DE DI CA TI O N .

E eotcateo to
il b d f th o ken h e rt
The sailo r o f th e sa , ree o e a a ,

Wh d w th w ld tog th nd p d ur
o re e or e p t er a s rea o race a ar ,

Wh nq u t
ose co r th m ur f thri c th e
es s a e e n girth
eas e o e ocea
’
s ,

Wh t phi
ose roth n ti n th t n kl
e s a re e h l f th
a tho s a ec ace a e ear .

L rd f th hunt nd g k t nd m t r f th y d
o o e a as e , a as e o e ar

T wh m n l nd w di st nt t wh m n
o o o a as w b rr da o o o se a as a e .
 PR E FA C E .

TH I S b o o k is a n e ffo r
p re s e rve th e re co rds o f the
t to

m o s t p e rfe ct typ e o f s aili ng ship at the v e ry h e ight

o f it s d e v e l o pm e nt and it has b e e n w ritt e n e nti re ly
,

fo r sail o rs a nd th o s e who a re i nt e re st e d in s hipping .

I n it I hav e put d o w n a s s imply as p o ssibl e t h e

pe rs o nal hist o ry o f ce rtain s hips and that in the
plain la ng uag e o f th e se a wi th o ut a ny atte mpt to
e xplai n t e ch n ical o r s eafa ri ng t e rm s fo r t h e b e ne fit

o f t h e la nd s ma n A t th e s am e tim e t h e re ad e r m us t
.

no t e xp e c t t o find highly c o l o ure d d e s c rip t i o ns o f

-

gre at s e a adv e nture s — th e adv e nture s a re th e re

right e no ugh b ut h e wh o wi s h e s t o fin d th e m m us t
,

s e arch d e e p i nto the c o ld p rint o f bald s t at e m e nts

and re ad b e tw e e n the lin e s by the light o f h is
o wn e xp e ri e nc e .

The mate rial gath e re d to g e th e r in thi s b o o k has

b e e n cull e d fro m co untl e s s abst rac t lo g b o o ks as ,

w e ll as fro m i nfo rmati o n s uppli e d to me no t o nly ,

by th e me n wh o s ail e d the s hips b ut also by th e i r

o w ne rs d e sig ne rs a nd build e rs
,
.

I nde e d I hav e t o thank so many p e o pl e fo r th e i r

h elp t hat a pag e o f p ri nt wo uld no t co ntain the i r
nam e s and I can o nly h o p e that this b o o k may
, ,

p e rhaps re call s o m e pl e asan t s ea m e m o ri e s and

,

thus in s o m e slight way re co mpe ns e th e m fo r th e i r

kindn e s s and t ro ubl e .

N ote —Wh ere th e w rdo m ile is use d his bo k th

in t mil e
o , e se a - or 6080
feet is a lw ys meant
a , no t th e statute o r l nd mil
a which i nly 52 80 fe
e s o e t.
 CO N TE N TS
PA RT 1 .

The Bal ti mo re Clippers

The O pium Clippe r s

The Fa lcon
Sylph h r Pi n r O pi um Clipper
and o t e o ee s

A m i can O pi um Clipp rs
er e

L t B itish O pi um Clipp
a er r e rs

Th E rly Chi n T Tr d e
e a a ea a

Th Y nk
e Clipp a ee e rs

R a in bow

Ca ta p in R b o e rt H . Wt a er man and N atchez

Th e Trage dy o f th e Bald E agle

A mer can Cl i hin Trad e previ us t
ipp e rs in th e C a o o 18 50

Th e B m in A m ri n Clipp r Ship buildi ng

oo e ca e

A me ri n C lipper Ship l un h ed 1 8 50 1 8 5 1
ca s a c -

Th e S urp rise
Th e S taghound

Th e S ea S erpen t
IV E
. . P a lmer

The Comet

Log o f C lipp er S hip S wordfi h fr m S s o an Francisco to Shan gh i

a

The Wit h of the W v

c a e and N ightinga le
i
A me r can Tea Passa ges , 1 8 5 1 - 1 85 3

Th e R ival ry i in and Ameri in th

o f Great Br ta ca e Tea T d
ra e

The Ori nt l l d Tea fo th e Bri tish M rk t

e a oa s r a e

Th A berd en Clipper M d l
e e o e

Chrysolite s M a
’
iden V g
o ya e , 1 85 1
 CON TE N T S PA GE

Th e Challe nge o f th e A merican N av igat i o n C lub

D i ky Gc re e n a nd th e Challenger
Th e Cha llenger and th e Challenge
Wit h c f t he
o Wav e :
’
Passa g e H o me in 18 5 2

R ace b twe e en S tornoway and Ch rysolite

Be st Tea Passa g es o f 1 8 52

Tea Passages o f 18 53
L ord of the I sles a nd N orthfleet
Tea Passa g es o f 1 8 5 4

N g
ih tinga le
’
s Passa g e in 1 8 55

i i h Clipp f th l t Fifti
Br t s ers o e a e es

A Y nk C pt i n Cut n
’
a ee a a s e e ss

Ka te Ca rn ie and Fiery Cross

R obin H ood a nd Fri ar Tuck

Tea Passa g es o f 1 8 5 6

Tea P g a ssa es o f 1 85 7
Tea P g assa es o f 1 8 58
R ac e betw ee n Cairngorm and L ammermuir

E llen R odger and Ziba

Chaa -
sze

PA RT I I .

Th e Bu ild
D igner f th e F m u T Clipp rs
e rs and es s o a o s ea e

Th B uty f St l
e ea C ti nso ee e s
’
rea o

P rid f th Clyde Shipw righ ts

e o e

Cr f r N tn
aze o A l ft in Ab e d een Ship
ea ess o r s

S il Pl n
a f th e Cr k Clipp r
a s o ac e s

D k Pl n
ec a s

D d R i nd Ball ting
ea se a as

Sh eer

R igidity f Build o

S p d f Te Clip p
ee o m p r d with th Bl ck B ll ers Y nk e
a e rs co a e e a a a e C lipp e rs,
,

nd L t a I n Clipp r a er ro e s

“ ath rline f th T Clipp s

’
e e ss o e ea er

Th m py la h ting t Wi ndw d
er o ea o ar

W th li n ss f S ir L n l t nd A ri l
'

ea er e o a ce o a e

B t D y s R un f Bri tish T
es a
’
C lippe r o a ea

S p d f th e Cr k T Clipp
ee o mp d
ac ea e rs c o are

Th H ndli ng of T Clipp r
e a a ea e

Th O wn rs
e e
 C ON TE N TS xi

The Captains
R us e s usedby th C ptains agai nst On An th r e a e o e

The Prid f C pt in in th i r S hip s

e o a a s e

T Clipp r C w
ea e re s

Th rmopyl C ck
’
e ae s o

Outw rd nd I nt rm di t P
a a ges e e a e ass a

Life n the Coast

o

Th P il t n th C as t—Chin e and E ur pe n
e o s o e o se o a

Chi n Pi t
e se ra es

L rd M
o ul y an d th P ir t L r h
aca a e a e o c as

Th Pi r t a S mp n in H ng K ng H rb o u ’
e nd A ri l
a es e s a a o o a r

Th e Loo ti ng f th e Y ung L hinv o o oc ar

Cut ting ut B ll t Ligh ters t Y k o h m in 1867

o a as a o a a

T J p n against th N E M n
o a a n e . . o soo

Th e Te a Po rts
l w
A lo a nces to b e ma d e l l
in Ca c u a tin g th e Rac n i gR d
e co r s

Th e Tea Ch e sts
p ti n
P re a ra o s fo r th e R ace H o me fro m Fo o c ho w
Lo ding th
a e Te a
The Falcon , Fi rs t o f th e mpro ve d Clipp ers I
Th e Tea Ra ce o f 185 9

Th e Te a Race o f 1 860

Fiery Cross

Th e L ord M aca ulay

The Tea Ra ce o f 186 1

Th e Tea Race o f 1 86 2

Th e Te a Rac e o f 1 86 3

C lipp er S hip L s aunc hd e 18 6 1 - 1 86 2

S erica and Taep ing

Black Prince and Be lted Will
Co m p o site
l
Co nstruc t i on

Th e Tea R ace o f 1 8 64
The Tea Rac e o f 1 865
Th e A riel
The S ir L ancelot
S ir La ncelot
”
: U nfo rtunate M a id en Vo yage
The G re at Tea Ra ce o f 1 8 66
Titania
Titania s Di sastro us Passa g O ut in 1 8 66 7
’ -
e
xii CO NTE N TS
n l t di sm st d g O ut in
o n h e r Passa 1 86 6 - 7
S ir L a ce o a e e

R c rd P g O ut to H o ng K ng in 1 8 66 - 7
’
A riel s e o assa e o

Th e Tea R ace o f 1 86 7
a nd
Th e Tea Clippe rs b uil t in 1 86 7 , Spin dri t, f L ahloo, L ea nder,

Th e Tea R ac e o f 1 8 68

Wind/rover a nd Kaisow
'

Th e Te a R ac e o f 1 8 69
Cutty S a rh
O ut w d P ar a ssa es g to C hi n a 1 8 69 7 0
-

N orm an Co urt

Th e Ca liph
Wy l o, A mharsador, E me and Osaka

Oberon
Th e Tea R ac e o f 18 70
Th e U nl ucky Black A dder

L ot/l a ir

Outw rd P g in 1 8 7 0 7 1
a assa es -

T P
ea ge of 18 7 1
assa s

Th Chin T d in 1 8 7 2
e a ra e

T Pea ge f 18 7 2
assa s o

N m n C urt in Typh oo n
or a o a

Th R e b tw n Cutty S h nd Th m py l
ace e ee ar a er o ae

Te Tr d o f 1 8 7 3
a a e

B t P
es g s 18 74 1 87 8 Sh ngh i F h w
a ssa e ,
-
, a a , ooc o and Wh ampoa to L nd
o on

Th A ft r Li f f th T Clippers
e e -
e o e ea

A PPEN DIX
A pp ndix A —B iti h T
e r s ea C lipp e rs

B—S il Pl n a a o f Tea Clipp er S ir L a ncelot

C—S p r M a e asure m e nts o f N or ma n Co urt
D—L o g o f Thermopy lae id n V y g 18 68 1869 on her Ma e o a e, -

E —A b tr t L g f H ll w n C pt J m
s ac W tt Sh ngh i
o o a o ee
’
, a . a es a , a a
t L nd n o o o
xi xi! -

F— C m pl t L is t f Th m py l
o O ut w d nd H m w d
e e o er o ae :
’
ar a o e ar
P g und th
a ssaA b d n Wh i t S t
es H u Fl g
er e e r ee e ar o se a
1 86 8 - 1 8 9 0

G —Co mplet List o f Cutty S ark A ustrali n Passa

e
’
s a
g es

H —A b tract L o g o f A ri l C ptai n Ke y Fo o c h w to
s e , a a , o Lo n d on
Fr m C p t i n Ke y s Priv t J urn l
o a a a
’
a e o a X V II - X X X "!
 I L L U S TRA TI O N S
H G!
Frontispiece

Ca pta in J oh n Kea y

Bre a k of the Po o p
P LA N S
 TH E CH I N A C L I P PE R S

PA R T 1

0 fa ir sh e was to l k
piri t f the
oo o n , as so me s o sea ,

Wh n he s d f m Chin h m w d wi th h r fr igh t f f
e ra c e ro a, o e ar , e e o ra rant t eag
And the shining wift b n ito and th wide Ws i ng d lb tros
o e -
e a a s

Cl i m d k in hip wi th th
a e lipp r b n th th S uth n C ss
s e c e e ea e o er ro .

Cl h ul d wi th h t n d nv wift nd plunging h
o se - a e , s or e e ca as , s a s e co u ld we p s e

Th ugh th e g l th t t b r h a wild p th way n t h d e

' :
p
‘
ro a e a ro s e o a a o e e

A nd b f th e g l bl w v
e o re h l f h r d r n h d and d iv n
a e e o e r, a e e c e r e c re w ,

T t h tun f R ub n R n h i t d t p il y d n w ”
o e e o e e a zo , o s e o sa ar s a e .

Fr m th h v n f th p
o e a nt h he o l d nd lipp d w
e rese s e a s c e a re a s e a a y ,

L d d d p nd unning fr f r th p t f y t rd y
oa e ee a r ee o e or o es e a ,

A nd th carg th t h
e ri d oh it w a n t Chin t
s e ca r e , a as o a ea .

Sh t k wi th h r ll th gl m ur nd m n c
e oo e a f life t s a
e a o a ro a e o a e .

K . TA RD I F .

Th e Baltimo re Clip p e rs .

H E fi rst shi ps th at we re e v e r built wi th

sp e e d i nste ad o f ca rryi ng capacity as th e
chi e f d e s id e rat um w e re th e lo ng lo w , ,

fl ush de cke d Baltim o re brig s a nd sch o o ne rs which

-
,

by re as o n o f the i r un usual saili ng powe rs b e cam e

ce le brat e d the w o rld o v e r und e r the nam e o f the
”
“
Baltim o re C lippe rs .

Th e s e v e ss e ls dat e d fro m as fa r back as the

A m e rican W a r o f I nd e p e nd e nc e m any o f t h e m ,

we re p riv at e e rs still m o re o f th e m,
w e re s lav e rs
-

whil s t no t a fe w ran ge d the I ndi e s wit h the dre aded

skull a nd c ro ssb o ne s flying fro m th e i r s ig nal
I
B
2 TH E CH INA CL IPPE R S
halliards Th e s e Yank e e fre e lanc e s w e re w o nde r
.
-

fully s p e e dy in light ai rs and in t urn i ng t o wind

wa rd ; and ca rryi ng as t h e y did la rge d e spe rate
,

c re w s and h e avy a rmam e nts o ft e n p ro ve d th e m ,

s e lve s m o re than a match fo r t he t ubby o ve rmast ed ,

sl o o ps and b rigs o f the B ri t ish N avy .

The Baltimo re type had s e v e ral v e ry striking

pe culia riti e s fo und in no o th er ships o f the sam e
date I t is s uppo s e d t o have fi rst o ri ginate d in
.

S t M ichae l s Talb o t C o unty wh e re t he a rt o f

’

. , ,

shipb uilding had be e n hande d d o wn fro m fathe r to

s o n fo r g e n e rati o ns .

