Quiros, a schooner rigged composite gunboat, was laid down for the Spanish Navy by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Hong Kong, China in June 1894; launched in early 1895; captured by the U.S. Army at Manila in 1898; acquired by the Navy 21 February 1900; and commissioned at Cavite Navy Yard 14 March 1900; Lt. P. J. Werlich in command. Assigned to duty supporting the army in putting down the Philippine insurrection, Quirosoperated along the east coast of Luzon, carrying troops, providing fire support, blockading rebel villages, and making hydrographic surveys. The gunboat then switched to patrolling the Ulgan station, operating off the coast of Samar in cooperation with the Army until 6 October 1901. She retired to Cavite for repairs, 2.5 February to 7 May 1902, and then proceeded to Zamboanga patrol station where she cruised for a number of months, carrying troops and Marines on various missions. Quiros returned to Cavite and decommissioned 29 January 1904.

The gunboat was placed in service once again 2 September 1904, and following service with the Philippine Squadron sailed for China, arriving Shanghai 3 August 1905. Operating along the China coast as far as Chefoo, the warship then took up patrolling the Yangtze Kiang, making a number of upriver trips to Hankow and one voyage as far as Ichang, 900 miles inland, in May 1907. On 27 February 1908, Quiros sailed for Cavite, arriving 8 March and decommissioned there on the 11th.

The warship recommissioned 11 October 1910 and operated on patrol in Philippine waters for the next year. She sailed for Amoy 11 November 1911 and proceeded to Shanghai where she took up duties on the Yangtze Patrol. Quiros remained on Chinese river service for the rest of her career, carrying stores, supplying naval armed guards to river merchantmen, inspecting provinces, and protecting U.S. lives and property throughout China's vast interior. The warship was interned at Shanghai 5 May 1917 after the U.S. entry into World War I, but an international agreement on the protection of nationals in China allowed her to resume patrolling IS August.