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Lurline (sternwheeler 1878)
Encyclopedia
Lurline was a steamboat that served from 1878 to 1930 on the Columbia
and Willamette
rivers. Lurline was a classic example of the Columbia river type of steamboat.
, who with John C. Ainsworth
had designed and built the first sternwheelers in the Northwest, Jennie Clark and Carrie Ladd, nearly a quarter of a century before.
run the Cascades of the Columbia
on Saturday, May 26, 1888, making the run up from Portland in the company of another famous sternwheeler, the R.R. Thompson
, the Lurline having also embarked an army band from the Fort Vancouver
barracks. The Sunday Oregonian's correspondent described the trip up the river on that historic day:
of Portland, Oregon. Lurline was rebuilt several times, and survived being rammed and sunk, at Rainier, Oregon
on November 21, 1906, by the steam schooner Cascade. Lurline never acquired the reputation of a speedy boat like the Bailey Gatzert
, but she did valuable service just the same:
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and Willamette
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
rivers. Lurline was a classic example of the Columbia river type of steamboat.
Construction
Lurline was launched was launched September 30, 1878 by Jacob KammJacob Kamm
Jacob Kamm was a prominent early transportation businessman in Oregon.-Early life:Kamm was born on December 12, 1823 in Canton of Glarus, Switzerland. His family immigrated to America when he was 8 to Illinois, St. Louis, then New Orleans. He worked as a Printer's devil beginning at age 12...
, who with John C. Ainsworth
John C. Ainsworth
John Commingers Ainsworth was an American pioneer businessman and steamboat owner in Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved west to mine gold in California before immigrating to Oregon where he piloted steamships and became a founder of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company and several banks.-Early...
had designed and built the first sternwheelers in the Northwest, Jennie Clark and Carrie Ladd, nearly a quarter of a century before.
Operations on the Columbia
Capt. James T. Gray took charge of the Lurline and handled her on the Vancouver route for the first ten years of her career. During the summer season she made one trip a week in the seaside traffic, and occasionally towed ships, competing with the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company's steamers. Competition from the Lurline was said to have cost the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company over half a million dollars. In 1889 that company leased her, and, in command of Captain Pillsbury, she was operated on the Cascade route until 1892 when Kamm again commenced regular trips to Astoria. Among her many captains was Charles T. Kamm, son of her designer.Hassalo excursion 1888
Lurline was used to carry some of the 3,000 excursionists who gathered to witness HassaloHassalo (sternwheeler 1880)
The steamboat Hassalo operated from 1880 to 1898 on the Columbia River and Puget Sound. Hassalo became famous for running the Cascades of the Columbia on May 26, 1888 at a speed approaching an hour...
run the Cascades of the Columbia
Cascades Rapids
The Cascades Rapids were an area of rapids along North America's Columbia River, between the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. Through a stretch approximately wide, the river dropped about in .-Boat portage:Boat travelers were forced to either portage boats and supplies or pull boats up with...
on Saturday, May 26, 1888, making the run up from Portland in the company of another famous sternwheeler, the R.R. Thompson
R.R. Thompson (sternwheeler)
R.R. Thompson was a large sternwheel steamboat designed in the classic Columbia River style. She was named after Robert R. Thompson, one of the shareholders of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company the firm that built the vessel.-Design and Construction:...
, the Lurline having also embarked an army band from the Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
barracks. The Sunday Oregonian's correspondent described the trip up the river on that historic day:
Later years
Lurline served for over 50 years, a very long time for a wooden steamboat. in later years she came to be owned by the Harkins Transportation CompanyHarkins Transportation Company
Harkins Transportation Company was founded in 1914 by L.P. Hosford, Henry L. Pittock, and A.J. Lewthwaite. The line was named after the tugboat Jessie Harkins, which had been built by Jacob Kamm and named after Hosford's niece. The line ran steamboats on the lower Columbia from 1914 to 1937, when...
of Portland, Oregon. Lurline was rebuilt several times, and survived being rammed and sunk, at Rainier, Oregon
Rainier, Oregon
Rainier is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,687 at the 2000 census. Rainier is located on the south bank of the Columbia River across from Kelso and Longview, Washington-History:...
on November 21, 1906, by the steam schooner Cascade. Lurline never acquired the reputation of a speedy boat like the Bailey Gatzert
Bailey Gatzert (sternwheeler)
The Bailey Gatzert was a famous sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Columbia River and Puget Sound from the 1890s to the 1920s. She was named after Bailey Gatzert, an early businessman and mayor of Seattle...
, but she did valuable service just the same:
Out of service
Lurline was dismantled in about 1930. Her upper works were still in good condition despite having been built some 52 years before. The cabins and other above deck structures were transferred to a new vessel, the diesel-powered L.P. Hosford which was still in operation as late as 1966.Further reading
- Faber, Jim, Steamer's Wake, Enetai Press, Seattle, WA 1985 ISBN 0-9615811-0-7
- Mills, Randall V.Randall V. MillsRandall V. Mills was an English professor with a variety of interests related to the Pacific Northwest, including steamboats, railroads and folklore.-Early life and education:...
, Sternwheelers up Columbia, at 67-79, 195, University of Nebraska Press (1977 reprint of 1947 edition) ISBN 0-8032-5874-7 - Timmen, Fritz, Blow for the Landing - A Hundred Years of Steam Navigation on the Waters of the West, Caxton Printers, Caldwell, ID 1973 ISBN 0-87004-221-1
See also
Harkins Transportation CompanyHarkins Transportation Company
Harkins Transportation Company was founded in 1914 by L.P. Hosford, Henry L. Pittock, and A.J. Lewthwaite. The line was named after the tugboat Jessie Harkins, which had been built by Jacob Kamm and named after Hosford's niece. The line ran steamboats on the lower Columbia from 1914 to 1937, when...