The steamship Calista was a small steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet

Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet

The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...

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Career

Calista was built in 1911 at the Martinolich shipyard

Martinolich Shipbuilding Company

The Martinolich Shipbuilding Company was founded in the early 1900s by John Martinolich , an immigrant from Croatia.-Course of business:The company's original shipyard was at Dockton, Washington, but later expanded to other locations...

 at Dockton, Washington

Dockton, Washington

Dockton is an unincorporated community in King County, Washington. It is located on Maury Island, along Quartermaster Harbor. Although once an industrial center, Dockton today is a primarily residential area, with many commuters taking the ferry to nearby Tacoma.-History:Dockton, one of the first...

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The vessel is best known for an event which occurred on November 5, 1916. The vessel, preceded by the steamboat Verona

Verona (steamship)

The steamship Verona was a small steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet.-Career:Verona was built in 1910 at the Martinolich shipyard at Dockton, Washington. The vessel is best known for an event which occurred on November 5, 1916. The vessel was transporting members of the Industrial Workers...

 was transporting members of the Industrial Workers of the World

Industrial Workers of the World

The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...

 (I.W.W.) from Seattle

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...

 to Everett, Washington

Everett, Washington

Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...

, in connection with a labor dispute. On the arrival of Verona in Everett, a shooting broke out which has since become known as the Everett Massacre

Everett massacre

The Everett Massacre was an armed confrontation between local authorities and members of the Industrial Workers of the World union, commonly called "Wobblies". It took place in Everett, Washington on Sunday, November 5, 1916...

. Because of the shooting, Verona did not land her I.W.W. passengers in Everett, and returned to Seattle. On the return, Verona encountered Calista bound for Everett, and warned Calista not to proceed. Calista then reversed course and returned to Seattle.

Calista was wrecked in 1924.