I ts chi e f fe at ure s we re g re at b e am place d far ,

fo rward giving a v e ry fine run fro m a high b o w

,

with ple nt y o f she e r to a lo w st e rn B o th ste m . ,

ste rnpo s t and masts we re unus ually rak e d a nd it ,

was t his fe ature in the masts o f a ship to ge the r ,

with a lo w free b o ard which in the e ye s o f a , ,

s t ra ng e r gave imm e diate ca use fo r anxi e ty and

,

alarm fo r any v e ss e l d e scrib e d by th e l o o k o ut as a

,
“

rakish l oo ki ng cra ft was at o nce s usp e cte d o f

b e ing an o ce an fre e la nce -
.

O th e r ch a ract e ri s tics o f the Baltim o re clippe r

w e re l o ng e asy wat e r li ne s with n o thing c o ncave
, ,

abo ut th e m like th o s e o f t he lat e r A m e rican

clippe rs gre at d e ad rise at th e midship s e cti o n and
,
,

a n unus ual numb e r o f flying kit e s in additi n

o to
h e r w o rki ng sail s which we re o f c o urs e like all
, , ,

A m e rican sails o f gl e ami ng c o tt o n d uck .

 TH E C H INA CL I P PE R S

da ring and fine r s eam and mad bi gg

an e r
s hip e

pro fits than any the wo rld had previo usly kn o wn .

I have no inte nti o n h e re o f t o uchin g upo n the

mo rality o f the t rad e s uffi ce it t o say that th e re is
,

m o re than a littl e trut h in the yarn that mis fo rtun e

and unhappin e ss always fo ll o we d th o s e who had
mad e th e i r fo rtun e s in Opium .

I may sa fe ly say h o we v e r that th e o pi um t raffic

, ,

did this m uch go o d : it pro d uc e d s o me ve ry fine

ships and it t raine d a n i n co mparab le race O f se am en .

Fo r s uch a haza rd o us t rad e swift ke e ls we re a

n ec e ss ity A t the cl o s e O f the G o ve rnm e nt Opium
.

sale s in I ndia the rich dark cak e s O f Patna and the

,

s hap e ly balls o f B e na re s which c o mp o s ed the ne w

,

c ro p we re shippe d i nto small clippe rs which we re

, ,

sp e cially built fo r the t rad e Th e se v e sse ls had to .

mak e th e passage ro und to China und e r racing

canvas at all s e as o ns a nd w e ath e rs and es p ecially ,
“

during the s t re ngth O f th e N E m o ns o o n wh e n . .

,

the y had to th rash th e i r way to the Chin es e

L ad ro n e s against a h e avy h e ad Sea and st ro ng
current e ith e r in t he o pe n o r by the Palawan
,

Passage .

A t L int o n o r Mac ao th e y ge n erally t ranshippe d

t h e pre ci o us d rug i nt o re ce ivi ng ships which w e re ,

as a rul e Old I nd iam e n t ra ns fo rm e d i nt o fl o ati ng

ware h o us e s The s e re c e ivi ng
.
w ere al so
In 1 850 hi t N
th e re ce ivmg s p s a a mo a w b ig (f rme ly
e re z- A nonyma, r o r
Co lo nel Gr vi l y h J di nd [l n g K ng b ue D
’
l e s ac t ) , ar ne
C
—
e o ’ a

E
o a ar
t
Lord A rih g
c
t hr i i
.

A t th e six i l nd n A m y th
s a s ea r w D SI
“

o ere ere z er
q e , a ,
 TH E CH IN A CLIP PE RS 5

stati o nary gunb o ats with l arge fightin g c re ws in

additi o n to sta ffs o f s cb ro ffs a nd cl e rks who
atte nd e d to the sal e s and o th e r busin e ss A thi rd .

class o f small e r v ess e l fe d the o pium fro m the s e

re c e ivin
g ships t o o the r clippe rs stati o n e d a l o ng t he
co ast b e twe e n H aina n and Wo o sung .

This fo urth cl ass which w e re usuall y the pick o f

,

the lo t had th e d uty o f ca rrying th e o pi um t o plac e s

,

whe re no trea ti e s o r age nts e xiste d I nd e ed th e i rs .

,

was t he m o st ard uo us if m o st e xcitin g task o f all , .

Th e y had t o m e e t t he C hin e s e o pi um sm uggl e rs in

lo ne ly cree ks which had n e v e r b e e n s urve ye d ,

kno wing that th e s e sam e sm uggle rs wo uld b e o nly

t o o re ady t o capt ure th e i r clippe r if giv en t h e

cha nc e o r t o lo o t he r and murde r he r c re w if she

strande d Th e y had to circumve nt the wil e s o f
.

h o stil e mandarins d e fe nd th e ms e lve s no t o nly

,

against war j unks b ut fle e t s o f Chin e s e pi rate s ;

we a the r the d re ade d typhoo ns a nd if damage d , ,

re fit th e ms e lve s at s e a ; o p e n up ne w t rad e with far

away and unkn o wn po rts ; surve y new c o asts and

ha rb o urs carry mails and de spatche s and e ve n
,

n e go tiate t re a ti e s .

I n such a p e ril o us t rade t he o ffic e rs had t o b e

care fully pic ke d I n t he B ritish o pi um clippe rs
.

ma ny o f th e m we re e x naval me n b ut th ere was -

,

C o. ba q
P a thfinder,
ue J ardi n rC o ; R y
,
ali t h o o ne r ( fo rmerly
e . o s , sc

Raj h B k e s yacht ) Sy me M inn Co

’

l t tioned t F ho w W ung
a roo , ,
.

B id s t h ese th r w er ve
es e e e e sse s s a a oo c ,
o os ,

Chi n h w and in th C p S ing M n Passage n r H ong Ko g b

e a - oon th ea , o
c e ,

Engli h nd Americ n
s a a .
6 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
e vid e n tly a s g re at a c o mp e titi o n fo r t h e app o i nt

m e nts a s th e re was fo r the s e rvice o f the o ld J o hn “

Co mpa ny .

A n o ffic e r who s e rv e d ab o a rd t h e Fa lcon m o st

,
,

fam o us o f all t he clipp e rs w rit e s

,

“
The o ffic ers we re fo r th e m o st pa rt the y o unge r
s o ns o f go o d famili e s at h o m e wh o had t o us e e v e ry
,

e ffo rt a nd wait l o ng t o fill a vaca n t app o i ntm e nt ,

which was ve ry di fficult to o btain as applica nts had ,

t o und e rgo th e s e v e re s t t e s t s o f fitn e ss b o th m e ntal,

a nd p hy s i c al . S o m e acq uai nta nc e with na utical

as t ro n o my and t he physical s ci e nc e s with a taste ,

fo r East e rn language s a nd a t o ngue and t urn fo r

Eas te rn c o ll o q uials ; app ro ve d physiq ue st e adi ne ss ,

and c o urag e ; re liability o f t e mp e r with th e highe r

,

m o ral gi fts o f c o o l ne s s a nd pati e nc e und e r t rial and

p ro v o catio n all th e s e w e re e ss e ntials A nd it may
-
.

h e re ma rk e d that am o ng th e o ffic e rs w e re many

s o ns o f cl e rgym e n , who aft e r a p e ri o d o f a ctive
,

s e rvice afl o at w o uld re ti re t o s ucc e e d ultimate ly to

,

’
th e i r fat h e rs livi ng s o r to p racti s e at t he b ar no t a ,

fe w fi ndi ng t h e i r way i nt o Pa rliam e nt .

The pay was e no ugh t o mak e a p re s e nt day -

sail o r s m o uth wat e r The captai ns if th e y suc

’

.
,

c e e de d in av o idi ng capt ure v e ry s o o n mad e

,

fo rtune s a nd re t i re d . Each o ffic e r was all o we d

h is o wn C hi ne s e b o y o r b o dy s e rva nt whil s t the ,

capt ai n had h is butl e r a nd t wo b o ys .

Th e clipp e rs ca rri e d d o ubl e c re ws c o mp o s e d o f ,

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
all nati o naliti e s b ut am o ngst wh o m we re always t o
,

b e fo und a sp rinkli ng o f d e s e rte rs fro m th e Ro yal

N avy d raw n by t he l ure O f high pay and p ro mis e
,

o f e xcite m e nt D isciplin e had o f co urse to b e

.
, ,

v e ry s t rict ; gun a nd cutlass d rill fo rm e d a re gular

part O f the ro uti ne whil s t sma rtn e s s in s ail handli ng
,

was a mat t e r O f esp rit de corps .

The chi e f fi rms e ngage d in the t rad e we re th e

B ri t i s h fi rms o f J ardi ne Math e s o n , C O a nd D e nt .

CO wh o s e e stablishm e nts at H o ng K o ng w e re
.
,

o n t he m o st mag n ifice nt scal e R usse ll CO . .

re p re s e n t e d A m e rica n i nt e re s t s whilst t he Pa rs e e
,

family O f Bo naj e e re p re s e nt e d I ndia n .

The O pium clippe rs w e re all s mall v e ss e l s m o stly ,

b rigs a nd s cho o ne rs with a fe w ba rque s a nd o nly

,

o ne s hip t h e c e l e b rat e d Fa lcon ; b ut siz e wa s no t

,

re q ui re d fo r t h e i r o nly ca rgo was O pi um and silv e r

,

sp e ci e
.

A n O pi um ca rg o ra re ly c o nsist e d o f m o re than
t wo o r th re e h und re d ch e st s which w e re e xcha ng e d
,

fo r s ilv e r us ually in th e shap e o f M e xica n d o lla rs

,

b ut s o m e tim e s in ba rs O cca s i o nally at o ut o f t he

.
,
- -

way place s antiq ue wa re in the shape O f vas e s and

,

o rnam e nts o f g o ld O r silv e r w e re acc e pt e d fo r

o pi um ,
and in thi s way I fe ar ma ny a p re ci o us
, ,

w o rk o f a rt fo und its way i nt o the m e lti ng po t .

The pi ratical Io rcha s we re always o n t he l o o k o ut

fo r a b e calm e d o pi um clipp e r fo r wh e th e r upwa rd ,

b o und with the d rug o r d o w nward b o und with

8 I
THE C H N A C LI PE R S P
s p e cie was always ce rta in t o b e a rich p riz e
s he .

B u t in o rd e r t o o v e rc o m e t his da ng e r all o pi um
clippe rs w e re s uppli e d with 4o fo o t swe e ps whi ch -

we re run o ut O f the gun p o rts a nd with six me n t o ,

w ld s nd a sch l g o 4 kn o ts
e a ch o,
u e o o n e r a o n 3 t

wi th e a se .

Th e re was o ne s till g re ate r dange r in C hi ne se

s e a s tha n t h e pi rat e a nd that wa s t he typh o o n .

Captai n A nd ers o n gives a v e ry v ivid descrip tio n Of

a t yph o o n which h e e xp e ri e nc e d wh e n thi rd O f fic e r
o f t h e o pi um s ch o o ne r E a mo nt .

“
The E a mon t was b o und fro m H o ng Ko ng to .

A mo y A t 1 0 p m th e wi nd wa s abe a m bl ow
.

,
.
,

ing O ff t he la nd t he s ch o o ne r g o ing 1 2 kno t s with a

,

sm o o th se a a nd not a clo ud in th e s k y At 1 1 .

p m t
.h e wi n d b e cam e g u s ty dark cl o uds b e gan
,

t o fo rm ah e ad and the ba ro m e te r had fall en a n in ch

,
.

s i nc e fo ur b e lls Th e captai n wa s calle d

. H e at .

o nc e ke p t t h e s hip O ff the l and 3 p o i n ts and h ad all ,

hand s cal le d to sh o rt e n sail Whils t the t o pgallant .

sail was b e i ng t ak e n in a nd the yard s e nt do w n o n

d e c k th e wi nd was i nc re as i ng in no i sy gusts A
, .

b o s n s m at e a nd e ight me n w e re unabl e t o se cure

’ ’ ’

t he gaff t o p sail which had a 2 8 fo o t yard and

,
-
,

fil ling lik e a ball o o n b l e w cl e a n away , A nd b e fo re .

t h e t op s ail c o ul d b e
put in its ga s ke t s it fl e w away ,

in pi e c e s no t m o re t ha n a yard o r two in s iz e .

1 a m — Th e s hip wa s s c uddi ng und e r s tay

. .
fo re
sail a nd hal f th e fo re t rys ail th e l o we r hal f having ,
 TH E I
CH N A P
CLI P E R.

blo wn way whilst th e sail was be ing l o we re d

a .

The s e a was no w a m ass o f s e e thing fo am the rain ,

fe ll in s o lid spi ral co l umn s and th e win d was b l o wing

s o ha rd in the squall s th at the ship lay d o wn und e r

it with her b at c he s in th e wat e r S e v eral atte mpts .

w ere mad e to b ri ng he r to b ut e ach time she was ,

kno cke d flat with he r c ro ss tre e s ba re ly cl e ar o f the

-
,

sm o th e r to l e e ward The ba ro me te r was 2 7 8 0

. .

The t wo le e b o ats and davits w e re t o rn away; whilst

t h e we athe r b o ats w e re s mash e d to pie ce s agai nst

t h e sh o uld e rs o f t h e dav its by the m e re fo rc e O f the

wind whic h had no w th e true cyclo n e h o wl

,
.

“
4 a m — The baro m e t e r was 2 7 5 0 The Chin e s e
. .
'
.

co o ks and st e wa rds lay abo ut in t he w re ckag e o f

the sal oo n b ut t he t hi rd o ffic e r and t wo qua rt er

,

maste rs manage d to s e rve o ut a sti ff glass o f g ro g

and a snack o f grub all ro und .

The w ind now ro a re d h e avi e r tha n the c rash o f a

bat te ry o f h ea v y artill ery a nd n o thing was t o b e
s e e n fro m t h e s ch o o ne r b ut a curta in o f s e e thing

fo am The E amont scudde d th re e tim e s ro und the

.

co mpass in an h o ur .

“
D ayl ight — The wind m ad e it imp o s si b l e to go
,

al o ft as o ne co uld no t b ac k o n e s fe e t o ut O f t he
’

ratlin e s The fo ur le e guns chafe d th ro ugh th e i r

.

b ree c hings and w e nt to fit a frigate fo r D avy J o n e s .

