Colonial Despatches

The Eliza Anderson, a 43-metre long, 283-tonne sidewheeler, was built in 1859 by Samuel Farnam for the Columbia River Steam Navigation Company.1 The Eliza Anderson had a 66cm by 183cm vertical-beam engine and, at the time, was the largest low-pressure steam vessel in the Oregon Territory.2

The Eliza Anderson was in continual service for 10 years, and monopolized the Victoria and Puget Sound routes.3 In April of 1866, the British Colonist reports that the Eliza Anderson brought news to Victoria of the total loss of the Labouchere.4

The Olympia took over the Eliza Anderson's routes in 1870, but the Eliza Anderson continued to run as a spare vessel until 1877.5

From 1877 to 1882 the Eliza Anderson was laid up, and eventually sank while at a dock in Seattle; however, it would be later refitted and used on the New Westminster-Seattle route.6

• 1. E. W. Wright, ed., Lewis & Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (Portland: The Lewis & Dryden Printing Company, 1895), 76-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0222484
• 2. Ibid., 77.
• 3. Ibid., 76.
• 4. Ibid.
• 5. Singular Coincidence, British Colonist, April 20, 1866.
• 6. E. W. Wright, ed., Lewis & Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest (Portland: The Lewis & Dryden Printing Company, 1895), 77. http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0222484
• 7. Ibid.