COMMANDING OFFICER, Capt. James Carroll (1840-1912)

 

CAPTAIN JAMES CARROLL
(1840-1912)
Ireland to Alaska to Seattle,
  a career on the sea.
Gelatin-silver photograph from the archives 
of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

"Capt. James Carroll, an outstanding figure in shipping circles, and the development of North Pacific commerce was born in Ireland in 1840; when he was 6 months old was brought to America by his parents. Until he was 16 he lived on a farm with his parents. Then he went to Chicago and for two years as a sailor on the Great Lakes.

      He next entered the merchant marine and sailed the world over. He was in China during the war there in 1861. For some time he sailed out of San Francisco for the Hawaiian and South Seas trade and in service between the US and Europe.
      In 1863 he received his first promotion and later progressed through all of the offices in the service to the top. He returned to the Pacific in 1865 and in the following year he was made the second officer of the brig Swallow.
      He next was given command of the Colorado on the China run by the National Steamship Co. He was successively commander of the Great Republic, the Pelican, the California, the Idaho, the Ancon, and several others of the company's vessels.
      In 1878 Captain Carroll entered the Alaskan service and carried the first party of tourists to visit Alaska. This was when Alaska was largely an unknown territory and long before the discovery and development of the country's great mineral resources. In 1880 he and E.C. Hughes, N.A. Fuller and George E. Piltz equipped the vessels Juneau and Harris for the Alaskan run.
       For more than a quarter of a century Captain Carroll was with the Pacific Steamship Co when he became its senior commanding officer, every new vessel built or acquired by the company was entrusted first to his command.
       During his long years in the Alaskan service he gained the friendship of everyone interested in the territory's development. He was the first master of the famous old Queen and the first to take her through the Wrangell Narrows.
      In 1898, at the height of the Klondike boom, Captain Carroll abandoned seafaring life and settled down to life ashore in Alaska. He became the agent of the Alaska Commercial Co and the Rodman Mines on Baranoff Island, in which he held an interest. He also was the representative of the Northern Lakes and Rivers Navigation Co and rounded out his activities by becoming a general merchant and outfitter.
      

Later he returned to the Pacific Steamship Co to command the company's fine new vessel, the Spokane, but in 1906 he retired permanently from the sea and became a prominent figure in shipping and commercial circles in Seattle.

      He was the first Alaskan delegate to Congress and always was active in promoting legislation for the benefit of the territory. He was a Mason of high degree, a man of ability and high character, a genial, lovable man with hosts of friends. He died in Seattle in 1912."

Just Cogitating.C.T.Conover. Seattle Times. August 1954.

CORONATION REGATTA :::::: VICTORIA in 1953

 

4 JUNE 1953
Native tribes of British Columbia
participating in a gala
Regatta to honor the coronation of 
Queen Elizabeth II
 at the Gorge Waters,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  
Each canoe is manned by 11 crew.
Click the image to enlarge. 
Low-res scan of an original photo from 
the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

CAPT. THORNTON & HIS TROUPE MEET THE TROOPS, ROUND THE CLOCK.

Capt. W.P. Thornton
and Barbara Mercer.
Barbara joined the captain at the wheel
to take a last-minute peek at her
audience across the water on the troopship,
troopship before she braved the 
icy wind to go into her act.
The girls did not let the cold weather
affect their enthusiastic welcome 
 to the returning troops. No matter 
the hour or weather, the Welcome Ship  
 and U.S.O. entertainers were there
to greet returning troopships.
Click the image to enlarge.
Dated 10 Feb. 1946.
Original gelatin-silver print from the archives
of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

WELCOME HOME

Capt. W.P. Thornton watched the goings-on
on his little ship with amusement.
The short trips he made in the
Welcome Home were routine to him. 
Capt. Thornton was a youth when he joined the 
Coast Guard, and has chased smugglers of Chinese,
including Pirate Kelly, and rum runners. Now he's 
proud of his new work and his traveling chore of 
transporting the welcoming troupe ––to greet 
the returning servicemen.
Unknown photographer. Gelatin-silver print 
from the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

This huge sign built on West Point
to greet returning veterans was lit
at night with floodlights.
The Seattle Sportsmen's Club campaigned
for half the total cost, $9,000, and
the state paid the other $4,500. 
In the background can be seen the
old-time "West Point Light,
 which guided mariners into Seattle
since before 1880.
On a clear day, the sign can be seen
from Point No Point
nearly 15 miles away.
Click the image to enlarge. 
Gelatin-silver photograph from the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

Seagoing "riots" broke out when
troupes met troopship in Seattle 
 and delighted roars came from 
thousands of G.I.'s hanging
over the rails of their vessels 
when they glimpsed the U.S.O.
entertainers on the Welcome Home
boat sent out by the 
 Seattle Port of Embarkation. 

