the Soukar, built in 1864, was purchased by the Shaw, Savill Company ten years later, and placed on the New Zealand trade to carry immigrants and general cargo. She was a large iron ship of 1304 tons, but, like many other vessels sent out by the company in the "sixties" and "seventies," was not very comfortable for passengers. She was one of the slowest of the company's fleet, her beat passage occupying 98 days to Dunedin. On her last voyage to New Zealand, in 1899, the ship sailed from Glasgow, heavily laden with general and dead weight cargo, and but for the skilful seamanship and cool courage amidst most trying circumstances of Captain Wood, the vessel would never have reached her destination. The passage occupied 197 days, 58 of which were spent at Mauritius, where the ship underwent repairs after encountering terrific storms, which rendered her almost helpless.

the Soukar left Glasgow on July 1, 1898, and rounded the Cape of Good Hope on August 31. Off the pitch of the Cape she encountered a strong westerly wind, which rapidly increased to a hard gale, with heavy seas, which broke on board and flooded the decks, the ship straining and labouring heavily. The weather was extremely violent, and only commenced to moderate on September 2. It continued moderate until September 4, when another heavy westerly gale set in, attended by rain squalls and high cross seas. On September 5 it blew with terrific force, the vessel shipping tremendous seas, one of which, in addition to other damage, smashed the cover of the steam winch to pieces. The weather moderated on September 6, and it continued fair until the 8th, when another heavy gale set in from the west, and went round to north, attended by furious squalls of hail and rain. Heavy seas constantly broke on board and flooded the decks, washing everything movable overboard. All plain sail was taken in, and the ship kept as snug as possible.