Majestic (1891)
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Service History

The steam yacht Majestic was the first all steel hull on Lake Geneva. She was built with a mahogany cabin, stained glass skylight, and electric lighting and was originally powered by a triple expansion steam engine. The 70 foot ling steamer was built as the Whileaway for Henry Porter, one of the founders of United States Steel. In 1925 she was renamed the Majestic. In 1930 the original steam engine was replaced by a Standard gasoline engine.

Note that an earlier vessel by the name of Majestic had been scrapped in 1920.
Final Voyage

The Whileaway was built for Henry H. Porter, and launched in July, 1891. It was sold to Wesley Johnson in 1925, and renamed the Majestic after the Lake Geneva steamer scrapped in 1920. In 1930, the steam machinery was replaced with a standard gasoline engine. The vessel served as an excursion boat until 1947. On 7/26/1947, the boat exploded and caught fire while departing the municipal pier with 35 passengers aboard. While the fire consumed the engine room and cabin, the passengers and crew escaped without serious injuries, though Capt. Brugger suffered burns to his face and upper body, The fire seems to have been ignited by the wiring in the P.A. system. The flaming boat was towed to Williams Bay and was extinguished by the local fire department. Subsequent survey by the owners showed that the boat's hull plates were badly warped by the fire, and that repair was unfeasible. She was towed out and sunk in the deepest part of Lake Geneva on July 20.
 
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