The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-02-25
Three River Steamers.
From the Tribune.

From the Irinune.
During 1886 the Three Sisters was
launched at Portland by Pacqaet Broth.
ere and entered the service of the Ore
son Pacific Railroad Company, on June
2S, IN command OF Captain L Smith
She was a light-dratt boat, l40 feet
long, 30 foot beam and 4 feet inches
debth Of hold, with engines l2x4s ineh-
az. The first year size ran on the river
abe made daily trips between Corvallis
and Albany during the ent're sumner,
y feat that had never before or since
been accomplished. connecting the Ore
gon Pacific railroad with the southern
Pacific ut the latter city. During that
year the o PRR was being extended
from Corvallis east. and had not yet
reached Albany.
During the flood OF 1890 she was un-
fortunate enough TO be in the basin at
Oregon City, and as the current was too
swift for her 10 contend with. she was
forced to ,emain inside. As the river
rose she kept moving inshore until she
was over the county road, mp against
the bluff, when all of sudden the walls
OF the basement gave way, leaving where
was ouce an artificial mooring ground io
enable boats to unload at the Touring
mills. toaming cataract. Fortunately
the Three Sistere' lines held her from
being SWEPT dosn over the ialis in the
mad rush Of water, and she settled In
the road high above the waser's edge
s.e Mas le.t there during the spring un'
III lse basin MAS rebuilt, and ther
lsuacned after undergoing a complete
oyeshauling Alter several years active
vice sts IVES Withdrawn from. th'
route, ant during the high water OF 1885,
az, wa beached at Corvallis and d,s-
msatls6. het machinery was taken ou
ard placed in good order, and th,
chances are favorable that they will b
! aiccs> n ano.heT light-drafs boat.
Or 3.cemher Is. 1856, the steamer
) .se.tis, vas lsunchei in Portland TO
tae aPRR. She was commanded 3.
/ iCasasa l. Smith. who ran her 10
81 e,ai years. During the first yea
ss, ran between But;eville and Corvallis
lea ,yi..x wheat to tie latter point 70
,..ipaa al to San Erarc.seo via. fsquin
nay. Ten days alter she started out j
passing through the draw OF the raiir-a'
bri,ies a. a oany sss coilided With III
east per The captain managed TO ss
her bow on thu bank just below tn
bridge. where she sank with bow ou
Il water aud the wheel completely sui
merged Her entire cargo, consis.in
of $500 bushels of wheat, and o;he
freigh, Was g total lose. The passenger
and crew we're assisted on shore wi,hor
any Ioss OF life owing to the favoreol
formation OF the bank at that point
Tt Three Sisters of the same COMPANY
was living at her wharf at Albany, ans
witnessing Il plight of her mate steam
ed down to her assistance, but owing
the position she was in was nuaole
. render any assistance until the rive
which was very high at that nme, II
. ceeded enough to enable the work
. raising her to begin. After being sul
rerssd for two weeks the water had Ia
: len sufficiently to bring her gnsr'
! above the water, and with the Sister
t syphons, assisted on her how by Il
{ Albany FIRE department engine and L
Chinese laborers from the railroad eli
n buckets, forming line along her guar
she was soon brought TO the sursae
!, She vas taken to Portland, and in se
than thirty DAYS after the accident el
was again running on The ioute.
after 10 years OF usefulness on Il
river she was brought TO Portland
1896 and replaced her hull with . ne
and better model, both for speed 81
: carrying purposes. and reehrisien
the Albany.
In 1887 this same company had By tr
time . monopoly of the Willamette bu
. iness, and finding their business incies
ing, builr the steamer VIM. NJ. Hos
!. named alter the manager of the -os
She was $50 feet long, 70 feet beam
feet inches deptL Of hold, engin
I9x2O inches. During her first d
years run she sas commanded by Ca
tain George Rssbe. SiDce then she b
been handled BY many different master
! and is still in the service, having bes
. managed by the Oregon Pacific. her FL
owners. The o z. & N. under
lease ran her one season. ;hsn passi
|. in through the hands OF the Oregon Cs
|, | tral &Eastern, and finally to the Corvai
L Eastern. uy whom she was remodel
and entirely renovated, making, il pc
sible, at the present time q better co
than ever. On her trial trip up the Tiv
she caught on DIRE amidships from h
boisr casing, but was extipguished :
fore any seEions damage was done.