Union company sent Cheslakee to Wallace Shipyard in North Vancouver to have upper works constructed and generally prepare the vessel for operations. Twenty-three first class cabins containing 56 berths were constructed, as well as a small lounge. Afterwards the ship was licensed to carry 148 passengers in British Columbia coastal service. Thirty persons could be seated in the dining salon, and the ship could carry 120 tons of cargo. This was deemed sufficient for the route it was intended for, which was serving logging camps on the coast of British Columbia north as far as Kingcome Inlet. While Cheslakee had handled well during the ocean journey, after the upperworks were added the ship took on a permanent list. En route through Surge Narrows the ship heeled over so far the crew thought it might capsize. Capsize On Monday, January 6, 1913, Cheslakee departed Union dock in Vancouver at 8:45 pm bound for Van Anda, on Texada Island. The ship, under the command of Capt. John Cockle, (d. 1917) had embarked 97 passengers and loaded 45 tons of cargo. Cheslakee arrived at Van Anda at 3:25 am the next morning, January 7. Eight passengers disembarked, and some cargo was offloaded. Twenty minutes later, in stormy weather the ship departed Van Anda bound for Powell River. About ten minutes later, with the ship about 1.5 miles from Van Anda, a heavy squall struck the vessel, with a wind speed estimated at 65 miles per hour. This caused the vessel to heel over on the left side at an angle of about 25 degrees. Two heavy seas struck the vessel at about the same time, causing some cargo to break loose, which made the vessel more unstable. The pilot, First Officer Robert Wilson, turned the ship around to head back to Van Anda, with the wind striking on the left side of the vessel. This helped bring the ship somewhat more upright. When Captain Cockle reached the wheelhouse, he concurred in the decision to return to Van Anda, and he ordered Chief Steward G.J. Booth to have all passengers prepared to disembark immediately upon arrival. When the ship reached the dock, Captain Cockle tried to bring the left hand side of the ship alongside the wharf, so that if the vessel rolled, it would strike the wharf rather than go into the water. However, the ship lost power before this could be done,