Loaded to the Rails: Seattle Sends Its First Alaska Steamer

Yesterday marked an eventful day in the shipping interests of this city, for the steamer Willapa, the first sent out by the Alaska Steamship Company, sailed from Schwabacher's wharf for Alaska, loaded to her utmost capacity with freight and passengers. The deck was literally packed full of goods of all descriptions, and on top of the house could be seen the sleds that a mining party is taking to the land of golden promise. The resounding whack of hammers could be heard, telling that workmen were putting in stalls for twenty-two head of horses that will be imported into Alaska. Taking it all in all, there was not another place in the city yesterday that excited the same amount of interest as did Schwabacher's wharf. From morning till night the crowd gathered around the trim Willapa and discoursed intelligently or otherwise on the chances a man had of making a fortune in Alaska. J. G. Carroll, the local agent of the company, was as busy as busy could be, but found time to answer a hundred questions and finally had to announce that the steamer could not carry any more freight. That fact alone is sufficient to emphasize the present condition of affairs. From now on the steamer will make two trips to Alaska each month from this city, Tacoma, Port Townsend and Victoria. Charles E. Peabody, the general manager of the company, was at the wharf all day, and in conversation with a Post-Intelligencer reporter about the new line said: 'This is purely a local proposition. We are not tied to any railroad or corporation. The boat will be run for the interests of the Sound merchants. There are no corporations, bankers or merchants interested in the Willapa.' Among the passengers who went from this city were M. E. Atkinson, C. K. Zilly, F. L. Hawley, K. M. Jackson, E. Compton, Charles Yager, Jerome Andrews, H. D. Hall, J. Reising, Mrs. J. Dalton, J. Dalton, Mrs. Richie, I. Martin, S. Hopkins, R. A. Arabold, A. Wagner, Seth Exstrom, P. A. Anderson, S. H. Falconer, Lewis Anderson and Andrew Larson. The lists from the other points could not be obtained, but the reports show a total number of 79 passengers. The Willapa is a trim boat, 140 feet long with a 21-foot beam. She is handsomely furnished and has been newly fitted throughout with electric lights and steam heat. All old steamboat men on the coast know Capt. George Roberts, who is now in charge of the Willapa. He has been on the coast steamboating for over 20 years. Recently he was master of the Kingston. Chief Engineer George H. Lent has been on the coast about five years. He was with the Cornell Steamship Company, the largest company of its kind in the world, for many years as supervising engineer. General Manager Charles E. Peabody is too well known to need any introduction to the commercial world. J. G. Carroll, the local agent of the company, has full power to act in all matters. His headquarters will be at the foot of Union Street.