YUKON RIVERBOAT

 

CAPTAINS

 

By

Jerry E. Green

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

            The information in the following pages is the result of several years of research on the Yukon Territory in general and on Yukon River steamboats and their captains specifically. This updated version of the Captains List has been considerably enhanced by information supplied by Dick Morris of Anchorage, Alaska who provided me with material from Alaskan newspapers and the U. S. Census. To him I owe considerable thanks. Thanks also to the many individuals who responded to my original website with additional information and photographs. Many of those respondees were writing in regard to an ancestor and I am glad to have been of some help. Any errors are my responsibility and I would appreciate correspondence from those who have additions or corrections.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised version, November, 13, 2007

 

INTRODUCTION

Captains of Yukon River steamboats came from a variety of river systems and each had a wide range of experiences.  The following list identifies some two hundred and eighty-one derived from the sources in the bibliography.  Most came from rivers in the United States. Those who were from Canada and have been identified as such with an asterisk (*) and the captains with non-North American origins have been identified with a pound sign (#).When known, the river on which the captain began his career is noted in small type in parenthises.

To simplify the references, some abbreviations have been used as follows:  For those references cited as "Register", the source was “Canada, Department of National Revenue, Customs Port Records, 1899-1924, Dawson Register of Vessels Inward.”

"FCS" refers to the Family Chronicle Supplement, "Dawson City, Yukon Territory and Alaska Directory and Gazetteer, 1901" by M.L. Ferguson, publisher, September/October, 1996, pp. 3-48.

Nugget refers to the newspaper “Klondike Nugget” of Dawson.

 

See bibliography for full citations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

 

ABBOT, W. B.

1899, Master of the WILLIE IRVING, May 20 (Register).

1898, Nugget for June notes him as Captain of the IOWA. Hunt also notes him as Captain but uses the initials E.G. (p.5).

 

* ADAMS, CHARLES WILBUR,     (Yukon River)                                                                                                                      

1963, Died, September, age 87.

1961, Recollections with photos published in September, 1961 issue of The Alaska Sportsman.

 1947, Retired to Los Angeles, The Alaska Sportsman, September, 1961.

1923, Master of the ALASKA (Register).

1918, Master of the JULIA B.

1911, Noted in the May19, 1911 issue of  the Fairbanks Daily Times as manager of the MINNEAPOLIS.

1901, Captain of the  LaVELLE YOUNG, age 26; (Alaska Sportsman, September, 1961). He was engaged by E.T. Barnette to carry supplies up the Tanana River to Tanana Crossing (Tanacross).

1875, Born, October 18, Hanover, Ontario, Canada.

SEE:  Newell, p. 681, 1966.

 

ADAMS, HOWARD L.,

1949, Captain of the NENANA (Newell, p. 560, 1966).

 

ALLAN, ED,

1899, Master of the Tyrell (Register).

 

ALLANBY, T.W.,

1907, Master of the VIXEN (Register).

1902, Master of the VIXEN (Register).

 

 

 

 

ALLENBACK,

1899, He was noted in Holder, p. 32, in connection with the JOHN C. BARR. In late 1899 or early 1900, Captain Allenback was in the restaurant business in Nome with George Holder (“Steamboat Stampeder,” The Alaska Sportsman, November, 1958, p. 38).

 

ANDERSON, AMUND,

1931, Died, age approximately 60, May, Unalaska.

Noted as “former Yukon River steamboat pilot” (Newell p. 413, 1966).

 

ANDERSON, P.M.,

1879, He was noted by Downs (p.138) as Captain of the ST. MICHAEL.

 

APPLEBY,

1909, He was noted by McBride (1948-49) in connection with the GERTRUDE on the Fairbanks-Innoko Run, August, 1909.

 

*ARMSTRONG, FRANK P.,     (Columbia River)                                                                                                          

1898, Noted in Hacking as joining with the John Irving Navigation Co. and for two seasons running boats on Tagish Lake and on the Lake Bennett-Atlin run.  He was a former Columbia River Captain.

1887, Built new boats at Golden, B.C. (Newell, p. 5, 1966).

1885, Built first steamboat to ply the upper Columbia at Golden, B.C. (Newell, p. 5, 1966).

SEE:  Newell footnotes #5, p. 4 and #8, p.37 (1966).

 

ATWELL, SI

1915, Noted in Fairbanks Sunday Times of May 30th as master of the LITTLE DELTA

 

B

 

BABCOCK, JAMES,

1900, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

 

 

 

 

BAILEY, HENRY,

1919, He died, October 27, 1919 in Mayo according to Pan for Gold Database records.

1916, Master of the NASUTLIN (Register).

1913, Master of the NORCOM (Register).

1906, Master of the SCHWATKA  (Fairbanks Evening News. August 14, 1906)

1903, Master of CASCO.

1898, Master of PHILLIP B. LOW (British North America Co).

 

BAIN, ROBERT,

1899, Master of the RIDEOUT (Register).

 

BALDWIN, ROBERT,     (Ohio River)                                                                                                                                                             

1899, Took command of the ALICE.

