S.S. Lusitania, Beaver Line

This steamship was built 1865 at Birkenhead by Laird Bros for the Pacific Steam Navigation Co. She was chartered to Anderson & Anderson's Orient-Pacific Line in 1877. In 1878 she was purchased by the Orient Steam Navigation Co. and used for London - Australia service. Commissioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser for six months in 1885 during the Russian scare, returned to her owners and was re-engined in 1886. She was sold to Elder Dempster's Beaver Line in 1900 and was used on the Liverpool - Halifax - St John NB service. Reverted to Pacific Steam Nav. Co. in July for six months and went back to the Beaver Line in Feb. 1901. She was then chartered to the Allan Line and was wrecked on the 26th June 1901 at Cape Race with no loss of life. This image is from an old photo, and shows her in Beaver Line colors (Flag and funnel).