The Società di Navigazione à Vapore della Peninsula Sorrentina, was established in 1902 in Naples. The ship-owner, Gioacchino Lauro, was the major shareholder, and the company was formed to compete with the Società Napoletana di Navigazione à Vapore, that held the concession for postal services and until then had a monopoly of the domestic navigation in the Gulf of Naples. There was a burgeoning passenger and goods trade between Naples and Sorrento and Capri, as well as sailings along the Amalfi coast.
The first vessel acquired by the company was the former P. & A. Campbell steamer Princess May, that was renamed Principessa Jolanda. She had been built in 1853 by Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd., for the Brighton, Worthing & South Coast Steam Boat Co. Ltd., and was surplus to requirements when that company was taken over by Messrs P. & A. Campbell in 1901.
In 1903, two further steamers were acquired. The first of these was the Scotia, also from Messrs P. & A. Campbell, after she was surplus when the company abandoned service from Barry to Weston-super-Mare on the Bristol Channel. Scotia was the product of the Paisley Yard of Messrs H. M‘Intyre & Co., for Captain Buchanan’s service to Rothesay. Launched in 1880, she proved a popular steamer, and in 1885 replaced the Brodick Castle on the Ardrossan and Arran station, for which she had her foc’sle raised. She became one of the steamers acquired by the Glasgow & South-Western Railway in 1891, when they obtained powers to run steamer services. Lacking the saloon accommodation and speed of the new vessels built for the railway fleet, she was displaced by the Glen Sannox and in 1893 was sold to Messrs Edwards & Robertson, Cardiff, for service in the Bristol Channel. By 1899, the business was taken over by Messrs P. & A. Campbell.
“The iron paddle-steamer Scotia, 303 tons, gross, 38 tons net, built by Messrs H. M‘Intyre and Co., Paisley in 1880, and owned by P. and A. Campbell (Limited), Bristol, has been sold to Italians for £5,000, which includes a number of repairs and alterations to fit the vessel for the new owners’ trade.”—Western Mail, February 3, 1903
The new steamer for Naples Bay—a view of Campbell’s Scotia
Scotia was renamed Principessa Mafalda, and sailed successfully for some years to Sorrento and Capri.
Principessa Mafalda in Naples Harbour
A postcard of Principessa Mafalda with Vesuvius
Principessa Mafalda heading for Capri
The second steamer acquired was the Lady Rowena, built in 1891 for the North British Steam Packet Co., by Messrs S. McKnight & Co Ltd, Ayr, and designed for the Arrochar service of the Loch Lomond tour. As the North British reduced their fleet in the early years of the new century, It was Lady Rowena that was sold in 1903.
“The well-known N.B.R. steamer Lady Rowena has been sold to Italian owners for about £4,000. She has been making occasional runs to Lochgoilhead during the last two months on account of Mr. M. T. Clark. She will make her last run down the river on Saturday, after which she will prepare for her final departure from the Clyde. The Lady Rowena was built in 1891 by Messrs S. McKnight & Co., Ayr, and engined by Messrs Hutson & Corbett, Glasgow. It was rumoured some time ago that Buchanan’s had bought the N.B.R. Lucy Ashton, but we understand that negotiations fell through at point of closure.”—Daily Record, June 25, 1903.
Lady Rowena left the Clyde on July 16, 1903, and arrived in Naples after an uneventful journey lasting twelve days.
I have not located a photograph of Lady Rowena in Italian waters. This is a photograph of her sailing for Collard on the South Coast of England
The new company failed in 1905 and was liquidated, with the steamers laid-up. The Scotia was purchased by the Società Industriale e Commerciale Italiana the following year. From them Principessa Mafalda was taken over by the rival Società Napoletana di Navigazione à Vapore in 1907. Renamed Epomeo, she continued to sail in the Bay of Naples and to the Amalfi Coast to Anzio. In 1911, Epomeo was sold to Messrs T. Astarita of Napoli, and was reduced to cargo runs before being broken up in 1913.
Epomeo at Anzio
Lady Rowena was laid-up, but in 1908, she was sold to Messrs R. R. Collard, of Newhaven and returned to the British Isles.
“Lady Rowena.—Gibraltar, June 19.—The Italian steamer Lady Rowena, has been towed in here by the steamer Oceana.”—Liverpool Daily Post, June 20, 1908
“The Italian steel paddle steamer Lady Rowena, 314 tons gross, 140 tons net, built by Messrs. S. M‘Knight & Co., Ayr, in 1891, with engines 50in. by 72in., by Messrs. Hutson & Corbett, has been sold to Mr. R. R. Collard, Newhaven.”—Northern Whig, July 6, 1908
With Mr Collard, Lady Rowena sailed from Newhaven along the Sussex Coast to the resorts such as Hastings and Eastbourne. Towards the turn of the decade, she had a spell sailing on the Solent. This is a little collection of Lady Rowena when in Mr Collard’s employment.
