Kuskanook

Kootenay Lake was a long glacially-carved lake running north to south in the Kootenay region in British Columbia.[2] About half-way along the lake's length, an extension called the Western Arm curved in to Nelson, BC.[2] Near the junction of the Western Arm with the main lake were, on the north of the arm, Balfour, and on the south, Proctor.[2]

North of Balfour, about halfway between the Western Arm and Lardeau, was the town of Kaslo, British Columbia.[2] Just to the east across the lake from the Western Arm there were landings at Kootenay Bay, Crawford Bay, and Pilot Bay.[2] At the southern end of the lake was Kootenay Landing, which was the furthest point reached by railroad when Kuskanook was built.[2]

Kuskanook was built by James M. Bulger at Nelson, British Columbia in 1906 for the Canadian Pacific Railway.[3] No sternwheeler had been built in Nelson since Moyie was launched in 1898.[4] Kuskanook was one of a pair of nearly identical vessels ordered by CPR, the other being Okanagan, which was placed into service in 1907 on Okanagan Lake.[4] Both Kuskanook and Okanagan were based on the design of an earlier vessel, the Arrow Lakes sternwheeler Rossland.

The vessel cost $104,145.37.[3] The parts had been manufactured in eastern Canada and brought to Nelson to be assembled.[5] The launch on May 5, 1906 was reportedly attended by 3,500 people.[5]

Kuskanook was 193.5 ft (58.98 m), long, measured over the hull, exclusive of the fantail on which the stern-wheel was mounted.[3] The steamer had a beam of 30.9 ft (9.42 m) with a depth of hold of 7 ft (2.13 m) .[3] The Canadian merchant vessel registry number was Canada #121758.[3]

According to one source, Kuskanook had 37 staterooms and was licensed to carry 450 passengers.[3] Another, more detailed source, states that Kuskanook had four dining room tables, with total seating for 32 persons, with 39 staterooms, and a total passenger capacity of 400.[6] By the mid-1920s Kuskanook could carry eight motor vehicles, mostly on the route between Nelson and the settlement of Kuskonook, just north of Kootenay Landing.[6]

Kuskanook had three decks, the freight and machinery deck, above which were the passenger deck and the texas deck.[4] The wheelhouse was placed just forward of the funnel and stepped back from forward edge of the texas deck cabins.[4] The passenger accommodations were the finest yet seen on the Canadian Pacific's sternwheelers.[4]

Kuskanook required a crew of twenty-eight, including seven officers.[6]

Kuskanook was driven by twin steam engines turning a stern-wheel. Each steam engine was horizontally mounted, with a cylinder bore of 22 in (56 cm), and a piston stroke of 8 ft 3 in (251 cm).[3] The steam plant generated 32.3 nominal horsepower; 560 indicated horsepower.[3] The boiler generated steam pressure ad 180 p.s.i.[3]

Kuskanook and other lake steamers were often the only connections the communities along Kootenay Lake had with the outside world.[5] Kuskanook made its initial trip on July 19, 1906, running from Nelson BC to Kootenay Landing.[3] Kootenay Landing was the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which reached the landing from points east through Crowsnest Pass.[4] Increasing demand for lake transport on this run was the main reason for placing Kuskanook into service.[4]

Because of the connection to the Crowsnest railway, the Nelson-Kootenay Landing run was called the “Crow Boat” route.[4] Increasing demand for lake transport on this run was the main reason for placing Kuskanook into service.[4]

Kuskanook was extensively refitted in 1911, and in 1913 was replaced on the Nelson-Kootenay Landing run by the new steel-hulled steamer Naskookin.[3] Kuskanook was refitted in 1914 and placed on the Nelson-Kaslo run.[3] From 1914 to December 31, 1930 Kuskanook was also operated as a relief steamer for Nasookin, and for excursions departing from Nelson.[3] Kuskanook also called at Balfour, where before the First World War, to encourage tourism, the Canadian Pacific had built a 50-room hotel.[7]

Kuskanook (left) and other lake steamers tied up at Proctor BC in May 1931, after completion of the rail link between Kootenay Landing and Proctor.

In 1925 there was a steam pipe explosion on Kuskanook.[8] A water trap failed in the main steam pipe leading aft to the boiler, and high pressure steam burst out all through the engine room.[8] Three crew members were scalded to death.[8] This was probably the worst fatal accident in the history of the Canadian Pacific's Lake and River Service.[8]

The completion of the B.C. Southern rail link between Kootenay Landing and Proctor eliminated the need for steamboat service between the two points.[5] Road construction had already reduced the demand for steamer transport.[5] In 1931, Kuskanook was worked on the Proctor-Crawford Bay-Lardeau run, and on excursions.[3]

In December 1931, Canadian Pacific sold Kuskanook to Arthur D. Pochin. Canadian Pacific decided to keep Moyie in service, even though older, because Kuskanook’s wooden hull made the boat surplus.[9] Pochin tied Kuskanook up to a wharf at Nelson for use as a floating hotel.[3] The boat was later towed to Kootenay Landing, where it sank in 1936.[3]

The wreck of Kuskanook lies at Kokanee Landing, on Highway 3A, about 30 km east of Nelson.[10] The wreck lies perpendicular to the shore, and can be readily seen during low water.[10]

• Affleck, Edward L. (2000). A Century of Paddlewheelers in the Pacific Northwest, the Yukon, and Alaska. Vancouver, BC: Alexander Nicholls Press. ISBN 0-920034-08-X.

• Downs, Art (1972). Paddlewheels on the Frontier -- The Story of British Columbia and Yukon Sternwheel Steamers. Seattle, WA: Superior Pub. Co. 126-130. ISBN 978-0875642116.
• Mills, Randall V. (1947). Sternwheelers up Columbia -- A Century of Steamboating in the Oregon Country. Lincoln NE: University of Nebraska. ISBN 0-8032-5874-7. LCCN 77007161.
• Newell, Gordon R., ed. (1966). H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: Superior Pub. Co. LCCN 66025424.

• Turner, Robert D. (1984). Sternwheelers and Steam Tugs: An Illustrated History of the Canadian Pacific Railway's British Columbia Lake and River Service (1st ed.). Victoria, BC: Sono Nis Press. ISBN 0919203159.