THE FABULOUS TELEPHONE Jerry Canavit

Long ago, when steamboats were plentiful on the waters of this country, and old rivermen gathered for conversation, they often told stories about the legendary fast boats. Many such stories are, today, well documented; the most famous probably being the contest of speed on the Mississippi River in 1870 between the steamers NATCHEZ and The steamer TELEPHONE on the Columbia RIver shortly after she was launched in early 1885. Her ROBT. E. LEE. Each area of the speed was legendary and she was advertised by her owners as “The World’s Fastest Riverboat.” country had its champions. Some evolved from traditional hull cheaper, provided easier upkeep were side-wheelers, some were designs and propulsion systems and damage repair was easier. sternwheelers, some were made that had proved their worth on For propulsion, early engineers of wood, others of steel. Some the waterways of the East and of preferred a high-pressure, non- were large, others were relatively the Mississippi River System. The condensing engine. Cylinder small. They all, however, had one limitations of these designs meta- bores varied between ten and thing in common - they were morphosed into a style of river twenty-eight inches and the piston uncommonly fast. craft peculiar to the Northwest stroke was between six and eight As to which boat was actually United States. The majority of feet, rarely more. Locomotive- the fastest would be difficult, if these boats were sternwheelers. type boilers were usually used not impossible, to determine. Some were among the most beau- and carried a working pressure of Many were capable of making tiful craft to grace the waters of about one-hundred twenty great speed, with or against the any river. Their hull lines were pounds per square-inch. current or tidal influences. A graceful, clean and shallow, and The TELEPHONE was the cre- good number of them would cer- about five times longer than the ation of Captain Uriah B. Scott, tainly be candidates for the honor beam. Aft of the pilot house rose who operated steamboats on the of being “fastest” and each would a single stack; a characteristic of Ohio River from 1859 until 1873, certainly have their supporters. this design. A kingpost soared when he came to Oregon. When One contender for the title of amidships, flanked by at least four he arrived in Oregon, he tried to “fastest” would have to be a ves- hog posts, secured by “hog find employment on some of the sel that ran most of her career on chains” to keep the supple wood- steamers of the People’s the Columbia River. Accounts of en hull aligned. After 1870, the Transportation Company and the her activity are not plentiful, but stern-wheel was often enclosed in Oregon Steam Navigation more than 75 years after her a box on which appeared the Company. The managers of these retirement, local river men still craft’s name and port of registry companies were skeptical of his talk about the legendary speed and also served to keep the abilities and did not employ him. runs of the boat many consider to water-spray off of the passengers. They would soon regret their be the fastest river steamer to ever The main deck foreward was usu- decision, for Captain Scott, with turn a paddle wheel; that boat ally open for winches, capstans the aid of a couple of financial was the fabulous TELEPHONE. and cargo. Wood construction backers, went into business for The design of Columbia River was favored, even after steel himself. He proceeded to build steamboats like the TELEPHONE, became available, for wood was the steamer OHIO, the first light- draft steamer in the Northwest. With the OHIO, Captain Scott was able to open up trade on the Willamette River as far south as Eugene, Oregon. Within three months, Captain Scott had cleared over ten thousand dollars and his critics soon became check-waiving backers, fighting for the opportunity to finance his next vessel. With almost unlimited financial resources available to him, Captain Scott could then afford to The TELEPHONE as she appeared in 1887 after her record breaking dash from Portland to Astoria. She build the best steamboats money made the 105-mile trip in 4 hours, 34 3/4 minutes, breaking the record of the sidewheeler OLYMPIAN, could buy. He next launched the which had set the pegs at 4 hours, 47 minutes in 1886. The TELEPHONE’S average speed was 22.93 mph. sternwheel CITY OF SALEM, fol- Portland at the Smith & Paquet smoke box. She was rated at 386 lowed by the FLEETWOOD, a yard by Joseph Paquet, M.C., for gross tons and cost her owners small, fast screw-propeller steamer Scott’s Columbia Transportation $45,000 when completed. that cost the local competition Company. She was launched Indeed the TELEPHONE was a more, in terms of lost business October 30, 1884, however, her floating palace in the tradition of than any other boat ever pitted trial trip was not run until the steam packets of the 1880’s. against them. With the great