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The Fleets
Pacific Mail SS Co.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was founded in 1848
by William Aspinwall of the firm of Howland and Aspinwall to execute
a contract to carry mail from the Isthmus of Panama to the newly-annexed
territory of California. Fortuitously for Aspinwall and his fellow investors,
Pacific Mail was ideally positioned to cash in on the Gold Rush of 1849.
As a result of this and the high quality of its service, the company
became both an important part of the history of the American West as
well as one of the most profitable enterprises of its era, with an annual
return on investment that ran as high as 30%. Within five years of its
inception, the company was running 18 steamers and it peaked at 23 in
1869. In that year, however, the completion of the transcontinental railroad
foretold the end of the high profits of the Panama-California route.
PMSS also neglected to keep up to date technologically and began to suffer
from competition from other companies, especially the Occidental
and Oriental SS Company. For a time, the line survived on subsidized
mail contracts to Australia and New Zealand, but when it lost those it
was
soon forced to accept a takeover by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
in 1893. In 1912, Congress banned ships owned by railroads from using
the Panama Canal, so Southern Pacific sold PMSS to the Grace Line, which
operated it as a subsidiary under its traditional house flag from 1916-25.
It was then taken over by Robert Dollar & Co., which merged PMSS into
its own operation, although it, too, continued to use the old name and
flag on occasion. With the government bail-out of the Dollar Line in
1938, ownership passed to American President
Lines, but by this time
PMSS essentially existed only on paper. It was formally closed down in
1949 after just over a century of existence.
see also Panama
fleet ships Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for their assistance
in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various
sources. This
is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
Funnel: Black
Fleet:
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Acapulco |
1872 |
1916 sold to Western Fuel Co. and reduced to barge. |
2,572 |
| Admiral Dewey |
1898 |
1913 purchased from American Mail SS Co., 1920 to
Admiral Line, Tacoma, Wash., 1931 to Pacific Motorship Co., Seattle,
1935 scrapped. |
2,104 |
| Admiral Farragut |
1898 |
1913 purchased from American Mail SS Co., 1920 to
Admiral Line, Tacoma, Wash., 1933 to Pacific SS Lines, Seattle, 1935
scrapped. |
2,134 |
| Admiral Sampson |
1898 |
1909 purchased from American Mail SS Co., 1920 sunk
in collision with s/s Princess Victoria off Seattle. |
2,104 |
| Admiral Schley |
1898 |
1913 purchased from American Mail SS Co., 1920 to
Admiral Line, Tacoma, Wash., 1931 to Pacific Motorship Co, Seattle,
1935 scrapped. |
2,134 |
| Alaska |
1868 |
1879 used as a hulk and store ship, 1885 ? |
4,011 |
| America |
1868 |
1872 destroyed by fire in Yokohama Harbour; loss of
59 lives. |
4,454 |
| Asia |
1883 |
ex- Doric, 1907 purchased from White
Star Line renamed Asia, 1911 wrecked on Finger Rock, China
Coast. |
4,785 |
| California |
1848 |
1866 sold to California, Oregon & Mexico SS Co., 1872
repurchased by Pacific Mail SS Co., 1874 sold to Goodall, Nelson & Perkins,
1875 sold to N. Bichard, engines removed and rigged as barque, 1894
wrecked Peru. |
1,058 |
| China (1) |
