Yukon who is who

William Cowley

Billy Cowley was an experienced captain on the Yukon River. He was the captain of the sternwheeler Lightning in 1904 and 1907.¹⁾ He was still on the Lightning in 1912 and 1913.²⁾ During WWI, Cowley was in command of a transport on the Euphrates River.³⁾

Capt. Cowley was the captain on the Nasutlin when it was temporarily sunk in the Stewart River in 1921.⁴⁾ He was the captain of the Nasutlin when Lord Byng, his secretary Captain Balfour, Yukon MP Captain George Black, and RCMP Captain Moorhead travelled on that boat from Dawson to Mayo in 1922.⁵⁾ In 1922 he was also listed as the Master of the steamer Canadian.⁶⁾ In 1923 he was again Master on the Nisutlin.⁷⁾ In 1942, Captain Cowley planned to return to the river and steam boating, despite the many years that had passed since he was last active.⁸⁾