San Francisco to the New York and Mexican Mail Steamship Line owned by Francois Alexandre. She sailed from New York to Havana, Cuba to Sisal, Mexico, and finally to Vera Cruz, Mexico before returning to New York. Her last run on this route was in February 1869. Bermuda (18701872) The government of Bermuda solicited offers for regular steamship service between New York and Hamilton. Webb offered San Francisco in response to the tender offer. The ship arrived in Hamilton on 7 August 1870 for inspection, as required by Bermudian law. It was not clear that a ship of her size could enter Hamilton Harbor, and in fact, she grounded on her first attempt. A more experienced pilot guided her in safely, however, and the ship was accepted by the government. Thereafter San Francisco completed two roundtrips per month between New York and Hamilton. A first-calss passage in either direction cost $30, and a steerage berth cost $15. The government of Bermuda paid Webb 240 pounds sterling per round-trip as a subsidy. This original contract was set to expire on 31 December 1871, but Webb won a renewal in November 1871. Concern over San Francisco's ability to enter Hamilton was well founded. She went aground again on 18 September 1870. While entering Hamilton Harbor on 5 December 1870, the ship hit a rock and sank in 15 feet of water. She was refloated and repaired at the Royal Naval Dockyard. San Francisco brought people, mail, news, food, and manufactured goods of all kinds to Bermuda. She was so important to the island that the Colonial Secretary ordered a special flag to be flown from government telegraph stations from the moment the ship was first sighted inbound to Hamilton. The ship was significant to the export economy of Bermuda as well. On 22 April 1871 she cleared Hamilton with the single largest cargo that had ever been shipped from the island, over 9,000 barrels and 20,000 boxes of various crops. While Bermuda was a colony of Great Britain, there was no direct steamship service between the two islands. Thus, British government officials sailed the Atlantic to New York, and then completed their trip to Bermuda aboard San Francisco. In May, 1871, the ship received a 17-gun salute from the Royal Artillery at Fort Albert upon arrival in Hamilton with Major General John Henry Lefroy, the new governor, aboard. Webb's renewal application in