1898, In winter quarters at Andreafsky, December 10, 1898. (Waterways Journal,  July 8, 1899, p. 7).

1898, Waterways Journal (May 21, p. 8) noted he had contracted to command a steamboat being completed at Unalaska.  He was from New Albany, Indiana.

1854, He was born, New Albany, Indiana. (Federal Census,1900 ,Indiana).

 

BARKER, FRED ORVILLE,     (Yukon River)                                                                                                                                  

1915, Listed in Steamboat Inspection Service under Masters and Pilots, Steam, Motor, St. Michaels.

1910, Listed in Census as steamboat captain.

1881, He was born in Kansas. (Federal Census,  1910, Washington).

                                                                                                                                                           

BARNETTE, E (Elbridge)T(Truman),

1902, Built the ISABELLE using machinery and boilers from ARCTIC BOY. This vessel was to take him back to his settlement which became Fairbanks, Alaska. The boat was named for his wife Isabelle Cleary Barnette (Cole, p.30).

1900, Bought the ARCTIC BOY to carry goods to Tanana Crossing. It sank in the harbor at St. Michaels.

1897, One of the many S.S. CLEVELAND passengers who were stranded at St. Michaels, helped buy and was chosen Captain of the ST. MICHAEL bought from the Jesuit mission and headed for Dawson.

1897, Left for the Klondike on the S.S. CLEVELAND.  Originally from Akron, Ohio, he was living in Montana when news of the Klondike strike was announced (Cole, p. 2. See also Dunham, p. 405 and Newell p.81, 1966).

 

 

# BARR, JOHN CHRISTIE,     (Missouri River)

1900, Photo in Alaska Magazine and Canadian Yukoner, (March, 1900).                             

1899, Nugget for June 10 lists him as Transportation Manager for the North American Transportation and Trading Co.

1898, Noted by Newell (p.12, 1966) as Captain of the PORTUS B. WEARE.

1881, Lass notes him as Chief Administrator of Ft. Benton Transportation Co. in 1881 and that he returned to the Missouri River.

1860s, Curtin notes that he served in the Union Army during the Civil War (p.281).

1844, Born in Scotland, son of John Barr and Jean Christie.

 

BARRINGTON, ED,     (Puget Sound)

1899, Died, September (Green’s Mortuary Records, Pan for Gold Database).                      

1898, Nugget for June notes him as owner of the AQUILLA and well known on Puget Sound as skipper of the GREYHOUND plying between Seattle and Everett. Morgan notes him as a pilot on the WILLIE IRVING (p.63).

 

BARRINGTON, HILL WILLIAM,     (Puget Sound)                                                                                                    

1903, He was noted in Register as Master of the LOUISE.  He was the younger brother of Sid Barrington and noted by Morgan in conjunction with the LA FRANCE (p. 63).There is a photo of him in Morgan, p.64.

1877, Born August 15, Washington (1910 Federal Census, Washington). (WWI Draft Registration)

 

 BARRINGTON, SYDNEY CHARLES,     (Puget Sound)                                                                                

1963, (64) Died, age 88, July, Oak Harbor (Newell, p. 681, 1966).

1929, Left Yukon.   He was a member of Sourdough Stampede Assoc., Inc. 1930 and was living at 1426 11th Avenue W., Seattle (Alaska-Yukon Gold Book, p. 93).

1916, With Charles Binkley, built HAZEL B #2 (Sturgis).

1915, Noted in connection with the Side Streams Navigation Co. and the flagship vessel VIDETTE (Fairbanks Daily Times, October 9, 1915)

1908, Had the HAZEL B built at Seattle (Newell, p. 255).

1908, Had the 835 ton JULIA B built by Cook and Lake at Ballard for his Yukon Transportation Co. (Newell, p. 152).

1906, Had the 59 ton HATTIE B built in Seattle for his Alaska Service (Newell, p. 118).

1901, Listed in F.C.S. as resident of Dawson, occupation - pilot.

1900, Newell (p.64) notes him as operating the FLORENCE  S. when she sank July 29, 1900 (Canadian documents show this as July 25, 1900).

1899, Listed as owner of the DOMVILLE.

1898, Nugget notes he took over command of WILLIE IRVING on August 6, when his brother became ill with typhoid.

1896, He was a native of Oak Harbor, Whidby Island. Became master at age 21.  He was a Puget Sound Captain and went to the Yukon in 1896; he was first person to pilot a steamer through Miles Canyon (Newell, p. 681).

1868, He was born, Washington (Federal Census, 1910, Washington). There is a photo of him in Morgan, p.64.

 

BASEY,  D.C.     (Mississippi River)                                                                                                            

1899, Nugget for June 17 lists him as Master of the OIL CITY.

1899, Curtin (p. 164) notes him as being "...an old Mississippi River Captain...about sixty..."

1898, In command of the OIL CITY (Knutson, The Moran Fleet, 1997, p. 99).

1897, Newspaper articles indicate his interest in the development of a dredge to be built in Seattle.

1893, Waterways Journal (December 2, 1893) reported him serving on the government vessel MANDAN and that in December he had returned to his home in Brunswick, Missouri.

