SS Alaska (1881)

SS Alaska under steam
History
United Kingdom
Name:	SS Alaska
Operator:	Guion Line
Builder:	John Elder & Company, in Govan, Scotland
Launched:	15 July 1881
Fate:	Broken up 1902
Notes:	Renamed Magallanes in 1897
General characteristics
Class and type:	Steam passenger ocean liner
Tonnage:	6,932 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	520 ft (160 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Propulsion:	Single screw - 16 knots

The Alaska was a record breaking British passenger liner that won the Blue Riband for the Guion Line as the fastest liner on the Atlantic in 1882.^[1] She was a slightly larger and faster edition of Guion's Arizona and in 1883 became the first liner to make the crossing to New York in under a week. However, Alaska burned 250 tons of coal per day, as compared to Arizona's already high 135 tons. Built by John Elder & Company of Glasgow, she carried 350 first class passengers and 1,000 steerage.^[2] Her passengers included Hugh Simpson Rodham: future grandfather of Hillary Clinton, who travelled in steerage to America with his mother Bella and seven siblings as a toddler in October 1882.^[3] As in the case of Arizona, Stephen Guion also personally owned Alaska.^[4]

Alaska completed 100 voyages when Guion suspended sailings in 1894.^[2] She proved difficult to sell and was finally chartered in 1897 by Cia.^[1] Transatlanticia Espanola as a troop transport. In 1899, Alaska was sold for scrap, but was resold to the Barrow shipyard where she was used as an accommodation hulk until broken up in 1902.^[5][1]

References