In 1898 she survived a collision with the French transatlantic liner La Bourgogne, which sank with great loss of life.

Its early customers included the Law family of Glasgow, who owned a fleet of sailing ships that they named after shires of Scotland.

On 2 July the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) liner La Bourgogne left New York for Le Havre.

[11] Early on the morning of 4 July Cromartyshire was sailing through fog, about 60 nautical miles (110 km) off Cape Sable Island, Newfoundland.

[11][12] Captain Henderson ordered Cromartyshire's crew to prepare her boats to be lowered, and went forward to inspect her bow.

The sailing ship raised the signal flags "HC", indicating that she had rescued survivors and needed assistance.

[11] A panel comprising the Wreck Commissioner at Halifax and two other sea captains investigated the collision on behalf of the Canadian government.

They found that La Bourgogne was not following the sea lane indicated on the nautical chart for that part of the North Atlantic, and was steaming at great speed.

They found that had her Master, Captain Louis Deloncle, "adopted the rules laid down... his vessel could not have been in the position indicated by the disaster".

Further, the panel reported that "many of the principal steamship companies do not follow the routes laid down and assented to by all the parties in interest and apparent good faith.

"[13] William Law sued CGT in the Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice in London for the damage to his ship.

On 9 August 1898 Francis Jeune, President of the Admiralty Division, ruled that the English court has jurisdiction, and he rejected CGT's plea.

[14] On 12 January 1899 the Admiralty Division found in Cromartyshire's favour and awarded William Law damages and costs.