“
6 a m — The sq uall s cam e up e v e ry q ua rt e r o f
. .

an ho ur .

“
8 a. m .
— The squalls cam e v y
up e e r te n m inute s .
10 TH E CH N A I C LIP PE RS
10 a . m .
—
The squalls cam e up e v e ry fiv e

mi nute s .

“
Baro m e t e r The ca rpe nte r and hands
w e re s tati o ne d at th e ma s ts a nd we at h e r rigging
with ax e s re ady t o c ut away a t the o rd e r The
,
.

sq uare fo re s ail which h ung up and d o wn fro m the

s li ngs o f t h e fo re ya rd and b e sid e s havi ng fo ur pai rs
,

o f b rail s was s e c ure d with e xt ra lashings bl e w ,

ad ri ft fill e d like a ball o o n a nd th re ate ne d t o take

,

th e fo re ma s t o ut O f h e r With gre at di fficulty it .

was c ut away fro m t h e ya rd .

1 1 a m — The sq uall s c o mi ng up in s uch rapid

“
. .

s ucc e s s i o n that it s e e m e d t o b e o ne l o ng dismal

h o wl . A t re m e nd o us s quall laid h e r flat o n he r
b ro adside with the c ro s s t re e s in th e wat e r The -
.

captai n sh o ute d c ut th ro ugh his t rump e t to the ‘

’

me n with ax e s b ut a s e c o nd late r ro a re d H o ld
,
‘

o n all I n that m o m e n t th e wi nd and rai n c e ase d

’
.
,

as if by magic th e ship st o o d up b e calm e d and ,

be gan t o j ump abo ut in a c uri o us turm o il O f s ea ,

which wa s runn i ng in e v e ry di re cti o n N ot a .

b re at h o f a ir s t i rre d a nd a d e n s e misty cl o ud h ung

all ro und t o th e di s ta nc e O f ab o ut 2 mil e s The .

E a m ont was caught in t h e calm c e ntre o f t he

cycl o ne .

a m — A n e w fo re st ay s ail a n d inn e r j ib
. .

we re go t up a nd b e nt .

1 1 3 0 a m — Th e ha nd s w e re s t a rti ng t o s way u
“

p
. . .

a ne w to ps ail wh e n the wi nd cam e agai n in a

12 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
1 8 4 8 , the lippe r b rig A nte lop e C aptai n
A m e ri c a n c -
,

Wat kin s ra n into a typh o o n wh e n b o und fro m

,

S hanghai t o H o ng K o ng a nd t h e fo ll o w ing is he r
,

’
captai n s l e tte r t o his o w ne rs
I re g re t t o i n fo rm yo u that we hav e b e e n t o tal ly
dismaste d We l e ft Wo o s ung o n t he sth Octo be r
.

in fine w e ath e r On th e 6 th bl o wing fre sh fro m

.
,

t he e as t , t h e b rig g o i ng la rg e 1 2 k no t s at 6 O cl o ck
we d o ubl e re e fe d the t o psails a nd furl e d t h e mai n
-

s ail ; at mid n ight t o o k in cl o s e re e fs t h e b a ro m e t e r ,

a t 2 9 3, 5 ; a t 4 a m furl e d t h e fo re to psail a nd s e nt
.

d o w n to pgallant ya rds t he wind a nd se a incre asing

, ,

was he d away bo th q ua rte r b o ats and pa rt O f the

hamm o ck rail s I was c o mpe ll e d to ke e p runni ng
.

s o as t o e t se a ro o m t o h e av e t o ; t h e wi n d s hi fte d
g
-

t o n o rth and bl e w a p e rfe ct h urrica ne ; ba ro m e t e r

A t 3 p m th e fo re sail bl e w away a
.
,

da nge ro us cro s s s e a runni ng A t p m p re . .

pa re d t o h e av e t o e ve ry ap e rture wa s ca re fully
,

bat te ne d do w n a nd all spa re spa rs a nd t he launch

,

ca re fully s e c ure d A t 5 p m ro und e d t o A t

. . .

a furi o us s q ua ll a nd s h e w e nt o v e r o n he r b e am
e nd s, t h e h e lm b e i ng no l o ng e r O f us e s h e fe ll o ff ,

in t h e t ro ugh o f th e s e a I k ne w t hat if s he
.

re mai ne d s o s he m us t
go d o wn a nd I o rd e re d t he ,

mas t s c ut away a nd by 7 a m we w e re cl e ar o f t he
, .

wre ck baro m e te r
, a nd t h e s e a maki ng a cl e a n

b re ach o v e r he r O n t he 8 th at 7 a m le t go the
.
, ,

s t re am an ch o r a nd t h e k e dg e in 2 1 fa t h o m s o f
 TH E C H INA C LI P PE R S 13

wat e r in o rd e r to t ry and ge t he r h e ad to the wi nd

We so o n d ri fte d into 1 2 fatho ms o n t he Fo rm o sa
Ba nks s t ill bl o wi ng h e a vy and the s e a wo rs e than
,

ye ste rday A t 3 O cl o ck d ri ft e d i nto t o fatho ms

.
’
.

A t 8 p m t he s tre am and k e dge w e re lo st and s he

.

fe ll O ff b ri ngi ng th e wind o n t he sta rb o ard q uart e r

, .

I da re d no t le t go a bo we r a nch o r fo r in the e ve nt ,

O f a shi ft O f wind I might wa nt t h e anch o rs At .

9 p m still bl o wi n g a h e avy gal e

. A t mid night the .

wi nd cam e ro und t o S baro m e te r .

“
O n t h e 1 0 t h at 4 a m wi nd cam e o ut o f the
, ,

S W a nd mo d e ra te d fas t ba ro m e te r 2 9 8 0
.
, At .

dayl ight co m m e nce d to rig j ury mas ts A t no o n .

.

ca l m a nd b y 9 m we had t h e b rig und e r sn ug

,
p .

wo rki ng canvas I am sati s fi e d that if the A n telop e

.

had no t be e n o ne o f the be st built ve ss e ls afl o at

sh e
’
m ust ha v e g o ne t o D avy jo ne s lo cke r .

Wh e n we le ft S hanghai sh e was a pe rfe ct pict ure ;

we arrive d o n the 1 3 t h a nd s i n ce the n s e ve n O th e rs
!

hav e a rriv e d in a s imilar c o ndi t i o n a nd s o m e will ,

ne v e r b e h e a rd o f .

A ft e r this t h e A ntelop e was re rigge d as a -

ba rq ue a nd wa s ne v e r quite the s am e v e sse l

,
.

I will no w turn t o t he shi ps th e m s e lv e s .

~

”
Th e “
Fa lc o n .

The c e l e b rat e d Falcon was

-
ly ship t he on

rigge d Opi um c lipp e r that I k no w o f This ve s s e l .

ha d a v e ry i nt e re s ting ca re e r S he wa s built by .

L i s t O f Wo o t to n C re e k ne a r Co w e s a nd was
, , ,
14 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
launch e d o n 1 0 th J une 1 8 2 4 h e r o wn e r b e in g the
, ,

Earl o f Yarb o ro ugh co mm o d o re o f the R Y S

,
. . .

She was b u ilt re ga rdl e s s o f e xp e ns e and in app e ar

a nc e re s e mbl e d a 2 0 gun c o rve tte

- The R o yal .

Yacht Cl ub had be e n fo und e d with m o re s e ri o us

O bj e cts than that Of s umm e r yachting insid e the I sl e
o f Wight a nd at this dat e p o ss e ss e d s e v e ral yacht s
,

fi tt e d as me n o f wa r .

I t is re late d Of L o rd Yarb o ro ugh that he paid his

ya chting cre w e xt ra wage s o n c o nsid e rati o n that
th e y co n fo rm e d to th e re gulati o ns o f the Ro yal
N avy O ne o f th e s e re gulatio ns j ustifi e d the fre e
.

use o f th e cat 0 n in e tail s a nd b e fo re l e aving

’

Plym o uth fo r a M e dite rrane an c ruis e all hands

o n t he Falcon sig n e d a pap e r s e ttin g fo rth t he

m e rits o f a s o und fl o ggi ng and th e i r willingne ss

t o und e rgo it if n e e d ful fo r the p re s e rvati o n o f
, ,

disciplin e .

The Falcon m e as ure d 3 5 1 to ns and whil e o wne d ,

by L o rd Yarbo ro ugh m o unte d a b ro adsid e O f e le ve n

guns . O n 2 0 th O cto b e r 1 8 2 7 sh e was th ro ugh
, ,

th e thick e st pa rt o f th e acti o n o f N ava rin o he r ,

s p o rting o w ne r flyi ng h is flag as A d mi ral o f t he I sl e

o f Wight at t he mai n a nd his c o mm o d o re s b urge e

’

at th e fo re . Fo r s o m e y e ars L o rd Ya rb o ro ugh
re gula rly
jo me d th e c rui s e O f th e e xp e rim e ntal
s quad ro n wh o s e chi e f o b e ct was t o t e st t h e sp e e d
, j
O f ne w ships a nd h e lp al o ng t h e d e sign ing o f fast

a nd s e aw o rthy m e n O f wa r
- -
Thus the Fa lcon tri e d
.
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 15

he r pac e s with the last o f o ur w o o de n me n O f war - -

,

a nd p ro v e d h e rs e l f a di ffic ult v e ss e l t o pas s In .

1835 L o rd Ya rb o ro ugh badly i nj ure d by b e i ng

,

th ro w n ac ro ss a s e a ch e st in a gal e o f wind and ,

furth e r disabl e d by an attack o f infl ue nza d e cid e d t o ,

s e ll his fam o us v e ss e l .S h e wa s b o ught by a

L o n d o n firm fo r 5 5 00 Th e y fitt e d he r with two
.

2 4 h o rs e p o w e r e ngi ne s and s e nt h e r o ut und e r sail

- -

to C alcutta in th e h o pe s that th e G o v e rnm e nt

,

wo uld b uy h e r fo r use in the B urm e s e wa r .

Th e Fa lcon sail e d fro m Co we s in 1 8 3 6 o n the ,

day t hat th e K i ng s Cup was b e i ng race d fo r and it

’

was with gre at re gre t that th e m e mb e rs O f t he

R o yal Yacht C l ub watch e d th e p rid e o f th e
squad ro n sail away .

O n h e r arrival at Calc utta she was b o ught by ,

J ardi ne Math e so n
, CO Th e y re m o v e d th e
.

e ngi ne s a n d fitte d h e r in th e m o st th o ro ugh a nd

e xp e n s iv e man ne r fo r th e o pium t rad e .

I will no w giv e a l o ng quo tati o n with apo l o gi e s ,

t o th e Ya clztsma n fro m which it was tak e n Writte n .

by a n Office r abo ard th e Fa lcon the fo ll o wi ng no t ,

o nly giv e s o ne a val uabl e picture o f the ship h e rs e l f

b ut a still m o re val uabl e o ne O f th e spl e ndid s e am e n

who s e rv e d ab o ard h e r
With a b o w ro und and full abo v e the wate rli ne ,

sh e was as sha rp a s a w e dg e in h e r e nt ra nc e b e l o w .

H e r midship s e cti o ns gav e h e r a l o ng flat fl o o r ,

whe n ce co mm e nce d a cl e an run aft that with he r , ,

16 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS
fo rm nt rance minimi s e d re s i s tance and displace
of e ,

m e nt to a marve llo us d egree H e r bre ad th Of

.

b e am o v e r thi s lo ng flo o r e nabl e d he r t o s tan d up

un d e r a m o re than o rdi nary pre ss o f canvas whil e ,

it afforde d quarte rs fo r a small ba tte ry o f gun s i nclud ,

ing a l o ng b ras s pie ce amidships and so m e pivo t and

swive ls o ve r bo ws co unt e r and quarte r that mad e
, ,

h e r a wh o le w me te rro r to th e swa rming fl e e ts o f

pirate s which the n i nfe ste d the H o k k e e n Co as ts
,
-
.

I n all case s O f bad we ath e r th e h ea vi e st o f th ese

“
,

w e re run in and we ll s ec ure d ind e e d th e re we re ,

t ime s and o ccasio ns whe n the who l e armam e nt was

dism o unte d and put unde r hatche s so that no thing ,

sh o ul d en cumb er the S paci o us whit e flus h de ck

be yo nd the n e at co il s o f running ge ar p lace d in tubs
ma de fo r the o ccasi o n .

The Falc on was a full rigge d ship h e avily b ut

“
-
,

be aut ifully mas te d a s to rak e and pro p o rti o n H e r

, .

yards and spars we re o f dim e nsi o ns e qual to a ship

o f p e rhaps twic e the siz e in actual ca rryi ng p o we r
, ,

in the o rdina ry M e rcan t ile Marine Th e se we re

b e auti fully fashio n e d a nd finishe d—no t in the tape re d
.

a nd p o i n te d s t yle affe ct e d by trad e rs within the

tro p ics no r o f the dil e ttant i in the s um m er s e as at
,

ho me b ut in a s tyl e that savo ure d rathe r o f mas sive

,

s t re ngth and utility Th e re was no skysail o r

mo o nsail o r flagstaff e xte ns i o ns O ur masts s e ld o m .

we n t m o re tha n a fe w inch e s b e yo n d the riggi ng

.

tha t suppo rte d the m .

18 I
TH E C H N A C LIPPE R S
—in t he fi rs t ca s e p re s e n ti ng a cl o u d o f s we llin
g
s e gm e nt s p re s s ing fo rward as if in spi rite d and
,

livi ng rival ry ; in th e s e co nd cas e h e ld like bo ards

by s he e t t ack b race a nd b o wlin e the ro und e d luff
, ,

a nd fo o t le a v m n o ri ft twixt spa r and ca nva s ; in

g
’
bo th cas e s gladd e ning and s ati sfyi ng a se aman s
h e art a nd e ye .

A t daylight e v e ry m o rni ng th e re wa s a ge ne ral

re s e tti ng o f s ail s a re p o i nt i ng o f yards and a
, ,

fre sh e ni ng o f th e n ip in e v e ry sh e av e Many
‘ ’
.

watc h ful e ye s a nd re ady hands we re o n the ale rt ,

up o n th e s e a nd s imilar o cca s i o ns to make the,

slighte st change o f wi nd wh e th e r in fo rc e o r in
,

di re ctio n available to add a kn o t to th e co mi ng

,

day s wo rk .

