She was ordered by Inman line in 1871, and took about 1 year to finish. She was launched September 20, 1871, and finished in 1872. She was built to compete against the White Star Line's ships[2]
Service (1872–1876)
After getting their new steamer, the Inman line had her sail on the Trans-Atlantic route, going from Liverpool to Queenstown and then heading to New York. City of Montreal's maiden voyage was uneventful, but it was found that the ship was slow and coal consuming. She would go on 7 more voyages before being brought back to Tod & Macgregor for a refit.[3]
Being refit and her life after refitting
She was sent back to Tod & Macgregor, with the Inman line hoping that her refit would be well spent money. And it was. She went 12 knots after the refit. She would go on for another 50 voyages over 12 years before on her 51rst voyage she would burst into flames and sink.[4]
City Of Montreal after her 1876 refit (with 1 extra funnel)
Sinking and rescue
On August 10, 1887 the ship, heading back to Liverpool from New York, at around 9:20 PM caught fire and started to burn. The ship was loaded with 8,000 bales of American cotton, which is probably what started the fire, possibly when an oil lamp fell and broke onto the cotton. As the ship burned, the crew began hastily lowering lifeboats, however it was stormy when she did begin to burn, so the lifeboats all got ither separated when lowered or smashed to pieces when landing in the choppy water. 1 lifeboat that got separated, along with its 13 passengers, disappeared. The lifeboat was found later on. At around 2:00 PM the next morning the foremost mast was seen going under. The ship most likely sank round that morning. All crew and passengers were rescued by the steamship "SS York City".[5]
City Of Montreal burning | artists interpretations
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