RMS Empress of China was an ocean liner built in 1890-1891 by Naval Construction & Armament Co., Barrow, England for Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP).[1] This ship—the first of three CP vessels to be named Empress of China[2]—regularly traversed the trans-Pacific route between the west coast of Canada and the Far East until she struck an underwater reef and sank in Tokyo harbour in 1911.[3]
C.P.R. steamer Empress of China at docks. Vancouver, BC, Canada.
In 1891, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the British government reached agreement on a contract for subsidized mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada; and the route began to be serviced by three specially designed ocean liners. Each of these three vessels was given an Imperial name.[4]
Empress of China and her two running mates, RMS Empress of India and RMS Empress of Japan, created a flexible foundation for the CPR trans-Pacific fleet which would ply this route for the next half century.[3]
Historyedit
Barrow-in-Furness, shipbuilding yards (1890).
Empress of China was built by Naval Construction & Armament Co. (now absorbed into Vickers Armstrongs) at Barrow, England. The keel was laid in 1890; and she was launched on 25 March 1891.[3]
The 5,905-ton vessel had a length of 455.6 feet, and her beam was 51.2 feet. The graceful white-painted, clipper-bowed ship had two buff-coloured funnels with a band of black paint at the top, three lightweight schooner-type masts, and an average speed of 16-knots. This Empress and her two sister-ship Empresses were the first vessels in the Pacific to have twin propellers with reciprocating engines.[5] The ship was designed to provide accommodation for 770 passengers (120 first class, 50 second class and 600 steerage).[4]
Empress of China left Liverpool on 15 July 1891 on her maiden voyage via Suez to Hong Kong and Vancouver. Thereafter, she regularly sailed the route between Canada and the east coast of Asia.[3] In the early days of wireless telegraphy, the call sign established for Empress of China was "MPG."[6]
Much of what would have been construed as ordinary, even unremarkable during this period was an inextricable part of the ship's history. In the conventional course of trans-Pacific traffic, the ship was sometimes held in quarantine, as when it was discovered that a passenger from Hong Kong to Yokohama showed signs of smallpox, and the vessel was held in Yokohama port until the incubation period for the disease had passed.[7] The cargo holds of the Empress would have been routinely examined in the normal course of harbor-master's business in Hong Kong, Yokohama or Vancouver.[8]
Amongst the celebrities sailing on Empress of China was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. On 25 August 1893, the Archduke boarded the ocean liner at Yokohama for a voyage across the Pacific to Vancouver.[9]William Lyon Mackenzie King, who eventually became the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian History, "saw over" the ship on Friday, 22 November 1901 as part of his visit to Vancouver as deputy minister of the newly formed Department of Labour.[10]
RMS Empress of China in 1904
On 27 July 1911 Empress of China encountered rough seas and thick fog 65 miles south of Tokyo Bay. She struck a submerged rock off the Nojimazaki Lighthouse while trying to round the southern tip of the Bōsō Peninsula inbound for Yokohama. Submerged rocks extend about a mile from the coast in an area of the bay which is known for its dangerous currents. This accident occurred very close to where another ship foundered on the rocks in 1907. The Japanese cruisers Aso and Soya were dispatched to assist in removing mail, baggage, and passengers. The ship was abandoned with no loss of life.[11] A year later, the Empress was re-floated; and in October 1912, she was towed into Yokohama where she was dismantled and scrapped.[3]
CP Empresses of China In 1921, Canadian Pacific added two German-built vessels to the Empress fleet; and initially, both were confusingly renamed Empress of China.
The first Empress of China was a 5,905-ton vessel launched in 1891 from Barrow, England. She was wrecked on a reef at Tokyo Bay in 1911, and subsequently scrapped in 1912.[12]
The second SS Empress of China was a 16,992-ton vessel launched in 1907 from Gestemunde, Germany as the SS Prince Freidrich Wilhelm for the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line (NDL). The ship was purchased in 1921 by Canadian Pacific and then immediately, the ship was renamed Empress of China for a short time. Later in that same year, the ship was renamed yet again as the Empress of India. Subsequent names for this vessel were: the SS Montlaurier (1922); and SS Montnairn (1925). The ship was scrapped 1929.[12]
The third SS Empress of China was a 21,860-ton vessel launched in 1913 from Stettin, Germany, as the SS Tirpitz for Hamburg-America Line (HAPAG). The ship was purchased in 1921 by CP and renamed the Empress of China.[13] Then next year, in 1922, the ship was renamed Empress of Australia after re-fitting at Clydebank. The ship was ultimately scrapped in 1952.[12]
^ abcdeShip List: Description of Empress of China 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ abMiller, William H. (1984). The First Great Ocean Liners in Photographs, p. 52.
