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RMS Zircon Revised

RMS Zircon was the Tourmaline's younger sister, and essentially identical. Just like her sister, she was very successful as a passenger ship in her early days, until she was outdated by 1871 with White Star Line’s Oceanic Class. She was laid up for a few years, before re-entering service with two funnels, two masts and a flat, cleaner bow. Her large engines thumped violently on her final voyage, which took place in 1877. Everybody was shaken awake. A large steam noise was heard, and a tearing noise. This was the engines of the Zircon’s engines surging, as her propeller shaft had broken, which was allowing water to enter the vessel. Distress rockets were fired, and the ship took on a list. Cunard Line’s RMS Bothnia hurried to the scene, rescuing all on board. Nine hours after her shaft first cracked, the vessel was seen from the passing sailing ship “Stephan J Brian”, which reported they saw her roll onto her port side, and sank slowly before a loud smash was heard, when she sank within a few minutes.