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Lot Essay
The all-steel American steam yacht Cassandra was designed by A.S. Chesebrough of Bristol, Rhode Island, for Roy A. Rainey of Fifth Avenue, New York City, and built for him on the Clyde by Scott's of Greenock in 1908. Registered at 1,227 tons gross (552 net & 1,280 Thames), she measured 254 feet in length with a 33 foot beam and was rigged as a two-masted schooner with sails by Ferguson. A powerful vessel, her twin screws were driven by two triple-expansion 6-cylinder water-tube engines manufactured by her builders and she had a reputation as one of the fastest steam yachts of her day.
After only four years' ownership by Roy Rainey, Cassandra was sold to another New Yorker, George J. Wheelan, who in turn sold her to the wealthy oil tycoon and philanthropist Edward L. Doheny of Los Angeles in 1916. Renamed Casiana, she was briefly loaned to the United States' Navy for wartime duties (1917-19) and then returned to Mr. Doheny who kept her until his death in September 1935. Soon afterward sold to the Government of the Philippines for official use and renamed Banahaw, she was reportedly bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft off Corregidor Island in 1942.
After only four years' ownership by Roy Rainey, Cassandra was sold to another New Yorker, George J. Wheelan, who in turn sold her to the wealthy oil tycoon and philanthropist Edward L. Doheny of Los Angeles in 1916. Renamed Casiana, she was briefly loaned to the United States' Navy for wartime duties (1917-19) and then returned to Mr. Doheny who kept her until his death in September 1935. Soon afterward sold to the Government of the Philippines for official use and renamed Banahaw, she was reportedly bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft off Corregidor Island in 1942.