suc- February 24th of the following With her fancy gilding, ornate lat- cess of the speedy FLEETWOOD, year due to Captain Scott’s insis- tice-work, fine carpets, hand- Captain Scott decided he needed tence that she be finished out to rubbed wood and twenty elegant- a larger and even faster boat; a his complete satisfaction. Her hull ly furnished staterooms, she was boat faster than anything on the measured 172’ x 28’ x 7.2’ with an complete to the last detail. Her river. He would personally design overall length from her stempost reputation, however, came from the hull, and carefully supervise to the end of her paddle box of her speed. In an era of fast river- the construction of this new boat. 198.6’. Her engines were non- boats, she had no equal. She was She would be named the TELE- condensing, high-pressure steam advertised as the “Fastest PHONE. reciprocating, rated 500 indicated Riverboat in the World,” and her Much was expected of the horse-power with 22” cylinders normal running speed was a phe- TELEPHONE, and she certainly and an eight-foot stroke driving a nomenal 21 miles-per-hour. When was not a disappointment to 25’ diameter paddle wheel. Her pushed she could exceed 25 Captain Scott. The gaudy stern- boiler was a locomotive-type mea- miles-per-hour. Whenever she ran wheeler was built at South suring 78” x 25’ with a 6-foot she rewrote the record books. When the TELEPHONE went lop- ing down the river with black smoke streaking from her tall, white-banded smoke stack and her wheel making a thunderous waterfall astern, it was said there was no boat afloat that could catch her. The TELEPHONE was in her prime when the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company brought the big Eastern-built, walking- The TELEPHONE leaving Astoria during the fireman’s Tournament in June 1885 with about 250 firemen beam side-wheeler ALASKAN, and on board. Because of her great speed she was a popular vessel and was booked for many events. her sister ship, the OLYMPIAN, to moments. Although both of the Captain Scott swung the TELE- the Columbia to run on the big side-wheelers were fast, they PHONE gracefully out into the Ilwaco route. The ALASKAN ran were never able to beat the TELE- stream from the Alder street wharf in opposition to the TELEPHONE, PHONE on the river or to the at exactly 10 a.m. and headed for with James Troup, captain, Archie bank, as they proved to be enor- Astoria on her scheduled run. At Pease, pilot, and Thomas Smith, mously expensive to operate. exactly 10:05 1/2 she passed F engineer. Captain Scott’s speedy Eventually, the TELEPHONE street and a warning toot from her sternwheeler had attracted a lot of and Captain Scott proved to be whistle announced that the race business; some at the expense of too much for the big O R & N against time had begun. She the OR & N, and the competition twins, and sent them both seeking passed St. John’s at 10:23 1/2 and was keen. Whenever the TELE- business in other waters. Again, at 10:43 she left the sluggish PHONE encountered the big side- Captain Scott had proved his busi- waters of the Willamette and wheeler, passengers were treated ness acumen and shipbuilding headed out into the lordly to some of the finest steamboat skills more than a match for the Columbia, encountering at once a races ever witnessed on the competition. very strong headwind that Columbia River. Opposition In less than two years after increased in power all the way to between the two boats became so she had been launched, her speed Astoria. It became quickly evi- heated that speed contests had become the talk of the dent that Captain Scott could not between the two boats were of Columbia. Even at her normal have picked a day for his speed daily occurrence. The TELE- running speed, no boat could run when conditions could have PHONE was the faster boat but pace her. In one of her first been worse. In spite of heading made many landings which gave attempts at speed on the Astoria into winds gusting to 40 miles- her the opportunity to beat the route, she made the round trip per-hour and fighting a strong ALASKAN two or three times in between Portland and Astoria in cross-chop, she made St. Helen’s the course of the run between eleven hours and four minutes. at 11:24 1/2, Kalama at 11:54 and Astoria and Portland. The TELE- Captain Scott finally decided to Rainier at 12:14. She passed Mt. PHONE, with W.H. Whitcomb as see what she would do if pushed Coffin at 12:24 1/2, Oak Point at master and Newton Scott, chief and on July 2, 1887, he set out to 12:52 1/2 and Cathlamet at 1:27. engineer, was too fast for the big lower the existing record time As she passed Cathlamet, the Eastern side-wheeler under most between the two cities set back in winds increased to nearly gale- conditions, but Troup and Pease 1886 by Captain L.A. Bailey on force and negated the effect of the used considerable ingenuity in the OLYMPIAN. The OLYMPIAN ebb-tide into Astoria that would keeping the