W. W. Story was a wood pilot boat launched on October 2, 1874, from the Samuel H. Pine shipyard at the foot of Java Street, Greenpoint, New York. Conley, Cisco & Cumskey were owners. She was 77 feet, 2 inches in length; 21 feet breadth of beam; 7 feet 10 inches depth of hold; 71.9 and 70.3 feet height of main mast and foremast and 52-tons.[1]
The W. W. Story was registered as a pilot Schooner with the ‘’Record of American and Foreign Shipping,’’ from 1876 to 1900. Her ship master was Thomas Conley; her owners were New Jersey pilots; built in 1874 at Greenpoint, New York; and her hailing port was the Port of New York. Her dimensions were 76 ft. in length; 20.6 ft. breadth of beam; 7.3 ft. depth of hold; and 50-tons Tonnage.[2] Her hailing port was Port of New Jersey from 1876 to 1878.[3]
On August 12, 1875, shipbuilder Edward A. Williams, of the Greenpoint Savings Bank, sailed her for a two-week cruise on the New Jersey pilot boat W. W. Story, No. 5.[4]
On March 12, 1878, Sandy Hook pilot Alexander Cochrane died. He was a pilot and part owner of the W. W. Story.[5]
On March 14, 1888, the pilot boat W. W. Story, No. 5 of New Jersey, sank off Sandy Hook horseshoe during the Blizzard of 1888 along with Edmund Blunt and Edward F. Williams. She refloated, repaired and returned to service.[6] [7] From 1888-1891 she was still registered with Captain Thomas Conley. From 1893-1900 she was registered with Captain Ludwig Lawson.[2]
The W. W. Story was later turned into a fishing smack. On November 13, 1896, she was reported off Absecon, New Jersey, having been caught in a hurricane on October 14. Eleven of her crew were given up as lost along with Captain Lovigh.[8]