ca. 1916. Around 1916, the exhibition prison ship "Success," from Melbourne, Australia, was docked at the Tacoma Municipal Dock Landing and open for tours. Between 1895 and 1942, the ship was seen by millions on three continents. She was also considered a bit of a hoax, since she was exhibited as a convict ship, when in fact she had been used not to transport convicts but as a floating prison. Built in 1840, she was sold to a London company in 1842 and was used to carry emigrants from England to Australia. After being abandoned by her crew in 1852 during the Australian gold rush, she was purchased by the Victorian government to serve as a floating prison. Ordered to be destroyed in 1885, the "Success" escaped this fate, and was purchased by Alexander Phillips who saw her potential as a money making floating museum. She toured Australia, the British Isles (1895-1912) and the U.S. (1912-1943.) After 106 years, she burned to the waterline on Lake Erie on July 4, 1946. (http://home.gci.net; www.nla.gov.au) Ships-071, TPL-1787
Cargo handling at the Milwaukee Dock. A large wooden crate is being either unloaded or loaded onto the unidentified vessel at the Milwaukee Dock in March of 1919. The shipment is either headed for or came from Yokohama, Japan, according to printing on the crate. G49.1-204
Ambassador ready for launching. The motorship "Ambassador" was built for the Chichagof Mining Co. of Alaska in 1919. She was 112-feet long and would be used by the company for transport between Chichagof, Juneau, and Tacoma. In 1924 she would be sold to Alexander & Baldwin Ltd. for service in the Hawaiian coastal trade. The "Ambassador," launched on September 11, 1919, was built by the Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. She was the only boat built by the firm since the cancelling of contracts by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. G37.1-119 (Newell: " Maritime Events of 1924;" T.Times 9-13-19, p. 14-article)
Pre-launching of the vessel "Ambassador," as viewed in September of 1919. She was built for the Chichagof Mining Company of Alaska. The power tender "Ambassador" was launched at 5 p.m. on September 11th from the ways of Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. She would be used in connection with the Chichagof mines in southeastern Alaska. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. W.R. Rust whose husband was one of the principal owners of the mines. G37.1-120 (T.Times 9-13-19, p. 14-article)
ca. 1919. This photo, taken in April or May of 1919, shows the "Fort Jackson," the smaller ship in the center of the photograph, being launched at Todd Shipyards. Visiting dignitaries stand on the podium which is draped with striped bunting. G37.1-173, TPL-1435
Launchings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Freighter "Hyades" at Pratt Dock on February 19, 1920. White sacks are on small hand-drawn carts for either loading or unloading onto the ship. A cluster of men stay with their cargo. The "Hyades" was operated by Matson Navigation Co. and took on over 2000 tons of general freight for Hawaii. She would sail for the Islands on or about February 25th. G49.1-199 (TNT 2-18-20, p. 13-article)
In March of 1920, a row of stevedores pushing dollies piled with sacks of flour, could be seen heading for the Japan-built freighter "Eastern Knight." A passenger on the ship's gangplank stops to gaze at the picturesque sight. The "Eastern Knight" had docked at the Puget Sound Flouring Mills on Saturday, February 28th, and would be departing for the East Coast when fully loaded with 10,000-tons of flour. The Puget Sound Flouring Mills, at what is now 3 Schuster Parkway, was absorbed by the Sperry Flour Company in 1922. Photograph ordered by the Puget Sound Flouring Mills Co. G34.1-103 (TNT 3-1-20, p. 13-article; TNT 3-4-20, p. 6-article)
Drifted snow flour is being transported onto the steel steamship "Edmore" from the Sperry Flour Co. facility on March 13, 1920. 400 tons of flour would join the previously loaded cargo of copper ingots from the smelter. The "Edmore" was the first of the Oriental liners to call at Tacoma under a new schedule by the Pacific Steamship Co. She had sustained damage to her structure due to heavy seas on her voyage to the Puget Sound region. Sperry Flour had completed a big grain elevator project less than two years before in time for the tremendous trade expansion that would occur. The Tacoma Daily Ledger would report on March 22, 1920, that "Flour (was the) Greatest Tacoma Industry." Three export flouring mills on the waterfront, including Sperry, had their warehouses filled with 200,000 barrels of flour. Three shifts had run both night and day since August of 1919 with combined daily capacity exceeding 10,000 barrels. Flour operations at Sperry (by then a division of General Mills) would cease in 1965. TPL-904 G34.1-127; BU-13919 (TNT 3-12-20, p. 2-article; TDL 3-22-20, p. 7-article)
The freighter "Haxtum" in town to take on a shipment of grain in June of 1920. She is pictured above at the Milwaukee elevator. The ship was expected to take a cargo of 3000 long tons of grain to Europe. Photograph ordered by Fisher Flouring Mills. G49.1-068 (TNT 6-7-20, p. 7-article)
