Adventures of the Propeller Steamer Favorite in Southeast Alaska

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This trim little propeller steamer was destined to play important roles in the establishment of the Killisnoo plant, the foundation of Juneau, and the explorationa and development of general commerce in Alaska.

Built 1874, Portland Oregon, 83 gross, 41 net tons; 80'x 16.6'x8.4', O.N. 120165

Initially captained by James W. Keen"In the fall of 1880 he was employed as master on board the now historic little steamer Favorite, owned by the N. W. T. Co. After completing his contract with the latter company, which embraced a four months' trip through Alaskan waters, he returned home. On this trip the foundation for the subsequent development of the great oil and fish works at Killisnoo was laid."

The Favorite did some exploring also. Scidmore (1885) relates how Glacier Bay was unexplored by Europeans at that time, John Muir being the first recorded white voyager in the the Bay in 1879.

When three dugout canoes from Fort Simpson, British Columbia were spotted poaching sea otters in Cross sound, the special agent at Sitka reported "I shall as soon as practicable repair to the alleged scene of action with an armed force upon the Northwest Trading Company's steamer Favorite which I shall charter for this purpose Alaskan Boundary Tribunal The Counter Case of the United States Before the Tribunal Convened at London Under the Provisions of the Treaty Between the United States of America and Great Britain Concluded January 24, 1903. [With Appendix]. By United States, Alaskan Boundary Tribunal

Gold had just been discovered in Juneau in _____ October 1880 was initial staking. On Thanksgiving day 1880, a Navy launch carried miners Harris, Juneau, Pilz to The staking of Dec. 1-3 must have been a wild free-for-all, for the staking parties included several Naval officers who were supposed to be aboard the Jamestown. In the midst of all this was Captain Vanderbilt and the Favorite, delivering her goods to the melee. The Favorite landed her parties out at Fritz Cove, so her passengers complained that they were a little late for the fray. Although there was wild staking of claims, Capt. Vanderbilt's name does not appear on the list. Vanderbilt DID stake three claims for homesteads however, on the north end of Douglas Island, one for himself, one each for the U.S. collector of customs and his deputy at Sitka. These actions speak to Vanderbilt having more of a keen eye for business relationships than for the speculative action on the gold fields. Deep snow was to put a damper on further claim staking that winter. The Favorite had remained at Fritz Cove until at least December 7, 1880, when Vanderbilt staked his homestead claims. The steam launch from the USS Jamestown, a rowboat carrying Richard Harris and Joe Juneau, and six others, and the Favorite arrived back in Sitka on December 19. Most of the men on the who had arrived on the Favorite ended up with claims on gold-rich Gold Creek. About 40 men wintered at Miner's Cove (Juneau) in the winter of 1880-81, awaiting the spring thaws and the tide of humanity that would soon follow. An astute businessman knows that the real money in a gold rush is to be made in other ways than finding the nuggets, and Capt. Vanderilt was proving his business acumen.

Favorite: First Vessel to Explor Glacier Bay

The Favorite did some exploring also. Scidmore (1885) relates how Glacier Bay was unexplored by Europeans at that time, John Muir being the first recorded white voyager in the the Bay in 1879.

Details of the 1880 Glacier Bay Navy Charter and Glacier Bay Exploration: Alaska, Its Southern Coast and the Sitkan Archipelago By Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore 1885

(2) Naval Reports. In October 1880, the Commander of the U.S.S. Jamestown stationed in Sitka issued a monthly report to the Secretary of the Navy. One sentence of the report related the following information: “In September, taking advantage of the monthly visit of the steamer Favorite to trading posts on inland waters, I sent Lieut. F.M. Symonds to make as thorough examinations of the harbors and passes visited as the time at his disposal would permit, and to collect hydrographic knowledge of value.” http://www.supremecourtus.gov/SpecMastRpt/Orig128_033004.pdf

Beardslee's short time in the Favorite must have been remembered fondly; He places a number of names on navigation charts to memorialize the little steamer. "Favorite" place names: Favorite anchorage In Deadumu reach Ц miles southward of Otsoi island and one fourth mile off shore Peril strait Alexander archipelago near latitude 57 32 longitude 135 28 So named by United States naval officers 1 ЧЧО after the little steamer Favorite belonging to the Northwest Trading Company Favorite bay at the head of the southernmost arm of Koot nahoo inlet Admiralty island Chatham strait Alexander archipelago near latitude 57 US longitude i 4 to So named by Moore 1895 Tavorite channel at south end of Lynn canal Alexander archipelago Named by United States naval officers 1880 after the steamer Favorite above Also erroneously Favourite Favorite glacier on the western shore of Glacier bay Named by Reid 1892 after the little steamer Favorite in which Captain Heardslee first entered Glacier bay in 1880 Favorite reef in Saginaw channel on the southwestern shore of Shelter Island Alexander archipelago Named by the Coast Survey 1885 after the little trading steamer Ftiroriti Bulletin - United States Geological Survey By Geological Survey (U.S.) http://books.google.com/books?id=JKoPAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=favorite+1880+beardslee&source=web&ots=mTKDP3dEHT&sig=jU8UjqBscE4hBKWXT32TK9Onftc&hl=en
Beardslee steamed 30 miles up Glacier Bay in the favorite: http://books.google.com/books?id=e0tzRbahzckC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=favorite+1880+beardslee&source=web&ots=31ArmA80mn&sig=xAoK_r-2RM_fRQOudvININqk8Lc&hl=en

SS Favorite coming to the seine, from PCA-1-545 (distorted), Vincent Soboleff Collection, Alaska State Library
Better scanned image hopefully coming soon to the ASL digital collection! In the meantime, consult the ASL hard copy photo collection.

October 30 What do you think I have to write to night? Didn't I say we had the Lord's promise and it would not fail? Just when I didn't know what to put in my baby's mouth we looked out and beheld the steamer Favorite entering our little bay. This was about eleven o clock this morning The steamer did not bring our piano too heavy the officers said---so it is in Sitka. But oh! oh! oh! the splendid mail they brought and did give us to-day--- "three bags full; one for the master, one for the dame," etc. < a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=3BiI1EPdhswC&lpg=PA111&ots=Pcd3nPzU-e&dq=%22steamer+favorite%22&pg=PA112&ci=61,494,854,512&source=bookclip">Life in Alaska Letters of Mrs. Eugene S. Willard By Eugene S. Willard, Eva McClintock

The Favorite was wrecked about 1901, her bones lying on some shore, yet to be determined:

SS Favorite, line drawing based on PCA-1-547, Vincent Soboleff Collection, Alaska State Library
Better scanned image hopefully coming soon to the ASL digital collection! In the meantime, consult the ASL hard copy photo collection.