City of Paris

1889

(Albatros C-1)

Type: Passenger
Displacement: 10,669 tons
Dimensions: 560 x 63 ft.
Machinery: Two steam triple-expansion engines, twin screw, 18,500ihp = 20 knots
Passengers: 1,740 (540 cabin class, 200 second class, 1,000 third class)

Builder: J. & G. Thomson, Clydebank, Scotland
Launched: 20 Oct 1888 (Yard No.241)

Service: Built for the Inman Line, Liverpool-Queenstown-New York service. Maiden voyage 3 Apr 1899. Won the Blue Riband May 1889 at 19.95 knots, later improved repeatedly. Record crossing in easterly direction on return. On 25 Nov 1890 a propeller shaft snapped while approaching Ireland inbound, flooding the engine room. Towed to Queenstown, she had been saved by the internal system of watertight bulkheads. Transferred to the American Line Feb 1893 and renamed Paris. Chartered by U.S.Navy for the Spanish-American War under name Yale, serving as auxiliary cruiser and transport. Returned to New York-Southampton service, 1899. Ran aground on the Manacles, Cornwall and was grounded for three weeks before being freed. Repaired in Milford Haven and remodeled in Belfast with two funnels. Name changed to Philadelphia and returned to service 31 Aug 1901. Stayed on Southampton-Cherbourg-New York route for a decade. In 1913 her first class accommodations were removed and she was reassigned to the Liverpool-New York run. In 1918 again requisitioned by U.S.Navy and renamed Harrisburg. Transported 30,000 troops to France. Following the Armistice she was returned to her owners and renamed Philadelphia. Sold to the New York-Naples Steamship Co. in 1920, but financial and crew problems immobilized her in Naples. Sold for scrap in 1923 and towed to Genoa for breaking up.
Sister ship City of New York completed 1888, won the 'Blue Riband' in 1892; renamed New York 1893; served briefly during Spanish-American War as auxiliary cruiser Harvard and again in World War I as armed transport Plattsburgh. Brief postwar service before being broken up in 1923 at Genoa.