General Frisbie (steamship) facts for kids
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|} The steamship General Frisbie was a large wooden passenger ship built in 1900. It was named after John B. Frisbie, an important person in Vallejo, California. This ship was first used as a ferry to carry people between Vallejo and San Francisco.
When it started, the General Frisbie was the fastest ship on its route. But over time, new roads, bridges, and cars meant fewer people needed ferries. Newer ships were also better at carrying cars. So, the General Frisbie stopped its ferry service in the late 1920s.
In 1930, the ship was sold and moved to Seattle. It was renamed Commander. From 1931, it worked as a ferry between Bremerton and Seattle. Here, it was a cheaper option but couldn't carry many cars. It stopped being a ferry in November 1935.
The ship was sold again in 1936 and changed into a floating salmon cannery. This meant it processed fish right on the water. In 1937 and 1938, it sailed to Moser Bay in Kodiak Island, Alaska. It would return with many cases of canned salmon. In 1939, its engine was taken out in Seattle. The ship was then towed back to Moser Bay in 1940. It was left on the beach to become a permanent part of the land-based cannery. By 1950, the ship was completely taken apart.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner | Hatch Bros. Steamship Co.(1900-1905); Monticello Steamship Co.(1905-1929); Union Ferry Co.(1930-1935); Far North Packing Co.(1936-1950), and others |
| Route | San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, Alaska |
| In service | 1900 |
| Out of service | 1939 |
| Fate | Engines removed and beached. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 670 GT |
| Length | 184 feet (56 m) |
| Beam | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Draft | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Propulsion | as built: four cylinder triple expansion steam engine; later 1930s: converted to diesel engine. |
| Speed | 17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h) |
| Capacity | 450 passengers |
| Crew | 24 |
| Notes | Official Number 86541 |
Who Owned the General Frisbie?
Captain Zephania Hatch started a ferry service between San Francisco and Vallejo in 1895. His first ship, Monticello, was very fast and popular. Zephania brought his brother Charles into the business, calling it Hatch Brothers Steamship Company.
The company used its earnings to build a second ship, the General Frisbie, in 1900. In 1904, they added a third partner to buy another ship, Arrow, in 1905. This new group, which owned the General Frisbie, became the Monticello Steamship Company.
As the 1920s ended, Zephania's sons, who ran the company, saw that cars were changing the ferry business. They decided to sell. In February 1929, the Monticello Steamship Company, including the General Frisbie, was sold for US$2 million. The buyer was the Golden Gate Ferry Company.
The new owner didn't need the older General Frisbie. So, in 1930, they sold it to the Union Ferry Company of Seattle. This company was linked to the Kitsap County Transportation Company. The ship was then renamed Commander.
In November 1935, ferry workers went on strike. The next day, the Puget Sound Navigation Company bought the Kitsap County Transportation Company. Like before, the new owner didn't need the old Commander. In February 1936, the Commander was sold to a salvage dealer. He then sold it to Richard D. "Dick" Suryan.
The Suryan family were involved in fishing in the Northwest. Suryan, Inc. bought the Commander in 1936. They changed it into a floating cannery. The company later had money problems. The Seattle First National Bank took ownership of the ship in 1938. The Suryans got the ship back by 1943 through their Far North Packing Company. In 1946, Libby, McNeill & Libby bought the Far North Packing Company, which included the beached Commander.
How the Ship Was Built and Changed
The General Frisbie was built in New Whatcom, Washington, in 1900. This area is now part of Bellingham. The hull, or body of the ship, was towed to San Francisco. It carried lumber to sell there.
During the trip, a big storm hit near Cape Flattery. After two days, the towing ship ran low on fuel. The General Frisbie finally arrived in San Francisco on December 26, 1900. Then, it was ready for its engines and other parts to be added.
Building the Original Ship
The ship's steam engine, boilers, and lighting system were put in San Francisco. It had a powerful four-cylinder steam engine. This engine created 1000 horsepower to move a single propeller. The boilers used oil for fuel, which made the General Frisbie faster than other ships that used coal.
The ship could carry 450 passengers. It also had a dining room that could seat sixty people. The total cost to build it was about $80,000. Later, it was changed to carry 12 cars through a side door. But this was a small number compared to newer car ferries. For example, a ferry built in 1927 could carry 59 cars.
The ship's home port was San Francisco. It was named after General John B. Frisbie, who helped start Vallejo, California.
Changing to a Puget Sound Ferry
The General Frisbie was towed to Seattle in February 1930. Its new owners planned work on the pilot house, staterooms, and upper parts of the ship. At some point, its boilers were replaced.
Becoming a Floating Cannery
In 1936–37, the Commander (its new name) was greatly changed into a floating cannery. This work happened in Seattle. The old pilot house was removed and a much smaller one was added. The upper deck was made into living spaces for thirty workers. The lower deck became a fish processing plant and cannery.
