The Tragic Collision of the Premier and Willamette
Dense fog and poor visibility lead to a deadly collision between two steamers in Washington waters, resulting in multiple deaths and heroic rescues.
In a dense fog, the steamship Premier and the Willamette collided, leaving the passengers of the Premier in terror as the prow of the Willamette sliced through their deck. Among the victims, a thirteen-year-old boy, Frank Wynkoop, died in his father's arms, while steward John Rankin and passenger Johannes Moe were also killed in the wreckage. Survivors described a scene of absolute chaos as the forward smoking room was decimated by the impact. Heroic passengers and crew members helped carry survivors across the debris of the ruined ships to safety. The injured were transported to Providence Hospital in Seattle, while the deceased were taken to Bonney Stewart’s undertaking rooms.
“The little fellow uttered the words, 'Oh, papa,' and was dead.”
Steamboat collisions were a recurring hazard in the Puget Sound region's early maritime history, where fog and heavy shipping traffic often proved deadly. The account reflects the vulnerability of passengers traveling the inland waterways before modern radar and traffic control systems were implemented.
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