Tusitala – Off Diamond Head

Built in 1882 as the Inveruglas by Robert Steel of Greenock, this ship had a long trading life of 50 years. She was also the last ship built by this noteworthy ship builder. It is said that the Robert Steel was a perfectionist and that he put too much into his ships. Whatever the reason, the shipyard went into liquidation just after Inveruglas was built.

In 1886 she was bought by Thompson, Anderson & Co., who ran a fleet of white-painted ships, all with the prefix ‘Sierra’. She was renamed Sierra Lucena. In 1907 she was sold to Norwegian owners Fjeldvik A/S and renamed Sophie. She carried this name until 1923, strangely flying the Swiss Flag. During this period she had two collisions with steamers which caused damage to her stern and bow but not sufficient to sink her. The latter damage resulted in her being fitted with a spike bowsprit, which replaced the long jib boom she had when built.

In 1923 she was bought by an American syndicate and was brought back to A1 condition. This syndicate comprised New York businessmen, writers and poets and was headed by the well-known novelist of the day, Christopher Morley. They renamed her Tusitala and she became their meeting place and headquarters.

They put her back to sea, trading between New York, Baltimore, Seattle and Honolulu. Her main cargo for the Hawaiian Islands was ammonium sulphate fertiliser for the sugar plantations. She always went via the Panama Canal, and was commanded by Captain James Barker who was a well-known British sea captain. On one occasion she sailed from her berth down the Hudson River without the aid of a tug. When in port, many notable people were entertained on board.

She was named after the writer Robert Louis Stephenson, who had lived for many years in Samoa. The Samoans called him ‘Tusitala – Teller of Tales’ and it was his effigy she carried as her figurehead.