^Tate, E. Mowbray. (1986). Transpacific Steam: The Story of Steam Navigation from the Pacific Coast of North America to the Far East and the Antipodes, 1867-1941, p. 145.
^Trevent, Edward. (1911) The A B C of Wireless Telegraphy: A Plain Treatise on Hertzian Wave Signalling, p. 13.
^Dept. of Agriculture, Canada. (1907). Report of the Minister of Agriculture for Canada, p. 12.
^Parliament, Canada. (1892) Sessional Papers, p. 223.
^Katalog Land in Sicht! ("Land Ahoy: Austria on the Seven Seas"), p. 8. 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Exhibition of the Austrian Mint, 17 August 2005 – 3 February 2006. Münze Österreich (Austrian Mint).
^King, William Lyon Mackenzie. "Diary Entry, Nov 22, 1901 (Transcribed)". Library and Archives Canada. n/a. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
^"Another Liner on Rocks near Tokyo; Canadian Pacific Steamer Empress of China Strands—She Is Badly Damaged," New York Times. 28 July 1911.
Tate, E. Mowbray. (1986) Transpacific Steam: The Story of Steam Navigation from the Pacific Coast of North America to the Far East and the Antipodes, 1867-1941. Cranbury, New Jersey : Cornwall Books/Associated University Presses. ISBN978-0-8453-4792-8 (cloth)
Trevent, Edward. (1911) The A B C of Wireless Telegraphy: A Plain Treatise on Hertzian Wave Signalling. Lynne, Massachusetts: Bubier Publishing.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Empress of China (ship, 1891).
The Ships List: Passenger ships web site
Simplon Postcards: Canadian Pacific postcard images
January 01, 1970
empress, china, 1890, other, ships, with, same, name, empress, china, empress, china, ocean, liner, built, 1890, 1891, naval, construction, armament, barrow, england, canadian, pacific, steamships, this, ship, first, three, vessels, named, empress, china, regu. For other ships with the same name see RMS Empress of China RMS Empress of China was an ocean liner built in 1890 1891 by Naval Construction amp Armament Co Barrow England for Canadian Pacific Steamships CP 1 This ship the first of three CP vessels to be named Empress of China 2 regularly traversed the trans Pacific route between the west coast of Canada and the Far East until she struck an underwater reef and sank in Tokyo harbour in 1911 3 C P R steamer Empress of China at docks Vancouver BC Canada History Canada Name1891 1913 Empress of China Owner1891 1912 Canada Canadian Pacific Railway Port of registry1891 1912 Canada BuilderNaval Construction amp Armament Co Barrow Laid down1890 Launched25 March 1890 Maiden voyage15 July 1891 FateScrapped in 1912 Yokohama General characteristics TypeOcean liner Tonnage5 905 tons Length455 7 ft Beam51 2 ft Propulsiontwin propellers Speed16 knots Capacity120 1st class passengers 50 2nd class up to 600 steerage passengers Contents 1 Royal Mail Ship 2 History 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksRoyal Mail Ship editIn 1891 Canadian Pacific Railway CPR and the British government reached agreement on a contract for subsidized mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada and the route began to be serviced by three specially designed ocean liners Each of these three vessels was given an Imperial name 4 Empress of China and her two running mates RMS Empress of India and RMS Empress of Japan created a flexible foundation for the CPR trans Pacific fleet which would ply this route for the next half century 3 History edit nbsp Barrow in Furness shipbuilding yards 1890 Empress of China was built by Naval Construction amp Armament Co now absorbed into Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow England The keel was laid in 1890 and she was launched on 25 March 1891 3 The 5 905 ton vessel had a length of 455 6 feet and her beam was 51 2 feet The graceful white painted clipper bowed ship had two buff coloured funnels with a band of black paint at the top three lightweight schooner type masts and an average speed of 16 knots This Empress and her two sister ship Empresses were the first vessels in the Pacific to have twin propellers with reciprocating engines 5 The ship was designed to provide accommodation for 770 passengers 120 first class 50 second class and 600 steerage 4 Empress of China left Liverpool on 15 July 1891 on her maiden voyage via Suez to Hong Kong and Vancouver Thereafter she regularly sailed the route between Canada and the east coast of Asia 3 In the early days of wireless telegraphy the call sign established for Empress of China was MPG 6 Much of what would have been construed as ordinary even unremarkable during this period was an inextricable part of the ship s history In the conventional course of trans Pacific traffic the ship was sometimes held in quarantine as when it was discovered that a passenger from Hong Kong to Yokohama showed signs of smallpox and the vessel was held in Yokohama port until the incubation period for the disease had passed 7 The cargo holds of the Empress would have been routinely examined in the normal course of harbor master s business in Hong Kong Yokohama or Vancouver 8 Amongst the celebrities sailing