1899London to Adelaide85days.
Melbourne to London105
1900London to Adelaide88
Melbourne to London88
1901London to Adelaide86
Adelaide to London112

In 1902 she went out to Adelaide in 79 days, then loaded coals at Newcastle, N.S.W., for Frisco. Again she made a remarkable run across the Pacific.

She left Newcastle on 27th April—crossed the line on 17th May in 169° 42′ W.—arrived at Frisco on 11th June, 45 days out.

At San Francisco Captain Pattman loaded wheat for Liverpool. But when he was ready to sail he found himself 10 men short, so applied to the usual sources. And here is a good instance of the methods of Frisco boarding-house masters at that date. He was informed that each man would cost him $30 blood money, $25 advance, $5 shipping fee, $1 boat hire—total $61 per man. This was more than a resolute man like Captain Pattman could put up with, especially with wheat freights to U.K. at 11s. 3d. Though the boarding-house masters were a law unto themselves in San Francisco and boasted of their power, he determined to brave them and after some trouble managed to get men at $31 inclusive per man. His success broke the ring for a time, and they were soon offering men at $21 a head, less $2.50 commission of the captains. No doubt many a present day officer will remember the episode, which caused quite a stir in windjammer circles at Frisco, and even produced a long poem in one of the leading papers. This poem was entitled “The Lay of the Loch Torridon,” and the patriotic Frisco newspaper man takes care that the British captain is bested in his efforts. The Loch Torridon sailed on 8th November, in company with the four-mast barque Crocodile. Loch Torridon arrived Liverpool on 14th March, 1904, and the Crocodile on 31st March, over two weeks behind.

From 1904 to 1909, when Captain Pattman resigned his command, Loch Torridon was kept on the Australian run, her passages being:—

1904Glasgow to Sydney77days.
Sydney to London97
1905London to Adelaide85
Melbourne to London106
1906London to Adelaide83
Melbourne to London117
1907London to Adelaide83
Melbourne to London86
1908London to Adelaide94
Melbourne to London87

On her arrival home in 1908, Captain Pattman reluctantly decided to give up his command and go into steam, his reason that vexed one, the lack of real sailormen to man her. Besides which, owing to the unwillingness of good men to remain in sail, he had to put up with an aged “has been” as mate and an apprentice just out of his time for second mate.

In 1912 Loch Torridon was sold to the Russians. About the same time Captain Pattman had his leg broken by a sea whilst on the bridge of his new command. He was landed at Falmouth and died there in hospital.

“PORT JACKSON.”