, 1891-11-25
THE GATZERT OFF.
SHE MAY BE TAKEN AROUND TO
THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
The Railroads Were TOO Much for
the Boats and the MuItnOmah
is Now the Only One
ON the RuM

The magnificent steamer Bailey Gatzert
left Olympia at O'Clock this morning on
its last run to and from this city, and will
be laid up at Seattle until taken around to
the Columbia river. Her run between Ia
coma and Seattle will be taken by the new
steamer The Flyer, but the Multnomah
will have full control Of the run between
Olympia and Tacoma. The Northern Pa
citic railroad has made competition by the
boats practically useless and the Gatzert
stood it as long as possible. Many there
are who regret this change, for the uni
form courtesy of the officers and the many
conyeniences of the boat were appreciated.
The Gatzert has not been on the Olympia
run many months, but succeeded the
Fleetwood, which took the Tacoma Port
| Townsend run after the changes made by
the formotion of the Columbia River g.
| Puget Sound Navigation Company. The
Fleetwood, which is also tbe property of
this company, has seen good service here
She was brought around from Portland
four years ago by Captain Messegee, in one
OF the worst gales that ever prevailed on
the coast. Captain Messegee- said this
morning: "For tWenty-six hours con
tinuously stood by that wheel.
Everything on the boat was tied down and
you can form some idea of the condition
OF things when / tell you that the TilIa-
nook light on the Columbia is 80 feet high.
On the top of this was water tank, and
the sea ragged so high that that it washed
the tank away.
That was one of the worst hurricanes /
was ever in with such craft. But she
weathered it, and has made money for her
owners since"
The Fleetwood is now laid up at Seattle,
and is being thoroughly oYerhauled. The
schedule of the Multnomah NAV be
changed, since she has no competition.
The Gatzert is one Of the favorite steam
ers ON the Sound, and also one Of the fleet
est, but the arrival of the steamer Flyer,
OF the same company, on the Sound has
knocked out any need for the Gatzert as
far as the Tacoma Seattle run is concerned, :,
and practically no busines is the reason for
her withdrawal from the Tacoma-Ol Olympia
run. Ever since the opening Of the North
ern Pacific railroad between Tacoma and
Olympia there has been a falling off in the
Gatzert's business between the two places,
and during the past two months the boat
has been run at loss The reason is APP
parent for the loss of passenger trade when
it is considered that it takes two and a half
hours to travel the route by boat and but
all hour and fifteen minutes BY rail at a
SIlBuGlY llSI1GI TdO6 III GQ6 ldDC6r case. IhG
passenger list fell off so steadily that lately
the boat has been going out frequently
with but four or five passengers from Ia
coma to Olympia.
1t had been planned to put the Fleetwood
on the Olympia run when the Flyer start
ed on the Tacoma Seattle route, but that
idea has also been knocked out and the
Fleetwood will keep the Gatzert company
IN resting place for time at least, as it
is very probable that before long the Cat
zert will go around to the Columbia river
to be operated. The Flyer is to start run
ming tomorrow, and it is very likely that
competition will be started earnestly with
the Greyhound right away 1t is almost
certain that both boats will run on the
same schedule. Captain Struve has been
ordered from the Gatzert to the Flyer, to
take charge today.
The steamer Multnomah, which is left on
the Olympia run, has withstood all oppos-
ition successfully for long time. She
proved too much for the Potter, which was
succeeded by the Gatzert, and now the lat
ter has been outrun. 1t had been reported
that the ibeling of the Gatzert at Seattle
yesterday had something to do with the
laying up of the Gatzert. She was Iibeled
on account Of machinery, etc., put in her,
but Captain Struye stated that that was a
matter between the builderof the machin-
cry and John Leary and the libellants,
James Rees d Co., and that the Gatzert it.
self was not Immediately involved. Leary
put up sufficient bonds and the boat was
not delayed.