VIRGINIA V,
steaming into Elliott Bay, Seattle, WA.
Date between 1934-1939.
Original photograph from the James A. Turner Collection,
Saltwater People Historical Society©
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"We were young and full of vinegar in those early years of Seattle's Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society [PSMHS]. Steamboat races, tugboat races, and pyrotechnics were frequently on our minds. Action we wanted and action we got--action mixed with history--a novel combination. Our first big endeavor was to race on Elliott Bay the last of the inland passenger steamers in an epic contest for the crown.
SIGHTSEER on Lake Washington, Seattle. Dated 1936 Click image to enlarge. Original gelatin-silver photo from the Saltwater People Historical Society. |
SIGHTSEER (ex-VASHONA) Original photo from the James A. Turner Collection, Saltwater People Historical Society archives© |
Pitted against each other were the venerable steamers VIRGINIA V and the SIGHTSEER, skippered by Captain 'Howling' Parker and Captain Harry Wilson, respectively. This led to the annual Elliott Bay tugboat races, sponsored by the PSMHS for many years and involving scores of tugs of all sizes and horsepower, coming here from as far as Alaska to the north and the Columbia River to the south, with a generous sprinkling of Canadian challengers as well. We started a nationwide show, one that was copied in several large American ports.
Then came that featured race between the last of the sternwheelers--the SKAGIT CHIEF, SKAGIT BELLE, and W. T. PRESTON.
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The black horse PRESTON took the honors. And when the annual Seafair rolled around, the destruction of Neptune's ship fell in our hands, and Elliott Bay was the scene of the fiery end of many worn-out hulls including the historic BELLINGHAM, the first ship of the Alaska Steamship Co., Black Ball Line, and Northland Transportation Co.
Photo by James A. Turner, Seattle, WA. Date and event unknown. Original photo from the archives of the Saltwater People Historical Society© |
Text by Jim Gibbs
The Sea Chest
Quarterly membership journal of the Puget Sound Maritime Society
June 1969
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