TELEPHONE in shal- had made the 105 mile run in four have certainly increased her low water, which retarded her hours and forty seven minutes at speed. She passed Brookfield at movements and provided some an average speed of 21.96 miles- 1:57 and as she entered the bay at close running and exciting per-hour; a very fast time. Astoria, the winds were so strong and the seas so rough that she snapped one of her hog-chains. She continued across the bay with her huge paddle wheel cascading mountains of water behind her and her sharp bow knifing into rough seas, sending spray as high as her hurricane deck. The excitement among the passengers was intense and everyone’s eye was on his watch when the boat flashed past Clatsop Mill at 2:40 1/4, completing the 105 mile trip in 4 hours and 34 3/4 minutes. Before landing she steamed past the city front and rounded to, and came to her dock amidst the blowing of boat and cannery whistles, and the cheers of the crowds who lined the docks. Her average running speed for the The launching of the second TELEPHONE at the Johnston & Olson boatyard in Portland on October 30, entire trip was 22.93 miles-per- 1888. The new vessel was almost 30 feet longer than the original vessel and had more powerful engines. hour. Captain Scott was heard to neers, and C.R. Barnard, purser. were all easily able to get ashore. say “They will hammer away at While the TELEPHONE earned One hundred thirty-nine passen- that record for a long time before a reputation for speed, she also gers and a crew of thirty-two they will beat it.” Her time would seemed bent on destroying her- escaped the inferno by leaping never be equaled or bettered by self, first by fire, then by over the guards to dry land. any rival in regular service. collision. Captain Scott barely managed to When you search the records of On November 20, 1887, she escape by diving through the pilot all the rivers in the U.S., the num- caught fire at the end of her usual house window after flames had ber of vessels that were able to speed run to Astoria. She was consumed his escape route. attain this kind of speed can abreast of the Scandinavian Despite their valiant efforts, the almost be counted on one hand. Packing Company when the shout Astoria fire department managed Along with the ALBANY and “boat afire” came through the to save only the hull. MARY POWELL on the Hudson, speaking tube. Captain Scott Captain Scott then made imme- the PRISCILLA on Long Island immediately assessed the situation diate plans to rebuild the TELE- Sound, the CHRYSOPOLIS on the and, understanding the serious- PHONE. Upon hearing of this, Sacramento and the J.M. WHITE ness of the situation, he swung the competing Oregon Railway & III on the Mississippi, the TELE- the big boat, quartering when Navigation Company sent for him PHONE, indeed, belonged to a abreast of George & Barkers and told him not to put his very select group. She was the Cannery, finding a clearing money on a new boat, and if he only vessel in this group to be between there and Badolett’s and, did, they would “run him off the propelled by a stern-wheel; mak- under a full head of steam, river.” They then offered to make ing her, without question, the beached the boat well up on the good his loss by the fire, hire him fastest of her build. The original clay bank, just avoiding a large to rebuild the sternwheeler WIDE TELEPHONE was handled by group of logs and piling. WEST (to be launched in 1888 as Captains Scott and Whitcomb, Fortunately, the boat ran so far up the T.J. POTTER), and then give with Newton Scott, Perry Scott on the bank that the passengers him command of her. Captain and Joseph Hayes, chief engi- drifted too close in, so that when she started ahead she piled up on the obstruction and began to fill. The collision tore a large hole in the starboard bow and she sank until only her bow remained out of the water. Life boats were low- ered in the early a.m. fog and all passengers were safely taken off the TELEPHONE to Coon Island. While the boat was almost totally submerged for about a week, she hung to the breakwater and was The TELEPHONE shortly after her launching in 1888 from the Johnston & Olson boatyard in Portland. pumped-out, raised and patched, Scott was interested but could not larger locomotive-type boiler mea- suffering very little damage. come to financial terms with the suring 78-inches in diameter and Although it is generally agreed OR & N and, on April 28, 1888, a 32.5 feet in length. On her trial that the TELEPHONE was the new TELEPHONE returned to the trip to Astoria on May 19, 1888, fastest boat to run the Columbia, river, larger, more luxurious and, Captain Thomas H. Crang showed there were a few other boats in apparently as fast as ever. that the new TELEPHONE was the same class for speed. The The new TELEPHONE, rebuilt very nearly the equal of the old as steamer HASSALO (the third to by John H. Johnston at Portland, the original running time was easi- bear