mcdougall set up another holding company, the columbian whaleback steamship company of duluth, minnesota, to own and operate the "columbus". she was commissioned on may 13, 1893. her first captain was john mcarthur, who had captained other whalebacks for mcdougall's firms, starting with the first powered whaleback, the "colgate hoyt", built in 1890. mcdougall was quoted as having said to mcarthur, "there is your steamboat; take her down to chicago and make a success of her."