The Daily Reveille
Bellingham, WA

Extractions by Susan Nahas
Thursday, February 8, 1910:

LAKE STEAMBOAT BURNS TO THE WATER'S EDGE
Little Adelaide Catches Fire While Tied to Beach at Steeley's Landing and Her Crew Is Absent.

FIRST PASSENGER BOAT ON WHATCOM
The Adelaide, a towing steamer on Lake Whatcom, burned to the water's edge yesterday at about noon during the absence of her owners C. H. MAXWELL and C. E. OTLY, both of whom reside at Silver Beach. The boat was valued at $1,500, and the owners carried insurance of $1,000. Replacement either by construction or purchase, will be made at once.
      The Adelaide was a small but powerful craft of about fourteen tons displacement, and was the original passenger carrying boat on the lake. She was built at Port Blakely, and was used on Puget Sound waters for a short time. She was transferred to Lake Whatcom ten years ago, when practically new.
      For a long time the boat was operated by Captain W. D. DOUGLAS on the passenger run between Larson and Park, and about two years and a half ago MAXWELL and OTLY purchased this boat, continuing the passenger run for about a year, and then abandoning that trade to meet the demands for towage about the lake.
      Originally the boat was the Thistle, but when Captain DOUGLAS bought her she was remodeled and better arranged for passenger service, and rechristened, the Adelaide.
      The vessel burned while tied at the beach at Steeley's Landing, between Lanktree Point and Woodlawn. MAXWELL and OTLEY were the only ones aboard, and they had gone bake into the woods to close a contract for some towing. When they returned the boat was practically consumed, while an empty barge in tow was burned partially. Nobody saw the start of the fire, and one man who was nearby was unable to get aboard and reach the fire buckets when the flames were discovered.
      News of the burning of a vessel was taken to Silver Beach and Bellingham by passengers on the noon Northern Pacific train. At first the report connected the Marguerite, the lake passenger boat, with the disaster, but when the craft steamed into the landing safely on the down-lake trip inquiry developed that the Adelaide had burned. There was an anxious wait for the families of MAXWELL and OTLEY, who could not be certain that the men had escaped uninjured. They reach home at dusk, relieving all anxiety.
    OTLY last night stated that he and MAXWELL have large contracts for towing, and would replace the Adelaide at once. If purchase is possible and convenient, a boat will be bought. If not, one will be built. The Adelaide was the only boat engaged in custom towing on the lake, the Larson Lumber Company maintaining its own boat, the Prentice, and the others on the lake being engaged in passenger carrying trade.

February 14, 1910:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN FALLS ON STREET
    While standing near the corner of C and Holly streets this morning, Stephen GERARD, an aged Civil war veteran, suddenly toppled over and for several minutes it was thought that he was dead. Bystanders picked the unconscious old man up and bore him to a nearby drug store and Dr. MARKLEY was called. A restorative was administered and after several minutes the old man opened his eyes, but was unable to talk.
    As far as can be learned GERARD is not a member of the local G. A. R. post. He wears a faded military uniform of Uncle Sam and seems to have but few friends in the city. A member of the G. A. R. helped revive GERARD this morning and stated that his case would be looked into. GERARD wears a long, flowing white beard and is about 75 years old. He has been unwell for several weeks but his recovery is expected. He is a familiar character in old town.

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