The boat was destroyed by Admiral Hammerton Killick in 1902 to prevent it falling into the hands of a German warship.

It was powered by a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller, giving a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h).

[1][2] The Haitian Government commissioned an armed cruiser to be designed by Sir E J Reed and built by Earle's Shipbuilding & Engineering Co at Hull, Yorkshire, England.

[3] In 1902 Haiti was enveloped in a civil war over who would become president after the sudden resignation of Tirésias Simon Sam.

Crête-à-Pierrot was controlled by Admiral Hammerton Killick and supporters of Anténor Firmin and was used to blockade ports where Pierre Nord Alexis was gathering troops.