"John Englis" was completed in December 1896 and was placed on the New York–Maine route, in which she is said to have been well patronized. In 1898 however, the Spanish–American War broke out, and "John Englis" was purchased by the United States Army for use as a hospital ship. Renamed "Relief" the ship was found to have insufficient coal capacity for safe trans Pacific navigation and was confined to Philippine waters based in Manila where as of 1 January 1900 she was reported to be a "floating hospital" with 107 sick and wounded after a trip to outlying areas.