In 1879 the Bristol City Line began regular steamship service from Bristol to the USA and Canada, the line had been around in one form or another since 1704. In the first four years of steamship operations three vessels were lost.

Dec. 28, 1880 the Bristol City sailed from New York for Bristol with 28 men onboard and was never seen
again. Dec. 3, 1881 the Bath City had to be abandoned off Newfoundland after receiving damage in a storm,
ten of the crew died before the 17 survivors were picked up three days later.

The third ship was the Gloucester City, which sailed from Bristol for New York on February 8, 1883, she had 28 men on board and a cargo worth $75,000. On Feb. 23, 1883 about 240 miles ESE of St. John's, Newfoundland she ran headlong into an iceberg. The pumps could not keep up with the influx of water and an hour later she sank by the bow. The crew all got off the ship and were picked up in short order by the SS Frija and landed in Nova Scotia. This was a fact not learned in London until Mar. 7 when the owners received a telegram from the captain telling them of the loss and the safe rescue of the crew.