I recently received an e-mail indirectly from Doug Davidge about the identity of the inset photograph. It was concerning a photo in my column. The idea behind doing this column is input. That’s how the column works.
If there is anyone out there who can help us out and solve the problem of just what ship this is, re: Can You Identify? - please write in. Also I was wondering, in a recent article in the magazine North of Ordinary (Issue 3, Fall 2010), it said: “A small vessel assembled in the Yukon,” but I believe Lake Bennett is in British Columbia, where the ship was apparently built.
At any rate, a lot of praise should go to Doug Davidge and the Yukon Transportation Museum and all the heritage people and groups involved with the exploration and rescue of the boat A.J. Goddard.
I understand the artifacts from the boat will eventually be on display in the Yukon Transportation Museum.
Doug Davidge’s e-mail:
“This is a fabulous photo but the date at the bottom is a bit misleading. In September 1899, the A.J. Goddard was busy working the Yukon River and Lake Laberge below Miles Canyon and the Whitehorse Rapids. There is no possible way it could have made it back to Bennett Lake (she departed Bennett for the last time the previous year on or about June 2, and arrived in Dawson late the same month).
“I do know the official archival record states this photo is one of the A.J. Goddard but after close examination and because of the date given at the bottom of the photo, this is most likely another similar-size vessel. It may be the Goddard’s sister ship, the F.H. Kilbourne, which did not stay in the upper lakes like Bennett, Tagish and Marsh and the river above Canyon City. There are, however, differences when you compare the vessel in the photo to other photos of the Kilbourne. So there may be another mystery to solve in trying to figure out which boat this really is.”
Anyone with information about this subject, please write Jim Robb: The Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook - Can You Identify? c/o the Yukon News, 211 Wood Street, Whitehorse, Yukon,
Y1A 2E4, or e-mail
through the News website,
www.yukon-news.com.