Sue H. Elmore facts for kids
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Sue H. Elmore sometime between 1900 and 1917.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Sue H. Elmore, later Bergen, and Cuyamaca |
| Owner | Pacific Navigation Co., others later |
| Port of registry | Astoria, Oregon, other places later |
| Builder | Joseph Supple, Portland, Oregon |
| Launched | June 30, 1900 |
| Maiden voyage | Sep. 21, 1900 |
| Out of service | early 1950s |
| Identification | 116997 |
| Notes | wooden construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Coastal passenger, freighter, tow and tug |
| Tonnage | 232 gross tons; 131 net tons |
| Length | 90.7 ft (27.65 m) |
| Beam | 23.8 ft (7.25 m) |
| Depth | 8.0 ft (2.44 m) depth of hold |
| Decks | one |
| Installed power | Steam engine, later gasoline and diesel |
| Propulsion | Propeller |
| Sail plan | Auxiliary schooner |
| Speed | 9 knots (17 kilometres per hour; 10 miles per hour) average |
| Crew | 11 exclusive of master |
| Notes | Operated by U.S. Army during World War 2 under name ST-361. |
The Sue H. Elmore was a steamboat that sailed along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. From 1900 to 1917, it mainly traveled from Portland, Oregon down the Columbia River to Astoria. Then it would cross the difficult Columbia Bar and head south along the Oregon coast to Tillamook Bay.
The Sue H. Elmore was special because it could reach Tillamook City. This city was at the very shallow southern end of Tillamook Bay. Later, the ship was sold and used in Puget Sound as the Bergen. For many years after that, it worked as a tugboat named Cuyamaca out of San Diego.
During World War II, the U.S. Army took over the Cuyamaca. They renamed it ST-361. After the war, the army sold it, and it went back to being the Cuyamaca. In 1948, the Cuyamaca sank in a harbor in Venezuela. But it was raised and continued to operate until the early 1950s. Today, a park in Tillamook, Oregon, is named after the ship.
Contents
Building the Sue H. Elmore
The Sue H. Elmore was built for the Pacific Navigation Company. This company was closely connected to the S. Elmore Canning Company. A rich businessman named Samuel Elmore (1847-1910) was in charge of both companies. The steamboat was named after his oldest daughter, Sue H. Elmore. People often just called the ship Elmore.
The main goal for the ship was to start regular trips between Tillamook and Portland. Before this, it was hard to make regular trips because of the tough conditions at the entrance to Tillamook Bay. This entrance was known as a "bar." Captain Paul Schrader, who owned part of the Pacific Navigation Company, designed the new steamer. He had over 20 years of experience on the Tillamook route. He designed the Elmore to carry a lot of cargo in the shallow waters of Tillamook Bay. It could also carry passengers.
How the Ship Was Built
The ship was built at Joseph Supple's shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Construction started quickly on May 15, 1900. The ship was launched on June 30, 1900. After launching, the Elmore was towed to the Willamette Iron Works. There, its boilers and other machinery were installed. The ship was ready for its first test trip on September 15, 1900.
Ship Details and Features
The Sue H. Elmore was about 90.7 feet long and 23.8 feet wide. It measured 232 gross tons, which is a way to measure a ship's carrying space, not its weight. When it was empty, it sat about 5.5 feet deep in the water at the front. When fully loaded, it sat about 8 feet deep at the front and 10 feet deep at the back.
Engine and Speed
The ship's engine was a powerful steam engine. It could make the propeller spin 125 times per minute. This gave the ship an average speed of 9 knots. A new, larger boiler was installed in 1914. This boiler made steam at 160 pounds of pressure. By 1919, the ship was using oil for fuel.
The Elmore had special equipment for handling cargo. It also carried three modern lifeboats and a life raft for safety. It had an extra schooner sailing rig, which meant it could use sails if needed.
Passenger Comfort
When it was new, the inside of the ship was very nicely decorated. It had enough rooms to hold 25 passengers. The ship's official number was 116997.
Early Journeys
On September 21, 1900, the Elmore arrived in Astoria from Portland. People in Astoria were very interested in the new ship. It was set to start regular trips carrying cargo and passengers between Astoria and Tillamook on September 23, 1900. Captain Schrader was in charge.
On one of its first trips from Tillamook, the Elmore brought a large amount of goods to Astoria. This included 1100 cases of salmon, 500 boxes of butter, and about 200 cases of cheese. Captain Schrader said the ship was working very well.
Sailing the Oregon Coast
By 1901, the Pacific Navigation Company was the only shipping line going from Astoria to places in Tillamook Bay. These places included Tillamook City, Garibaldi, Bay City, and Hobsonville. The company's ships connected with trains in Astoria.