L o ng as I hav e ling e re d in my d e s c ripti o n o f

the ca rp e nt e r and sailmak e r I canno t h o ne s tly ,

p ro ce e d furth e r witho ut a wo rd in prai s e o f ano ther

de s e rvi ng p e tty o ffice r the b o ats wai n who with a
, , ,

co upl e o f mat e s a nd fo ur q uarte rmaste rs had co me ,

o ut fro m E ngla nd in t h e Fa lco n .

Th e b o at s wai n had b e e n a fo re ma n rigge r in o ne

o f t h e gre at c o mm e rcial d o cks a t h o m e wh e re his ,

daily practic e fo r many y e ars had familiarise d him

with e ve ry d e s c ripti o n O f c raft o f e v e ry p o ssible rig ,

a nd wi t h fit ti ngs a nd re fitt in s t o s uit alm o st e v e ry

g
t as t e . H e wa s a maste r o f h is c ra ft a nd was as ,

i nte llige nt as he wa s e xpe rt H is l e adi ng p e culiarity

.

was h is facul t y o f t e achi ng a nd o f c o mm un icati ng to

 TH E C H I N A C LI P PE R S 19

oth e rs no t o nly the m o de b ut the philo so phy and ,

the s pi rit and b e auty o f his o wn i fts that

g so ,

th e th re e y e a rs that we had sp e nt t o e th e r in th e
g
Fa lcon had mad e us all rigge rs .

A ll abl e s e am e n by mo re use o f the te rm

, ,

pro fe ss t o b e c o mpe te n t t o hand re e f and st e e r and ,

'
he ave the le ad b ut th e re wasn t a se aman o n
bo ard the Fa lcon who c o uldn t —b e side s th e se
,
’

re qui s it e s— turn in a d e ad e ye gamm o n a b o w -

,

S p rit fish a b ro k e n spar ri

,
g a purchas e o f any giv e n
,

po we r kno t point splice parce l and s e rve s pinning

, , , , ,

h is o wn yarn o r lin e s o f such l e ngt h and dim e nsi o ns

,

as co uld b e adapt e d t o the po w e r o f o ur wi nch a nd

ro p e walk
-
With such a c re w the state o f o ur
.

riggi ng stays backstay s s ta ndin and runni ng g e a r

, , g ,

a nd fitti ngs may b e acc e pt e d as m o st p e rfe ct a nd

co mpl e te A s an i ns ta nce o f th e capacity o f th e

.

Fa lco n s c re w I may s tate that we have stre tch e d

’

, ,

out a nd fitte d a s e t o f c o i r l o we r rigging o n o ur o wn

d e cks at sea ; and at se a we have place d it o v e r the

nak e d l o w e r mas th e ad s a nd s e t it up o ne mast at a
, ,

tim e c o mpl e ting th e wh o l e wo rk in th re e days

, .

A nd at se a we hav e c o n s t ruct e d a raft o f s pare

spars and t ransfe rre d to it o ur g uns s to re s and
, ,

much o f o ur ballast A nd to the raft so lo ad e d we

.
,

hav e h o v e d o wn the ship and re pai re d and cle an e d

the c o pp e r fro m k e e l to b e nds in two days O ur .

c re w was a large o ne I admit suffici e nt in numb e r , ,

to mak e th ree st ro n g watche s e ith e r o f which c o uld ,

20 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
ree f the th re e t o psail s t o g e th e r Bu t I w o uld .

mind my n a utical re ad e r that no n umb e r— no

re

me re n umbe r—o f unskille d o r undi s ciplin e d me n

co uld have b e e n t ruste d to p e rfo rm tasks s o o n e ro us
as th o s e I have de sc r ib e d I f I am ask e d why such .

fe ats sh o uld h av e b e e n p e rfo rm e d at all o r e v e n ,

atte mpte d I may say that th e Falcon was always at

,

sea ; that h e r c ruising g ro unds we re o v e r a l o ng

e xt e nt o f c o ast that in th o s e days swa rm e d with , ,

pi rate s ; that it affo rd e d no place O f sh e lte r whe re

strang e rs c o uld safe ly e n te r ; that the who l e co ast
was term incognlla e xc e pt t o the lawle ss rapa cio us , ,

nativ e s a nd t o the fe w lik e o urs e lve s wh o had spe nt

many ye ars in its navigati o n in all we ath e rs The re .

w e re no s te am e rs in tho s e days the fi rst that e ve r ,

visit e d China w as I b e li e ve th e jameszna from

’

, ,

Bo mb ayfi ‘
A nd th e fi rs t c o mpl e te s urv e y o f t he
c o ast was mad e te n ye ars afte r this date by Li eut .

Co lli ns o n R N H e did t he m o st o f his w o rk in an

,
. .

Old Calcutta pil o t b rig t he P lover and did it we ll in , ,

th e fac e O f g re at p e ril s hardships a nd o bstacl es , ,

writi ng s a ili ng di re cti o ns and calculati ng and co m

piling mari ne s tatistic s and astro no m ical data o f
s urpa s si ng acc uracy a nd val ue .

o
wb eh th e ja mcrzna fro m Bo mb ay
d th C nt n riv r nd h d
'
e ntere e a o e a a
t k n h r p l t n b d at Linti n
,
w th ld u t m nd was b i
'

a e e i o o o ar , as as e o c s o a e
,
pr p ll d g in t w md nd tid th pil t g v o ccasi n l dir ti ns to th
o e e a a s a e, e o a e o a ec o e
h lm m n h p h d b n iling b f re the wind nd wi th the tid e in
.

e sf th
a as i e s i a ee sa e o a
h r f v ur nd
e a o fully b t i n d f m ny sh o w f u p i
a c a re uriosi ty On
a s a e ro a o s r r se o r c

t m d wmg11h i tt nti n t f t whi h mu t h v i nw rdly st n

.

th c e a a ra s a e o o a ac c s a e a a o
I Sh ed m” h " r plied th t th m d° f p pul i n w n s cret in
00
? 5 mp re wher t h d nc prev il d b ut h d then f n”
e a e ° O ro s o as o e
o m et at o 1e e i e i a o
it
, e a e , a a ,
n o
 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS 21

I h e sitat e to uch upo n the s e c o ndary furnishings

to

a nd fittings o f t h e Fa lcon b ut I re m e mb e r tha t th e y ,

w e re unusually e l e gan t a nd s ubstantial a nd co stly ;

that wh e re m e tal was e mplo ye d it was m o stly o f
c o pp e r o r b rass e v e n to th e b e layi n
,
g pi ns and that
t Op ra ils stanchi o ns skylights and c o ami ngs w e re o f
, , ,

m ah o ga ny whilst the acc o mm o dati o n b e l o w fo r

,

of fi c e rs and c re w was e xt ravagantly l uxuri o us .

I t will b e tte r b e c o m e me t o sp e ak o f h e r high e r

a nd g re at e r qualiti e s qualiti e s which mad e h e r a n
,

o bj e ct o f p rid e and re al affe cti o n as o f th e te nd e re s t ,

c a re o f h e r c re w O ffic e rs a nd m e n
, , S he was e as y .
,

handy a nd smart in e v e ry e vo luti o n

, S he s wam .

lik e a d uck a nd ste e re d lik e a fish S he was fas t

, .
,

ye t dry liv e ly ye t sti ff S e nsitiv e and re sp o nsiv e

, .

t o e v e ry yard o f ca nva s that c o uld b e j udici o us ly

s p read as t o e v e ry to uch o f th e b rac e s

, tacks a nd ,

s h e e ts a nd t o e v e ry sp o k e o f th e wh e e l
,
.

“
I t w as in t he Fa lcon that I l e arnt t o c o mpre h e nd
a nd t o ad o pt a si ngula r b e li e f that p re vail s am o ng

s e am e n ; a n d it was in h e r and by h e r that I was , ,

fi rs t t o uch e d by that st range sympathy which is

c re ate d by a fav o urit e ship up o n t h e minds o f an

app re ciativ e cre w I f the Falcon had b ee n a living

.

b e ing that sympathy c o uld scarc e ly hav e b e e n

re ate r S h e w o uld re s e nt e v e ry n e gl e ct in he r
g .

handli ng a nd re b e l at o nc e against any o v e r p re ssure

,
-

o r a ny tamp ering with h e r t rim s o that o ur c o mm o n ,

e xp re ssi o ns— e xp re ssi o ns that c o uld ha v e no m e an

22 TH E C H N A C I LI PPE R S
ing to a la nds ma n tha t she was co mplai ni ng o r
“

sulki ng o r huffe d o r o ffe nde d s e e m e d to us to b e

right fully appli e d .

O ne fe l t p ro ud t o watch h e r d e ali ng with

Oppo si ng fo rce s so p e rs iste ntly and s o galla ntly .

We had b e e n afl o at in h e r fo r upwards o f th ree

y e ars with fe w l o s se s and fe w e r change s than c o uld
hav e b e e n e xp e cte d in s o large a c re w and having ,

watch e d and s tudi e d h e r p re tty ways fo r s o lo ng a

p e ri o d we had acqui re d re adi ne ss a nd skill in he r
,

manage m e nt a nd had l e arnt to l o o k up o n he r as a

,

thi ng to b e l o v e d a nd pe tte d S he can do e v e ry

.

thi ng b ut s p e ak was a co mm o n re mark amo ng the

’

c re w.

S ylp h a nd Oth e r P io ne e r O p ium C lip p e rs .

O ne o f t h e m o st c e l e b rat e d o f th e e arli e r

Opium clipp e rs was the Sylp /c a 3 0 5 ,

-
choo ne r
to n s ,

built at in 1 8 3 1 fo r the
Calcutta Ba naj
e e family .

S he is supp o s e d to hav e run fro m t he S a ndhe a ds to

Macao in s ixt e e n days D uri ng the Chi ne s e War
.

o f 1 8 4 1 th e C o mma n d e r in Chi e f t ri e d ha rd t o b u
y
- -
,

h e r fo r th e N avy b ut h e r o w n e rs re fus e d p re fe rri ng

, ,

rat h e r t o ke e p h e r ca rryi ng o pi um at s uch a tim e ,

wh e n e ve ry succ e s s ful c a rgo run m e ant a hug e p ro fit .

Th e Sy lfi /c a nd a no th e r we ll k no w n clipp e r the -

,
'

Co wa syee Fa mily w e re fitte d o ut wi t h e xt ra guns

,

a nd full E uro p e a n c re w s d uri ng t h e war a nd w e re

,

j o i ne d by the L a dy H ay es b e l o ngi ng to J ardi ne

, ,

Math e s o n C0 th e th re e ships s aili ng in co mpany

.
, .
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 23

A m o ng the islands th e y w e re s urro und e d by

Chin e s e wa r j un ks and a fi e rc e battl e e ns ue d
, But .

C aptains V ic e and Wallac e o f th e Sy lp lz and ,

Cowasjee Fa mily w e re t wo O f th e m o st e xp e ri e nc e d
,

captains in th e t rad e c e l e b rat e d fo r th e i r daring and

,

succ e ss in d e aling with pi rat e s and the wa r j unks ,

suffe re d a s e v e re d e fe at many O f th e m b e ing s unk ;

,

afte r which th e Opium clipp e rs had no mo re t ro ubl e .

A m o ngst th e c o nt e mp o ra ri e s O f the Sylpn and

Cowasjee Fam ily th e b e st kno wn clipp e rs w e re th e-

[ a m es in a 3 8 2 t o ns
( fo rm e rly H M S gu n b rig . . .

Curlew) ; th e R ea R ove r a ba rque O f 2 5 5 t o ns ;

’
,

th e sch o o ne rs R ns lomjee Cowasjee Waterwitca , ,

M erma id a nd B lack joke (fo rm e rly a s lav e r) t he

, ,

E rnaaa an d Te rnai e O ld Eas t I ndia C o mpany

’ ‘
,

c rui s e rs ; th e Fort/i P earl Corsa ir V enns and

, , , ,

Roya l E xchange .

Th e exci t ing live s o f the s e v e ss e ls wo uld make

o o d re ading if th e y c o uld o n ly b e e xh um e d fro m
g
th e O ld lo g b o o k s many O f which c o uld do ub t l e ss b e
,

fo und l o cke d away in th e c are fully pre se rv e d se a

ch e sts O f d e ad and go ne se a captains .

Ame ric a n O p ium Clipp e rs .

The fi rst A m e rican Opium clippe r is s up

po se d t o hav e b e e n the sch o o n e r A nglona o f 9 0 ,

to ns built by B ro w n
,
Be ll a nd s e n t o ut in 1 8 4 1
,

fo r R u ss e ll C O S .h e was fo ll o w e d by th e A riel ,

t ns M f t n s and the Ze p l
o f 90 o ,
az epp a o 1 7 5 o
,
z r
y , ,

of 1 5 0 t o n s in t
,
h e fo ll o wi ng y e ar .
24 TH E C H N A C I LI PPE R S
S p rague J ame s Of
The A riel was built by ,

M e d fo rd t o th e d e s igns Of J o s e ph Le e She .

cap s iz e d o n h e r t rial t rip in B o sto n harb o ur and ,

a
s an k in 7 f t o
h m s On b e ing.
rais e d 8 fe e t w e re ,

mast h f mast was ut fu rth e r aft

c ut O ff h e r s t e o re , p ,

a nd a fal s e k e e l 8 inch e s d e e p add e d

, ,
.

O n h e r a rrival o ut in Chi na sh e rac e d ro und

L i nti n fro m Macao R o ads agai nst th e A ng lona .

Th e latt e r ha d t h e b e s t O f it b e ating o ut b ut in the ,

run back A riel gai ne d 1 7 mi nut e s and wo n the ,

sp o rti ng wag e r o f 1 0 0 0 d o llars .

