Robert Cunningham had Hazelton built to run against the sternwheelers of the Hudson's Bay Company, Caledonia and Strathcona.

[1]: 65  To compete against the Hazelton the HBC built another sternwheeler for the Port Essington-to-Hazelton route, the Mount Royal and launched her in 1902 under Captain SB Johnson.

Bonser wagged Hazelton’s stern at Mount Royal, tooted the whistle and continued triumphantly upstream.

[3] The Federal Department of Marine investigated and decided that both captains were at fault, Bonser for ramming Mount Royal, and Johnson for leaving the helm.

Because the railway could now bring freight and passengers from the coast the sternwheelers were no longer required for the Skeena River and one by one they disappeared.

Some like the Skeena and the Grand Trunk Pacific's Operator and Conveyor would go to work on other rivers, while others like Inlander would be pulled up on ways and left to rot.