Artifact of the Month: September 2018

Fire aboard the S/S Prince George

This month's featured artifact is a ship's bell salvaged from the Canadian National Railway Line Steamship Prince George. Built in 1909, "the George" served British Columbia and Southeast Alaska for decades until it caught fire at the Heckman dock in downtown Ketchikan on the morning of September 22, 1945.

The fire started in the engine room and quickly spread to the rest of the ship. All of the passengers and most of the crew were able to evacuate. One crew member died in the fire. After a valiant effort by the Ketchikan Fire Department, the United States Coast Guard, the ship's crew, and numerous others, she was surrendered to the smoke and flame.

Fears of the fire spreading beyond the Prince George prompted the still smoldering ship to be towed across the Tongass Narrows and beached on Gravina Island. The fire burnt out after several days. This bell was recovered from the ship by United States Army Captain John B. Jarvis. He was the commanding officer of the US Army forces stationed in Ketchikan during World War II.

Object credit:
Ketchikan Museums, KM 2013.2.40.1

Photo caption & credit:
The Prince George engulfed in flames at the dock.
Ketchikan Museums: Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 72.1.3.1