this name) was one of these was practically a new craft. A ly maintained. boats. The HASSALO was slightly splice in her old hull lengthened On January 5, 1892, while larger than the original TELE- her about thirty feet. Her new heading out from Astoria to PHONE, measuring 181.3’ x 36.8’ dimensions were 200’ x 28.3’ x Portland, she struck the old x 8.4’ and rated 679 gross tons. 6.8’ and she was rated at 500 Government revetment while run- She was built at Portland in 1899 gross tons. New high-pressure, ning in the fog on the Columbia by Peter Carstens at the direction non-condensing engines with 25- River. Veteran pilot William of A.L. Mohler of the Union inch cylinders and an 8-foot Larkins was unable to see the Pacific Railroad. Mohler was fond stroke increased her horse-power Government light on the revet- of steamboats and one of his first to 1500. Steam was supplied by a ment and, while looking for it, innovations after coming to

The TELEPHONE in 1894 running at high-speed on her daily run to Astoria. Her average running speed was 21 miles-per-hour and she was capable of exceed- ing 25 miles-per-hour when pushed. She never turned down the opportunity to race and in over 33 years of running, she was never passed by another boat. Portland was to order the con- LO with picked fuel and her hull where the TELEPHONE encoun- struction of a stern-wheeler which reportedly stripped of all superflu- tered near gale-force winds, the he intended should be the fastest ous weight, left Portland in an TELEPHONE’S time was slightly of her type afloat. The HASSALO attempt to better the TELE- faster than the HASSALO’S. On was equipped with immense tan- PHONE’S twelve-year-old record. the 13-mile stretch between dem-compound engines with In addition to her early departure Kalama and Mt. Coffin, where high-pressure cylinders of 22.5” she carried no freight or commer- weather was less of a factor, the and low-pressure cylinders of cial passengers - only the normal TELEPHONE averaged over 25 38.75”, generating 1,600 horse- crew and a few OR & N digni- miles-per-hour. power with a 98” stroke. These taries were along for the record Another formidable challenger were the first engines of this type attempt. The HASSALO’S early was the T.J. POTTER. The POT- to be installed in a Columbia River start arguably gave her an advan- TER was a side-wheeler, 230 feet stern-wheeler. When launched, tage with the morning headwinds in length, 35 feet of beam and on April 20, 1899, she was said to - although she, like the TELE- rated at 659 gross tons. She was built using the engine and upper works from the stern-wheel steamer WIDE WEST. Captain James W. Troup designed her based roughly on the design of the Hudson River steamer DANIEL DREW, but she showed her own individuality of design. There were no heavy hog trusses arch- ing over her hurricane deck and no bulky boilers on the guards. She was built by John F. Steffen at The OR & N steamer HASSALO was the first boat on the Columbia to have tandem-compound engines. Portland for the Oregon Railway In 1899 she ran the 105 miles from Portland to Astoria in 4 hours, 22 3/4 minutes, averaging 23.80 mph. and Navigation Company and was have made over 21 miles-per-hour PHONE, encountered a lot of launched on May 22, 1888. There on her test run on the quiet water wind. The TELEPHONE’S run was was no denying that the POTTER of the Willamette Slough. After made on her regular schedule was a beautiful boat. Her ornate carefully being groomed for a with a load of freight and two- lattice-work paddle boxes and speed test the HASSALO actually hundred passengers on board. slim racing hull made her some- succeeded in lowering the time Captain Scott stated that no spe- thing to behold as she gracefully made by the original TELEPHONE cial preparations were made and swept down the Columbia. With on her record breaking trip. She that only regular fuel was used. her 1200 horse-power engines, negotiated the distance between The weather conditions for the she was fast, too. She had the two cities in four hours and TELEPHONE’S trip were described returned from Puget Sound in twenty-two and 3/4 minutes, bet- as poor - starting out with moder- 1891 with speed trophies on her tering the TELEPHONE’S time by ate to strong headwinds and pilot house after having bested 12 minutes. The conditions increasing in power all the way the fastest boats there. She was under which the two records were into Astoria. The wind became so touted as the fastest side-wheeler made were so different however, strong that the TELEPHONE actu- in the Northwest, but she had not that the TELEPHONE was still ally snapped one of her hog- yet had the opportunity to test the considered by many rivermen to chains as she was crossing the TELEPHONE. be the faster boat. A comparison bay into Astoria. The HASSALO’S An old account exists of the of the two trips tends to support time from Portland to Brookfield two boats “almost” racing