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Letter of appointment to Captain Ruthven as commander of the SS CHIMBORAZO
Letter of appointment to Captain Ruthven as commander of the SS CHIMBORAZO

Letter of appointment to Captain Ruthven as commander of the SS CHIMBORAZO

Date1881
Object numberANMS0263[006]
NameLetter
MediumPaper
DimensionsDisplay dimensions: 213 x 188 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA letter from the Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited appointing Captain Ruthven as commander of the SS CHIMBORAZO, dated 31 March 1881. The letter is on is pre-printed Orient Steam Navigation Company letterhead with details filled in by hand in black ink. The letter reads 'Sir, we have to inform you that you are appointed to be commander of the SS CHIMBORAZO during the pleasure of the managers, and we will thank you to join the vessel on 1st April when your pay will commence at the rate of 450 (pounds) per annum...' It is signed by the company managers.HistoryThe CHIMBORAZO was an iron, auxiliary screw steamer that made at least two voyages a year to Australia between August 1877 and 1891 for the Orient Steam Navigation Line before being sold out of service in 1894 the vessel was placed on the northern hemisphere cruise circuit . SignificanceCaptain Ruthven became a well known and generally well liked captain and when he retired in 1911 it was noted in the papers of the day that he had been "one of the most popular commanders who have ever sailed to the Australian seas". (The Advertiser, 11 March, 1911).