RMS Dakota (1873)

Ordered in March 1870, the Montana and Dakota were constructed by Palmers Shipbuilding, who had launched the Wyoming of the same owners weeks prior.^[1]While popular for their steerage services, the Guion Line wanted to tap into the market of record breaking liners. As first designed, the Montana and Dakota were to carry ten water tube boilers working at a pressure of 100lbs per square inch. These were expected to drive the liners at a record-breaking 17 knot speed. While the Montana initially was completed with these, the Dakota was altered and completed with six traditional 80lbs boilers instead.

Another unusual feature of the two liners was their hull shape. While most liners had relatively flat bottoms and sides, the Dakota and her sister ship had a very large tumblehome,^[2] making her hurricane deck only 31.4 feet (9.57 metres) wide compared to the 43.4 feet (13.23 metres) width of the beam of the hull. This allowed for the liners to roll very little, causing minimal discomfort on board.

On the afternoon of 12 June 1873, the Dakota was successfully launched and entered her fitting out phase of construction.

After years of delays and complications, the Dakota finally departed the River Mersey on her maiden voyage on 21 July 1875. She arrived in New York on 1 August after a slow 11 day crossing, not to much fanfare.^[3] She departed on her return voyage on the 10th, arriving back into Liverpool ten days later after a short stop in Queenstown.^[4]Her next voyage went practically without incident, aside an iceberg being spotted on 25 September while steaming Eastbound towards Queenstown. However, her next crossing she arrived in New York on 25 October carrying not only her own passengers, but also passengers from her sister ship. The Montana had suffered storm damage, and a mutiny aboard forced her to return to Queenstown, where her passengers could sail to New York on her sister ship instead.^[5]

While en route to New York again on 4 December 1875, she encountered a brig named Isabella Heldon in distress. The crew sent down a lifeboat to provide those on the brig with extra supplies, and a set of co-ordinates as the crew aboard the brig had lost their way.^[6]

Throughout 1876, the Dakota did not make any sailings for most of the year, despite her name still being mentioned in the company's fleets. She was possibly being refitted to carry refrigerated cargoes with her sister ship, as she is later recorded as carrying large quantities of frozen goods.^[7]Her first sailing of the year took place on 20 September^[8] 1876, arriving in New York on 2 October unharmed. Two crossings later marked the final sailing of the year for the Dakota, which she was beaten by rough weather. Her black and red funnel had turned white due to sea spray freezing, three of the eight lifeboats were smashed to pieces, and her jib was shredded to pieces. Despite the battered condition of the liner, nobody was injured throughout the crossing.^[9]

In January 1877, Dakota and Montana were officially designated as Royal Mail Ships.^[10] The following month, 13 February, the Dakota sailed from New York with the body of John O'Mahony on board for his funeral in Ireland.^[11]

The career of the Dakota would be cut short on 10 May the same year.