In 1897,Portlandwas hauled out atBallard, Washington,for repairs. Somehow she broke free from the shipway and floated off unoccupied. Eventually,Portlanddrifted north into Canadian waters, where she was recovered as a derelict by the B.C. Salvage Company. She came under the control of R.P. Rithet and Company, a prominent British Columbia shipping concern that re-purposed her to a passenger steamer. She was renamedClayoquatand ran on passenger routes out ofPort Renfrew,on the west coast ofVancouver Island.Clayoquatlater passed to the H.Bell-Irving Company, and was used by them as acannery tenderunder the namePhoenix.
