Seattle Turns Out for the Whaleback

'There she comes! There is the whaleback,' was the cry from hundreds of throats on the water front yesterday afternoon as the big whaleback City of Everett hove to sight around West Point, and immediately afterward rush was made for the coal bunkers, where the cigar-shaped coaster was to land. She came majestically down the harbor and when opposite the city was greeted by the screeching of whistles from craft tied up at the different docks and from cannons and locomotives. In turn the whaleback bellowed out with her siren, and as she swung around to come in to the bunkers she presented a very picturesque sight, with her cabin and pilot house aft and so much clear space forward. The steamer was light and sat up in the water much higher than she will when loaded and ready for sea. She docked at exactly 5:25, having made the run up a distance of thirty-five miles in two hours and fifty-five minutes, which is a very good run, considering the newness of the machinery and everything connected with the boat. An excursion party of about 300 made the trip up, and were loud in their praises for the new steamer.

As early as 5 o'clock a.m. everything was astir on the steamer at Priest Point, and shortly afterward she steamed into the harbor at Everett. Her arrival at the wharf at the nail works was the signal for a lively exchange of salutes from mills and steamers that anchor the city. All the forenoon a steady stream of visitors inspected the steamer. She left at 3:30 for this city, amid the huzzas of the 2,000 people gathered on the wharf and the whistles of factories and steamers.

During the trip and on the arrival in this city, Capt. Alex McDougall, general manager of the American Steam Barge Company; Capt. Bucknam, master of the vessel, and Superintendent Caldermoor were the recipients of hearty congratulations. The big steamer handled herself beautifully and her engines worked admirably. Not a hitch was noticed in any part of the ponderous engines. In the fire room the stokers worked as if their lives depended on their jobs, and the engineers watched closely for any flaw in the engines. The steam steering apparatus worked to perfection and the steamer answered readily to the least turn of the wheel.

The City of Everett, a full description of which was published in the Post-Intelligencer on last Sunday, is the first vessel turned out at the Pacific Steel Barge Works at Everett, and cost upward of $300,000. She is given the highest rating by the Bureau Veritas.

Capt. R. D. Bucknam, master of the steamer, is the superintendent on the Atlantic coast for the American Steel Barge Company, and is an able and experienced officer. J. B. Gibson, first officer, has been for some time in the service of the company, and is a good seaman; J. B. Hastings is second officer and well qualified for the place; R. B. Blauvelt, chief engineer, has brought out all the company's steamers on the lakes and is an officer of great ability. His assistants, J. J. Chrisholm and C. U. Bellamoire, are experienced engineers.

Among the passengers who will take the first trip to San Francisco are Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Crocker, of Everett; Mr. and Mrs. George L. Hutchings and children, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith, Mr. Hugh T. L. Grant, Mr. S. Peterson and Mr. Alex Clelland, all of Everett, and Mr. and Mrs. H. Cranston, doctor, and Mr. Kershaw of Tacoma.

The steamer took on about forty tons of fuel and departed at midnight for Nanaimo, B.C., where she will take on 4,000 tons of coal for San Francisco. Hundreds of people visited the queer-looking craft at the bunkers during the evening, and Capt. McDougall graciously threw the steamer open for inspection. Nearly every old skipper in the crowd shook his head and said: 'I am afraid she won't do in a heavy sea when light.'

The success of the steamer will no doubt lead to the construction of many other vessels by the American Steel Barge Company at their branch at Everett.