The ship was then towed to Belfast, where a triple-expansion, compound steam engine was installed, generating 650 horsepower.

[3] The dimensions of the vessel were 132 feet long, 28-foot beam, 18-foot depth of hold, and 526 Gross register tons.

Chesalakee although small, was like the company's other steamers, built on a steel hull, and was considered, at least in 1910, to have been of the highest standard of construction.

Chesalakee then rounded South America, calling at Coronel, Chile and then at San Francisco, California.

[3] The Union company sent Cheslakee to Wallace Shipyard in North Vancouver to have upper works constructed and generally prepare the vessel for operations.

Thirty persons could be seated in the dining salon, and the ship could carry 120 tons of cargo.

This was deemed sufficient for the route it was intended for, which was serving logging camps on the coast of British Columbia north as far as Kingcome Inlet.

[3] While Cheslakee had handled well during the ocean journey, after the upperworks were added the ship took on a permanent list.

[6] On Monday, January 6, 1913, Cheslakee departed Union dock in Vancouver at 8:45 pm bound for Van Anda, on Texada Island.

Twenty minutes later, in stormy weather the ship departed Van Anda bound for Powell River.

The pilot, First Officer Robert Wilson, turned the ship around to head back to Van Anda, with the wind striking on the left side of the vessel.

When Captain Cockle reached the wheelhouse, he concurred in the decision to return to Van Anda, and he ordered Chief Steward G.J.

Eventually the lean became so sharp that the gangway could not reach the dock, and it had to be supplemented by a long plank.