Camano (steamboat)
Encyclopedia
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Camano was a steamboat built in 1906 at Coupeville, Washington which operated on Puget Sound
from 1906 to 1917. Camano was later known as Tolo. As Tolo the vessel was sunk in 1917 as a result of a collision at sea. Four people died as a result.
to run on the Everett
– Coupeville, Washington
shipping route as a replacement for the sternwheeler Fairhaven
. As built, Camano was 88 ft (26.82 m) long
In 1910, Camano was rebuilt, after which the vessel had the following dimensions: 108.9 ft (33.19 m), 16.9 ft (5.15 m) beam, and 5.1 feet (1.55 m) depth of hold. The vessel was kept on the Everett-Coupeville route however. In 1911, when the steamer Calista
was built for Island Transportation Co., at Dockton, Washington
, Camano towed the new steamer to Seattle for completion.
Camano burned oil a fuel which was just coming into use among the Puget Sound steamboats when Camano was built. Originally the oil fuel for Camano was supplied on barrels brought to Coupeville by Fairhaven, a woodburner like most of the older vessels. In November 1906, an iron tank, measuring 8 ft (2.44 m) by 4 ft (1.22 m) by 4 ft (1.22 m) was installed on the Coupeville dock to refuel Camano. Refueling was later done at Clinton and Edmonds, Washington
.
Every day except Sundays, Camano would depart Coupeville at 7:00 am southbound, stopping at Oak Harbor
at 7:30 am, Camano
at 8:15 am, Langley
at 9:15 am, Clinton, Washington
at 9:45 am, arriving in Everett at 10:15 am. Camano would depart Everett headed northbound at 3:00 pm. Stops were made depending on call at Brown's Point. San de Fuca
, and Saratoga.
Camano was too small to have sleeping quarters or a galley. The crew's work day began 6:00 am, and they ate breakfast in the morning before work. The crew didn't it dinner until after the work day was complete, which was at 11:30 pm. Lunch was a cold meal, with coffee heated up on the head of the high-pressure steam cylinder.
In March 1907, Camano towed the sternwheeler Fairhaven
off the beach. Fairhaven had been blown onto the dock at Coupeville during a gale, and then on to the shore, suffering substantial damage.
Camano was also placed on a route running from downtown Seattle to Alki Point. It cost 10 cents to ride the boat on this run.
and renamed Tolo. In November, 1915, Kitsap County Transportation Company
purchased Camano for $15,000.
, coming in from Seattle, was approaching the Everett dock. From the bridge, Capt. William Thorton of Sioux signaled the engine room for "half astern" to slow the vessel down. Instead the engine room gave him "half ahead" which caused the steamer to ram into the dock. Captain Thorton then signaled for "full astern".
Another mistake was made and the Sioux went full ahead, smashing into Camanos stern, driving Camano forward into the 75 feet (22.86 m) gasoline launch Island Flyer which in turn struck the newly-built motor launch Alverene
. Island Flyer was sunk as a result and Alverene was seriously damaged. Camano then sank at the dock. The small launch Arrow was demolished and the steam launches Ranger and Daphne suffered lesser damage. The total damage was valued at $30,000. It turned out that an engine room assistant, known as an oiler had been left in charge of the telegraph. Fortunately no one was killed although there was at least one close call.
On March 1, 1914, in Elliot Bay, Camano collided with Modoc not far from the piers of the central Seattle waterfront. The collision was ruled to have been Modoc's fault.
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Camano was a steamboat built in 1906 at Coupeville, Washington which operated on Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
from 1906 to 1917. Camano was later known as Tolo. As Tolo the vessel was sunk in 1917 as a result of a collision at sea. Four people died as a result.
Design and construction
Camano was built by Capt. H.B. Lovejoy, doing business as the Island Transportation CompanyIsland Transportation Company
The Island Transportation Company was a shipping company that was briefly operational in Puget Sound from 1889 to 1900.-Formation and operations:...
to run on the Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
– Coupeville, Washington
Coupeville, Washington
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,723 people, 737 households, and 426 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,346.7 people per square mile . There were 814 housing units at an average density of 636.2 per square mile...
shipping route as a replacement for the sternwheeler Fairhaven
Fairhaven (sternwheeler)
-References:* Affleck, Edwin L, ed. A Century of Paddlewheelers in the Pacific Northwest, the Yukon, and Alaska, Alexander Nicholls Press, Vancouver, BC ISBN 0-920034-08-X...
. As built, Camano was 88 ft (26.82 m) long
In 1910, Camano was rebuilt, after which the vessel had the following dimensions: 108.9 ft (33.19 m), 16.9 ft (5.15 m) beam, and 5.1 feet (1.55 m) depth of hold. The vessel was kept on the Everett-Coupeville route however. In 1911, when the steamer Calista
Calista (steamboat)
The steamship Calista was a small steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet.-Career:Calista was built in 1911 at the Martinolich shipyard at Dockton, Washington.The vessel is best known for an event which occurred on November 5, 1916...
was built for Island Transportation Co., at Dockton, Washington
Dockton, Washington
Dockton is an unincorporated community in King County, Washington. It is located on Maury Island, along Quartermaster Harbor. Although once an industrial center, Dockton today is a primarily residential area, with many commuters taking the ferry to nearby Tacoma.-History:Dockton, one of the first...
