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| Lusitania |
1870 - 1891
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Gross Tonnage - 3,376
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Dimensions - 110.78 x 12.86m
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Number of funnels - 1
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Number of masts - 3
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Construction - Iron
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Propulsion - Single screw
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Engines - Inverted, two
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Service speed - 13 knots
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Builder - J.&G.Thomson, Glasgow
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Launch date - 3 March 1870
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Passenger accommodation - 120 1st class, 1,068 3rd class
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The Abyssinia made its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, via Queenstown, on 24 May 1870. It continued this service until August 1880. During this year it was acquired by builders in part payment for the Servia and Catalonia. It was then sold to the Guion Line.
It began to serve its old route, Liverpool to New York, under its new owners. In 1882 it was taken out of service so that compound engines could be fitted by J.Jones & Sons, Liverpool. The service for the Guion Line continued until March 1886. During the period 1887-91 it ran on the Pacific for Canadian Pacific.
It returned, again, to the Liverpool-New York route in November 1891. Its return, however, was brief as the Abyssinia was destroyed by fire at sea on 18 December of that year. There was no loss of life as passengers and crew were picked up by the Spree, a Norddeutscher Lloyd liner.
