Iona 1864

When Master William Hutcheson performed the naming ceremony on the new Iona as she slid down the ways on 10th May, 1864, from the yard of J. & G. Thomson, it was the start of an era that lasted over 70 years. The new ship was built for Messrs. D. Hutcheson & Co. who would employed her on the “Royal Route” sailing from the Broomielaw to Ardrishaig. She was 255 ft long by 26 ft broad and had deck-saloons with alleyways around them that had been removed from her predecessor when that steamer was converted to a blockade-runner for the Confederates in the American Civil War. Compared with that steamer, the new Iona was 7 ft longer and six inches broader in the beam. The increased breadth of the steamer provided a little more space for passengers between the bulwarks and the deck saloons. Immediately after her launch, the hull was towed to Finnieston Quay where her engines, also constructed by Messrs. Thomson were to be fitted. As built, the Iona had rather short funnels, a feature of most of the early tourist steamers and these were lengthened in the 1870s and again when she was reboilered in 1891 when they were also brought closer together.

Iona early in her career at Ardrishaig (Becket)

Iona at Ardrishaig from another angle (Becket)

The Iona ran her trials on June 20th of 1864. Her machinery was of the simple oscillating type fed by two horizontal boilers generating 185 h.p., that drove the steamer at 41 revolutions. The waste steam was blown off under water, thereby preventing the loud-roaring and showers of dirty water that were a feature when the vessel stopped at a pier.

The weather was not favourable for the trip as there was a south-west gale blowing but she ran the distance between the Cloch and Cumbrae lights at almost 20 miles an hour with little or no vibration so that a person in the saloon might read or write without difficulty. The after saloon was 60 ft long by 20 ft wide and decorated in white and gold. Luxuriously cushioned seats were provided and plate glass windows that could be raised or lowered like those of railway carriages were fitted all around. At the after end, a small space was partitioned off for a ladies’ retiring room. Below the saloon was the first-class cabin, well lit and ventilated with all the comfort of a well-furnished dining room. Next to the steward’s pantry was a gentlemen’s retiring room.

Forward of the engines was the second saloon, 50 ft in length and comfortably fitted up, and below that the second cabin. In the prow of the vessel was a spacious steerage. The roofs of the saloons were continued over the engine compartment to provide a promenade deck 180 ft in length, protected by a rail around the outside and fitted with benches and camp-stools.

After passing the Cumbrae the Iona changed course for the Kyles of Bute and was greeted by a large crowd at Rothesay. After leaving Rothesay the party on board sat down to a dinner where the usual toasts to the owners and the builders were proposed.

Iona at Ardrishaig in the 1870s (Valentine)

Iona took up her duties on the following Tuesday, June 21st and the following day was carrying 70 boxes of prime Lochfyne herring on her return to Glasgow. They were selling in Glasgow at prices between 1d. and 2½d. a fish.

Iona at Dunoon Pier around 1880 (Washington Wilson)

Iona with Gillies & Campbell’s Victoria at Rothesay around 1887 (Valentine)

The Iona was an immediate success. By the end of August there was a complaint in the letters to the Glasgow Herald by a first-class passenger who was complaining about overcrowding by excursionists on a Saturday trip to Dunoon. The excursionists occupied the saloon accommodation before purchasing their tickets at the excursion price and being told they should be in steerage. He went on “although ladies were rather rudely pushed about by the excursionists, and in many cases had their beautiful dresses destroyed by the tobacco spittles which were squired about in all directions, no one complained.” The scenes of drunkenness on the return journey were more serious and “Women, with infants in their arms, were mercilessly knocked down and trampled over; husbands and father, protecting their wives and children were likewise knocked down and abused.” The company discontinued excursion tickets on Saturdays.

The problem of drunkenness was not resolved however and there were continued letters to the editor complaining of lack of action taken by the Captain against the drunken behaviour of passengers as they had taken first class tickets.

Captain McGaw (Bailie)

The Captain, John McGaw, was a well-known and popular character and had begun his career in 1848 in the deep-sea trade. He had been mate of the Stork for Messrs. Hutcheson and was appointed Master of the first Iona in 1861, gravitating to the same position in the second and third of the name.

Iona with Largs at Rothesay around 1870 (Washington Wilson)

On Tuesday September 18th, 1866, Iona grounded on the shore at Rothesay on her outward sailing and was stuck there for three hours until the rising tide floated her off. She was undamaged and continued on her journey, arriving at the Broomielaw close to 11:00 in the evening. On Wednesday October 15th, 1868, Iona collided with the incoming Islay in the morning fog just after she left Govan Wharf. Captain McGaw had slowed and kept the Iona close to the north bank, anticipating the approach of the Belfast steamer. The look-out in the bow raised the alarm and the Iona was stopped and put into reverse. However the bow of the Islay struck the starboard bow of the Iona and carried away the bulwark all the way to the wing of the paddle box. The windows in the fore saloon were also damaged. The look-out was seriously injured and a newsboy also hurt on the face and back. Two collie dogs fastened at the bow of the boat were killed. The Iona returned to Stobcross and her passengers were put on board the Athole that was chartered to take up the sailing.

Iona at Ardrishaig in the 1880s (Valentine)

Iona at Princes Pier (Robertson)

When Carrick Castle was attempting to leave the crowded Steamboat Quay in Greenock around 6:00 in the evening on Wednesday August 8th, 1870, she collided with the stern of the Iona which was lying at the quay. As the vessel was poled from the quay, her engines were started and the collision resulted. Captain Barr of the Carrick Castle was fined three guineas for recklessly and culpably managing and navigation his steamer. On Monday July 24th, 1877, it was the turn of Captain McGaw and Daniel Cairney to find themselves in the dock of the Marine Police Court, charged with “culpable, negligent, and reckless conduct in navigating, directing, managing, or steering their respective vessels, whereby the lives of the lieges were endangered.” On 9th of July, McGaw was in charge of the Iona, sailing down the river when it met the State of Virginia under the command of her pilot, Daniel Cairney, off East India Harbour. The State of Virginia ran into the starboard bow of the Iona while they were manœvering around the schooner Inchbroom. Captain McGaw was found guilty of an error of judgement and as he was known as cautious and steady master and as this was the first case that had come up against him, he was fined 2 guineas.

Iona at Tignabruaich around 1880 (Valentine)

Iona approaching Colintraive on her return to Glasgow in the 1880s

Iona with Columba receding in the background

Each year, Iona was given a thorough overhaul and her furnishings were kept in excellent condition. She given new boilers in 1875 and again in 1891 when the horizontal boilers were replaced by two haystack boilers. She was also fitted with a surface condenser at that time. However, the introduction of the first Lord of the Isles in 1877 prompted Messrs. Hutcheson to commission the building of the Columba. Iona spent the next two years, now owned by David MacBrayne, providing a second service on the Ardrishaig route. With the impending opening of the railway to the west highland seaboard in 1880, Iona was sent to spend her summers sailing out of Oban but maintained some early and late season sailings on the Clyde. The later career of Iona will be traced in a subsequent article.