 

BEEDLE, HIRAM E.,     (Mississippi River)                                                                                                   

1920, Died (White Pass & Yukon Personnel Record).

1911, Waterways Journal for November 4, 1911 mentions that Hiram Beedle was going to Bellvue , Iowa for the winter.

1909, Photo in Mississippi and Ohio Rivers Pilots Society, Historical Sketch.

1908, Pilot on the SARAH   (S and D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1901, Listed in Way and Bates in “Steamboat Bill” of 1959 as the first skipper of the WILL ISOM; from Bellevue, Iowa.

1899, Listed in Captain’s List of Bluebook of American Shipping.

1897, Waterways Journal September 4, 1897, p.8 notes him bound for the Klondike.

1893, Captain of the MAY LIBBY from Hastings, Minnesota to New Orleans (Waterways Journal, November 18, 1893).

1882, Associated with the WILL S. HAYES as Chief Engineer, Cincinnati-New Orleans. (Way’s Packet Directory.).

1881, November 4, Captain of the WAR EAGLE which sank at Keokuk (Way’s Packet Directory).

1881, Listed in Way’s Packet Directory as pilot on the GEM CITY, St. Louis-St. Paul.

1856, Blair notes him as a pilot at Galena, Illinois.

 

 

BERGMAN, JAMES,

 1904, Master of the OIL CITY.

1900, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

1898-1899, Nugget for May 3, 1900 notes him as Master of the Alaska Commercial Co.'s BELLA for 1898-1899.

 

BINGHAM,

1906, Listed by McBride as Captain of D. R. CAMPBELL.                                                  

1905, Listed as Captain of the DUSTY DIAMOND on trips between Tanana and Fairbanks.

 

BINKLEY, CHARLES MADISON, (Ohio River)

1925, Died.                                                                                                                             

1908-10, With Sid Barrington, various HAZEL B’s.

1899, On the BAILEY (Sturgis).

1897, He began as a pilot on the Ohio River and left for the Yukon in1897.

1880, Born, Fort Wayne, Indiana (Sturgis).

 

BINKLEY, CHARLES M. JR. (JIM),     (Yukon River)                                                                                                                   

2003, Died, January 9(Anchorage Daily News.)

1980, Noted in S & D Reflector as a Yukon River Pilot (December, 1980, p. 2).

1971, Added DISCOVERY II.

1961-65, Served in Alaska State House (Alaska Scrapbook, Anchorage Daily News).

1955, Built and added the DISCOVERY to excursion fleet. (The Alaska Sportsman, May, 1960)

1950, Began an excursion business at Fairbanks with GODSPEED.

1920, Born, May 16, Wrangell (Anchorage Daily News 5/21/2006).

                                                                                                                                                           

BINKLEY, JIM, JR.,     (Yukon River)                                                                                                                                                               

1995, Attended “Tall Stacks” in Cincinnati; SEE: “Cincinnati Enquirer” (October 15, 1995, p. B-1).

1950, Born.

 

 

 

 

 

BLACK, GEORGE S.,

1962, There is a biographical article in April, 1962 issue of Alaska Sportsman and a  photo on p. 69 of Anderson.

1953, Died, September. He drowned during the last trip of the summer.  Had been a Captain on Yukon/Tanana System for 37 years; YUTANA.

1953, Built the steel-hulled YUTANA.

1935, Bought IDLER which had diesel engines.

1930, Built the KUSKO.

Late 1920’s, Bought the BERTHA.

1918, Bought the stern wheeler PIONEER which was replaced by a second PIONEER in 1926. (Wallace)

1893, Born, Ballard, Washington.

 

BLAIR, WILLIAM A.,

1913, Captain of the ALASKA  (Alaska Citizen, July 17, 1913).

1910, A William Blair is listed by Heckman as Master of the MONARCH.

1909, Captain of the JOHN J.HEALY (Polk’s Alaska –Yukon Gazeteer,1909-1910).

1908, Captain of the EVELYN (Fairbanks Daily Times, September 16, 1908).

1906-1907, He is listed by McBride as Captain in connection with the ELLA on the St. Michael-Fairbanks run.

1902, Knutson (1997, pg. 96) notes him as Master of the ROBERT KERR.

1901, Listed as resident, Dawson City in F.C.S.

1872, Born, Providence, R.I. (Federal Census, 1910, Alaska).

 

BLEDSOE, W.H.,     (Mississippi River)

1908, Master of the  ST. MICHAEL  (S & D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).                      

1901, The Davenport Republican for Aug.11, 1901 has an interesting article regarding his being sued for breach of promise regarding his time in the Klondike.

1900, Captain Bledsoe was from Davenport, Iowa.  In 1900 he was pilot on the SUSIE with Captain Dolson (Waterways Journal, May 12, 1900, p 10).

1877, Born, Iowa (Federal Census, 1920, Iowa).

 

# BLOOMQUIST, CHARLES JOHN,     (Yukon River)                                                                                                

1918, Died in the S.S. PRINCESS SOPHIA Disaster.  He was an employee of the White Pass and Yukon Route (Pan for Gold Database).

1914-1916, Master of the