Th e Zep n y r was b uilt by S am ue l H all o f East ,

B o st o n o n the A m e rican pil o t bo at m o d e l Tho ugh

,
.

lightly built lik e m o s t A m e rican ships O f A m e rican

, ,

o a k a nd e lm s h e was b e auti fully m o d e ll e d and v e ly

“

h e avily sparre d ; and she carri e d an armam e nt o f

fo ur b rass 1 8 p o und e rs to a b ro adsid e a b rass
-
,

18— po unde r piv o t gun o n th e fo c s l e al s o O f b rass ’ ’

, ,

a nd in h e r p rim e
,
a n A rm s t ro ng 6 8 p o und e r o n a
,
-

piv o t b e twe e n the masts .

H e r c aptai n T M J o h ns o n w ro t e h o m e in
, . .
,

1 84 3 Th e Zep n y r is no w in th e Ta yp a with l o ss
'

o f m ai n b o o m fo re gaff a nd j ib
, I was caught O ff
-
, .

th e G rand L ad ro ne in a gal e at n o rth e ast S he -

.

did w e ll till the j ib was l o s t a nd we be at fro m the ,

L ad ro ne t o h e re und e r d o ubl e re e fe d s ails and sto rm -

j ib quick e r than anythi ng in Chi na co uld hav e d o n e

it N o ne O f the v e s s e l s I hav e m e t c o uld be at h e r
.
.

O n t h e wind I do b e li e v e th e re is no t an ythi ng that

26 TH E CH N AI C LI PPE R S
o u— th o ugh fo r the matte r o f co m fo rt k e e p me o ut
,
,

O f th e m fo r what with th e i r sc rubbing and sc

o uring
,

in po rt a nd th e i r carrying o n s ail at s e a t o make a

’
go o d pass ag e and hal f d ro wni ng the c re w th e re s ,

v e ry littl e p e ac e ab o ard th e m We w e nt ab o ard to .

tak e a l o o k at th e b e auty and b e fo re we l e ft her ,

had s hipp e d fo r the v o yage Th e captain was a .

lank We st I ndian a ne rvo us cre ature who l o o ked

, ,

a s th o ugh h e n e v e r was qui e t fo r a m o m e nt e v e n in

'

his sl e e p a nd we afte rwards fo und o ut he didn t

,
’

b e li e h is l o o ks A ft e r taki ng a c ruis e aro und

.

Calcut ta fo r a c o upl e o f day s we w e n t o n b o ard b ag ,

a nd hamm o ck
( fo r no ch e sts w e re all o we d in the

fo re castl e ) O ur pay was t o b e 8 0 rup e e s per

.

m o nth with hal f a m o nth s advanc e ’

.

Th e v e ss e l was w e ll arm e d havi ng two guns o n ,

a sid e b e s ide s a L o ng To m amidships B o ardi ng .

pike s w e re arrange d in gre at pl e nty o n a rack

aro und the mai n mast and the larg e arm s ch est o n ,

t h e q ua rt e r d e ck was w e ll s uppli e d with pi s t o l s and

-

cutlas s e s We w e re fully p re pare d fo r a brush with

.

t h e rascally C hi n e s e a nd d e t e rm i ne d no t to b e
,
put
o ut O f o ur c o urs e by o ne o r t wo ma nda ri n b o ats .

We sail e d up the riv e r s o m e mil e s to take in

o ur ch e s ts o f o pi um a nd havi ng th e m sa fe ly sto we d
, ,

und e r hatch e s p ro c e e d e d t o s e a
, With a ste ady .

wi nd we w e re s o o n o uts ide t he S andh e ads '

The .

pil o t l e ft us a nd we c ro wd e d o n all sail with

,
,

fav o uri ng b re e z e s fo r the S t rait s O f Malacca If .

 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE RS 27

e v e r a v e ss e l had canvas pile d o n he r it was th e

A ntel¢ e Our to psails we re fully la rge e no ugh fo r
.

a v e ss e l O f d o uble he r to nnag e We carri e d ab o ut .

all the flying kite s that a v e ss e l o f h e r ri has ro o m

.

g
fo r. S kysails ro yal studdi ng sails j ib o j ib stay
, ,
- -
,

sails alo w and al o ft and e ve n wate r sails and , ,

sav e alls to fit b e n e ath the fo o t o f the t o psails

-
.

“
S h e st e e re d like a to p b ut o ur n e rv o us skipp e r
, ,

wh o was no t fOr a m o m e n t day o r night at re st b ut ,

e v e r d rivi n
g t h e v e ss e l had o ne o f th o se c o mpass e s
,

in th e binnacl e th e b o tto m o f which be i ng o ut

, , ,

'
sho ws in the cabin j ust ho w th e sh ip s he ad is at any
m o me n t U nd e r this co mpas s o n the transo m th e
.
, ,

o ld man us e d to lay hims e l f d o wn whe n h e ,

pre te nd e d to sl ee p (fo r we ne v e r b e li e v e d that he

really sl e pt a wink ) ; a nd th e ve ss e l co uld no t
d e viate a quarte r o f a po int o ff he r c o urs e o r whil e ,

we we re o n the wind th e ro yals co uld no t li ft in th e

l e ast be fo re he was upo n th e he lmsman curs ing
, ,

and s w e a ring lik e a t ro o p e r and maki ng as much ,

fuss as th o ugh she had yaw e d a po int e ach way It .

was th e s e as o n o f the s o uth w e st m o nso o n and o f -

, ,

co urs e we had n ea rly a h e ad wind do wn th ro ugh

,

th e Malacca S trait But o ur littl e c raft co uld go to

.

windward making a lo ng tac k and a sho rt o ne

,

nea rly as fast as many an Old co tto n tub can go

be fo re th e wind .

O ur c re w c o nsist e d o f s e v e nt e e n me n all s t o ut ,

able fe ll o ws Th e re w e re no bo ys to handl e th e
.
 28 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
light sails and it was so m e tim s n e ck b re aking
,
e -

wo rk to shin up th e tall ro yal mast wh e n skysails

w e re to b e furl e d o r ro yal s tudd ns ail g e ar ro v e
’
.

We had b ut little to do o n b oa rd ; to m e nd a few

s ails and st e e r th e v e ss e l was th e s um t o tal o f o ur

d uty On bo ard th e s e ships th e me n are wanted

.

mai nly to wo rk ship e xpe diti o usly and to d e fe nd her

agai nst th e atta cks o f th e C hi ne s e O ffic ers whose ,

d uty b ut ill fulfill e d it was to pre v e nt the smuggling

, ,

“
o f Opium i nto th e c o unt ryfi

O nc e pas t S i nga po re we had a fai r wind and , ,

with all studdi ng s ail s se t mad e a st raight wake for

,

t he m o uth o f t h e C ant o n R iv e r A s we n e are d the

.

Chin e s e c o ast p re parati o ns w e re mad e fo r rep e lling

a ny p o ssibl e attack s Cutlas s e s w e re plac e d o n the
.

q ua rte r d e ck re ady fo r use pisto ls l o ade d and

-
, ,

bo arding n e ttings rigge d to t ric e up b e tween the

ri ging s o m e 1 0 fe e t ab o v e th e rail th us mat e ri ally
g ,

o bst ructin
g any atte mpts t o b o ard the v e ss e l when
the y w e re t ric e d up .

I t did no t ta ke o ur littl e clippe r many days to

“

cro ss th e Chi na S e a We had pas se d the A ss s

.
’

E ars the fi rs t land fall fo r Chi na bo un d ve sse ls and

,
-

we re j ust am o ng th e L ad ro ne I s lands which are the ,

gre at stro ngh o ld o f Chi ne s e pi rate s wh e n we b eheld ,

starting o ut fro m und e r th e land t wo o f the l o ng

mandari n bo ats Th e y app e are d t o kn o w o ur craft
.

o r t o s usp e ct h e r b us i ne ss fo r th e y s t e e re d st aight
, r
“
This was befo re the fi rst Chi ne se Wa r a nd wh e n t he
were
lihfig
a f nns
ill
st maki ng fee bl e effo rts to s to p th e o pium c bming i nto the co
 I
TH E C H N A C LI PPE R S 29

to wa rds us With the imm e ns e fo rce the y have

.

at the o ars it did no t tak e th e m l o ng to ge t

within gun sh o t range which was no s o o n e r the
-
,

cas e than o ur skippe r taki ng go o d aim le t fly

, ,

a sh o t fro m Lo ng To m in th e i r mids t Thi s .

e vid e nc e o f o ur re adi ne s s fo r th e m to o k th e m all

aback and afte r co nsulti ng to ge th e r fo r a littl e

, ,

the y sh o we d th e ms e lv e s to b e po ss e ss e d o f th e
be tt e r part O f val o ur— p rude nce — b y re tre ating to
th e i r l urki ng plac e b e hi nd th e land We k ne w that .

so l o ng as we we re in cl e a r wat e r a nd had a go o d

b re e z e th e re was b ut littl e t o b e fe are d fro m th e m

, .

The o nly da nge r was in cas e we sh o uld b e b e

c alm e d wh e n we o t un d e r t he le e O f the la nd as
g ,

the y w o uld b e k e e pi ng a co nstant watch upo n us

a nd in s uch cas e w o uld mak e a d e sp e rate rus h up o n

us a nd p e rhaps capture us by m e re s up e ri o rity O f

n umbe rs A s may b e imagi ne d we w e re all d e te r

.
,

min e d to d e fe nd o urs e lv e s to th e las t e v e n th e ,

black co o k ke pt his larg e st bo il e r co ns tantly o n the

gall e y s to v e fill e d with b o ili ng wat e r whe re with to
, ,

g iv e t h e rascals a wa rm sal ut e sh o uld th ey

e n d e av o ur t o b o a rd .

What we fe are d sho rtly cam e to pas s I n l e ss .

than two h o urs afte r we had s e e n the b o ats we lay ,

b e calm e d und e r the land The littl e v e sse l was

.

p e rfe ctly unmanage abl e d ri fti ng at the m e rcy o f th e

,

curre nt .
H ad we b e e n fa r e no ugh in s ho re we
sh o uld hav e anch o re d A s it was we co uld ne ithe r
.
,
30 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S
ancho r no r c o uld we manag e th e v s l
,
t n he r e se to ur ‘

b ro ad s id e to wards a n e n e my .

“
I t wa s no t l o ng b e fo re th e y mad e th e i r app e ar
a nc e . Th e y had in the m e a ntim e Obtain e d re
info rc e m e nts and fo ur la rge b o ats c o ntaining fro m
, ,

s ixty t o a h und re d m e n e ach no w sh o t o ut fro m ,

und e r t h e la nd a nd cam e t o wa rd us with rapid

,

s we e ps We did no t wait fo r th e m t o co m e to cl o se
.

quart e rs b ut s e nt s o m e s h o ts at th e m fro m Lo ng
,

To m Th e s e h o w e v e r did no t d e t e r th e m
.
, ,
The .

c alm had giv e n th e m c o urag e a n d a ft e r di s charging ,

t h e i r s wiv e ls at us with t h e h o p e O f c rippling the

,

ve ss e l by hitti ng s o m e O f o ur to phamper th ey ,

rus h e d t o th e o ns laugh t .

“
We no w rapidly trice d up o ur bo ardi ng ne tti ngs ,

a nd lyi ng d o wn und e r s h e lte r o f the l o we r rail

awaite d th e attack The b o ardi ng ne tti ngs they
.

w e re e vid e ntly unpre pare d fo r as at the sight o f ,

th e m th e y mad e a s h o rt halt This the Old man .

t o o k adva ntag e o f a nd taki ng g o o d aim le t d rive

, ,

L o ng To m a t th e m a nd l uckily t hi s tim e wi t h go o d
,

e ffe c t k no cki ng a h o l e in o ne o f th e bo ats and

, ,

e vid e n tly w o undi ng s o m e o f h e r c re w Taki ng this .

a s a s ig nal t o adva n c e a nd l e avi ng t h e di s abl e d

,

bo at t o shi ft fo r i ts e l f th e re mai ning th re e no w

,

rapidly adva nc e d t o b o a rd Taki ng advan tag e O f

.

th e unmanag e abl e ne s s o f o ur v e s s e l th e y came ,

do wn imme diate ly ah e ad to bo ard us o v e r the b o w ,

a po s iti o n wh e re th e y w e ll k n e w th e y w e re s e cure
, ,
 TH E C H INA C LI P PE R S 31

fro m th e sh o t o f o ur two light guns which co uld ,

o nly b e fi re d fro m th e b ro ad s id e .

Co cking o ur pisto ls and laying th e b o arding ,

pike s do wn at o ur side s re ady fo r instant use we ,

waite d fo r th e m D i re ctly twe nty o r thi rty l e ape d

.

U po n th e lo w b o wsp rit s o m e rushin t o th e n e tti ngs

,
g .

with k niv e s to cut an e nt ranc e We to o k d e libe rat e .

aim and fi re d ab o ut a d o ze n falling back i nto the

,

bo ats as the re sult O f o ur fi rst and o nly sho t .

Dro ppi ng th e fi re arms we no w t o o k t o the pik e s

a nd rush ed to th e b o w H e re th e battl e was fo r
.

so m e mi nute s pre tty fie rce a nd a re nt havi ng be e n ,

mad e in th e bo arding ne t the Chinam e n rus h e d to

it lik e tige rs b ut as fast as th e y cam e in th e y we re
,

pike d and d riv e n back .

M e antim e o ne o f th e b o ats had sil e ntly d ro ppe d

alo ngsid e , and e re we w e re awa re O f it h e r c re w ,

we re bo arding us in the re ar But h ere the do cto r .

( th e c o ok
) was p re pare d fo r th e m and th e fi rst that ,

sho we d th e i r h ea ds ab o v e the rail re ce ive d hal f a

bucke t full o f scaldi ng wate r in th e i r face s which ,

s e nt th e m back to th e i r b o at h o wling with pai n .

That s it d o cto r give it to th e m sh o ute d the

’ ’

, , ,

Old man who s ee m e d t o b e quite in his e l e m e nt

, ,

and he rushe d d o wn o ff the po o p whith e r h e had ,

go ne fo r a m o m e nt to surve y the co nte st and ta ki ng ,

a bucke tful O f the b o ili ng wate r fo rward thre w it in

amo ng the Chinam e n who w e re still o bstinate ly
,

co nte sting the p o ss e ssi o n o f the b o w With a h o wl .

