Fortuna was built in 1904 at a shipyard on the west side of Lake Washington two blocks south of Leschi Park.

Captain Anderson named his vessels after classical gods, starting with Xanthus and Cyrene.

Later the whistle was transferred to another Anderson boat, the Sightseer, which became one of the last steamboats of the Mosquito Fleet to operate on Puget Sound.

[4] Fortuna was ultimately judged too small for her route, and was returned to the county by Captain Anderson's Lake Washington Ferries company.

[5] The leading source states that she lasted until 1938, but is silent as to her later career or ultimate disposition (probably scrapping).