sailing at the time. This trip inaugurated weekly scheduled service between the two cities. She and State of Georgia alternated departures and each completed a single one-way trip per week. Cabin passage cost $20 and steerage was $8. On a north-bound trip in March 1854, a black man was found stowed-away inside the housing of one of the paddle wheels. This position was extremely dangerous and he was compelled to call for help. He claimed he was a free person, but being unable to prove his status, he was put ashore, jailed, and returned to Savannah. On the night of 10-11 May 1855, while inbound to Philadelphia, she was hit by two small vessels. At 10 pm the schooner Adrian, carrying coal for Fall River, Massachusetts, ran into Keystone State and sank in 15 minutes. The ship lowered a boat and managed to save three of her crew, but two others perished. Four hours later the schooner Little Tom hit the Keystone State and sank. This time the ship's boat was able to rescue the entire crew of five. A more serious collision occurred at 1 am on the foggy night of 25 May 1856 when Keystone State hit the bark Cavalier. Keystone State's bow was crushed and she immediately began to flood. Her steam pumps barely kept up with the incoming water, and her captain was able to run the ship up onto the mud flats near Norfolk, Virginia to keep her from sinking. While the colliding ships were briefly locked together, the 1st and 3rd mates and three sailors of Cavalier leapt aboard Keystone State. Despite the damage, Keystone State was back to her regular runs between Philadelphia and Savannah within a month. In November 1855 the Philadelphia and Savannah Steam Navigation Company came to the conclusion that there was not enough business for two ships on the route, and switched State of Georgia to sailing between Philadelphia and Charleston, South Carolina. Keystone State continued her service to Savannah. Keystone State primarily carried agricultural commodities north. In August 1855 she brought 3,300 sacks of wheat to Philadelphia. In November 1856 her cargo included 104 bales of cotton, and in December 1856, 50 casks of rice. In return, the ship carried a variety of manufactured or processed goods south. In March 1861 her cargo for Charleston included 950 barrels of whiskey, 350 hogsheads of bacon, 750 barrels of beer,