S.S. Nord America

The S.S. Nord America was built in 1882 by J.Elder & Co, Glasgow as the S.S. Stirling Castle for Thos Skinner & Co, London. She was aunched on January 21st, 1882 and was used on the tea trade from China and was world famous for her rapid voyages. In 1883, she was purchased by the Italian company, La Veloce and was refitted and renamed S.S. Nord America but, due to her fame, was allowed to retain her original name as well. She commenced her first voyage from Genoa to South America on Novermber 11th, 1883. In 1884, the name Stirling Castle was removed from the vessel and was now named S.S. Nord America only. In 1885, she was chartered by the British government for carriage of troops to Suakin, Sudan and in 1899 was chartered to the Russian government and used as a troopship between Odessa and Vladivostock in connection with the Boxer rebellion in China. In 1900, she was rebuilt by Palmers Co Ltd. She started her first voyage between Palmero, Naples, and New York on May 27th, 1901 and commenced her last passenger round on this same route on March 25th, 1908 making 58 round voyages in total. In December 1908, she was used as an accommodation ship for survivors of the earthquake at Messina. She was then employed solely as a cargo steamer, and on May 12th, 1910 while on passage from Buenos Aires with a cargo of horses, she ran aground on the Moroccan coast. She was refloated and towed to Genoa, Italy and laid up. The S.S. Nord America was scrapped in 1911.

• Length: 127.6 m (418 ft 6 in)
• Beam: 15.2 m (49 ft 8 in)
• Propulsion: One triple expansion steam engine, single screw, 1,500 horsepower
• Speed: 13.5 knots (15-16 Mph)
• Capacity: 4,826 tons
• Occupancy: 90 2nd class passengers and 1,223 3rd class passengers

Vincenzo Cucchi (Born: 1864) boarded this vessel on the 12th of November 1902 leaving Calascio, Italy for America to the state of Pennsylvania.

Annibale Masone (Born: 1883) was present on this ship January of 1903 leaving Pietrelcina, Italy from the port of Naples for Brooklyn, New York.

Domenico Orofino (Born: 1884) left Casamassima, Italy for America on this liner November 4th, 1903 to reacquaint with cousin Constantino Fortunato.

Emilia Moscardelli (Born: 1885) was on this ship headed for America leaving behind her home in Calascio, Italy destined for Lockport, NY where her husband had made a home.