32 TH E C H INA C LI P PE R S
Of mix e d pai n a nd s urp ris e th e y re tre ate d and we ,

s ucc e e d e d in fai rly d riving th e m back i nto the

bo at s .

“
A p o rti o n O f us had b e fo re this g o n e to the
ass istanc e o f the c o o k a nd had s ucc e e d e d in k e e pi ng
th e m at bay a ft To t e ll th e truth th e ho t wate r
. ,

fright e n e d th e m m o re than a nythi ng e lse a nd the ,

b o at s c re w al o ngs id e re qui re d all th e urgi ng o f

’

th e i r mandarin Offic e r to mak e t h e m charge at all .

L uckily at this m o m e n t a s q uall which had b e e n

, ,

s o m e tim e ri s i ng b ro k e up o n us a nd th e b rig b egan

, ,

t o fo rge ah e a d th ro ugh th e wa t e r With a sho ut o f .

victo ry we mad e a fi nal rus h at o ur assailants and

d rivi ng th e m back into th e i r bo ats c ut the m ad ri ft , ,

givi ng the o ne al o ngsid e a parti ng salut e o f hal f a

d o z e n s h o ts in h e r bo t to m th ro wn in by hand
, .

Maki ng th e b e st O f o ur way fro m th e s ce ne o f

acti o n we s t e e re d t o wards L in ti n B ay wh e re we
, ,

w e re s o fo rtunate as t o m e e t a little fl e e t O f Opium

b o ats who quickly re li e v e d us o f o ur cargo and we
, ,

w e re no furthe r m o l e st e d by th e mandari ns who ,

”
had p ro bably go tt e n a surfe it O f the fighting .

O n his ne x t pas sage Ca ptai n Watki ns was again

attack e d This t im e h e mad e a re gular e xampl e O f
.

th e ma ndari n b o at s a nd a ft e r runn i ng d o w n t wo O f
,

th e m a nd d ro w ni ng th e i r c re ws s ail e d into Macao

, ,

R o ad s wi th a Chi nama n hangi ng at e ach ya rdarm

a s a wa rni ng .

Th e s e fights o f c o urs e o cc urre d b e fo re an

y
, ,
34 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
t wo piv o t guns lik e the Zep n r t h e t wo v e sse ls
, y ,

be lo nging to D e nt Co D uring th e Ta eping

.

R e b e lli o n th e E a mont ran up t o th e th re ate n e d city

o f N ingpo passi ng right thro ugh th e battl e o f
,

Chi nhae which was b e ing wage d no t o nly o n the

,

banks b ut in the riv e r its e l f A t N ingp o she fo und.

th e Zep n y r T h e two sch o o n e rs l o ad e d up with

.

fugitiv e c e l e sti als and rac e d e ach o th e r back to

,

Wo o sung But in the smo o th she lte re d wate r o f

.

t h e riv e r a nd with a fre s h wh o l e sail b re e z e the

, ,

Zcyfi/iyr was m o re th an a match fo r th e m o re st ro n gly

built Co we s sch o o ne r H o we ve r the E amont had
.
,

h e r re v e nge in w e ath e r m o re t o h e r ch o ice The .

t wo v e ss e ls m e t thi s tim e in hal f a gal e o f wind with

a h e avy s e a run ni ng and th e E a mon t sail e d right

,

d e ad to wi ndward o f the Zep éyr and l e ft he r o ut o f ,

sight in tw e lve h o urs .

Th e E a mo nt was s e nt o n s o m e ve ry dange ro us
trips S he was o ne o f th e fi rst v e ss e ls to o p e n up a
.

trad e with Fo rm o sa and made the fi rst surve y o f

,

th e p o rt o f Taku which s h e e nt e re d by b umpin

,
g
o v e r th e re e f in spite O f a t re m e nd o us s urf b e at in
g
up o n it at t he tim e a m o st daring pe rfo rmanc e
, .

A nd in h e r e ffo rts to t rade with th e sava e

g
Fo rm o s ans s he had t o withstand th e tre ach e ro us
a tta c k o f h undre d s o f a rm e d nat iv e s right
o n to
p of
a typh o o n which she s ucce e d e d in ridi ng o ut o n he r
,

m o o ri ngs But the captain o f th e E a mont was a

.

fam o us fighti ng man as th e C hin e s e , pi rate s kn ew

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 35

to th e i r c o st I n h is co nst ant e nc o unte rs with

.

pi ratical Io rchas C apta i n Gulliv e r made use o f a

drag sail with which he w o uld s udd e nly d e ad e n the
,

way o f his sch o o ne r and s o o ut man oeuv re th e s e ,

-

”
“
I nvi ncibl e s as th e y call e d th e ms e lv e s
, .

The E a mont was also e mpl o ye d in th e n e g o tiati o ns

fo r th e fi rst co mm e rcial t re aty with J apan O n this .

o ccasi o n s h e ra n into N aga s aki a n d quie tly d ro pp e d

a n ch o r in s pit e o f th e fact that o pp o siti o n t o th e

,

p ro p o se d c o mm e rcial t re aty was v e ry st ro ng a t th e

tim e On the fo ll o wi ng mo rning 1 5 0 b o at l o ad s o f
.
-

J aps atte mpte d to to w he r to se a b e ing e vide ntly ,

ig no rant o f a n an ch o r s ra ison d et re But th o ugh

’ ’
.

t h e y att e mpt e d se v e ral s i milar m e th o d s to ge t rid o f

he r th e y re frai ne d fro m any a rm e d attack and , ,

e v e ntually ,h e r missi o n was c o mpl e te ly s ucc e s s ful .

This was in 1 8 5 8 and th e E a mont s c re w saw ma ny

’

wo nd e rful sights in that terra incognita .

Th e PVild Dayrell was a v e ry similar ve s s e l to

t he E a mont H e r ill us t rati o n in the I llustrated
.

L ondon N e ws o f 1 8 5 5 s h o w s a raki s h t o p galla nt

yard sch o o n e r carrying fo ur h e adsails o n a v e ry

lo ng j ibb o o m .

H e r m e as ure m e nts w e re
L gth v ll 3 3 f t
en o er a 10T n g ( ld m
'
eeu m t) 5 3 t n
. o na e o e as re en 2 o s .

B m
ea 3 7 T g ( w m u m t) 5 8 t
2
‘
o nna e ne eas re en 1 o ns .

D p th
e 13
’

The L auricé was a b e auti ful littl e clipp er brig ,

b e l o nging to J ardin e Math e s o n and nam e d afte r , ,

A nd re w J ardin e s place Lanric k C astl e S he

’ ‘

.
,
36 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
m o unte d a bro adsid e o f fiv e g uns b e sid es the mid ;

ship and fo c s l e h e ad piv o t L o ng To ms

’ ’
S he .

carri e d the d rug b e tw e e n Calcutta and the Chin e se

po rts ; and race d agai n st th e A ntelop e and Coquette
with varying re sults .

A fte r this sho rt acco un t o f the o pium t rad e and

’
its clippe rs I will no w turn to China s still m o re
impo rtant t ea trade .

Th e Early C hina Te a Tra de .

’
xpi rati o n o f th e c o mpany s charter
U ntil th e e

in 1 8 3 4 the te a trad e was e nti re ly in th e hands o f

,

th e East I ndia Co mpany The t e a was b rought to .

E ngland t o g e th e r with silk a nd o th e r Chin ese

co mmo diti e s in sl o w Eas t I ndiam e n which fro m , ,

the i r lack o f saili ng po we r w e re kn o wn as tea ,

“

waggo ns A nd it was no t un til th e i r cha rt e r was

.

n e arly e xpi re d that th e E ast I ndia Co mpany b egan

t o b uild ships that c o uld m o v e th ro ugh th e wat er

H o w e ve r in 1 8 3 1 2 I find th e fo ll o wing go o d tim es

,
-

mad e by East I ndiam e n ‘

l ft C nt n 8 th N
Th e Tli a mes e 83 a o 1 o v. 1 1

p s d J v H d sth D 1 8 3 1
a se a a ea ec .
,

riv d S t H l n ar 8 th J n 1 8 3 2
e . e e a a a .
,

rriv d P tl nd 1 3 th M r h 1 8 3 2
a e or a a c ,

1 15 d y p g a s as sa e.

Bu é ngh m hi l ft C nt n 3 x t O t ff Liz rd l gth Feb

'
c z a s re 83 1e a o s c .
, 1 , O a 18 3 2
W t rl l ft Cant n 3 t O t 1 8 3 1 ff Li rd 19th F h 18 32
.
.
,
a e oo e o 15 c .
, O za e
, .
, .

12 1 d y p g ’
a s as sa e.

This is bad wo rk and q uite e qual to that o f the

no t ,

East I ndia Co mpa ny s s uc c e s so rs up to the tim e o f ’

th e A m e rica n and A b e rd e e n clipp e rs .

U ntil w e ll in to t he fo rt i e s th e t e a t rad e was quite

 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS 37

small and v e ss e ls o f anythi ng o v e r 5 00 t o ns fo und

,

a di ffic ulty in fillin

g th e i r h o lds b ut afte r that date , ,

as ne w t rea ty po rts we re Op e ne d the tea gre w m o re ,

pl e nti ful and the tea ships b e gan to incre ase b o th in

siz e and n umbe rs The fi rst o ut and o ut clipp e r
.
- -

ships t o visit th e China S e as w e re A m e ricans .

Th e y b e gan to l o ad t e a in Canto n in the e arly

fo rti e s and mad e raci ng passage s back to N e w
,

Y o rk and B o sto n A nd th e y we re running b e tw e e n

.

C hi na and the U nit e d S tat e s fo r s o m e s e v e n ye ars

be fo re th e fi rst bona fi de B riti s h clippe r appe are d in
t h e E as t .

Th e A m e rican clipp e r e vo lve d in pa rt fro m th e

,

B altim o re clippe r bo re no re s e mblanc e to the

,

B riti s h clipp e r e ach havi ng its o wn particular

,

be auty and m e rits .

Th e Yank e e Clip p e rs .

The gre at characte ri s tic B altim o re of th e

m o de l was th e B altimo re b o w With this as h is .

sta rting p o int J o hn G ri ffith o f N e w Y o rk b e gan

, , , ,

in 1 8 4 1 a s e ri e s o f l e cture s o n th e sci e nc e o f ship

,

d e sign ing and adv o cat e d s o m e v e ry radical alte ra

,

tio ns in the lin e s and p ro po rti o ns o f sea go ing -

v e sse ls .H e also e xhibite d at the A me rican

I nstitute th e m o d e l o f a clippe r built acco rdi ng t o
his th e o ries Th o ugh a gre at d e al o f sce ptici s m
.

a nd ridic ul e was sh o w e re d u p o n his argum e nts h e

s o fa r p re vail e d that in 1 8 43 t h e firm o f H o wlan d

, ,

A spinwall c o mmissi o n e d S mith D im o n wh o s e ,

38 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
d raughtsman G ri ffith had b e e n to build th e m an ,

e xp e rim e ntal ship o n th e ne w m o d e l .

“ ”
R ainb o w .

Thisv e ss e l was th e R a inbow o f 7 50 ,

t o ns c e l e b rate d as the fi rst O f the g re at Yanke e

,

clippe rs S he co s t
. do llars to b uild o r at the ,

rat e o f 30 d o llars a t o n Whilst she was o n the.

sto ck s co nt ro v e rsy rage d ro und h e r S o m e d e clared .

,

all udi ng to he r co ncave b o w lin e s that she was ,

”
turne d i nsid e o ut and was o n that acco unt
“
,

co nt rary to th e laws o f N at ure Oth e rs admitted .

he r go o d l o o ks b ut d o ubte d if s h e c o uld b e mad e to

,

sail The chi e f i nno vati o n in he r d e sign was the

.

s ha rpn e ss o f h e r e nds I nst e ad o f the full barrel

.

shap e d b o w with th e cutwat e r and figurehead

,

p roj e cti ng be yo nd th e s t e m in what was po e tically

te rm e d in o ld naval archit e cture the sw ee p o f the
li o n she had a lo ng sharp k n i fe lik e e ntrance with
, , ,
-

co ncav e wat e r li ne s which carri e d he r gre ate st

,

b re adth O f b e am v e ry m uch furth e r aft than was

us ual ; a nd t h e h e avy q ua rt e rs a nd l umpi ng s t e rn

w e re lighte ne d a nd re li e ve d by ro unding up the

e nd s O f th e m ai n t ra ns o m Sh e had a n unh e ard o f
.

am o unt o f de ad ri s e a nd was far m o re wall s ided

-
,
-

than a ny v e s se l o f h e r date A s to he r p ro po rtio ns .

,

she was giv e n m o re b e ams t o l e ngth than was

co ns ide re d s afe by o ld sa lts .

Th e R a in bo w was launch e d in J anuary , 1 8 4 5 , a nd;

was no t long in pro ving a c

su c e s s . S he did he r
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 39

be st wo rk o n he r s e co nd v o yag e t o Chi na wh e n s he ,

w e nt o ut to C anto n and back in 6 m o nths 1 4

days l ea ving N e w Y o rk o n I s t Oct o b e r 1 8 4 5 she
, , ,

was back agai n in N e w Y o rk in A pril 1 8 4 6 S he , .

w e nt o ut in 9 2 days and cam e h o m e in 8 8 b ri ngi ng

to N e w Y o rk the n e ws o f he r o wn a rrival in the

E ast .

H e r c o mmand e r Captain J o hn L an d wh o afte r

, ,

wards had the ho n o ur O f a w e ll kno wn clipp e r b e ing -

na m e d after him was d e light e d with the R a inbow s

,
’

qualiti e s and w e nt abo ut d e claring that no t o nly

,

was she th e faste st ship aflo at b ut that no ship co uld ,

b e built t o b e at h e r .

R a inbow is supp o s e d to hav e fo un de re d O ff the

H o rn in 1 8 4 8 whilst b o und fro m N e w Y o rk to
,

V alparai s o un d e r C aptain H aye s But th o ugh h e r .

li fe was a sh o rt o ne she had d o ne he r wo rk by

,

starti ng a fl e e t o f clipp e r ships which rai se d

A m e rica to the l e v e l o f G re a t B ritai n am o ng
maritim e nati o ns .

