U.S. records show: The Ozama (sometimes misspelled Osama) was the former British steamer Craigallion, built in 1881 at Leith, Scotland. She was an iron hulled, propeller steamer of 1,028.01 gross tons, 766.37 net tons. She was 210’ in length, 30’6” in breadth, and 15.8’ in depth of hold. Her official number was 155123 and her signal letters KDHJ.[1]

Canadian records show the following: “William P. Clyde & Co’s Line, for Hayti and Santiago. The steamer Ozama, 624 tons net.”[2]

Craigallion — On May 17, there was launched from Messrs. Ramage and Ferguson’s shipbuilding yard at Leith, an iron screw-steamer, named the Craigallion, of about 1000 tons gross register, for Messrs. Walker, Donald and Co., Glasgow. This steamer’s dimensions are: — 216 by 30 by 16 feet molded, with engines 20 and 50 by 33 stroke, and her general design is somewhat similar to the screw-steamer Craigownie, launched six months ago by the same owners.[3]

The Marine Engineer of June 1, 1881, gives the same data as above, except spells Craigownie as Craigrownie. It also adds: “On leaving the ways the Craigaillon was named by Miss Glover, Mount Grange, Edinburgh, and was afterwards towed round to the harbour to receive her machinery.”[4]

Craigallion — On July 12^th the Craigallion (s), 1,250 tons, recently launched from the shipbuilding-yard of Messrs. Ramage & Ferguson, Leith, went down the Firth of Forth to have a preliminary trial of the engines. This steamer has been engined by Messrs. Muir & Houston, Harbor Engine Works, Glasgow, and the results obtained were of the most satisfactory description. The diameter of the cylinders is 26 in. and 50 in. by 33 in. stroke, and on a mean trial the steamer obtained a speed of 11½ knots, a result which exceeded the engineer’s and builder’s expectations. This steamer carries Emerson Walker & Co.’s patent windless and is owned by Messrs. Walker, Donald & Co., 13 Dixon Street, Glasgow, and is intended for the Spanish fruit and mineral trades. The Craigallion leaves in a day or two for Bilboa.[5]

Craigallion —On the 16^th inst. (May, 1881) There was launched from Messrs. Ramage and Ferguson’s shipbuilding yard at Leith an iron screw-steamer, named the Craigallion, of about 1,000 gross register, for Messrs. Walker, Donald & Co., Glasgow. This steamer’s dimensions are 216’x30’x16 ft. moulded, with engines 20” and 50”x33” stroke, and her general design is somewhat similar to the s.s. Craigrownie, launched six months ago for the same owners. On leaving the ways the Craigaillon was named by Miss Glover, Mount Grange, Edinburgh, and was afterwards towed round to the harbour to receive her machinery.[6]

The SS Craigrownie, although slightly smaller, was said to be similar to the SS Craigallion and was built, engined and initially owned by the same parties.

Craigrownie — On the 22^nd September (1880), from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Ramage and Ferguson, Leith, an iron screw-steamer of 900 tons, for Messrs. Walker, Donald and Co., of Glasgow. Her dimensions are: — 210 by 30 by 15, with compound engines supplied by Messrs. Muir and Houston, of Glasgow, of 110 horsepower nominal, having cylinders of 26 and 50 by 33 stroke. This steamer has been specially designed for the Spanish fruit and mineral trades.[7]

Lloyd’s Register of 1883-84 shows the following information for the Craigallion — (Note by ELS: All symbols, letters & abbreviations used in the original document have been given their full meaning.)

Column 1
Official Number: 84331
International Code Signal Letters: (none shown)
She was built under special survey
Column 2
Ship’s Name: Craigallion
Etc.: iron, screw steamer, four bulkheads, cemented in 1881; 1 deck (iron); two tiers of beams (with or without decks on them)
Column 3
Masters: H. York
Column 4
Tonnage: Net 624; Gross 973; Under Deck 762
Column 5
Registered Dimensions: Length: 216’5”; Breadth: 30’1”; Depth of Hold: 15’1” Raised Quarter Deck 76’ long, Forecastle 30’ long, Bridge Deck 56’ long
Column 7
Engines of Steamers: Compound Inverted, two-cylinder engine; one 25” high pressure cylinder; one 50” low pressure cylinder; with 33” stroke of piston; 75 psi boiler pressure; 99 horsepower (which would have been “taken from the Ship’s register, but is no indication of real power.”)
Builders of Engines: Muir & Houston, Glasgow
Column 8-9
Built: Where: Leith; Builders’ Name: Ramage & Ferguson; When: May 1881
Column 10
Owners: Walker, Donald & Co.
Water Ballast Tanks: Fore Peak Tank capacity-28 tons; Midship Tank 26ft. long, capacity-160 tons
Column 11
Port belonging to: Glasgow
Column 12
Port of Survey: Leith
Anchors & Chains tested at an establishment under the Superintendant of the Committee of the Society (Lloyd’s) and also licensed by the Board of Trade
Column 13
Year of ________: (nothing shown)
Column 14
Character: 100 Iron 1, surveyed: July 1881, November 1883[8]

After the British steamer Craigallion was shipwrecked in the Bahamas, she was salvaged and registered as the American steamer Ozama.

Lloyd’s Register for 1893-94 shows: the Ozama (ex-Craigallion), I.K. Chichester master, was an iron screw steamer; official letters KDHJ; official number 156123; 1 deck; 2trB (two tiers of beams); tonnage 1028 gross, 766 net; built in 1881 by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith; owned by W.P. Clyde & Co.; 216’5” in length; 30’1” in breadth; and 15’1” in depth; Port of Registry New York; Flag United States; Engines by W.B. Muir & Houston, Glasgow, 99 HP.[9]