on a this view. was faster than the TELEPHONE’S, hot, sultry Saturday in August of On June 18, 1899, the HASSA- but from Brookfield to Astoria, 1895. The T.J. POTTER was wait- the POTTER down river. Not only was Major O’Neill the receiver for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (the owners of the POTTER), but, it was known that he strictly forbade any kind of racing activity on his boats. With studied calm the Major came aboard, just late enough to see the stern of the TELEPHONE disappear beyond the draw, much to the chagrin of everyone aboard. The T.J. POT- TER went down the river that day in sober dignity with her reputation for speed still intact. The appearance of Major O’Neill that The beautiful sidewheel steamer T.J. POTTER ran on the Columbia River and on Puget Sound. She sported speed trophies on the roof of her pilot house in the form of a gilded Dog and Broom. Launched day was probably the POTTER’s in 1888 at Portland, she was one of the fastest and most luxurious vessels in the Pacific Northwest. good fortune, as she would even- ing at her dock, her wheels idling, draw. Everyone anticipated a race tually lose her speed trophies to her stack showing a streamer of all the way down the river. the phenomenal sternwheeler. smoke; passengers came aboard Downstream, the tender on the The TELEPHONE continued early and clustered along the rail Burnside Bridge dropped his bar- regular service on this run, year watching the TELEPHONE, rier and swung his span open, after year, racing every challenger docked, on a rare occasion, next ready for the race. Almost at that questioned her speed, show- to her. The TELEPHONE was once the TELEPHONE’s 25-foot ing her heels to everything on the scheduled to pull out at one paddle wheel churned into the river; defeating the likes of such o’clock - the same time the POT- water and the boat shot into the greyhounds as the T.J. POTTER, TER was scheduled to leave. On stream. As the story goes, the HASSALO and CHAS. R. SPENCER. the deck firemen stacked bolts of possibility of a race was halted by During this time she was cap- wood, carefully selected and set the appearance of a Major O’Neill tained by Thomas Crang and W.H. aside for just such an occasion. on board the POTTER, who had Larkins, with C.W. Evans and Joe The engineer on the POTTER decided, at the last minute, to take Hayes in the engine room. waited eagerly for the whistle to come through the speaking tube and for the pilot to give the order to pull out. On the TELEPHONE the same things were happening, and her passengers crowded the rail to watch the T.J. POTTER. In the pilot house the minute hand of the clock moved closer and closer to the hour; imperceptibly the paddle wheels began to turn to get the engine rhythm estab- lished for a quick start. At a few seconds before the hour, both the POTTER and the TELEPHONE The TELEPHONE after her 1903 rebuilding by James Cochrane. She ran Portland to Astoria and whistled the bridge for an open Portland to the Dalles until 1908 when she was purchased again by Captain Uriah B. Scott. By 1903, she was practically and convert to that use. After reduced her measurement to 632 worn out and was retired by combing the waters of the gross tons. With Capt. M.A. Captain Scott badly in need of Northwest, their selection was nar- Graham in command, she arrived repair. She was sold late in 1903 rowed to two Columbia River on the Bay like a conquering hero to Captain James Cochrane of the boats, both built for and owned looking for all comers in speed Arrow Navigation Company where by Captain U.B. Scott; the TELE- runs. Decked out in orange paint, she was rebuilt again by Joseph GRAPH and the TELEPHONE. she carried her first load of 600 Paquet - given new engines: 26” x After considerable negotiations, a passengers on August 22, 1910, 96”, a new hull and boiler, while satisfactory agreement for the pur- averaging just over 19 miles-per- retaining some of her old super- chase of the TELEPHONE was hour on her trial run across the structure, pilot house, and paddle arranged, together with the risky Bay. This was nearly two miles- wheel. Her new dimensions were delivery of the vessel. The per-hour faster than any other 201.5’ x 31.5’ x 8’ and she was Western Pacific agents were even- commercial vessel operating on rated at 794 gross tons. tually able to get together a crew the Bay at that time. Arrow Navigation eventually that was willing to bring the ves- As on the Columbia, no San went broke and the boat reverted sel from Portland to San Fran- Francisco Bay rival could touch to Captain Scott. On September cisco. She was sold to Western the TELEPHONE for speed. 