 Browning machine guns for anti-aircraft defense
Phenakite spent the first part of her renewed service with the Navy patrolling the East Coast, under the command of Lt. John D. Lennon. In late 1944, she underwent a refit, which saw her use widen to also include convoy escort and sonar system testing as part of the Fleet Sonar School Squadron and the Key West Squadron.
Similar to the earlier conflict, the yacht didn’t see active combat. That being said, her crew received both the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal. Following the conflict, she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register.
Left abandoned in a Kentucky creek
Following World War II, Jacob Martin purchased the USS Phenakite back from the US Navy for $5,353. She was then sold to the Circle Line in New York City, serving as a tour boat under the name Circle Line V until 1983.
In 1986, Cincinnati, Ohio, resident Robert Miller purchased the yacht for $7,500. After a celebratory weekend in New York City over the July 4 long weekend, which saw the vessel make a cameo in the music video for Madonna‘s “Papa Don’t Preach,” Miller journeyed back to his home along the Ohio-Kentucky border. He subsequently moored the ship at the mouth of Taylor Creek, in Boone County, Kentucky, where she’s remained ever since.
Unable to afford the upkeep of the yacht, Miller left her to rust away in the water. While on private property, what remains of the vessel has become a popular sight for kayakers and canoers traveling along Taylor Creek. Given her decrepit state, she has since been dubbed “The Ghost Ship.”