The Steam Tug That Sailed Like Clockwork

The steam tug Sehome, which has been undergoing repairs in Seattle during the past six weeks in Miller’s yard, is now in a better condition than ever before. The major repairs concerned the ship’s hull, as the boat had been battered by the severe gale, receiving streaks of oak 12 inches wide and 96 feet long. The boat was thoroughly refastened with thousands of copper bolts. To give some idea of the extent of the boat, we will state that it took two tons of galvanized iron rivets, besides a very large lot of locust tree nails. One porthole had to be cut in the bow of the steamer to admit the heavy iron streaks.

Yesterday afternoon, the boat made a successful trial trip to Port Blakely. By invitation, some thirty or forty ladies and gentlemen availed themselves of the opportunity to take a ride across the Sound on the powerful tug. Captain Chapman was in command, with Capt. Eldridge as first officer, while Henry Bacon handled the engineer’s department. Mr. George E. Atkinson, manager of the Port Blakely Mill Company’s mill at Port Blakely, and superintendent of machinery for that corporation, was also on board. The tug was not even trimmed for racing, yet she reached Port Blakely in thirty-one minutes after leaving Seattle. She remained there half an hour, during which time the guests were afforded an opportunity to visit the mill and the yard. The return trip was made in thirty-seven minutes. The machinery ran like clockwork, and there was no perceptible jar, even when the propeller was turning at 110 revolutions per minute.