The Unlucky Life of the 'Phantom'

The Phantom, this little propeller boat, made a trip to Renton yesterday. It was too fresh and new to get much speed out of her, but as it was, and with green machinery to deal with, she made the trip down in three hours. She will be able to make the trip in slightly less time later, and she will do it better than that. The Phantom is a fine boat—no better, in fact, than she was before. Her present owners, Morse, Brothers, West and Kossin, have fixed her up with every convenience—bell, boiler, cabin, kitchen and deck—until she is one of the cleanest, safest and most comfortable boats plying these waters. The Phantom has had a history. She was built at Port Madison in 1878 but has been quite irregular in her attendance and duties. She was the first boat used to ply to various routes—the Seattle route, among others, at which time she was commanded by Capt. E. R. Chase, she being his first command. She was also the boat that inaugurated daily communication between Seattle and Tacoma, under Captain Mitchell, and was later altered so as to match the coast line there. The owners of the Phantom have no reason to be ashamed of her, and now that she is in state condition will endeavor to sell her to some one who has a permanent run for her.