Commissioned by the Kinsman Transit Co. of Cleveland, Ohio she was launched as hull number 14 by Jenks Ship Building Co. of Port Huron, Michigan.

On December 6, 1909 the Steinbrenner was downbound loaded with iron ore when she was involved in a collision on St. Marys River with the nearly new SS Harry A. Berwind.

This time she struck the SS John McCartney Kennedy in a foggy Whitefish Bay but managed to stay afloat.

Although he secured his ship's deck, Captain Albert Stiglin did not have his crew place tarpaulins on the twelve leaf-type "Telescoping" hatch covers; since these were not watertight, they allowed some water to seep into the cargo holds.

Crew members were dispatched to secure the cover but, as the storm intensified, 80-mile-per-hour (129 km/h) winds and large waves worked the leaf loose again.

Captain Stiglin tried to keep the waves from causing more damage but by morning other hatch covers had worked loose and the ship staggered to make headway.

At 7:35 AM, an abandon ship signal was blown on the whistle and the crew mustered at the forward life raft, and the aft lifeboats.

The Joseph H. Thompson, under the command of Captain Robert F. Leng, found the life raft and six men taking refuge in it.

In heavy winds and rough seas, Captain Everett carefully maneuvered the Clemson to put the lifeboat in the ship's lee and then had the survivors lifted aboard with ropes.