The vessel has a total of 40 spacious passenger cabins, and outwardly it resembled many of the Mississippi River paddle steamers.

In 1885, together with SS Colvile, Princess moved the thousand men that had participated the North-West Rebellion from Grand Rapids, Manitoba to Winnipeg.

After the work the vessel was primarily used to carry bulky goods and railroad ties, and often she was towing a barge.

The passengers and crew quickly moved into two small lifeboats, but Captain Hawes, 17-year-old cabin servant Flora McDonald of Selkirk, and 19-year-old cook Johanna Palsdottir never made the last boat.

Also lost were 19-year-old sailor Johann Jonsson, Loftur Gudmundsson of Gimli, and Charles Greyeyes, native Canadian.