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Selkirk (sternwheeler 1895)
Encyclopedia
Selkirk was a small sternwheel steamer that operated on the Thompson
and Columbia
rivers in British Columbia
from 1895 to 1917. This vessel should not be confused with the much larger Yukon River
sternwheeler Selkirk.
at Kamloops, BC
for Harold E. Forster, a wealthy man who wanted a steamboat for private excursions in the Kamloops area. The vessel was described as top-heavy.
_in_british_columbia_ca_1900.jpg)
Forster operated Selkirk on the Thompson River
until June 29, 1898, when 25 miles above Kamloops, Selkirk turned into an eddy and capsized. A number of passengers, including some children, were trapped and nearly drowned, but fortunately were rescued before the vessel sank. Three months later Forster was able to raise Selkirk. While he was floating the vessel downstream to Kamloops for repair, the boat capsized again, and this time the deckhouse was washed away. Eventually Forster was able to return to Kamloops with the wreck of the steamer.
_ca_1900.jpg)
Forster did nothing with the vessel until the spring of 1899, when he had Selkirk loaded onto two flatcars and shipped by rail to Golden, BC
on the uppermost reaches of the Columbia River
where the vessel was reconstructed. Forster did not however immediately place the vessel in commercial service. In 1906 gasoline engines were installed in place of the original steam engines. In 1913 Selkirk was sold to Capt. E.N. Russell.
Thompson River
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches called the South Thompson and the North Thompson...
and Columbia
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...
rivers in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
from 1895 to 1917. This vessel should not be confused with the much larger Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
sternwheeler Selkirk.
Design and construction
Selkirk was built by Alexander Watson, an experienced shipbuilder from Victoria, BCVictoria, 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...
at Kamloops, BC
Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
for Harold E. Forster, a wealthy man who wanted a steamboat for private excursions in the Kamloops area. The vessel was described as top-heavy.
Operations on the Thompson River
Thompson River
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches called the South Thompson and the North Thompson...
until June 29, 1898, when 25 miles above Kamloops, Selkirk turned into an eddy and capsized. A number of passengers, including some children, were trapped and nearly drowned, but fortunately were rescued before the vessel sank. Three months later Forster was able to raise Selkirk. While he was floating the vessel downstream to Kamloops for repair, the boat capsized again, and this time the deckhouse was washed away. Eventually Forster was able to return to Kamloops with the wreck of the steamer.
Transfer to the Columbia River
Golden, British Columbia
Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located west of Calgary, Alberta and east of Vancouver.-History:Much of the town's history is tied into the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry...
on the uppermost reaches of the Columbia River
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...
where the vessel was reconstructed. Forster did not however immediately place the vessel in commercial service. In 1906 gasoline engines were installed in place of the original steam engines. In 1913 Selkirk was sold to Capt. E.N. Russell.
Withdrawal from service
Selkirk was withdrawn from the vessel register in 1917. The vessel was hauled out on the ways at Golden, where she was apparently simply abandoned.Further reading
- Faber, Jim, Steamer's Wake—Voyaging down the old marine highways of Puget Sound, British Columbia, and the Columbia River, Enetai Press, Seattle, WA 1985 ISBN 0-9615811-0-7
- Timmen, Fritz, Blow for the Landing, 75-78, 134, Caxton Printers, Caldwell, ID 1972 ISBN 0-87004-221-1