Chehalis (steamboat 1867)
Encyclopedia
Chehalis was a sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Chehalis River
, Puget Sound
, and Lake Washington
from 1867 to 1882. This vessel should not be confused with other steam vessels named Chehalis.
in 1867 by H.H. Hyde. The engines for Chehalis came from the Fraser River
sternwheeler Henrietta, which had been built at Victoria
in 1859. For nearly three years following construction, the owners of Chehalis tried to compete on Grays Harbor and the Chehalis River
. This proved unsuccessful, and so the vessel was returned to Puget Sound where it proved more profitable. Chehalis was first put on the route between Snohomish
, Port Gamble, and Port Ludlow.
Chehalis was later sold to the Black Diamond Coal Company of California, which was operating mines in the Black Diamond
area south of Lake Washington
. Under Captain Huffner and Capt. William Bailey (1822–1882), Chehalis was used to tow barges on the lake. (Captain Bailey was later killed in a dock accident at Yesler Wharf.)
Capt J.C. Brittain and Capt. Thomas Brennan then bought Chehalis and ran the vessel on the Skagit River
. Chehalis was the first vessel to go up the Skagit as far as Portage Rapids, and the first to ascend the Sauk River
. The vessel was in charge of captains Daniel Benson, Curtis D. Brownfield, and Robert Bailey while on the Skagit River. Chehalis was also run on the Seattle-Olympia
route under Capt. Hiram Olney.
. Chehalis was a total loss, and her cargo was strewn along ten miles of the shore.
Chehalis River
The Chehalis River may refer to:*Chehalis River , in the United States*Chehalis River , in Canada...
, 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...
, and Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
from 1867 to 1882. This vessel should not be confused with other steam vessels named Chehalis.
Career
Chehalis was built at Tumwater, WashingtonTumwater, Washington
Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It lies near where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound. The population was 17,371 at the 2010 census...
in 1867 by H.H. Hyde. The engines for Chehalis came from the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
sternwheeler Henrietta, which had been built at Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1859. For nearly three years following construction, the owners of Chehalis tried to compete on Grays Harbor and the Chehalis River
Chehalis River
The Chehalis River may refer to:*Chehalis River , in the United States*Chehalis River , in Canada...
. This proved unsuccessful, and so the vessel was returned to Puget Sound where it proved more profitable. Chehalis was first put on the route between Snohomish
Snohomish
Snohomish can refer to:* Snohomish , a tribe of Native Americans* Snohomish, Washington, a city located in the county of the same name* Snohomish County, Washington* The Snohomish River in Washington...
, Port Gamble, and Port Ludlow.
Chehalis was later sold to the Black Diamond Coal Company of California, which was operating mines in the Black Diamond
Black Diamond
-Minerals:* Anthracite* Carbonado, a natural diamond that is black in color* A black synthetic diamond, specifically CVD polycrystalline diamonds or HPHT polycrystalline compact diamonds...
area south of Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
. Under Captain Huffner and Capt. William Bailey (1822–1882), Chehalis was used to tow barges on the lake. (Captain Bailey was later killed in a dock accident at Yesler Wharf.)
Capt J.C. Brittain and Capt. Thomas Brennan then bought Chehalis and ran the vessel on the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
. Chehalis was the first vessel to go up the Skagit as far as Portage Rapids, and the first to ascend the Sauk River
Sauk River
Sauk River can refer to the following rivers in the United States:*Sauk River *Sauk River , a tributary of the Mississippi River*Sauk River , a tributary of the Skagit River...
. The vessel was in charge of captains Daniel Benson, Curtis D. Brownfield, and Robert Bailey while on the Skagit River. Chehalis was also run on the Seattle-Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
route under Capt. Hiram Olney.
Wrecked
In November 1882, under the command of Capt. W.F. Munroe, Chehalis was caught in a gale en route from Snohomish to Seattle. The vessel became unmanageable, and was blown ashore stern first near Ten Mile PointTen Mile Point
Ten Mile Point may refer to the following:* Ten Mile Point, British Columbia, a residential neighbourhood in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada* Ten Mile Point, New York, an area on the shore of Skaneateles Lake, New York, USA...
. Chehalis was a total loss, and her cargo was strewn along ten miles of the shore.