liner IMPéRATRICE EUGéNIE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1865 - 1870

History

Ordered under the name of ATLANTIQUE, first transatlantic liner built in France, in Penhoët. Third of a series of 8 paddle wheels steamers ordered, for 3 of them, in Scotland, and for the 5 others with the shipyards of Penhoët lately created. Sisterships: WASHINGTON (1864), LAFAYETTE (1864), EUROPE (1865), FRANCE (1865), NOUVEAU MONDE (1865), PANAMA (1866), SAINT LAURENT (1866) modified on slipway into a propeller ship. Brought into service in February 1865 on the line of Mexico. Renamed ATLANTIQUE in 1870, after the fall of Napoleon III. In 1873, is transformed into steamer with propeller and her hull lengthened of 17 meters. Three masts instead of two. Renamed AMERIQUE and put into service in January 1874 on the line Le Havre-New York. April 14, 1874, is abandoned by the passengers and the crew in full storm at approximately 100 miles of Brest, the pumps not being sufficient to evacuate the water which flooded into the ship. The passengers and the crew are rescued by three other ships. Finally, she is located on April 15, always afloat, by an English steamer, towed until Plymouth then returns in Le Havre by her own means. Put into service in March 1875. On January 7, 1877, strands at Seabright on the coast of the New Jersey, where she remains immobilized during four months. Her service in August begins again. In September 1886, is transferred on the line of Colon. In 1892, receives triple expansion engines. On January 28, 1895, is lost by stranding on the Colombian coast.