Always aboard the welcome
vessel were seven U.S.O. gals and
a Seattle woman, Barbara Mercer,
 a night-club entertainer,
who always accompanied
the troupe with her
baton-twirling act on the deck.
 The troupe also included 
an accordionist, a dancer,
and singers.

Source: Some text by Betty Cornelius for the Seattle-Times, Feb. 1946.

LAMP LIGHTER LOUIS at TURN POINT

Light Keeper Louis A. Borchers
(1867-1923)
Turn Point Lightstation,
Stuart Island, 
San Juan Archipelago, WA.
Gelatin-silver photograph from the archives 
of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

Mr. Louis A. Borchers, born in San Francisco, was employed in the Lighthouse service for twenty-five years, twenty-one of those years at Turn Point Light in the San Juan Archipelago, Washington. 

He was an enthusiastic photographer of ships and marine scenes and had a collection of photographs that included nearly every vessel that regularly operated via the Haro Strait route. The international shipping lanes were right below him. The photographs included here were from the camera in the above photograph. 

Possibly a driftwood dugout canoe 
aboard Turn Point Light Station grounds,
planted with flowers by the keeper 
Louis A. Borchers
On station at this Light for 21 years
of his career.
Original gelatin-silver photograph by Louis,
 from the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

Photograph notated in ink
by the Keeper  
and photographer, Mr. Borchers, 
"Fog signal and light, Turn Point."
Stuart Island, San Juan Archipelago, WA.
He made this into a photo postcard
& mailed it from Prevost, WA, in 1907.
From the archives of the 
Saltwater People Historical Society©

He also had great beds of red carnations on the grounds surrounding the lighthouse and kept his friends liberally supplied with flowers during the spring and summer. With the climate zone of Stuart Island, he grew a Lemon tree, which must have shared inside quarters in the winter. The huge fruit from the tree he used in pies to delight his family and neighbors. He was also known for sharing strawberry desserts and for his skill in canning salmon. 

When he passed away his ashes were scattered on the waters of Puget Sound from the bridge of the Lighthouse tender Heather. 

Please note that the photos in this post are originals in the archives of the Saltwater People Historical Society and not for lifting, thank you.  

MARITIME DAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 22 MAY

 

Left: Captain Les Reynolds in command of the 

 Army tug TATNUCK, the winner of Class A, 

First Annual Maritime Day Tug Races, 1949.

Right:  Captain Milt Ness,

skipper of the Army tug S.T. 860,

winner of Maritime Day Tug Race, Class B, 1949.

Seattle, Washington.

The amount of horsepower decides the

classification for entries.

Both vessels were to be out to defend their titles

in the Maritime Day races of 1950.

To keep the plaques tugs must win

three out of five years.

Click image to enlarge.

Original gelatin-silver photograph by

Joe Williamson, Neg. 4161-24 taken on

4 May 1950 from the archives of the

Saltwater People Historical Society©

"In 1933, Congress declared National Maritime Day to commemorate the American steamship SAVANNAHA’s voyage from the United States to England, marking the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean with steam propulsion, May 24-–June 20, 1819. During World War II more than 250,000 members of the American Merchant Marine served their country, with more than 6,700 giving their lives, hundreds being detained as prisoners of war and more than 800 U.S. merchant ships being sunk or damaged.
        Maritime Day is a time-honored tradition that recognizes one of our country’s most important industries. Each year, ceremonies and celebrations throughout the country recognize Maritime Day and the people our maritime nation depends on."
Source: The US Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.

On 13 May 2022, The Seattle Propeller Club and the Port of Seattle had a Maritime Day breakfast at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront sponsored by Crowley.