Cap tai n R o b e rt H . Wate rman a nd Na tc h e z. ”

Whilst C aptain L and arning fam e by was e

his China pas sage s in the R ainbow an o the r o f ,

A sp inwall s capta ins R o b e rt H Wate rman was

’
.
, ,

do ing the like in a ve ry di ffe re nt type O f v es s e l t he ,

N a tcb ez o ne o f th e fi rst N e w O rl e ans pack e ts b uilt

, ,

by I saa c We bb o f N e w Y o rk as far back as 1 8 3 1

, , .

S he was o ne o f the fi rst ships t o b e b uilt in

A m e rica with a full p o o p and was a shall o w ,
40 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
draught v e sse l with the O ld fashi o n e d flat bo tt o m
-

ne c e ssa ry in N e w O rl e a ns pack e ts b e fo re C aptain

V

E nd s re m o ve d the M is s iss ippi b ar This ship .

,

which had b e e n no te d o n the A tlantic as a h e avy

sailing sluggard as s o o n as s he was acqui re d by
,

A spi nwall a nd plac e d in t h e hands o f yo ung Bo b

Wate rman b e gan a se ri e s o f perfo rmance s which
,

w e re hail e d by tho s e wh o kn e w he r as no thing

s h o rt o f ma rv e ll o us
.

O n his fi rs t t rip Wat e rman t o o k h e r to th e We st

Co as t o f S o uth A m e rica th e n to Ca nt o n wh e re he
, ,

l o ade d te a fo r N e w Y o rk H e acc o mplish e d the

.

who l e v o yag e in 9 m o nths 2 6 days and the

passage h o m e fro m Chi na in 9 4 days On .

h is s e c o nd v o yage in 1 8 44 Wat e rma n mad e ,

V alpa rais o in 7 1 days w e n t up to C allao in 8 days

, ,

a nd d ro v e th e N a tcb ez ac ro s s t o H o ng K o ng in

5 4 days . O n 1 5 th J anuary 1 8 4 5 h e s ail e d fro m

, ,

th e I s la nd o f Fato e n e a r Macao t e a lad e n ; ro unde d

, ,

th e C ap e 3 9 days o ut ; c ro ss e d th e li ne 6 1 days o ut

in l o ngitud e 3 1 21 d e gre e s ; mad e t he run fro m the

e q ua to r t o N e w Y o rk in 1 7 % days and t o o k his ,

pil o t o ff Barn e gat o n 3 rd A p ril at 6 p m havi ng . .

,

s ail e d mil e s in 7 8 days 6 h o urs witho ut

havi ng to tack o nc e The N atcb ez sail e d h e r b e st
.

in light wi n d s h e r b e s t day s run b e i ng 2 6 mil e s

’
,
7 .

O n h is las t v o yage o n th e N a tchez Wat e rman t o o k

he r o ut di re ct t o H o ng K o ng in 1 0 4 days and
b ro ught h e r ho me in 8 3 days .
42 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
studding s ails with swi nging bo o ms ringtails and ,

o th e r flyi ng kit e s
.

I n app ea ra nc e t h e S ea Witcb m ust hav e b ee n a

'

v e ry handso m e v e ss e l ind e e d wh e n she sail e d o ut ,

o f N e w Yo rk o n h e r maid e n v o yage she was ,

admitte d t o b e the mo st b e auti ful ship und e r the

S tars and S t rip e s .

S h e had the lo w fre e b o ard a nd raking masts o f

th e Baltim o re typ e wi t h c o nsid e rabl e sh e e r o ne o f
, ,

t h e o utsta ndi ng fe at ure s o f th e Yank e e clippe r

d e s ign . Tho ugh a s quare st e rne d ship she was
-

built witho ut a s te rn fram e .

The ne w clipp e r was paint e d black with the o ld

fas hi o ne d A m e rican b right s t rip e a nd as sh e was , ,

i nte nd e d fo r the te a t rad e she was giv e n an ,

imm e ns e gild e d Chi ne s e d rago n fo r a figure head .

Th e trailing tail o f thi s d rag o n gav e e mphasis to

h e r l o ng h o ll o w b o w which was a s till further
,

advanc e o n that o f R a inbow S ea I/Vitc/z had a

.

s ha rp ri s e o f flo o r
( 1 6 d e gre e s it is s aid ) ; she
re q ui re d a d e al o f balla s t ind e e d it is p ro babl e that
,

s h e wa s s o m e wha t o v e rmas t e d fo r sh e was n o ted ,

fo r h e r h e avy ro lling a nd th e re was m o re than a

whi spe r that she was uns tabl e .

Wi th a care fully picke d cre w she l eft N e w Yo rk ,

o n t h e 2 3 rd D e c e mb e r 1 8 6 A stro ng no r w e st
’

4 , .
-

gal e was bl o wi ng which gav e he r an e xce ll e nt start

,

in li fe a nd she ran do w n to the latitud e o f Rio in

,

2 5 day s H e re s he sp o ke th e s ho re and s e nt l e tte rs

.
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 43

back by a h o m e ward b o und e r S ea Witc/c in the .

hands o f B ully Wate rman so o n pro v e d h e rs e l f to

b e an e xce pti o n al v e ss e l alto ge th e r and h e r re c o rds ,

hav e b e e n fo und v e ry hard to be at .

B e l o w I gi v e the tim e s o f he r fi rst s e v e n vo yage s .

Fi rst vo y ga e ( co mmand e d by Captai n R bert H W t o . a er man) .

FR OM . To . DAYS O UT . R E M A R KS .

N e w Yo r k H on g K ng o 10 4 L e ft k 2 3 rd D
N e w Yo r , ec e m b e r, 1 84 6 .

Canto n Ne w Y rk o 81 O ff A nj r 1 9 d y ut ; e a s o a rriv d e 2 5 th J uly ,

1 84 7 .

d v y g ( c mm nd d by C pt in R b rt H W t rm n)
S ec o n o a e o a e a a o e . a e a .

N w Y rk
e H ng K ng
o o 10 5 A iv d 7 th N v mb
o 1 84 7 rr e o e e r, .

C nt n
a o N wY k e 7 8 L ft Chin 2 9 th D ; rriv d A nj r 8 th
or e a ec . a e e ,

J n B t un 2 8 4 ; p d C p 3 rd a . es r asse a e

F b 36 } d y ut b t un 2 8 9 in l t e .
,
a s o es r a .

l ng r d th li n in o . c o sse e e

l ng 55 d y ut ; b st run 2 7 3 o . a s o e

fr m l t 5 S l ng 32 W t l t o a .
°
.
, o .
°
.
, o a .

3 N l ng 60 5 W v rg f 8 ° °
21 .
, o . .
, a e a e or

d y 2 7 5 ; St H el en t S ndy H k a s . a o a oo

in 3 2 d y r iv d N w Y rk t 9 m a s a r e e o a a .

o n 1 sth M r h 1848 a c , .

Third v y g ( o mm nd d by C pt i n R H W term n)
o a e c a e a a . . a a .

N wY k
e V lp
or i a 69 A rrive d 5 th J uly 1848
a ra so , .

V lp r i
a H ng K ng
a a so o 5 2 A r iv d 7 th D
o mb r 1 8 48 r e ece e , .

C nt n
a o N w Y rk e 7 9 Ar iv d 2 5 th M r h 18 49
o r e a c , .

F urth v yag ( mm nd d by C pt i n Fr r)
o o e co a e a a aze .

N wY k
e C nt n
or a 1 18 o V i V lp i a a ara so .

C nto n
a N wY k e 8 5 73 f m J v H d
or iv d 7 th M r 18 50 ro a a ea . arr e a . .

Fi ft h voy g ( mm nd d by C pt i n Fr z )
a e co a e a a a er .

N w Y rk
e oS n F n isco a 9 7 A rriv d 24th J uly 1 85 0 A
ra c rd p g e , . reco as sa e .

C nt n
a o N w York e 10 2 Left 18th M r h 18 5 1 a c , .

Six th v y g ( co mm nd d by C p t i n Fr r)
o a e a e a a aze .

N w York
e S n Fr nc i a 1 10 L ft xt Aug 1 8 5 1 riv d 20th N o v
a sc o e s , , ar e .

C nt n
a o N wY k e 1 10 L ft 24th M ch 18 52
or e ar , .

S v nth v y g ( mm nd d by C pt i n Fr z r)
e e o a e co a e a a a e .

N w Y rk
e oS n Fr n i a 10 8 Ar iv d 8 th D
a c sc o mb r 1 8 5 2 r e ece e , .

Wo ung N w Y k
os e 10 6 L ft 1 l th M rch 185 3
or e a , .

A fte r h e r s e v e nth v o yage the S ea gav e up Wit / cc

the S a n Francisc o run fo r th e di re ct ro ut e to Chi na

44 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
Wh n h o m e ward b o und in 1 8 5 5 she put into
e ,

with the d e ad b o dy o f C ap tai n Fraz e r who had ,

be e n m urd e re d at s e a by h is mat e A fte r this .

t rage dy Captai n L ang t o o k co mmand o f the by ,

this tim e wate r s o ak e d and badly straine d marvel

,
- .

The e nd o f the fam o us s hip ca me o n 2 6th March

'

1 8 5 6 whilst b o un d fro m A m o y to H avana with a

,

cargo o f c o o li e s s h e pile d up o n th e E ast Co ast o f

,

C uba and b e cam e a t o tal l o ss .

A nd p e rhaps it was a s w e ll fo r th e c o o li e traffic

,

o f that dat e was a d rea d ful t rad e fo r a b e auti ful ship .

”
Th e Trage dy o f th e Ba ld Eagle .

This is pro ve d by t he te rribl e t rage dy o f the

clipp e r ship Bald E ag le L ike many ano the r fine.

ship she g ravitate d i nt o the c o o li e t rade and not ,

th e high e st b ut the l o w e s t fo rm o f c o o li e t rad e—that

o f ca rryi ng t he re fus e o f C hi na t o that h e ll wh e nce

th e y n e v e r re turn e d the Chi ncha I slands

, She .

was in fact b ut littl e b e tte r than a slave r Fo r

, , .

ye ars s he d rudge d s te adily at this awful trade ,

sinking l o w e r and lo w e r in t h e s o cial scal e o f ships

until at last a tim e cam e wh e n e v e n he r o ffice rs

w e re fo re ig n and t he o nly sign o f he r past glo rie s

,

was the star S pangl e d banne r which still fl ew from

-

h e r m o nk e y gaff .

On h er last a nd fatal v o yage h e r captain was a

Po rtugue se and h e lik e wis e shipp e d a c re w of
,

dago s m o stly h is o wn c o unt rym e n the o nly

,
,

N o rth e rn e r be i ng a n I ri s hman who was re s o n ,

p
 TH E CH I NA C LIPPE R S 45

s ibl e fo r the t e rrible acco unt o f he r e nd H o w much .

o f his ya rn was an e xagge rati o n it is imp o ssibl e t o

say b ut k no wing o f o ne o r t wo o th e r no t di s s imila r

, ,

t rage di e s o n co o li e ships o f that tim e I sh o uld s ay ,

v e ry littl e .

Th e Ba ld E ag le was 5 0 0 mil e s ast o f Manilae ,

b o und fo r Callao a nd re e li ng o ff a n e asy 1 0 k no ts

,

und e r t h e i n fl ue n c e o f a sti ff b re e z e I t was five .

be lls in the afte rn o o n watch and all s e e m e d qui e t

,

b e l o w wh e n s udde nly a wild s c re e ch rang o ut a nd

, ,

the n e xt m o m e nt a n avala nch e o f Chi nam e n

atte mpte d to rus h t he hatchway ladd e rs havi ng ,

to rn d o w n the i r bunk bo ards fo r we ap o ns The .

c re w h o we v e r we re j ust in t im e t o k e e p the
, ,
’

madd e n e d Ce l e s t ials o ff the d e ck by faste ni ng d o wn

t he ha t ch g ratings .

Th e n t he captai n b e i ng a Po rtugue s e acte d as

, ,

s uch a nd b ringi ng o ut his re v o lv e rs be gan sh o o ti ng

,

th ro ugh th e g rati ngs a t the wre tche d co o lie s the ,

mate s fo ll o wing h is e xampl e But e v e n sh o o ti ng

.

rat s in a t rap is s o m e tim e s dange ro us a nd s o it ,

pro v e d o n this o ccas i o n The Chi ne s e w e re in

.

such a fre nzy that th e y care d no ught fo r t he bull e ts ,

and s to o d o ut und e r the hatchway grating cursi ng ,

a nd s h ri e ki ng at the s h o o t e rs until th e re was a

wriggli ng mass o f d e ad a nd wo und e d Ce l e s tial s
pil e d up almo st as high as the i ro n bars A nd thi s .

was t he ca use o f the final trage dy S o cl o s e we re .

t he pist o ls t o the pil e o f d e ad Chi nam e n t ha t a spit

46 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
of flam e actually s e t a light to th e cl o thi ng o f the
upp e rm o s t .
I mm e diately th e re wa s a furi o us rush
to o b t ai n t h e b urn i ng cl o th and the madde ne d
,

c o o li e s fe ll o v e r o ne a no th e r e nti re ly h e e dl e ss o f
,

t he bull e ts in th e i r e age rne ss to p re s e rve the

,

ulde ring pi e c e I t was s o o n t o rn fro m the d ead

.

man s sh o ulde r th e ma n who had go t it at o nce

’

blo wing up o n it t o k e e p it alight A bull e t sto pped .

h is e ffo rts b ut an o th e r s e iz e d it o nly t o b e sh o t in

,

his turn ; a nd s o th e m urd e ro us busi ne ss we nt o n

with the cl o th s till alight A s fast as tho se ab o ve
.

s h o t d o wn t he me n wh o h e ld this fatal fus e o th e rs

fill e d th e i r plac e s until at last t he ti ny flam e which

, ,

had b e e n k e pt alight at such a co st disappe ared ,

fro m be n e ath th e hatch still burn i ng

,
.

H al f a n ho ur late r s m o ke b e ga n t o as c e nd o ut o f
th e fo re a nd mai n hatch e s Th e c razy Chiname n
.

had se t the s hip o n fire e vid e ntly thi nking that

,

thi s w o uld c o mp e l th e c re w t o tak e t h e hatches

o ff a nd t h us giv e th e m th e i r chanc e t o rush the

s hip a n d c apture h e r But th e Po rtugue se had no

.

i nt e nt i o n o f t aki ng a ny s uch risk I nste ad the y out .

s mall h o l e s th ro ugh th e d e ck a nd b e ga n t o pump,

wate r b e l o w with the aid o f th e was h d e ck ho se -

.

