Fortuna (steamboat) facts for kids
Fortuna
|
|
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fortuna |
| Operator | Anderson Steamboat Company |
| Launched | March 31, 1906, at Leschi, on Lake Washington |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | inland steamship; auto ferry |
| Tonnage | 81 |
| Length | 106.9 ft (32.6 m) |
| Installed power | compound steam engine built at Seattle Machine Works |
| Notes | Reconstructed as auto ferry in 1919. |
The steamboat Fortuna was a special boat that sailed on Lake Washington during the early 1900s. It was an important part of the "Mosquito Fleet" of small boats. These boats helped people travel around the lake.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Building the Fortuna
_ad_circa_1912.jpg)
The Fortuna was built in 1904. It was made at a shipyard on the west side of Lake Washington. This was just south of Leschi Park. The boat was about 107 feet long. It weighed 81 tons.
The Anderson Steamboat Company bought the Fortuna in December 1906. They paid $31,500 for it. Captain John Anderson owned this company. He wanted the Fortuna to join his other steamboats. These boats sailed all over Lake Washington.
The Fortuna had special engines. They were called compound steam engines. These engines were built at Seattle Machine Works.
A Tricky Launch Day
The Fortuna was launched on March 31, 1906. A 13-year-old girl named Daisy Johnson christened the boat. She was the daughter of E. E. Johnson, who owned Seattle Machine Works.
Something unexpected happened during the launch. A wall by the water broke. The Fortuna got stuck on land! But Captain Anderson's other boats helped. The steamboats Cyrene and Xanthus pulled her free. They got her into the water later that day.
A Special Name and Whistle
Captain Anderson liked to name his boats after old gods. Fortuna was named after the Roman goddess of luck. His other boats, Xanthus and Cyrene, also had names from ancient stories.
The Fortuna was famous for its unique whistle. Captain Anderson made it himself. He worked on the whistle's pipe until it sounded just right. Later, this special whistle was moved to another boat. That boat was called the Sightseer. It was one of the last steamboats to sail on Puget Sound.
Becoming a Ferry Boat
Over time, public ferries started running on Lake Washington. These ferries were owned by King County. They made it hard for Captain Anderson's company to make money. So, he sold his part of the Anderson Steamboat Company. Later, he rented the Fortuna and other boats from King County.
In 1919, the Fortuna was changed into a ferry. This work happened at Captain Anderson's shipyard in Houghton. Most ferries can drive cars on and off from both ends. But the Fortuna was still a "single-ender." Cars could drive through it, but only from one direction.
How the Ferry Worked
When the Fortuna was a ferry, it docked bow-first at Roanoke. This was on Mercer Island. Cars would drive onto the boat. Then, the boat would back out. It would then head to the Seattle ferry dock at Leschi.
To unload the cars at Leschi, the captain had to be very skilled. The Fortuna had to turn around. Then, it would back into the dock. This took a lot of practice! But the Fortuna was too small for its route. So, Captain Anderson's company gave it back to King County.
What Happened Next
On April 30, 1928, King County sold the Fortuna. It was sold at an auction. King Shipbuilding Company bought it for $1,150. The boat was used until 1938. After that, it was likely taken apart for scrap metal.