The old steam engine and boiler were replaced with a diesel engine. The large smokestack from the steam engine was replaced by two smaller funnels. A cargo crane was installed to lift things onto the ship. About $75,000 was spent on these changes. The ship's home port was changed to Juneau, Alaska.
Ship's Adventures and Service
San Francisco Ferry Service
The General Frisbie started its San Francisco service with a special trip on June 12, 1901. Its first captain was George Wheeler Jr. The ship usually traveled between San Francisco and Vallejo. The trip took about ninety minutes.
The ship also offered special trips on holidays. For example, on July 4, 1923, it had four-hour trips around San Francisco Bay. These trips included dancing and snacks for $1.50 per person.
Accidents and Collisions
When the General Frisbie began service, there were no electronic navigation tools like radios. Thick fogs in San Francisco Bay meant that ships often ran aground or crashed. The General Frisbie had its share of accidents.
Crash with St Helena (1903)
On October 19, 1903, the General Frisbie crashed into the steamer St Helena near Vallejo. The front of the General Frisbie pierced the side of the St Helena. The St Helena quickly started to sink. Its captain steered it onto shallow mud flats, where it settled. All passengers were safely taken ashore.
Collision with Iroquois (1912)
In a thick fog on October 3, 1912, the General Frisbie hit a freight steamer called Iroquois. The Iroquois' side railing was damaged. The General Frisbie was not damaged and continued its trip. However, its passengers were "badly frightened."
Running Aground on Anita Rock (1915)
In 1915, San Francisco hosted the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. On March 29, 1915, the General Frisbie took passengers from Vallejo to the Exposition. There were between 175 and 300 people on board, including at least 45 children from an orphanage.
On the way back, the ship hit Anita Rock at about 10 PM. The ship was stuck and water flooded in. The crew had to calm the passengers, especially the children, to prevent panic. The captain used the ship's whistle to signal for help. Nearby boats, including two from the battleship USS Oregon, came to the rescue. All passengers were saved safely.
The next morning, tugboats pulled the General Frisbie off the rock. An inspection showed that about half of the ship's bottom, or keel, was torn off. The investigation looked at the Anita Rock buoy. The General Frisbie was the third ship in a month to hit the rock. All captains believed the buoy had been moved without warning.
Sinking of Sehome (1918)
On December 14, 1918, in a thick fog, the General Frisbie crashed into the steamer Sehome. The General Frisbie hit the Sehome's left side. Both captains knew the damage was serious. Captain Charles Sandhal of the General Frisbie kept his ship's bow in the hole. This helped to slow the sinking. Captain Fred Olsen of the Sehome ordered all his passengers to move to the General Frisbie.
Sailors from a naval shipyard were on board the General Frisbie. They helped rescue the Sehome's passengers. They even played ragtime music to calm everyone. After all 173 people were rescued, a tugboat hit the General Frisbies back. This pulled its bow out of the Sehomes hull. The Sehome then quickly sank.
It was a strange twist that Fred Olsen, the captain of the sunken Sehome, had been the captain of the General Frisbie when it crashed in 1912.
Puget Sound Ferry Service
In 1930, the General Frisbie was brought to Seattle to compete with the "Black Ball Line" ferries. It was renamed Commander. It ran between Seattle and Bremerton. This route was important for workers commuting to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
The Commander's owners offered a round-trip ticket for $0.60, which was cheaper than Black Ball's $0.80. This started a "rate war." The Black Ball Line tried to stop the Commander from operating. But the Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Commander on April 2, 1931.
The Commander then began its daily trips. It sailed from Seattle five times a day. In July 1935, the Black Ball Line added a new ferry, the Kalakala, to the route. In November, ferry workers went on strike against Black Ball. The Commander was allowed to keep running. This helped shipyard workers get to work. Soon after, the Black Ball Line bought the company that owned the Commander. The Commander was then retired and moved to Kirkland on Lake Washington.
Alaska Cannery Service
The newly changed Commander sailed to Alaska on May 25, 1937. It returned in the fall with 22,451 cases of canned salmon. This salmon sold for over $101,000. But this wasn't enough to pay off the company's debts. In spring 1938, the Commander sailed to Alaska again. It returned with more canned salmon, worth over $106,000. Again, this wasn't enough to cover debts. The company had so little money that the crew's paychecks bounced. The crew and fishermen blocked the ship until they were paid.
What Happened to the Ship?
The Commander likely missed the 1939 fishing season after the bank took it over. By 1940, its engines had been removed. It was tied to the cannery dock in Moser Bay. It probably stayed there as part of the cannery until it was taken apart in 1950. Another report says the hull was towed to Kodiak, Alaska, and left on the beach.
 | James B. Knighten |
 | Azellia White |
 | Willa Brown |
