The SS Ultonia
This ship carried my Grand Father, Andrew Smorey, (born Andreas Czmorej) from Fiume, Croatia to Ellis Island NY, arriving December 5, 1904. His journey began in Lucska, Slovakia and ended in Braddock, (Pittsburgh, Pa.) USA.
The Ultonia was built by Swan & Hunter, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England as a cargo ship for the Cunard Steamship Co. She had a tonnage of 10,402 tons gross. She was 500 feet long and 57.4 feet abeam. She had one funnel, four masts, twin screws and a speed of 13 knots.
Launched on 4th June 1898 she sailed between the Tyne and Boston as a cargo steamer. In 1899 she was fitted with accommodations for 675 3rd class passengers and started her first passenger voyage between Liverpool and Queenstown (Cobh) – Boston on 28th Feb 1899. Her last sailing on this service started 9thFeb 1904 and she was then rebuilt to 10,402 gross tons with capacity for 120 2nd and 2,100 3rd class passengers. Due to a contract with the Hungarian government she began a Trieste – Fiume – Naples – New York route on April 29th 1904. She started her last voyage on this route on 31st Oct 1911. On 23rd April 1912 she transferred to Southampton – Quebec – Montreal voyages, making her last on 5th Nov 1912. She sailed New York for Trieste on 7th December 1912 and commenced her last Trieste – Fiume – Naples – New York sailing on 28th June 1914. Between 1915-1916 she made several New York – St Nazaire crossings and on 27th June 1917 she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U53 while 190 miles from Fastnet with the loss of one life. Call sign: QJVR, Official Registration #: 109478. Owners: Cunard Steam Ships Co. Ltd. Port of registry: Liverpool; Port of Survey: Liverpool.