Lady Rowena on the South Coast of England
Lady Rowena sailing for Mr Collard
Lady Rowena with a full load and a brass band
Lady Rowena on the Solent
In 1911, Mr Collard’s debts began to catch up with him.
“Lewes county Court —Tuesday. —Before His Honor Judge Scully.—Newhaven pleasure steamer owner and his debts.—Richard Ragsdale Collard, owner the pleasure steamer, Lady Rowena, now lying in Newhaven Harbour, was defendant in three judgment summonses, the plaintiffs and amounts being the Southampton Harbour Board (£38 13s. 10d.), Chas. Turner and Son Ltd. (£25 2s. 6d.), and John Longsdon Garle (£2 2s. 6d.).—Mr. E. T. Wellsted appeared for the Southampton Harbour Board and the defendant, while Mr. H. J. Vinall represented Messrs. Turner Ltd , and Mr. E. F. Young the third plaintiff.—Replying to Mr. Vinall, defendant said his steamer was somewhat heavily mortgaged. He had not used it since September last. He incurred Messrs. Turner’s debt last summer, when he certainly had prospects of paying. He had made arrangements to pay his largest creditors 10s. in the £. The debt in this case was over £400. The money had not yet been paid or any part of it. They had given him until the Coronation week, in the hope that he would be able to earn enough to pay his creditors. He had not done anything since the season closed. He expected to make enough in one season to keep him through the winter. His wife supported him. She had means, but he did not know exactly what her income was. His wife paid the rent, which was £35 per annum. They kept no servants. The furniture belonged to Mrs. Collard. He was at present living on the ship, and they had the house in addition. He had no means of livelihood except the pleasure steamer. He had not paid his harbour dues, but should when he got the money.—Mr. Vinall: Will the harbour authorities release this boat before the dues are paid?— Defendant: I hope so. —Mr. Young intimated that he could not carry the examination any further than his friend had done.—Mr. Wellsted stated that he had made arrangements for financing the defendant so that the steamer could run during the Coronation in the hope of defendant earning enough to enable him to pay his creditors.—Replying Mr. Vinall, defendant said he could not possibly say what his earnings were likely to be. They depended on the weather. During the Review in 1897 he took £1,300 in one day.—The cases were adjourned for three months.”—Sussex Express. April 14, 1911
Lady Rowena laid-up at Newhaven
In the middle of August, Lady Rowena was sailing to the Isle of Wight from Southsea, South Parade Pier, but by the end of the month she was being advertised on the Clyde, having been purchased by Captain Alexander W. Cameron, Dumbarton.
“Cameron’s steamers.—Lady Rowena and Madge Wildfire. Daily pleasure sailing except Saturday, (The most interesting day’s sail on the Clyde.) by the favourite saloon steamer, Madge Wildfire, from Bridge Wharf, at 9.45 a.m.; Govan, 9.55 a.m.; Renfrew, 10.15; Bowling, 10.45 a.m., for Princes Pier (Greenock), Dunoon, Rothesay, Largs, and Millport, thence cruise round Cumbrae. Returning from Millport, 4 p.m.; Largs, 4.25; Rothesay, 5.15 p.m.; Dunoon, 5.55 p.m. Return fares:—Dunoon, saloon, 1/6; steerage, 1/-; Rothesay, saloon, 2/-; steerage, 1/6; Largs or Millport, saloon, 2/6; steerage 2/-. All day’s sail, saloon, luncheon and tea, 4/-. Note.—Passengers can have 2½ hours on shore at Largs; Millport, 1½ hours on shore; arriving at Glasgow about 8.15 p.m. Parcels and luggage carried at moderate rates. These steamers are open for charter for evening cruises and daily sailings for season 1912. For further particulars apply Box 15, Bridge Wharf.”—Daily Record, August 29, 1911
It seems unlikely that she sailed for Captain Cameron in 1911, and early in 1912, she was chartered to sail between Belfast and Bangor in Northern Ireland. Some details of her later career have been given earlier.
The final “Italian” steamer is the Galatea.
Galatea, built by Messrs Caird & Co., in 1889, as the flagship of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company ,and after a decade of service, she was in need of new boilers. With the addition of the Duchess of Montrose and Duchess of Fife to the Company in the first few years of the new century, Galatea was sold in 1906 to the Società Anonima di Navigazione, ‘Tirrenia’, based in Genoa.
Galatea at Portofino
From Genoa she sailed to the resort towns along the Ligurian coast of the Italian Riviera. In the east, there was Portofino with its picturesque harbour and in the west, the white sandy beaches of Finalmarina at Final Ligure with the imposing limestone cliffs of the Rock of Caprazoppa.
Galatea at Finalmarina
Galatea with Caprazoppa as a back-drop
Galatea on an excursion to Viareggio
In 1914, Galatea was broken up at Palermo.