1867 |
1879 laid up, 1883 sold to Henry Villard and 1884
became receiving ship for smallpox patients, 1886 scrapped. |
3,836 |
| China (2) |
1889 |
1915 sold to Atlantic
Transport Co., and resold to China
Mail Steamship Co., same name, 1923 laid up, 1925 scrapped. |
5,060 |
| City of Guatemala |
1873 |
1874 wrecked Bahamas. |
1,505 |
| City of New York |
1875 |
1893 wrecked on Point Bonita, San Francisco Bay. |
3,019 |
| City of Panama (1) |
1873 |
1912 dismantled and later converted to five masted
barquentine, 1919 renamed Crowley, T. Crowley, San Francisco, 1921
sold Brazil renamed Olga M. |
1,490 |
| City of Panama (2) |
1924 |
1925 transferred to Panama Mail
SS Co. (Grace & Co.),1931 renamed
Santa Catalina, 1935 renamed Chimu, 1938 sold to United
Baltic Corp,
London renamed Baltavia. |
2,461 |
| City of Peking |
1874 |
1910 scrapped. |
5,080 |
| City of Rio de Janeiro |
1878 |
ex- City of Rio de Janeiro, 1881 purchased from United
States & Brazil Mail SS Co. not renamed, 1901 wrecked in fog off
Fort Point; loss of 131 lives. |
3,548 |
| City of San Francisco (1) |
1875 |
1877 wrecked on uncharted rock off Mexican coast. |
3,009 |
| City of San Francisco (2) |
1924 |
1925 transferred to Panama Mail SS Co. (Grace & Co.),1931
renamed Santa Monica, 1936 renamed Cumbal, 1938 sold to United
Baltic Corp, London renamed Baltabor. |
2,461 |
| City of Sydney |
1875 |
1915 sold and converted into a 6 masted barkentine,
1930 burned for metal. |
3,016 |
| City of Tokio |
1874 |
1885 wrecked on Honshu, Japan. |
5,079 |
| Colima |
1873 |
1895 foundered off Manzanillo, Mexico. |
2,905 |
| Colombia (1) |
1850 |
1862 sold to Chinese owners. |
777 |
| Colombia (2) |
1915 |
ex- Colombia built for Koninklijke
West Indische Maildienst, 1915 purchased not renamed, 1925
to Panama Mail SS Co., 1931 stranded on Margarita Island, Baja
California and lost. |
5,644 |
| Colon |
1872 |
1904 wrecked at Acajutla. |
2,686 |
| Colorado |
1865 |
1879 scrapped. |
3,728 |
| Corinto |
1905 |
ex- Caldas, 1922 purchased from Caribbean SS Co.,
New York renamed Corinto, 1925 transferred to Panama Mail SS Co.,
1935 renamed Mayan, 1939 sold Santo Domingo renamed San Rafael, 1942
torpedoed and sunk by U.125. |
2,007 |
| Costa Rica |
1891 |
1917 sold to L. A. Pedersen, New York, 1923 sold to
Northern Fisheries Inc., San Francisco, 1935 scrapped. |
1,783 |
| Cuba |
1897 |
built as Coblenz for North
German Lloyd, 1917 seized by USA renamed Sachem, 1920 purchased
from US Shipping Board renamed Cuba, 1923 wrecked San Miguel Island,
Santa Barbara Channel, Calif. |
3,169 |
| Dakota |
1865 |
ex- Dakota, 1873 purchased from North American Steamship
Co. not renamed, 1880 sold to Pacific Coast Steamship Co. same name,
1886 scrapped. |
2,135 |
| Dorothy Alexander |
1906 |
ex- President, 1920 purchased
from Pacific Coast Co., New York, 1923 renamed Dorothy Alexander,
1933 to Pacific SS Lines, Seattle, 1937 to Alaska SS Co., New York,
1938 renamed Columbia, 1946 sold to Empresa de Navegacao Mercante,
Lisbon renamed Portugal, 1952 scrapped. |
5,218 |
| Ecuador |
1915 |
ex- Ecuador built for Koninklijke
West Indische Maildienst, 1915 purchased not renamed, 1931
transferred to Grace Line renamed Santa Olivia, 1936 sold to Libby,
McNeill & Libby renamed David W. Branch, 1947 sold to Panama renamed
Luxor, 1948 sold ti Israel renamed Negbah, 1956 scrapped. |
5,544 |
| Golden Age |
1852 |
ex- Golden Age, 1854 purchased from New York & Australian
Nav. Co. not renamed, 1875 sold to Japan renamed Hiroshima Maru.
