The Royal
During the fall of 1880, a keel was laid for a new steamboat by Hilyard Bros. in Portland,Saint John. During the winter, work progressed rapidly and on February 28, 1881, she was launched and towed to the Dulops Shears at York Point, where her machinery was installed. The boiler was built at the Burrel Johnston works in Yarmouth and brought to Saint John on the schooner, Yarmouth Packet. Due to the business boom in Saint John, the foundries there could not make a boiler in time for the opening of river navigation.
The stern wheeler was named the Royal, her length was 149 feet, beam 22.8 feet, with a capacity of 271 tons. The two horizontal engines of low-pressure type had 18-inch cylinders and a 5-foot stroke and were made by James Harris and Co. of Saint John.
On May 4, the Royal made a trial trip and showed wonderful speed for a stern wheel steamboat. On May 6, she made her first trip to Fredericton.
The following advertisement appeared in the newspapers in the month of May:
The Steamer Royal, Captain G. VanWart will leave Indiantown at 9:30 am for Fredericton, connecting with the New Brunswick Railway and steamer Florenceville and continue until further notice going up on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Returning will leave Fredericton on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 am, making the usual stops along the River"
The Royal continued on this route for about three months before she was destroyed by fire while lying at her wharf at Gibson on August 5, 1881.
The fire broke out at night. The steamer, the Star, lying at her wharf in Fredericton went across the river to assist the Royal but could do nothing to save her. Captain Van Wart and the other nine members of the crew escaped safely, but a valuable cargo was a total loss, including many trunks belonging to Normal School students.
The engines of the Royal were salvaged and were used in Davidson's Sawmill at Martin Head.