Story
This passenger/freight vessel was built in 1884 by Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding & Engine Works Co. in Chester, PA.
Historical Notes
In 1886 this vessel was on the summer tourist route to southeastern Alaska ports. This vessel sank at the Pacific Coast Co. pier in Seattle Harbour (The Steamer sank alongside her dock at Seattle on September 5, 1904 (U.S. National Archives Record Group 41:891, United States Steamboat Inspection Service Records l9O4:30). "Among the well -known vessels which ended their careers by other than shipwreck was the famous old Pacific coastwise steamship City of Topeka which, as the Waimea, was sold for scrap after serving inter-island routes from Honolulu. (ref. Gordon Newell, Maritime Events of 1933, W.H. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 425)." "The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's City of Topeka was badly holed as a result of striking a rock in Wrangell Narrows March 29, the cost of salvage and repairs being $ 20,000. (Ref. Gordon Newell, Maritime events of 1899, H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 52)."
Owners & Masters
In 1884 she was owned by the Oregon Improvement Co.
In 1885 the Pacific Coast Steamship Company operated her until 1916. From then until 1920 the Admiral Line operated her between San Francisco and Portland. The Inter-Island Steamship Co bought her in 1920. The Los Angeles Steamship Co purchased her in 1923 and renamed her Waimea. From then she ran between San Francisco and San Diego via Los Angeles until 1931.
She was eventually sold, and in 1933 she was broken up.
Rebuilds
In 1894 she was rebuilt wth electric lights installed.
References
- Newell, G. (1966)
- McDonald, Lucile (1984)
- commons.wikimedia.org ↗
- H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 52
- Lloyd's Register Vol. 1 1926-1927
- Gibbs, Jim (1986) Peril At Sea
- Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen PA USA
