T.W. Lake
Encyclopedia
T.W. Lake was a steamboat that ran on Puget Sound
in the early 1900s. This vessel was lost with all hands on December 5, 1923 in one of the worst disasters of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
.
and associates, who had incorporated as the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
(LCT&T). The vessel had a wooden hull and works, and was intended to operate as as freighter. The hull was salvaged from the sternwheeler Annie M. Pence
, which had burned in 1895. In 1903, the vessel passed into the control of the Puget Sound Navigation Co. ("PSN") after that company purchased LCT&T. In 1905 PSN sold the freighter to the Merchants Transportation Company
. In 1916 T.W. Lake was fitted with Barlow freight elevator. In 1918 the vessel was completely reconstructed from the boiler room forward. The steam engines were removed and were replaced by two Fairbanks-Morse
45 hp diesel engines.
, T.W. Lake was en route from Roche Harbor to Anacortes, Washington
with a cargo of 300 barrels of lime, under Capt. E. E. Mason and chief engineer Joseph Larsen. Crossing Rosario Strait
, at 7:15 p.m., the freighter encountered wind speeds of 72 miles per hour, and foundered off Lopez Island
. All eighteen (18) men aboard were lost.
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...
in the early 1900s. This vessel was lost with all hands on December 5, 1923 in one of the worst disasters of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...
.
Career
T.W. Lake was built in 1896 by the T.W Lake shipyard for the firm of Joshua GreenJoshua Green (seaman and banker)
Joshua Green was an American sternwheeler captain, businessman, and banker. He rose from being a seaman to being the dominant figure of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, then sold out his interests and became a banker...
and associates, who had incorporated as the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
The La Conner Trading and Transportation Company was founded in the early 1900s by Joshua Green and others, to engage in the shipping business on Puget Sound.-Formation:...
(LCT&T). The vessel had a wooden hull and works, and was intended to operate as as freighter. The hull was salvaged from the sternwheeler Annie M. Pence
Annie M. Pence
-Career:Annie M. Pence was built at Lummi Island in 1890. The boat was a sternwheeler intended to carry freight. For most of the career of Annie M. Pence, the vessel was under the command of Capt. Peter Falk, who was also one of their owners. Annie M. Pence was purchased by the La Conner Trading...
, which had burned in 1895. In 1903, the vessel passed into the control of the Puget Sound Navigation Co. ("PSN") after that company purchased LCT&T. In 1905 PSN sold the freighter to the Merchants Transportation Company
Merchants Transportation Company
The Merchants Transportation Company was a shipping firm that operated on Puget Sound from 1905 to 1929. This company should not be confused with the similarly named Merchants Transportation Company of Olympia, formed in 1874 and a completely separate firm....
. In 1916 T.W. Lake was fitted with Barlow freight elevator. In 1918 the vessel was completely reconstructed from the boiler room forward. The steam engines were removed and were replaced by two Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958...
45 hp diesel engines.
Lost with all hands
On December 5, 1923, operating in the San Juan IslandsSan Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
, T.W. Lake was en route from Roche Harbor to Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Anacortes' population was 15,778 at the time of the 2010 census...
with a cargo of 300 barrels of lime, under Capt. E. E. Mason and chief engineer Joseph Larsen. Crossing Rosario Strait
Rosario Strait
Rosario Strait is a strait in northern Washington state, separating Island and San Juan Counties. It extends from the Strait of Juan de Fuca about north to the Strait of Georgia...
, at 7:15 p.m., the freighter encountered wind speeds of 72 miles per hour, and foundered off Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
. All eighteen (18) men aboard were lost.