The long, colorful history of ferry fights
I can't imagine what it may have felt like to be captaining the Walla Walla on May 5, when, on the second day back on the Bremerton-Seattle run after a layoff due to running aground on a Bainbridge Island beach, morning delays were announced and the nighttime ferry eventually yanked for "necessary repairs." Gulp.
But no beaches were harmed and the old boat returned to its route last Sunday. Then Friday morning a WSF email arrived announcing cancellations on the one-boat Bremerton-Seattle route for, again, "necessary repairs" to the Walla Walla. Gulp, again.
It goes without saying that the system is troubled by old boats and lack of staff that leave routes like Bremerton shorthanded -- relevant this week as the state's Transportation Commission takes public comment on Wednesday in Olympia before its regular fare-setting process in June (you can send your thoughts to transc@wstc.wa.gov). And reasonable people can debate how factors like losing the state's MVET revenue years ago, the cost of vessel construction, shifting priorities on transportation funding and ridership impacts like remote work or fare hikes contribute to WSF's current state.
But I learned something this week that I'm going to share in place of my column -- ferry service and the fight over who's doing it could be, and has been, even worse. The origin of our state ferry system, which was created in 1951, has a fascinating local episode on Vashon Island that led to threats of violence over service interruptions and a rival local ferry service. I found it fascinating, thought you'd enjoy the read and may keep this in mind the next time you get that email about a delayed sailing or wonder if Kitsap Transit should take over all marine public transportation for the peninsula.
The essay below is from HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia of state history and a really fun resource of essays that look back at headlines from each week, which are also freely available to share. Visit www.historylink.org to read more or support their efforts.
Vashon vigilantes repel the ferry Illahee
By Alan J. Stein, HistoryLink.org
On May 15, 1948, a group of Vashon vigilantes prevented the ferry Illahee from landing at the Vashon ferry dock, in response to threats by Captain Alexander Peabody, president of the Puget Sound Navigation Company, to restart ferry service to the island. The islanders had formed their own ferry service earlier in the year when Peabody shut down his system for nine days. Residents had no desire to use Peabody’s ferries when their own sufficed.
Rough Waters
Residents of Vashon Island began running their own ferry service on May 1, 1948, when the state legislature created King County Ferry District No. 1 in response to islanders complaints about Captain Peabody’s service. In 1947, a strike left folks on the island stranded for six days, and when Peabody threatened his own shutdown in February 1947, residents decided to do the job themselves.
Acquiring the passenger ferries Gallant Lady and Elsie C for the southern runs, and the Lincoln for the northern runs, operators of the new ferry district thought they had things under control. But they soon found out that running a ferry service was no easy task.
Delays were common, wait lines long, and the aging Lincoln was in constant need of repairs. Although many riders voiced complaints, they were united in their goal of seeing that their ferry service stayed in business, rather than return to Peabody’s ferries. Vashon Chamber of Commerce chairman F. C. Bard went on record, stating "Ninety-eight percent of the 8,500 Vashon residents don’t want him or his service."
To Arms!
Obviously, Peabody was not well liked on the island. During the shutdown, an effigy of the captain was hung from the ferry landing, where it dangled in the air for some time afterward. Nevertheless, when Peabody heard the grumblings over the rough new service on the island, he made an attempt to reclaim the Vashon run for his own system. He scheduled the Illahee to land at the Vashon dock on May 15, 1948.
Vashon Island ferry commissioners had received a legal opinion from their attorneys that if the ferry landed, the company would have a right to continue service to the island. The fledgling district was struggling as it was, and the commissioners felt that they didn’t need the competition.
A group of vigilantes planned on assembling at the ferry dock in order to repel Peabody’s boat. Commissioner George McCormick, who also owned the island’s hardware store, opened the doors to his business so that those who were not armed could grab ax handles, hoes, pickaxes, and whatever other blunt instrument they could find.
V for Vashon Victory
As the Illahee approached the island that morning, the captain saw an angry mob on the dock. Nearing the loading ramp, he yelled out that he was going to land. “No, You’re not!” bellowed the crowd, clutching their farm tools menacingly.
The ferry shifted into reverse, and the crowd relaxed. Wives of the vigilantes plied the men with doughnuts and coffee, and two deputy sheriffs made sure no one would do anything rash. Just then the Illahee lurched forward again, and the mob rushed the boat.
They began pushing it back with their ax handles, bludgeons, and billiard cues. The vessel was unable to rest against the pilings and backed away once more. A few tense moments passed, until the ferry finally headed back towards Seattle. A rousing cheer went up from the crowd, and they shook their fists at Peabody’s boat and gobbled down the last of their doughnuts before triumphantly returning home. The “naval war” had lasted all of 20 minutes.
Vigilant Vigilantes
Over the next few days, a watch was kept on the dock, lest Peabody’s boat returned. “We’ve got 25 good husky young lads down here,” Bard told the newspapers, “and we know where we can get lots more if we need them.” The need never arose. Captain Peabody made no further attempts to reclaim the run.
The ferry district stayed operational for three years, during which time Peabody ended up selling most of his ferry service to the State of Washington. On June 1, 1951, Washington State Ferries became operational, and King County Ferry District No. 1 was dissolved, with all its assets being sold to the state.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: The long, colorful history of ferry fights