|
2.181 |
| Golden City |
1863 |
1870 lost on coast of Lower California. |
3,373 |
| Golden Gate |
1851 |
1862 burned at sea and beached near Manzanillo, Mexico;
loss of 223 lives. |
2,067 |
| Granada |
1873 |
1889 wrecked on Point Tejupan, Mexico. |
2,572 |
| Great Republic |
1867 |
1878 sold to P.B. Cornwall not renamed, 1879 wrecked
on Sand Island, Columbia River Bar. |
3,881 |
| Henry Chauncey |
1865 |
1871 burnt at sea off North Carolina but rebuilt,
1877 scrapped. |
2,656 |
| Japan |
1867 |
1874 burned at sea between Yokohama and Hong Kong
and lost. |
4,351 |
| Korea |
1902 |
1916 sold to Toyo Kisen
Kaisha, Yokohama and renamed Korea Maru, 1930 laid up, 1934
scrapped. |
11,276 |
| Manchuria |
1904 |
1929 renamed President Johnson for Dollar Line, 1938
transferred from Dollar Line to American
President Line same name, 1947 sold to Tronsmar Navigation Co.,
Portugal renamed Santa Cruz, 1952 scrapped. |
13,638 |
| Mongolia |
1904 |
1929 renamed President Fillmore for Dollar Line, 1938
transferred from Dollar Line to American
President Line same name, 1940 sold to Wallem & Co., Panama renamed
Panamanian, 1947 scrapped at Shanghai. |
13,635 |
| Montana |
1865 |
1877 scrapped. |
2,676 |
| Moses Taylor |
1857 |
Built for United States Mail SS Co., 1860 purchased
by Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1864 transferred to Central American Transit
Co, then North American SS Co., 1871 sold to William H. Webb, 1873
purchased by Pacific Mail SS Co., 1875 converted to store ship. |
1,354 |
| Nebraska |
1865 |
Built for Central American Transit Co., 1867 sold
to North American SS Co., 1875 purchased by Pacific Mail SS Co.,
1876 sold to Goodall, Nelson & Perkins, 1878 scrapped. |
2,145 |
| Nevada |
1867 |
ex- Paou Shan, 1866 renamed Nevada , 1873 purchased
from United States, New Zealand & Australia Mail Steamship Co. not
renamed, 1875 sold to Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Co., Japan renamed
Seikyo Maru. |
2,143 |
| New York |
1864 |
1865 purchased from Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1875 sold
to Mitsubishi SS Co. renamed Tokio Maru. |
2,217 |
| Newport |
1880 |
ex- Newport, 18? Purchased from Ward
Line (New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co.) not renamed, 1932
scrapped. |
2,735 |
| Newport |
1880 |
1924 sold to Chas. L. Dimon, New York, 1930 scrapped. |
2,735 |
| Nile |
1893 |
1911 purchased from Royal
Mail Line not renamed, 1915 [1919?] sold to China
Mail SS Co. same name, 1922 laid up, 1925 scrapped. |
5,888 |
| Oregon |
1848 |
1861 sold to Holladay & Flint, 1869 engines removed
and rigged as barque, 1880 sunk in collision with barque Germania
in Straits of Juan de Fuca. |
1,099 |
| Panama |
1848 |
1861 sold to Holladay & Flint, 1868 presented to Mexican
Government renamed Juarez. |
1,087 |
| Persia |
1881 |
ex- Coptic, 1906 purchased from Shaw,
Savill & Albion renamed Persia, 1915 sold to Toyo
Kisen Kaisha, Yokohama and renamed Persia Maru, 1926 scrapped. |
4,356 |
| Peru |
1892 |
1919 sold to France renamed Lux. |
3,528 |
| President |
|
see Dorothy Alexander. |
|
| Relief |
1851 |
ex- Osaka Maru, 1872 purchased from Japan renamed
Relief, 1874 wrecked Nagasaki. |
546 |
| Rose City |
1890 |
ex- Lawton, 1907 purchased from U.S. Navy renamed
Rose City, 1909 sold to San Francisco & Portland SS Co., 1924 sold
to McCormick Lumber Co., S.F, 1930 converted to barge. |
3,497 |
| San Blas |
1882 |
1901 wrecked near Libertad. |
2,075 |
| San Juan |
1882 |
1925 sold to J. K. Nelson, San Francisco,1929 sunk
in collision with s/s S. C. T. Dodd. |
2,076 |
| Siberia |
1902 |
1916 sold to Toyo Kisen
Kaisha, Yokohama and renamed Siberia Maru, 1930 laid up, 1934
scrapped. |
11,785 |
| Solana |
1921 |
