 Falcon | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Falcon |
| Owner | Island Transportation Co.,Kitsap County Transportation Co.,Alki Point Transportation Co. |
| Port of registry | Port Townsend, Washington |
| Route | San Juan Islands,Puget Sound,Bellingham-Anacortes andLake Washington |
| Cost | $8,000 |
| In service | 1908 or 1909 |
| Out of service | Unknown but apparently after June 30, 1919 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #204927 |
| Fate | Possibly deliberately sunk. |
| Notes | Wreck discovered in good condition in 2006 inLake Washington. |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | inland launch |
| Tonnage | 46 gross; 26 registered tons |
| Length | 85 ft (25.91 m) or 67.9 ft (20.70 m) |
| Beam | 16 ft (4.88 m) or 14.8 ft (4.51 m) |
| Installed power | 100hp Eastern Standard gasoline engine |
| Propulsion | propeller |
| Crew | Two (2). |
Falcon was a 26 registered tongasoline-poweredlaunch built inBellingham, Washington in 1909. She operated inPuget Sound and nearby regions, and also onLake Washington during the first part of the 1900s. The wreck of this vessel has been discovered inLake Washington not far fromKirkland and is in good condition under 190 feet (58 m) of water. This vessel should not be confused with the steam (later diesel) tugFalcon built inTacoma, Washington in 1902.
Falcon is reported to have been built inBellingham, Washington in 1909 for the Island Transportation Company.[1] There is some conflict in the sources. Another more contemporaneous source shows a gasoline-powered vessel namedFalcon (U.S. Registry No. 204927) with the same sized engine (100 horsepower) as having been built in 1908 atAnacortes, Washington.[2][3]
Falcon was one of a number of gasoline-engined launches built in 1909.[1]Falcon was designed by L. H. Coolidge,[1] a Seattlenaval architect.[4] Depending on the source,Falcon was either 85 ft (25.91 m)[1] or 67.9 ft (20.70 m)[2] long and either 16 ft (4.88 m)[1] or 14.8 ft (4.51 m)[2] on the beam, with a depth of hold of 4.8 ft (1.46 m).[2] The overall size of the vessel was 46 gross and 26 registered tons.[2] The total number of crew was two.[2] Power was furnished by a 100horsepower Eastern Standard engine.[1][2] The cost of construction and equipment for the vessel was $8,000.[5]
Subsequent to construction, and prior to January 1, 1917, $3,294.83 was expended on permanent improvements to theFalcon.[5] As of June 30, 1911, the homeport was listed asPort Townsend, Washington. As of January 1, 1917, the market value of theFalcon was assessed at $10,500.[5]
Falcon was originally placed on the run between Bellingham andAnacortes, Washington by theIsland Transportation Company.[1] From 1913 to 1919,Falcon has been reported to have been owned by theKitsap County Transportation Company.[4]
However, according to a contemporaneous source, as of January 1, 1917, a gasoline-powered boat namedFalcon was owned by the Alki Point Transportation Company, and was listed as the sole vessel owned by that company, which was engaged, from May through September, in gas boat service between Seattle, Washington, and the following points: SouthAlki Point,Three Tree Point,Des Moines,Zenith,Woodmont, andRedondo.[5][6] In the early 1900s, the Alki Point Transportation Company had been engaged in equipping and operating a resort atAlki Point, now inWest Seattle, Washington, which included anatatorium.[7][8]
By 1917,Falcon was facing competition from a municipal street car line constructed by the city of Seattle as well as a new brick-paved highway built byKing County, Washington along and parallel to the coast of Puget Sound, so much so that in March 1918, the future ofAlki Point Transportation Co. appeared "precarious".[5]
Island Transportation Company is reported to have held a 75% ownership interest inFalcon as of January 1, 1917.[9]
Falcon was listed on theAnnual List of Merchant Vessels for the year ending June 30, 1919 with a home port of Seattle, Washington. Although no source reports when the vessel left service,Falcon does not appear to be listed in any subsequent registries.
The wreck ofFalcon has been discovered, lying at the bottom ofLake Washington, off ofKirkland, Washington, in water 190 ft (58 m) deep.[10] It is not known how theFalcon came to be inLake Washington. It has been speculated that the small-sized vessel could still earn a profit in operations on the lake when routes elsewhere became uneconomical.[11] The wreck sits upright on the bottom and is in generally good condition.[11] It is thought to have been possibly sunk deliberately when operations on the lake became unprofitable.[11] The passenger cabin is intact, although the wheelhouse is missing. The exploratory team for the wreck speculated that the wheelhouse might have floated off when the vessel sank.[11] The good condition of the wreck makes it an important history guide to the construction of vessels during the period when it was built.[11]