The Final Voyage of the Wildwood

At 1:45 a.m., while lying at the wharf in Olympia, the steamer Wildwood caught fire and burned to the water's edge. Captain Grant, the owner, stated: 'The Wildwood was built in 1883 by John Wood. I bought her in Tacoma, paying a little less than $5,000. I shipped her down to the Sound and spent nearly $7,000 putting her in shape. She answered all purposes admirably. Last Saturday, she cleared $12 over all expenses. On Monday, she left Seattle at 11 o'clock, arriving at Olympia at 8 p.m. I was the last one on the boat until after midnight. I went through her twice, at 10 o'clock and midnight, and neither saw nor smelled anything to indicate fire. At 1 o'clock I called the mate to relieve me. While partially undressed, I heard the roar of fire, and running on deck found the boat enveloped in a sheet of flames. I rushed from door to door, arousing the inmates. The engineer, Peter Smith, did not answer, and after rousing the cook and stewardess, I returned to his room. The flames followed me, and I was compelled to escape by the window. In doing so, I had my hair burned and my head scorched. The engineer reached the deck and attempted to jump ashore, but he struck his knee on the wharf and fell back into the water. I took a small boat and picked him up. We held her to the dock for a time, but seeing the steamer Willie nearby was in danger, I gave orders to let the Wildwood go. She drifted down stream and brought up on a spit below Percival's wharf, where the hulk was made fast while water was thrown on her. Nothing remains but the shell of her hull and some warped machinery. I lost all my clothing and personal effects; the crew lost everything except their lives. I had her insured for $8,000, which will pay the balance I owe and the bills against her, so no man shall lose a dollar except myself. It was pretty rough to see my fond hopes going up in smoke and flame.'