Lurline (sternwheeler 1878)

"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.

Construction

"Lurline" was launched was launched September 30, 1878 by Jacob Kamm, who with John C. Ainsworth had designed and built the first sternwheelers [There were earlier steamboats in the Northwest, but these were mostly sidewheelers which proved unsuitable to the conditions on the Northwest rivers and inland waterways] 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. [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/History/publications_detail.aspx?p=44 Wright, E.W., ed. "Lewis and Dryden Marine History of the Pacific Northwest", at 257-58, Lewis & Dryden Publishing, Portland, OR 1895] ]

"Hassalo" excursion 1888

"Lurline" was used to carry some of the 3,000 excursionists who gathered to witness "Hassalo" 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:

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 Company 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".Newell, Gordon, R, ed., "H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, at 119, 120, 127, 308, 324, 348, 410, and 567, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966] Newell, Gordon R., and Williamson, Jim, "Pacific Steamboats, at 40, Bonanza Books, New York, NY 1958] "Lurline" never acquired the reputation of a speedy boat like the "Bailey Gatzert", 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.

Notes

Further reading

* Faber, Jim, "Steamer's Wake", Enetai Press, Seattle, WA 1985 ISBN 0-9615811-0-7
* Mills, Randall V., 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

ee also

Harkins Transportation Company