6.3.54

c1913 - July 1914 -- S. S. Cheakamus (ex Cheslakee) at Sechelt wharf.

Herbert Whitaker owned the wharf at this time or perhaps (if the photo dates from 1915) he was in the process of taking legal action to recover his Sechelt properties from the Canadian-European Investment Corp. Ltd.

Apparently this German syndicate (which had purchased the properties in December 1913) had permitted the wharf to fall into a state of sad disrepair. Note that the deck of the approach has lost a large segment on its west side.

The flag pole on the wharf does not appear in later photos. Note pile driver and donkey engine, also wheels of cart protruding beyond shed on wharf. Why was the cordwood stacked on the wharf?

S. S. Cheslakee was built in Ireland but her superstructure and cabins were not built until after she arrived in Vancouver, September 26, 1910. Cheslakee sank alongside the wharf at Vananda, Texada Island, on January 7, 1913 with the loss of three passengers and the second cook. The vessel was raised, lengthened 20 feet and returned to service in June 1913 under a changed name; S. S. Cheakamus. During WW11 she was converted into a towboat and sold to the U.S. government as a salvage tug in 1914. (Query 1941 as Gerald Rushton's table of vessels lists Cheakmus 1913 to 1942.)

Photograph probably by Charles Bradbury.

6.3.55

circa 1913 -- A Day's shooting near Sechelt.

Deer and bear were shot by Chief George. The dog belonged to Isabel Whitaker, daughter of Herbert Whitaker. Although Ada Cook Dawe identified the man leaning against the shed as Mr. Tait or Tate, an employee of Herbert Whitaker, another photo of the Tait/Tate family show him as a short man with a prominent round belly.

Photograph probably by Charles Bradbury See also oversize photograph 6.15.12

6.3.56

c1914 -- S. S. Santa Maria at Sechelt Wharf

Major Matthews' caption is erroneous; the Santa Maria, as a yacht, was owned by Lord Hartswell. However the Marquis of Anglesey did own the `Santa Cecelia,' later `Selma and later still `Chasina.' Cf. Gerald Rushton's `Whistle up the Inlet' p.74. Captain Sauter brought her around the Horn prior to the opening of the Panama Canal. She was built in 1883 by J. Elder & Sons, Glasgow and was 154 feet long, 22 feet beam, 12 feet draft and 235 tons gross. She came to Vancouver in June 1914 and her wheel house was altered before she was placed on scheduled run to Sechelt and Powell River. From 1914 to 1917 she served the All Red Line until it was bought over by the Union Steamship Company. She was renamed `Chilco' in 1917 until 1935 when she became `Lady Pam.' After WW11 she was sold for use as a breakwater after being hulked in Oyster Bay, Vancouver Island.

Photograph by Charles Bradbury, courtesy Vancouver City Archives.

6.3.57a

Date unknown -- Union Steamship Company vessel S.S. Selma at Sechelt wharf

Photographer unknown

6.3.57b

Date unknown -- Union Steamship Company vessel S.S. Selma at sea

Photographer unknown