[1]: 112 Mount Royal was built to run against Hazelton a privately owned sternwheeler that worked as a passenger and freight steamer for Robert Cunningham.

[2]: 65, 66 Mount Royal was built by Alexander Watson in Victoria at Albion Iron Works (VMD).

Using fine Douglas fir and Eastern oak, he built one of the fastest, lightest and most luxurious sternwheelers that ever ran on the Skeena.

Captain Bonser started out in Hazelton first, and while he was wooding-up 105 miles upstream, he saw Mount Royal with Johnson at the helm coming up from behind.

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.

[2]: 66, 67 The HBC and Robert Cunningham came to a mutual decision that the rivalry was not profitable and an agreement was reached to end it.

A strong wind pushed her into a large rock formation named Ringbolt Island, wedging her crosswise against the current.

Johnson assessed the situation and decided that Mount Royal could be saved and with ten crewmen, he returned aboard.

The survivor was Mount Royal's chief engineer, Ben Maddigan, who was trapped in the bilge and filthy, but unhurt.