1925 sold to Associated Oil Co., San Francisco, 1951
sold to Chandris, Piraeus
renamed Mari Chandris, 1959 scrapped. |
6,703 |
| Sonora |
1853 |
1868 scrapped. |
1,616 |
| St. Louis |
1854 |
1854 chartered to New
York & Havre Steam Nav. Co. for six round voyages. 1855 sold
to the United States Mail SS Co. 1860 returned to Pacific Mail
SS Co., 1865 rebuilt to 1,771 tons. Scrapped in 1878. |
1,621 |
| Starbuck |
1881 |
ex- Oliveto, 1886 purchased renamed Starbuck, 1898
wrecked off coast Nicaragua. |
2,157 |
| Uncle Sam |
1852 |
ex- Uncle Sam built for E. Mills, 1860 purchased from
Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company not renamed, 1866 sold to
James S. Hermann & Co., Panama not renamed, 1876 lost. |
1,433 |
| Venezuela |
1915 |
ex- Venezuela, 1915 purchased from Koninklijke
West Indische Maildienst not renamed, 1931 transferred to Grace
Line renamed Santa Isabel, 1939 scrapped. |
5,641 |
| |
|
Managed Ships |
|
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Buckeye State |
1921 |
1921-1925, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Taft, 1923 purchased by Dollar
Line, 1938 transferred from
Dollar Line, 1941 became US Army Transport Willard A. Holbrook, 1957
scrapped. |
14,123 |
| Empire State |
1921 |
1921-1925, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Wilson, 1923 purchased by Dollar
Line, 1938 transferred
from Dollar Line, 1940 sold to Ybarra y Cia, Spain renamed Maria
Pipa, later renamed Cabo de Hornos, 1959 scrapped. |
15,127 |
| Golden State |
1921 |
1921-1925, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Cleveland, 1925 purchased by Dollar
Line, 1938 transferred
to APL, 1941 sold to US Navy renamed USS Tasker H. Bliss, 1942 sunk
during invasion of North Africa. |
14,123 |
| Hoosier State |
1922 |
1922-1925, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Lincoln, 1923 purchased by Dollar
Line, 1938 transferred
from Dollar SS Co., 1940 sold to Ybarra y Cia, Spain renamed Maria
del Carmen, later Cabo de Buena Esperanza, 1958 scrapped. |
14,187 |
| Silver State |
1921 |
1921-1923, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Jackson, 1923 purchased by Dollar Line not renamed, 1938
transferred to American
President Line, 1940 became USS Zeilin for
US Navy, 1946 reverted to President Jackson, 1948 scrapped. |
14,123 |
| Wenatchee |
1921 |
1921- 1923, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Jefferson, 1923 purchased by American Oriental Line, 1938
transferred to American
President Line, 1941 to US Navy renamed USS
Henry T. Allen, 1946 reverted to President Jefferson, 1948 scrapped. |
14,127 |
| Wolverine State |
1921 |
1921-1923, built for US Shipping Board, 1922 renamed
President Harrison, 1923 purchased by Dollar
Line, 1938 transferred
from Dollar Line, 1941 captured by Japanese off Yangtze River renamed
Kakko Maru, then Kachidoki Maru, 1944 torpedoed and sunk by USS Pampanito. |
10,533 |
| |
|
Chartered Ships |
|
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Colusa |
1913 |
chartered from Grace
Line, 1914 renamed Santa Cecelia,
1931 sold to Greece renamed Nideros, 1933 Sold to Norway renamed
Lyngenfjord, 1938 wrecked. |
5,873 |
| Santa Cruz |
1913 |
1917-1920 chartered from Grace
Line, 1930 sold to
A.H. Bull Steamship Co. Inc renamed Barbara, 1942 torpedoed and sunk
by German submarine U-126. |
4,826 |
| Vancouver |
1873 |
1875 chartered from Macondray & Co., 1876 reverted
to owners, 1878 sold to Royal
Mail Steam Packet Co. renamed Tamar
1898 scrapped. |
2,923 |
| Vasco de Gama |
1873 |
1875 chartered from Macondray & Co., 1876 reverted
to owners, 1878 sold to Royal
Mail Steam Packet Co. renamed Trent,
1897 scrapped. |
2,912 |
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