In the early 20th century, G.B. Cooley decided he needed a yacht. He was the son and brother of steamboat captains, so he knew what to look for. Cooley ended up buying what was called an “oyster lugger” which had been used to haul oysters and shells to market. It had been in use for 35 years when he bought it circa 1917. He dubbed it the Weto. It measured 43 feet long and 15 feet wide and could cary 24 to 30 people. Mr. Cooley equipped it with double Pullman staterooms, a bathroom, main cabin, and electric lights. It could go ten miles an hour. The finest woods were used in the refit, such as teak, mahogany and cypress. Mr. Cooley swore he could take it across the Atlantic any time he wanted to. He mainly used it to haul family and friends on pleasure cruises along the Ouachita River or on vacation up and down the Mississippi River. It was also sometimes used as King Zulu’s personal barge during Monroe’s early Mardi Gras parades. When not in use, it was docked near Mr. Cooley’s house.
After Mr. Cooley’s death, the Weto was bought by the American Bank, who used it for charter trips and painted it pale yellow. In 1973 it was put up for auction and a local ship builder named Merle Tanner won it. The boat was decaying and he had plans to totally restore it. Unfortunately, He passed away in 1974 before that could happen.
The Tanner family really didn’t know what to do with it so it dry rotted in dry dock. Finally, around 1977 or 1978, it had become an eyesore and fire hazard. Mr. Tanner’s son Bob took out the furnishings, windows, carved moldings and the rudder, with the plans of rebuilding another Weto and the rest was burned. As far as I know, that plan never happened. The Weto has now faded into history.
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 