She left Gravesend on 28 September 1873, with a crew of 37 under the command of Captain Johnson, carrying 271 passengers and 980 tons of cargo,[1] among it railway iron and equipment for a woollen factory.
[2] The majority of the voyage was uneventful, and the ship rounded the southern end of New Zealand's South Island on the last day of the year.
At daylight, the steamer Wanganui was sighted and offered help, but Captain Johnson — according to many accounts in a state of heavy intoxication — made it clear in no uncertain terms that help was not needed.
Several of the passengers protested and attempted to contact the Wanganui, but Johnson produced a revolver and threatened to shoot anyone defying his command.
The ship's wreck — including its cargo — was later sold at auction, but by that time, the settlers' possessions were damaged beyond repair, and they had to rely on an emergency fund set up by the residents of Dunedin.