on Empress of China was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria On 25 August 1893 the Archduke boarded the ocean liner at Yokohama for a voyage across the Pacific to Vancouver 9 William Lyon Mackenzie King who eventually became the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian History saw over the ship on Friday 22 November 1901 as part of his visit to Vancouver as deputy minister of the newly formed Department of Labour 10 nbsp RMS Empress of China in 1904 On 27 July 1911 Empress of China encountered rough seas and thick fog 65 miles south of Tokyo Bay She struck a submerged rock off the Nojimazaki Lighthouse while trying to round the southern tip of the Bōsō Peninsula inbound for Yokohama Submerged rocks extend about a mile from the coast in an area of the bay which is known for its dangerous currents This accident occurred very close to where another ship foundered on the rocks in 1907 The Japanese cruisers Aso and Soya were dispatched to assist in removing mail baggage and passengers The ship was abandoned with no loss of life 11 A year later the Empress was re floated and in October 1912 she was towed into Yokohama where she was dismantled and scrapped 3 CP Empresses of China In 1921 Canadian Pacific added two German built vessels to the Empress fleet and initially both were confusingly renamed Empress of China The first Empress of China was a 5 905 ton vessel launched in 1891 from Barrow England She was wrecked on a reef at Tokyo Bay in 1911 and subsequently scrapped in 1912 12 The second SS Empress of China was a 16 992 ton vessel launched in 1907 from Gestemunde Germany as the SS Prince Freidrich Wilhelm for the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line NDL The ship was purchased in 1921 by Canadian Pacific and then immediately the ship was renamed Empress of China for a short time Later in that same year the ship was renamed yet again as the Empress of India Subsequent names for this vessel were the SS Montlaurier 1922 and SS Montnairn 1925 The ship was scrapped 1929 12 The third SS Empress of China was a 21 860 ton vessel launched in 1913 from Stettin Germany as the SS Tirpitz for Hamburg America Line HAPAG The ship was purchased in 1921 by CP and renamed the Empress of China 13 Then next year in 1922 the ship was renamed Empress of Australia after re fitting at Clydebank The ship was ultimately scrapped in 1952 12 See also editCP Ships List of ocean liners List of ships in British Columbia Samuel Robinson chief officer 1899 Notes edit Simplon Postcards Empress of China 3 images The second of three ships named SS Empress of China 1908 was built for Norddeutscher Lloyd Line NDL purchased by CP in 1921 then re named and the third SS Empress of China 1919 was built for Hamburg America Line HAPAG purchased by CP in 1921 then re named a b c d e Ship List Description of Empress of China Archived 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine a b Miller William H 1984 The First Great Ocean Liners in Photographs p 52 Tate E Mowbray 1986 Transpacific Steam The Story of Steam Navigation from the Pacific Coast of North America to the Far East and the Antipodes 1867 1941 p 145 Trevent Edward 1911 The A B C of Wireless Telegraphy A Plain Treatise on Hertzian Wave Signalling p 13 Dept of Agriculture Canada 1907 Report of the Minister of Agriculture for Canada p 12 Parliament Canada 1892 Sessional Papers p 223 Katalog Land in Sicht Land Ahoy Austria on the Seven Seas p 8 Archived 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Exhibition of the Austrian Mint 17 August 2005 3 February 2006 Munze Osterreich Austrian Mint King William Lyon Mackenzie Diary Entry Nov 22 1901 Transcribed Library and Archives Canada n a Retrieved 25 August 2020 Another Liner on Rocks near Tokyo Canadian Pacific Steamer Empress of China Strands She Is Badly Damaged New York Times 28 July 1911 a b c White Empress fleet 20 ships descriptions 40 year old Ship Makes Last Trip Empress of Australia Luxury Liner and Troop Carrier on Way to Scrap Heap New York Times 1 May 1952 References editDept of Agriculture Canada 1907 Report of the Minister of Agriculture for Canada Ottawa S E Dawson King s Printer Miller William H 1984 The First Great Ocean Liners in Photographs New York Dover Publications OCLC 59208481 Parliament Canada 1892 Sessional Papers Ottawa S E Dawson King s Printer Tate E Mowbray 1986 Transpacific Steam The Story of Steam Navigation from the Pacific Coast of North America to the Far East and the Antipodes 1867 1941 Cranbury New Jersey Cornwall Books Associated University Presses ISBN 978 0 8453 4792 8 cloth Trevent Edward 1911 The A B C of Wireless Telegraphy A Plain Treatise on Hertzian Wave Signalling Lynne Massachusetts Bubier Publishing External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Empress of China ship 1891 The Ships List Passenger ships web site Simplon Postcards Canadian Pacific postcard images Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RMS Empress of China 1890 amp oldid 1173435608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
