Most of her outward passages were between 70 and 80 days, but it must be remembered that she was never driven hard out of consideration for her passengers, or there is little doubt that she would have gone near to lowering the golden cock at Thermopylae’s masthead. On her first voyage to Sydney in 1866-7, she went out in 75 days and came home in 78.
Lowther & Maxton only owned her for a few years, and from the first she loaded as one of Devitt & Moore’s monthly line of packets to Australia, the latter firm buying her outright about 1870.
On her maiden voyage the Sobraon was commanded by Captain Kyle. In 1867 he was succeeded by Lieut. J. A. Elmslie, R.N.R., who had her for the rest of her active career, from 1867 to 1891, a period of 24 years.
Captain Elmslie commenced his career in 1842 and for several years traded out to India and China and later to Australia in the well-known London ships La Hogue and Parramatta. Prior to taking the Sobraon, he commanded the ill-fated Cospatrick, from 1863 to 1867, his brother, who was afterwards lost in her in 1873, succeeding him in the command of that ship.
Captain Elmslie’s name was so closely and for so long associated with that of the Sobraon, that passengers were no doubt as much attracted by the one as by the other. In fact there were many instances in which they booked their passages solely on account of the name of the commander. Whilst being a strict disciplinarian and respected by all who sailed under him, he was, at the same time, kindness itself and laid himself out on every occasion to study the interests of his passengers. The fact that the Sobraon never had anything approaching a serious loss of spars or sails may be safely put down to his never ceasing attention to the ship and the weather. He was always about, and his keen sense of watchfulness and duty readily imparted itself to his officers and crew.
Captain Elmslie was elected a Younger Brother of the Trinity House on 1st September, 1868, and he would have been elected an Elder Brother many years before his death had he been eligible, but the fact of his never having served in steam barred him.
No greater proof of the popularity of the Sobraon and her captain can be given than the length of time both officers and men stayed in her. James Cameron, who was foreman shipwright at the building of the Sobraon, served as carpenter on her during the whole time that the ship was afloat—service 1866-1891.
Thomas Willoughby, formerly with Captain Elmslie in Cospatrick, from 1864 to 1867, transferred with his captain to the Sobraon and served throughout, first as butcher and later as chief steward—service 1866-1891.
James Farrance served 16 years as A.B. and boatswain. Thomas Routledge served 10 years as sailmaker.
This length of service on the part of her petty officers is, I should think, easily a record.