18, 1905, Captain Scott sold the Pacific on July 15, 1909 for Although at a distinct disadvan- TELEPHONE to Mr. J. H. Middle- $24,500, was boarded-up, and tage because of her single-ended- ton in Portland and was chartered to the Regulator Line for service from Portland to The Dalles with E.W. Baughman serving as master. During the period from 1904 to 1908, her home port was listed as Seattle, Washington (she probably ran the Portland to The Dalles run from 1905 to 1907 and then, sometime in 1907, reportedly received new engines [size and make unknown] , giving her original ones, along with her melodi- The TELEPHONE was purchased by the Western Pacific Railroad in 1909 and ran as a passenger ferry ous “chime” whistle, to the BAI- between San Francisco and Oakland. She could carry 600 passengers and was the fastest commercial LEY GATZERT when the Seattle- vessel on the bay until her retirement in 1918. built sternwheeler received her taken under her own steam to ness, forcing her to back out of new, longer hull.) Her activity Astoria, then towed down the her Oakland dock and swing her after being re-engined is not well coast to San Francisco by the long slender length around before documented, but it is noted that steam schooner YOSEMITE with heading for her San Francisco during 1908-09, her home port the TELEPHONE helping with her berth, she’d often be quite a dis- was listed in SR & E, Portland as own engines. She survived the tance behind the Southern Pacific Portland instead of Seattle. rugged trip down the coast and, double-end ferry who had a Sometime during this period on September 9, 1909, steamed in quicker get away. However, once (probably in 1908), Captain Scott through the Golden Gate intact, her big orange paddle wheel again became her owner. much to the joy of Western began churning-up the Bay waters When the Western Pacific Pacific. WP spent $42,200 to and she hit her full racing stride, Railway needed a fast passenger remodel her for ferry service on she’d close on her rival like a thor- ferry to run between Oakland and San Francisco Bay, removing all oughbred overtaking a nag and San Francisco, they went looking her staterooms and converting her would be tied up and discharging for a fast riverboat to purchase to oil burning. The rebuild her passengers well before her in her 33 years, she was never beaten in a race and maintained her high-speed running and her reputation as the World’s Fastest Riverboat (and ferry) until the very end.

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

Ships Registries and Enrollments, Port of Portland, Oregon. 1869-1941. Portland, Oregon, 1942. WPA.

The H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Edited by Gordon Newell. The Superior Publishing Co., Seattle, Washington, 1966.

Lewis & Dryden’s Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Edited by W.W. Wright (1895). Antiquarian Press, Ltd.., New York, N.Y., 1961.

The hulk of the TELEPHONE at the Oakland Estuary boneyard in 1919. Sternwheelers Up Columbia. opponent would be approaching was rated 1,578 gross tons. Randall V. Mills. Pacific Books, Palo the San Francisco slip. The JEFFERY, with her new Alto, California, 1947. Despite her speed, her limita- 2500 horsepower, four-cylinder, Of Walking Beams and Paddlewheels. tions as a ferry soon became obvi- double-compound engines, was George H. Harlan and Clement Fisher, ous. She was the last of the river- almost as fast as the TELEPHONE Jr. El Camino Press, El Camino Real, boats in San Francisco Bay ferry and sort of assumed the Bay California, 1951. service, but what she had in speed title, as the TELEPHONE History of the Columbia River Valley speed was not sufficient to over- was retired to relative inactivity From The Dalles to the Sea. Vol. 1. come the disadvantages of a river- until June 30, 1917, when she sur- Fred Lockley. 1928. boat on a bay, and with the rendered her license. amount of traffic on the Bay She was officially retired on Blow For The Landing. Fritz Timmen. increasing, her backing out was December 31, 1917 and disman- The Caxton Printers, Ltd.., Caldwell, Idaho, 1973. becoming a hazard to navigation. tled in early 1918 and her boilers Finally, Western Pacific commit- were hauled to Portola, CA and Pacific Steamboats. Gordon Newell ted to building a more “appropri- set up as stationery power at the and Joe Williamson. Bonanza Books, ate” vessel and, in 1913, she was WP Roundhouse. When the New York, N.Y., Superior Publishing replaced with a new, larger dou- roundhouse was torn down, the Co.,1958. ble-ended ferry, the EDWARD T. boilers were used in the diesel The Oregonian, July 3, 1887 JEFFERY. The JEFFERY slid down house to supply steam to the WP the ways at the Moore & Scott Hospital. The wheel from the The Oregonian, November 21, 1887 Iron Works on July 19, painted pilothouse is currently on display Tuscan red and sporting the at the Sacramento City-County Astoria Daily Pioneer, November 22, “Feather River Route” emblem on Museum. 1887. Although the junkyard got the her stack. A relatively small craft Morning Oregonian, May 25, 1888 for a double-ender, she was 218 TELEPHONE in 1918, no competi- feet long, had a 42 foot beam and tor ever got her speed trophy as, San Francisco Call, August 30, 1910