Cowlitz was in service from 1917 until September 1931, when, not far from The Dalles, Oregon, it sank in the Columbia river in a storm.

[5] Work on the vessel was completed by March 8, 1917, and on that date the steamer was issued an inspection certificate.

[3] Cowlitz was 109.2 feet long exclusive of the fantail, which was the extension over the stern on which the stern-wheel was mounted.

[6] Cowlitz was equipped with two horizontal non-condensing engines, each with a 14-inch bore and a 6-foot stroke, producing 390 estimated horsepower.

[3] By 1919, the sides of the lower deck had been removed; this was a means to bring the ship's measured size below 100 tons.

[8] On December 2, 1921, the steamer La Center, en route from Kelso with a load of cattle for the Portland stockyards, capsized in a storm.

[10] On September 12, 1928, Jack Alfred, a crewman on Cowlitz, was injured while making fast a line from a log raft.

[11] Alfred brought an action against Smith Transportation Company, the owners of the Cowlitz, in the U.S. District Court, seeking $15,000 in damages.

Bryant, who had been driving an automobile across the bridge at the time of the collapse: I thought I was done for … Less than a minute more would have finished me.

[6] The first trip on the route was made on September 8, 1930, with the boat departing from Supple's Dock in Portland, at the foot of Belmont Street, at 7:00 p.m.[6] Captain Exon's business plan was to charge rates lower than rail transport, and match truck rates.

[6] Reportedly the demand for steamer services was so great by September 1930 that it would probably be necessary for the line to purchase another steamboat in the near future.

[6] Freight was to be picked up, hauled to the dock by trucks, and delivered to the consignee when the boat reached a landing.

[15] While proceeding down river from The Dalles, Oregon, with a full load of 100 tons of wheat on board, Cowlitz encountered a 25-mile per hour headwind and large waves.

[4][15] Captain Exon tried to turn the boat towards shore, but then another wave hit, reportedly causing the cargo to shift.

[15] No one was drowned, largely because of the amount of wreckage, including spars, stove wood, oil drums and other loose articles, that the men could cling on to.