Elk (steam tug)

Elk was a steam tug that operated on Puget Sound, and earlier, from 1880 to 1896, on Lake Washington under the name of Katherine.
Career.
"Elk" was originally constructed at Houghton, Washington, and launched under the name "Katherine". "Katherine" was long, on the beam, and rated at 14.25 registered tons. "Katherine" operated on Lake Washington, and by 1895, was owned by Capt J.C. O'Connor, who had been born in New York in 1846. O'Connor had been involved with steamboats on Lake Washington since 1874, when he had worked on the steamer "Chehalis"
In 1896, Capt. O.G. Olsen (d. 1924) bought the steamboat "Katherine". Olsen was a native of Norway who came to Pacific Coast in 1883. Olsen rebuilt "Katherine" as a tug and took the vessel to Puget Sound to operate out of Tacoma as a tug under the name of "Elk", the first vessel of what became the Olsen Tug Boat Company.
Stranding.
In 1909, while operating under the Seattle concern of Crosbie Towing Co., "Elk" was towing a barge loaded with telephone cable intended for the Kitsap County Telephone Company, "Elk" went aground near Restoration Point. As a result, the vessel suffered extensive damage, including breaking the tail shaft, rudder shaft and keel. "Elk" was not a total loss, and the vessel was able to be removed to the King and Winge shipyard in West Seattle where repairs were made.
Disposition.
"Elk" is reported to have burned in 1911.