During a routine cruise in 1906, the ship's ammunition magazines exploded, which caused the vessel to sink rapidly with a great loss of life.
[2][1] Aquidabã was built in England by Samuda Brothers for £345,000 pounds sterling;[1] her keel was laid on 18 June 1883, and she was launched on 17 January 1885.
[2] After undergoing gunnery trials on 14 August,[4] she sailed from England on 16 December, calling upon Lisbon and Bahia before reaching her ultimate destination of Rio de Janeiro on 29 January 1886.
[1] Aquidabã was part of a rebellion which started on 23 November 1891, headed by Rear Admiral Custódio José de Melo.
The members of the revolutionary government based in Desterro, in the island of Santa Catarina, fled to the continent; loyalist Colonel Antônio Moreira César would later regain control of the city.
[1] On 21 January 1906, Aquidabã was scheduled to voyage to the port at Jacarepaguá, near Rio de Janeiro, to escort and accommodate the Minister of Marine and his staff, who were attached to the cruiser Barroso.
At about 10:45 pm, when she was moored at Jacuacanga Bay, near Ilha Grande (English: Big Island), the powder magazines blew up, sinking the ship within three minutes.