The ship was built in 1885 by A. Leslie and Company, Newcastle, England, and was purchased by the United States Navy from the Miami Steamship Co. on 25 May 1898 for service in the Spanish–American War.

She acted as a general utility ship for the Asiatic Squadron in the Philippines during the occupation of the islands and during the subsequent insurrection.

[2] Iris was decommissioned for repairs at Hong Kong on 31 January 1900, and resumed duty in May[1] under the command of Lieutenant Dudley Wright Knox USN through June 1901.

[4] Iris sailed for home in late 1903, arriving at San Francisco on 13 November and decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard on 18 December.

During the following years she served as parent ship for the Pacific Torpedo Fleet operating off the West Coast of the United States.

[citation needed] Iris arrived Topolobampo, Mexico on 9 December to begin patrol duty on the Mexican coast.