Built as an iron hulled cargo- passenger vessel under yard No 154 by Denny Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.
18 August 1871 launched under the name BOYNE.
Tonnage 3.318 gross, 2.483 net, dim. 113.39 x 12.37 x 11.71m.
Powered by one 2-cyl compound steam engine 500 nhp., one screw, speed 14 knots.
Accommodation for 108 first class passengers and 113 crew.
Three decks.
09 March 1872 maiden voyage from Southampton to Rio de Janeiro-Montevideo-Buenos Aires.
On a voyage from Brazil via Lisbon to Southampton loaded with coffee, tapioca and hides and £ 20.682 in specie in her strong room.
11 August, she sailed from Lisbon under command of Capt. Macaulay with 108 passengers and 113 crew bound for Southampton. First part of the voyage she had fine weather till up to half-past 11 o’clock in the morning of 13th, when it became foggy. Speed was not reduced.
The course was set 15 miles west of Ushant the last reading of the lead was 75 fathom at 05.00 p.m.
At 07.30 p.m. the lookout forward called out rocks ahead, Capt. Macaulay ordered the engines full astern and helm put hard port but it was too late she hit the rocks and water flowed in.
The lifeboats were launched and the passengers and most of the crew left the ship, on the lee side of the ship the water was flat, with the help of men from a nearby cutter the boats were piloted in Molenes Bay, were the inhabitants took them up in their houses.
Capt. Macaulay with a few men who stayed aboard that night were the next morning taken off by one of the lifeboats.
First was thought that everybody was rescued, but two firemen were missing, most probably drowned in their bunks when water quickly flowed in.
Some off the passengers belongings where also salvaged that day.
On British Virgin Islands 1984 $1 sg MS 530.
Source: Royal Mail Line & Nelson Line by Duncan Haws. South Atlantic Seaway by Bonsor. Newspaper The Times.