Ptarmigan (sternwheeler)

In 1903, soon after completion, Ptarmigan was sold to the Columbia River Lumber Company, which hired Armstrong to manage its steamboat operations.

Captain Northcote Cantlie, who has gone down in history as "an eccentric Scot"[3] purchased a gasoline-engined launch, Gian, and placed her on the upper Columbia.

Unlike Armstrong, Cantlie came from a wealthy background, drank champagne for breakfast, and kept a bagpiper as his personal attendant.

Cantlie, knowing that Gian was at least theoretically faster than Ptarmigan made several challenges to Armstrong to race.

Armstrong ordered full steam ahead, and when Ptarmigan caught up to Gian, two or three roustabouts reached over to Gian, seized the still-playing piper, and lifted him unharmed over to the foredeck of Ptarmigan while the piper reportedly never missed a note.

Ptarmigan after the fire in 1908. The vessel on the left may be Isabella McCormack which appears to have been the only other large steamer on the route in 1908
The gasoline launch Gian , from which Northcote Cantlie taunted Captain Armstrong of Ptarmigan into racing.