The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-10
Brilliant Career of Captain James
TrOup.

published a detailed account of the
successful run made by the Harvest
Queen over Tumwater Falls. On the
10Th of February Capt. Troup brought
the boat safely through the little dalles
and moved her opposite the Mess
House, it being deemed imprudent to
proceed through the more dangerous,
big dalles with the water running as
high as it was then. She lay at this
point patiently waiting fall of the
water, and Capt. Troup tramped back
and forth several times through the
snow from this city to tile Mess House,
along the bank of the river, pick
ing out the safest channels. On the
18th there wasa changein the weather
indicating thaw, and upon instruc-
tions from Capt. George Ainsworth,
the Queen was brought to this city,
the passage being made without the
slightest accident. There were on
board besides the Captain and crew,
Master Mechanic J. f. Curtis, Agent,
J. N. Fordyce, Master Ship Builder,
]. J. Holland, and Messrs. Ben. Snipes,
Frank Abernethy and Ticket Agent
Murphy. The party left here for the
steamer on II special engine arriving
at 3 o'clock p. NJ, when preparations
were Immediately made for the peril
Gus run. The young Captain had well
selected his course, and by skillfu1
management the steamer passed the
treacherous rocks and shoals in safety,
arriving here q few minutes before
six. Thus has Capt. Troup proven
himself a master at the wheel, and a
man possessing nerve and judgement
rarely to be found in one of his age.
To carry an idea of the magnitude of
this perilous trip, we here give de-
tailed description of
THE "HARvEsT QUEEN"
She was built in 1873 at Cello by Mr..
J. J. Holland, Master Ship Builder of
the 0. r.. g. n. Co. Her length of hull
is 200 feet, with rs feet beam: feet
hold. Her length over all is 22S feet.
There are 26 staterooms with double
and single berths. The main cabin is
10 feet long by 80 feet wide; she has
also commodious Office, pantry and
wash rooms on this dec.. The dining
saloon is 6oxi4 feet, ana tEe laaies'
cabin, 4Oxl4 feet. On the 'rexas' are
the officers, quarters just aft the pilot
house. The Queen has sleeping ac-
commodations for rs first-class passen-
gers, with capacity for 500 tons. She
draws p feet light, and will make 16
knots per hour. Her cost exceeded
S65, 900 and her builder will put her
against any boat in the company's
service. She has two connected en-
gines, 20 inch cylinders, s feet stroke.
Mr.. Holland informed our reporter on
Tuesday that it was the intention to
beach the Queen and put in new hog
posts and chains, repair the slight
damage to her hull, re-paint and thor
oughly overhaul her. She will be put
on the route between this city and up
per Cascades as fast passenger boat,
she having but one superior in speed
on the river-the Thompson. The
Mountain Queen will be put on the
road service, that is, to be devoted to
bring up railroad material exclusively.
The damage done to the machinery of
the Harvest Queen in passing Tumwa-
ter will amount to about $500. In
making the run OF the dalles her in
jury will not exceed S25; nominally
speaking, nothing.
1t will be readily seen that the
Queen is no skifl. She is the largest
boat ever brought down from the up
per river and those familiar with the
nature of the stream at Tumwater, and
the big and little dalles will readily
appreciate the splendid work done in
this venture. 1t may not be out of
place to give in this connection brief
biographical sketch of her youthful
master as steamboat man.
CAPTAIN JAMES TRoUP
Was born in this State and is 90 years
of age, about feet9 inches high, erect
and square shouldered, and would not
be taken for over 20. He has been
steamboating since the age sof IA, and
we remember when he used to stand
on a candle box and steer the old Van
couuer, plying between Portland and
Vancouver in '63, under the instruc-
ton of his grandfather, Capt. William
Turnbull. He is the youngest captain
on the upper river, and with one ex-
ception in the company's service.
Capt. Troup has been on the upper
river since August 1875, and we doubt
il there is pilot between Cello and
Lewiston better acquainted with the
stream than he. He is from a steam
boat family-his father, grandfather
aud uncles having passed useful lives
at the business before him. He has
had command of the Queen since the
day she was launched and his absolute
control over the staunch craft Is mar
velous. He formerly ran on the lower
river and also commanded the YAK
lima, plying between Cello and Lew
iston. He Is q man of sterling quali-
tics and exceedingly popular, both
with his crew and the officers OF the
company. He was married some two
II G.~s ~k..ts