In 1907, the Pacific Navigation Company advertised itself as the only line for cargo and passengers between Astoria and many towns along the Oregon coast. These included Tillamook, Nehalem, Nestucca, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw, and Umpqua. Other steamers like the Gerald C. and Evie also sailed with the Elmore.
Tillamook Route Challenges
The Elmore's route was designed to reach Tillamook City by going up a shallow, winding waterway called Hoquarten Slough. Even though the Corps of Engineers had dug out the slough to make it deeper, it was still only about 9 feet deep at high tide. This meant steamers often had to leave Tillamook City at just the right time, when the tide was high. Sometimes, they couldn't reach the bar (the shallow entrance to the bay) in time to cross on the same tide. This forced them to wait inside the bay for the next high tide. Bad weather and rough seas at the Tillamook and Columbia River bars could also cause delays of days or even weeks.
In 1900, only two steamers, the Elmore and the W.H. Harrison, regularly went to Tillamook City. The W.H. Harrison made 48 trips, while the Sue H. Elmore, being new, made 8 trips. By 1902, the Sue H. Elmore was making many more trips, with 89 arrivals and departures.
What the Ships Carried
The ships brought many goods into Tillamook Bay. In 1900, they brought over 3,400 tons of general goods, machinery, flour, and animal feed. They shipped out even more, over 14,000 tons. This included a lot of lumber, dairy products, fish, and hides. Over 1,100 passengers also traveled by sea in 1900.
By 1906, the Sue H. Elmore was carrying most of the cargo leaving Tillamook City. However, the amount of cargo shipped by sea started to decrease.
Incidents and Repairs
In October 1903, the Elmore hit the bottom several times while entering Tillamook Bay. This damaged the ship's keel and rudder, causing it to leak. The ship had to go to Portland for major repairs. It needed a new keel, a new propeller, and new planks. The repairs cost about $3,000.
On April 12, 1904, the Sue H. Elmore crashed into another steamer, the Geo. R. Vosburg. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the cargo was safe. The damage to the Elmore was about $150. The captain of the Vosburg had his license suspended for 30 days because he was careless. The Elmore's captain was found not at fault.
In March 1910, the Elmore's propeller hit a rock while landing at Garibaldi. This broke the propeller shaft and caused about $400 worth of damage.
Push for Waterway Improvements
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Even though the Elmore was designed for the shallow Hoquarten Slough, it was still difficult. Local people wanted the government to pay to make the channel deeper and straighter. However, the Department of War said no. They felt there wasn't enough trade to justify the cost. They also thought a new railroad would soon take over much of the shipping.
By the summer of 1913, the Elmore was the only steamer serving Tillamook City. Most merchants were using the new railroad. The Elmore was mainly used by farmers to ship cheese. The local newspaper encouraged merchants to use the Elmore more often. They worried that if business dropped too much, the steamer might stop its route. This would make it harder to get government money for harbor improvements.
Competition from the Railroad
In 1906, there was no railroad connection to Tillamook. But a new rail line was being built. By 1907, people expected the railroad to reach Tillamook within a few years. They thought that once the railroad was finished, most of the cargo would be carried by train instead of by sea.
Sea shipping from Tillamook City reached its highest point in 1911, with about 26,000 tons of cargo. But once the railroad was completed, marine shipping quickly dropped. By 1918, it had almost stopped completely. Even with government projects to improve the harbor, ships like the Elmore could not compete with the railroad. By 1918, the Elmore no longer stopped at Tillamook City.
Later Life of the Ship
In August 1917, the Sue H. Elmore was put up for sale. Later, it was moved to Puget Sound and used for cargo under the name Bergen. In 1920, the Northwest Coast Investment Co. owned the ship.
By 1922, the Bergen was owned by Herbert F. Simpson. It was still listed as a passenger ship. The ship was then changed to use a gasoline engine.
The ship later moved to San Diego and became a tugboat named Cuyamaca. It was owned by the Star & Crescent Boat Co. By 1930, the Cuyamaca was registered as a fishing or towing vessel. It had a crew of 11. Its engine was changed from gasoline to diesel.
During World War II, the U.S. Army bought the Cuyamaca. They renamed it ST-361, which meant "small tug."
In January 1948, the Cuyamaca sank in a harbor near La Guaira, Venezuela. However, it was raised. By 1950, it was registered in Pensacola, Florida. The ship was no longer listed in official records by 1953.
Park in Tillamook
The old landing spot on Hoquarten Slough, where the Sue H. Elmore and other steamers used to dock, is now a park. The City of Tillamook, Oregon, named it the Sue H. Elmore municipal park. This park is part of the National Recreation Water Trails system.
