USS Beaumere II ( SP - 444 ) USS " Beaumere II " ( SP - 444 ) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919 . Construction and acquisition . " Beaumere II " was built as the private motorboat " Madge II " in 1914 by the Gas Engine and Power Company and the Charles L . Seabury Company at Morris Heights , the Bronx , New York . She later was renamed " Beaumere " . On 29 June 1917 , the U . S . Navy acquired " Beaumere " under a free lease from her owner , the vaudeville impresario Edward Franklin Albee II ( 1857 – 1930 ) , for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I . The Navy took delivery of her from Albee on 18 July 1917 . The Navy added the Roman numeral II to her name and commissioned her as USS " Beaumere II " ( SP - 444 ) on 22 October 1917 with Chief Boatswain A . Anderson , USNRF , in command . United States Navy service . Assigned to the 3rd Naval District , " Beaumere II " operated principally from the New York Navy Yard , the Barge Office at Battery Park , and the Marine Basin at Ulmer Park in Brooklyn , New York , as a despatch boat for the rest of World War I and into early 1919 . She spent her entire naval career carrying passengers between various locations on the shores of the East River and North River , to Staten Island , and as far north as West Point , New York , on the Hudson River . During portions of April , May , June , and September 1917 , and again in January 1919 , she alternated with the patrol boat as despatch boat at the Barge Office . She interspersed these active operations and stand - by periods with upkeep at the Marine Basin . Among the naval officers " Beaumere II " transported numerous times were Rear Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow , Inspector of Naval District s on the Atlantic Coast , Rear Admiral Nathan R . Usher , Commandant of the 3rd Naval District , and Ushers chief of staff , Captain Louis R . de Steiguer , who was a frequent passenger . Other distinguished passengers included Vice Admiral DeWitt Coffman and his staff , on a trip from the New York Navy Yard out to the French Navy armored cruiser " Dupetit - Thouars " on 27 June 1918 ; Major General J . Franklin Bell , United States Army , who was embarked with a small party for an excursion up the Hudson River to West Point on 1 September 1918 ; Admiral William S . Benson , the Chief of Naval Operations , whom " Beaumere II " transported to the transport on 17 October 1918 ; and the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States E . H . DeGama and his wife , whom " Beaumere II " took out to the armored cruiser USS " Pueblo " ( Armored Cruiser No . 7 ) on 22 October 1918 for the start of DeGamas journey back to Rio de Janeiro . Perhaps " Beaumere II " s most eventful trip occurred on 10 July 1918 with Captain DeSteiguer embarked . She was en route the Barge Office at Battery Park when she encountered a heavy swell caused by the passage of an outward - bound battleship . Water entered " Beaumere II " s engine room through an open port , short - circuiting the port motor . Although hampered by having to proceed on one engine , " Beaumere II " continued on her way and delivered DeStiguer to the Barge Office safely . Disposal . " Beaumere II " s final voyage while in commission was to Pier 72 in New York City on 15 February 1919 . After being decommissioned there , " Beaumere II " was stricken from the Navy List on 24 February 1919 and returned to Albee the same day . Later career . Reverting to her original name , " Beaumere " , she remained under Albees ownership through 1929 , after which she became the property of the Marine Sales and Service Company , of New York City . Her last owner appears to have been a Joseph White , through 1949 , after which time the name " Beaumere " disappears from contemporary yacht registers .