Sacks of flour will shortly be loaded onto the freighter, "Haxtum," in June of 1920. The flour was from the Fisher Flouring Mills, one of several flour mills in Tacoma at that time. The "Haxtum" was expected to take a cargo of 3000 long tons of grain to Europe with her first stop in Liverpool. She was built in Oakland with 9400 dead weight tonnage. G49.1-195 (TNT 6-7-20, p. 7-article)
A large shipment of timber is waiting to be loaded onto the Japanese ship, the "Genoa Maru," in mid-June of 1921. The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., one of the largest mills in the area, had been shipping lumber, especially Douglas fir, overseas for years. The vessel was also to take on 750,000 feet of timber from the Puget Sound Lumber Co. The "Genoa Maru" had arrived on June 11th and was berthed at the St. Paul docks. The larger pieces of timber, consisting of 32 x 32" sq. and 40' long sections, were designated for the Japanese government and secured from Puget Sound Lumber. Two cranes were necessary to complete the loading. St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber's part of the cargo consisted of 1 million feet of lumber. Photograph ordered by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. G49.1-087 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-12-21, B-8-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-3-21, B-10-article)
The ship "Liberator" is berthed at Terminal Dock while taking on cargo in June of 1921. Stadium High School, Stadium Bowl and the Washington State Historical Society building overlook the bay and the ship. The steamer had arrived from New York via ports on June 11th with a shipment of general cargo. The 6,027-ton ship sailed on June 13th for New York with a shipment of flour from Puget Sound Mills. TPL-6468; G49.1-064 (TDL 6-7-21, p. 7-article; TDL 6-10-21, p. 7-article)
Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);
The steamer "Santa Inez" at Tidewater Mill. On August 21, 1921, the "Santa Inez" was docked at the Tidewater Mill, 3901 E. 11th St., located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway. She was being loaded with timber, probably similar to the logs floating in the photograph's foreground. An additional stop for the ship was the St. Paul dock for more lumber loading. The "Santa Inez" sailed for San Pedro on August 24th. G49.1-079 (TDL 8-23-21, p. 7-article)
A "Modern Method" crane No. 40 is pictured on September 8, 1921, on the wide dock at the Port of Tacoma. It was manufactured by Colby Steel & Engineering Co. The legs of the crane were tall enough that a freight train could easily pass through. At the dock is the cargo ship, "West Jappa," out of Seattle. G49.1-203;
Hoisting machinery; Cargo ships--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);
Arriving from Yokohama, the Japanese ship, the "Katori Maru," is in town in mid-January of 1922 to take on a shipment of flour from the Tacoma Grain Co. warehouse on the waterfront. The company produced Pyramid Flour, "The Great Bread Maker." The "Katori Maru" set sail for the Orient on the evening of January 12th. G49.1-154 (TDL 1-11-22, p. 7-article)
The vessel "Alvarado" (in foreground) is berthed at the Osgood & Wheeler dock on January 25, 1922. She was in Tacoma to load lumber for her return trip to San Pedro. The "Alvarado" was just one of 20 deep-sea vessels were lined up at Tacoma wharves on January 25th. That particular week Tacoma led all coast ports in tonnage with 124,410. G49.1-070 (TDL 1-26-22, p. 1-article; TNT 2-2-22, p. 1-article)
Tacoma's wharves were crowded in late January of 1922 with many ships taking on and discharging cargo. A large steel sailing ship, the "William T. Lewis," was photographed berthed at Terminal Dock. The four-masted vessel was discharging a shipment of nitrates from South America. The thirty-year-old bark was under the command of Capt. N.P. Carlson and had survived an attack by a German submarine during the Great War. G50.1-099; TPL-2306 (TDL 1-26-22, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 1-29-22, 6A-alternate picture; 10E-article)
The crew and possibly guests aboard the cold storage ship, "Glory of the Seas," are silhouetted against the white background and appear miniscule when compared to the large vessel. The ship is moored at the Glacier Fish Co. dock in February of 1922; among the items visible on the dock are pipes and oddly, what appears to be a bathtub. The "Glory of the Seas" was one of the largest cold storage plants afloat and was being dismantled after being in service for 53 years. This photograph was used in an advertisement in The News Tribune's March 22, 1922, edition. Maingault & Graham were the sellers involved in the dismantling process. G50.1-114 (TNT 3-22-22, p. 26-Ad)
Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Glacier Fish Co. (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930;
By February of 1922, the well-known "Glory of the Seas," a large cold storage floating plant, had been moored at the Glacier Fish Co. dock for some time. At 53 years of age, she was being broken up and scrapped. The "Glory of the Seas" was the last product of prolific master clipper ship builder Donald Mackay. He had built a total of 82 ships. The carved figurehead of a woman that had graced the prow of the "Glory of the Seas'" had already been removed and sold to a collector back East. G34.1-072 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-22-22, p. A6-article)
Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Glacier Fish Co. (Tacoma);
The "Eastern Prince" docked in Tacoma in early April of 1922 at the Port of Tacoma. She would sail on April 6th for Hong Kong with 250-tons of spelter from British Columbia (originally via the steamer Eastholm). The "Eastern Prince" would also share a load of 4 million feet of lumber with the "Kaisho Maru." G49.1-083 (TDL 3-30-22, p. 9-article; TDL 4-6-22, p. 10-article)
The Japanese freighter "Arabia Maru" moored at Milwaukee Dock on May 24, 1922. She would sail for Hong Kong the following day. Another vessel is pictured behind her which is also believed to be of Japanese origin. G49.1-092
Stacks of lumber are being loaded onto the "Commercial Pathfinder" while docked at the Tidewater Mill on December 6, 1922. The mill was located on the east side of the Hylebos and most of its timber was exported. G49.1-201 (print has deteriorated)
This is the stern and one of the huge propellers of the steamship "Alaska" on the day of her launching, April 19, 1923, at the Todd yards. The "Alaska" was built for passenger and freight trade between Puget Sound and Alaska and was the first combination passenger and freight vessel built at the Todd yards. At 364-feet long, she was designed for copper ore cargo and included passenger accommodations for 250 first class and 58 steerage. The "Alaska" was the 31st ship launched by Todd and successfully slid bow first down the ways. Miss Frances Nowell of Alaska served as sponsor. G37.1-111 (TDL 4-19-23, p. 1-article; TDL 4-20-23, p.1, p. 3)
Raising of the "Rubaiyat." Part of the steamer "Rubaiyat" is visible on March 22, 1924, as she is slowly being raised from the deep waters of Commencement Bay. She had sunk after capsizing on September 29, 1923, on her way to Seattle. Initial attempts to haul her to the surface had failed. 8-10 feet of the stern became visible on Friday morning, March 21st. Hoses from a Foss Tug & Launch fireboat were used days earlier to undermine mud from beneath the hull so that heavy cables could be passed around to form a secure hold. Diver Walter McCray had removed most of the 20 tons of plaster from the "Rubaiyat" on March 17th. Plans were made to haul the ship to the beach on March 22nd and salvaged. The ship would then be floated to the Western Boat Building plant on the Wapato Waterway on March 25, 1924. None of the four bodies that went down with the ship in September were located and it was thought that they had been swept away by the tide after the sinking. G49.1-015 (TNT 3-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 3-21-24, p. 21-article; TNT 3-24-24, p. 9-article; TDL 3-24-24, p. 1-article)
The vessel "Lewis Luckenbach" of the Luckenbach Line was berthed at the Port of Tacoma on June 20, 1924, to take on a shipment of lumber. Cargo is being hoisted from a Foss barge while other barges loaded with lumber wait their turn. The big carrier would be in town for eight days while its eight hatches were filled with a little more than seven million feet of lumber. The "Lewis Luckenbach" was the largest vessel of the entire Luckenbach Line. G49.1-097 (TNT 6-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 6-19-24, p. 5-alternate photograph)
Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);
The "Commercial Guide" is in port on June 20, 1924, awaiting a shipment of lumber to be hoisted aboard by crane. To the rear is the "Lewis Luckenbach " from the Luckenbach Line. Both cargo ships were docked at the Port of Tacoma. The "Commercial Guide" left Tacoma on June 22, 1924, under the command of Captain Jack Wright. She was part of the Moore & McCormick's regular intercoastal service. G49.1-105 (TNT 6-23-24, p. 15-small article on the "Commercial Guide")
Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;
Piles of lumber wait to be loaded onto the ship "West Nimrod" on June 24, 1924, at Tidewater Mill. The vast size of the "West Nimrod" can be compared to the much smaller tugboat nearby. A barge filled with cargo is directly next to the ship. The "West Nimrod," of the Admiral-Oriental line, arrived in Tacoma late Sunday, June 22nd. She was to stow lumber for Hong Kong and other Asian ports. G49.1-099 (TDL 6-23-24, p. 10-article)
This ship may be the "Lewis Luckenbach" from the Luckenbach Line which had previously been taking on lumber at the Port of Tacoma dock on June 24, 1924. It has now have moved onto the St. Paul & Tacoma dock for more shipments. The "Lewis Luckenbach," largest vessel of the entire Luckenbach Line, had already loaded 5,780,000 feet of lumber at the Port piers. Another 1,300,000 feet would be taken on board at the St. Paul & Tacoma dock. The lumber would be carried to the Atlantic coast by Captain Read, master of the ship for the last 15 years. G49.1-095 (TNT 6-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 6-19-24, p. 5-alternate photograph)
Elevated view on June 30, 1924, of a cargo ship from the Luckenbach Line and others berthed at the St. Paul & Tacoma dock. The vessels were taking on shipments of lumber and other cargo. G50.1-001