, Camano towed the new steamer to Seattle for completion.
Operations
From 1906 to 1912 Camano ran on a route from Coupeville to Everett. H.B. Lovejoy's son, F.E. Lovejoy (1889–1940) served on board as a deckhand. He had also carved the nameboard for the ship.Camano burned oil a fuel which was just coming into use among the Puget Sound steamboats when Camano was built. Originally the oil fuel for Camano was supplied on barrels brought to Coupeville by Fairhaven, a woodburner like most of the older vessels. In November 1906, an iron tank, measuring 8 ft (2.44 m) by 4 ft (1.22 m) by 4 ft (1.22 m) was installed on the Coupeville dock to refuel Camano. Refueling was later done at Clinton and Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
.
Every day except Sundays, Camano would depart Coupeville at 7:00 am southbound, stopping at Oak Harbor
Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. The population was 22,075 at the 2010 census.Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.-History:Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city...
at 7:30 am, Camano
Camano, Washington
Camano is a census-designated place in Island County, Washington, United States. The population was 13,347 at the 2000 census. Camano has its own ZIP code but shares a post office with Stanwood, despite Stanwood's distance...
at 8:15 am, Langley
Langley, Washington
Langley is a town in Island County, Washington, United States near the eastern end of the north shore of the south end of Whidbey Island. It is the third largest incorporated area on Whidbey. The population was 1,035 at the 2010 census, while the ZCTA for Langley's post office had a population of...
at 9:15 am, Clinton, Washington
Clinton, Washington
Clinton is a community and census-designated place located on southern Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. The town was named after Clinton, Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the village was 928. However, the post office serves at least 2,500 people.Clinton is the western...
at 9:45 am, arriving in Everett at 10:15 am. Camano would depart Everett headed northbound at 3:00 pm. Stops were made depending on call at Brown's Point. San de Fuca
San De Fuca, Washington
San de Fuca is an unincorporated community and geographical location on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. Formerly a small town in the 19th century, it lies on the north side of Penn Cove across from Coupeville....
, and Saratoga.
Camano was too small to have sleeping quarters or a galley. The crew's work day began 6:00 am, and they ate breakfast in the morning before work. The crew didn't it dinner until after the work day was complete, which was at 11:30 pm. Lunch was a cold meal, with coffee heated up on the head of the high-pressure steam cylinder.
In March 1907, Camano towed the sternwheeler Fairhaven
Fairhaven (sternwheeler)
-References:* Affleck, Edwin L, ed. A Century of Paddlewheelers in the Pacific Northwest, the Yukon, and Alaska, Alexander Nicholls Press, Vancouver, BC ISBN 0-920034-08-X...
off the beach. Fairhaven had been blown onto the dock at Coupeville during a gale, and then on to the shore, suffering substantial damage.
Camano was also placed on a route running from downtown Seattle to Alki Point. It cost 10 cents to ride the boat on this run.
Sale to KCTC
Camano was sold to the Kitsap County Transportation CompanyKitsap County Transportation Company
The Kitsap County Transportation Company was an important steamboat and ferry company that operated on Puget Sound. The company was originally founded in 1898 as the Hansen Transportation Company.-Hansen Transportation:...
and renamed Tolo. In November, 1915, Kitsap County Transportation Company
Kitsap County Transportation Company
The Kitsap County Transportation Company was an important steamboat and ferry company that operated on Puget Sound. The company was originally founded in 1898 as the Hansen Transportation Company.-Hansen Transportation:...
purchased Camano for $15,000.
Accidents
Camano was involved in several accidents. In one instance, on August 16, 1912, the much larger steel-hulled steamship SiouxSioux (steamship)
Sioux was a steamship which was operated on Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from 1912 to 1941. From 1924 to 1941, following reconstruction, the vessel operated as an auto ferry under the name Olympic. During the Second World War this vessel was taken under the control of the U.S. Army...
, coming in from Seattle, was approaching the Everett dock. From the bridge, Capt. William Thorton of Sioux signaled the engine room for "half astern" to slow the vessel down. Instead the engine room gave him "half ahead" which caused the steamer to ram into the dock. Captain Thorton then signaled for "full astern".
Another mistake was made and the Sioux went full ahead, smashing into Camanos stern, driving Camano forward into the 75 feet (22.86 m) gasoline launch Island Flyer which in turn struck the newly-built motor launch Alverene
Alverene (motor launch)
Alverene was a gasoline launch built in 1912 which operated on northern Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands.-Design and construction:...
. Island Flyer was sunk as a result and Alverene was seriously damaged. Camano then sank at the dock. The small launch Arrow was demolished and the steam launches Ranger and Daphne suffered lesser damage. The total damage was valued at $30,000. It turned out that an engine room assistant, known as an oiler had been left in charge of the telegraph. Fortunately no one was killed although there was at least one close call.
On March 1, 1914, in Elliot Bay, Camano collided with Modoc not far from the piers of the central Seattle waterfront. The collision was ruled to have been Modoc's fault.