With hundre ds o f i nfuriate d co o li e s i nte nt o n

ke e pi ng the flam e s alight this was o f co urs e a
, , ,

us e l e s s p ro c e e di ng and in a v e ry sh o rt whil e the

,

fire had so i nc re as e d t hat t he h e at and s m o ke

co mpe ll e d th e Chi ne s e t o c ro wd und e r the hatchway
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 47

gr ati n s
g . But wh e n th e y fo und that the c re w had
no int e nti o n o f l e ttin
g th e m up o n d e ck th e i r d e spai r
may b e imagin e d as it had b e co m e to o late fo r
,

th e m to b e abl e to put o ut the flam e s the ms e lv e s .

The sc e n e no w gre w wo rthy o f D ante s I nfe rn o

'
.

B e ne ath th e bars the w re tch e d Chine s e struggle d in

a s e e thi ng w riggling mass o f t e rrifi e d human ity
, ,

packe d a s ti ght as sardi ne s by th e i r d e sp e rat e mate s

furth e r back in th e h ea t a nd smo ke F ro m this .

mass a l o ng d rawn sh ri e k o f t e rro r rang sh rill and

-

pi e rcing into th e gro wi ng darkne ss To tho s e who .

lo o ke d fro m abo v e no ught co uld b e s ee n b ut a s e a

o f fac e s t urn e d a sickly g re e n with fright th e i r e y e s ,

starti ng o ut o f the i r h e ads a nd th e i r m o uths Ope ne d

,

wide as th e y gav e v e nt to o ne ho rribl e e ndl e ss ye ll .

A s th e flam e s app ro ach e d cl o s e r and cl o s e r t o th e

hatchways ano th e r frightful e l e m e nt was add e d t o
th e trage dy and that was th e awful sm e ll o f burn i ng
,

fles h as th o s e o n th e o utski rts o f this human

mae lstro m unde r the square o f each hatch succ umbe d
t o th e fire .

The c re w had l o ng sinc e c e as e d pump wat e r to ,

and w e re no w o nly c o nce rn e d in ge tting safe ly cl e ar

o f th e ship The Bald E ag le was h o ve t o j us t as
.

night fe ll with gre at di fficulty fo r the sm o ke po uring

,

o ut o f th e d e ck was s o d e nse that the m e n co uld

scarc e ly b re ath e and had to wo rk as if in a thick

fo g at th e sam e tim e th e d e afe nin g shri e k s mad e it
,

impo ssibl e to h e ar the o rd ers o f the o ffice rs .

48 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
By clo ck th e Bald E agle was in a blaz e fo re
8 o
’

a nd a ft in spite o f t o rre nts o f r ai n which had be gun ,

to fall at s un s e t S l o wly th e ye ll o f t h e burni ng

.

Chi nam e n had di e d d o w n until a ghas tly sil e nce

re ig ne d th e las t c o o li e havi ng s ucc umb e d in t he fi e ry
,

furnac e b e l o w th e grim bars o f the hatch g rati ngs .

With furio us haste the c re w no w se t about

launchi ng the b o at s i nto which th e y o nly had ti me
,

t o plac e a littl e bi s cuit and wat e r bare ly e no ugh fo r ,

o ne s qua re m e al O ne o f th e b o ats was sto ve in

.

b e ing go t o v e r th e sid e so that wh e n th e y at l e ngth

,

pull e d away fro m thi s awful c re mato ri um the two

q uart e r b o ats had te n me n api e ce a nd t he g unwal es ,

o f t h e l o ng b o at w e re alm o s t awash with e ight ee n

me n . Th e l o ng b o at had masts a nd s ails b ut the ,

q uart e r b o ats o nly o ars so it was d e cide d to to w ,

th e m . Th e captai n shap e d a c o urs e fo r Manila .

The wi nd was d e ad a ft fre sh and with a h e avy , ,

fo ll o wi ng sea A ll that night th e l o ng bo at ran

.

b e fo re it with th e o th e r bo ats in to w all three ,

havi ng many n arro w e s cap e s fro m capsizi ng o r

b e i ng s wam pe d .

Th re e nigh ts a nd t wo days we re pass e d in this

fashi o n with o nly the n ibbl e o f a bi s c uit fo r e ach
,

ma n and the s canti e s t s upply o f wate r A nd as if .

,

thi s was no t e no ugh t h e supe rstitio us Po rtuguese

,

w e re te rrifi e d by th e c o nti nual pre s e nc e o f a large

sh o v e l no s e s hark which k e pt pace with the lo ng
-
,

bo at no w o n o ne sid e no w o n the o th e r
, , .
50 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
C a nt o n m e rcha nt who was m uch e ste e m e d by
E uro pe ans o n acco unt o f h is i n te grity and ki ndn e ss .

Captai n N B Palm e r l e ft t he m e di um clipp e r

. .

P a ul / ones t o t a k e he r a nd he s o imp re s s e d M e ss rs
,
.

A A Lo w
. . B ro th e r that until h is re ti re m e nt he
, , ,

was always giv e n th e i r n e w e st s hip — th us h e c o m

ma nde d th e H o nqua , S a muel R ussell a nd Oriental
in turn I nde e d it was said that th e s ucc e ss o f the s e
.
,

th re e v e s s e l s wa s a g re a t d e al due t o his i nfl ue nce

o n th e i r d e s ig ns a nd o utfi t Fro m t h e dat e that he .

e nt e re d t h e L o w s e mpl o y h e s e e ms t o have acted

’

as th e i r c o nfid e ntial and e xpe rt advise r— a no t

unus ual a rra ng e m e nt b e twe e n o w ne rs a nd fav o uri te

captai ns .

O n h e r maid e n v o yage t he H onqua we n t o ut to ,

H o ng K o ng in 8 4 days a nd cam e h o m e in 90 On .

t he h o m e wa rd pas s ag e h e r daily av e rag e was 1 5 8 6

mil e s a nd he r b e s t run 2 7 0 Thi s s h e imp ro ved .

up o n in 1 8 5 0 und e r Captai n M Ke n zie wh e n s he

‘
,

bro ke th e re c o rd fro m S ha nghai t o N e w Yo rk with

a n 8 8 day pas s age .

I n J a nua ry 1 8 4 8 the H onqua had a v e ry nasty

, ,

e xp e ri e n c e b e i ng di s m a s t e d in a cycl o ne s o ut h west
,
-

o f S a ndalwo o d I s la nd A s udd e n s hi ft o f wind

.

fro m S W t o s o uth b ro ach e d h e r t o a nd s he s o o n

. .

aft e rwa rd s fe ll i nto th e calm c e nt re o f t he s to rm and

cam e v e ry ne a r fo und e ri ng .

S h e me t h e r fat e e v e n t ually in a typh o o n in the

y ear 1 8 6 5 .
 TH E CH IN A C LIPPE R S 51

S a muel R uss ell am e d aft e r the fo und e r o fwas n

t h e firm o f Russ e ll Co in wh o s e c o unti ng h o us e .

-
,

th e b ro th e rs L o w c o mm e nc e d th e i r ca re e r S he .

sail e d o n he r maid e n v o yage o n 1 4 th S e pt e mb e r ,

1 8 4 7 and w e n t o ut by th e East e rn Passage in 1 1

,
4
days h e r be st run b e ing 30 0 mil e s in 3 8% S 8 6 E
,
°
.
,

a nd h e r lo g re c o rd e d S t ro ng b re e z e s fro m '

N W 4 p m to o k in ro yal stuns ails

. .
, . a m , .

”
t o o k in main skysail a nd j ib o j ib - -
’
-
.

I n 1 8 4 9 Captain N at Pal m e r l e ft h e r t o tak e o v e r

t h e O rienta l a nd his b ro th e r T D Palm e r t o o k
, . .

charge Th e famo us Captain D umare sq we nt o ut

.

in h e r and k e pt he r lo g T D Palm e r was no t a . . .

g re at s ail carri e r a nd D umare sq be t ray e d his im

patie nc e a t t he sight o f re e fe d canvas by the many
e xclamati o n ma rks h e
put aft e r h is e nt ri e s in the lo g .

S he t o o k 8 9 days t o J ava He ad b ut t he fo ll o wi ng ,

will sh o w that s he was no t giv e n a fai r cha nc e .

Be st day to e qu t a or 297 m il es with b ea m wi nd and s ky ilsa s se t p art o f

th e time .

Bes t run a fter p ing Cap

ass e M e ridi an 2 88 mil es, “
Un d er s n i gl e and d oubl e

l st M ay, “
L et o ut re e fs and ma d e sa il ; co nse qu ntly
e ma d e a goo d run

O f 2 62 .

6 th May, Fresh b ee
hi k we th e d ubl e
r ze s , t c a r, o -
d t p il l l
ree fe o sa s
”

2 0 th M y aR un 2 7 5 mil
, fr h t d sky il es, es ra es, sa s a nd r y l in nd p
o a s a art o f

th e t im e flyi ng jib nd mi n t pg ll n t il
a ze o a a sa

But with m o re e nte rprising captain s S a muel

R ussell wa s e nabl e d t o p ro v e he r m e tal H e r be st .

run fro m C a nt o n t o N e w Y o rk was in 1 8 5 2 S ail .

ing o n 6 th A pril s h e cam e h o m e in 9 5 days b e st run

, ,
52 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
3 28 .
whe n b o und h o m e fro m
The y e a r b e fo re ,

Whamp o a she sail e d 6 7 2 2 mil e s in 30 co n s e cutive

,

days S he ho lds th e re c o rd as far as I kn o w

. , ,

be tw e e n Cape S an Ro q ue and 5 0 s o uth which she

°
,

did in 1 6 days .

I n 1 8 7 0 wh e n und e r th e c o mmand o f Captain

,

Fre d e ri c k L ucas s he was w re ck e d in G as pa r S t raits

,
.

O f A rc/ ntect M emnon a nd Orienta l I shall w rite

'

late r wh e n we c o m e to the A m e rican c o mpe titi o n

in th e E nglish t rade .

Th e Bo o m in Ame ric an Clip p e r S hip Building .

The A me rica n te a ships usually we nt o ut to

China di re ct b ut o n th e disc o v e ry o f g o ld in
,

C ali fo rn ia th e y we re all s e nt ro und th e H o rn to

S a n Fran ci s c o th e n c ro ss e d th e Pacific in o rd e r to
,

l o ad te a h o m e .

Th e Cape H o rn v o yage b e twe e n Eas te rn A m e ri

c a n p o rt s a nd th e C ali fo rn ia n c o ast th e A m e ricans

hav e v e ry wi se ly k e pt ba rre d to o the r nati o ns .

B e fo re th e disco v e ry o f go ld in the summ e r o f 1 8 48 ,

it wa s no t o f m uch acc o unt A fe w v e ss e l s w e nt to

.

t h e c o as t fo r a whil e b e fo re g o i ng o n t o China to

l o ad the s e as o n s t e as b ut the Cali fo rnia t rad e i tsel f

’

wa s c o nfi ne d to th e hid e d ro gh e rs who picke d up -

,

t h e i r ca rg o e s b it by bit as t h e s uppli e s cam e d o wn

t o th e s mall c o ast s e t t l e m e nt s .

D ana in his Two Yea rs before t/ze M ast giv e s us

a vivid acc o unt o f thi s t rad e and th e v e ss e ls e m .

pl o y e d in it I hav e a re c o rd o f his ship th e A lert

.
, ,
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 53

fro m which it may be of i nte re s t to giv e a fe w

e xt racts :

On 1 1 th
“
May 1 8 3 1 th e A lert l e ft B o sto n b o und
, ,

to C anto n v ia G ib raltar 1 st J un e a rriv e d G ib ralta r

.
, ,

2 1 days o ut 1 9 th J un e l e ft G ib raltar ; c ro ss e d th e
.
,

li ne 1 3 th J uly havi ng av e rage d 1 4 1 21 mile s a day

,

fro m G ib ralta r Fro m G ib ralta r t o the C ap e 4 7

.

days ave ragi ng

, To J ava H e ad 8 3 % days ,

av e ragi ng To L intin 1 0 5 days av e raging ,

1 56 . To tal dis tanc e by lo g mil e s .

L e ft C ant o n 2 2 nd N o v e mb e r Pass e d J ava .

H e ad 1 5 5 days O ff th e Cap e 1 7 th J anua ry 5 6

.
,

days o ut Cro ss e d th e li ne o n l o th Fe b ruary

. .

A ncho re d i n sid e th e H o o k 7 th March— 1 0 5 day

pas sage To tal lo g
. av e raging 1 4 6 p e r day .

The A lert was a 5 0 0 t o n s hip with full li ne s a nd

-
,

was a re al sp e cim e n o f th e e arly A m e rican d e e p

Wa t e rma n at he r b e st .

The disc o v e ry o f go ld in C ali fo rnia no t o nly

wo k e up t h e Pacific c o as tli ne b ut gav e an e x t ra ,

o rdina ry filli
p to th e A m e rican M e rcantil e Mari ne .

A s is usual with that magic m e tal th e n e ws o f ,

the find spre ad with amazi ng quickn e ss A t fi rs t .

whisp e re d rumo urs and th e n wid e fl ung repo rts o f

,
-

nugge ts as thick as p e bbl es o n th e s e asho re a nd

go ld d ust to b e sh o v e ll e d o ut o f the b e ds o f m o un
tain t o rre nts lik e s o m uch sand fl e w fro m c o nti ne n t
to c o ntin e nt I t was the fi rst big go ld find fo r
.

c e nturi e s M e n o f e v e ry nati o nality o f e v e ry

. ,
54 TH E I
CH N A C LI P PE R S
p ro fe ssi o n v e ry clas s caught th e go ld fe ve r
a nd o f e

a nd s e t o ut in furi o us ha st e fo r th e g re at E l D o rad o .

h
T e re w e re th re e ro ut e s p o s s ibl e — ro und Cape

H o rn ; by t he I s thm us o f Pa nama ; and o ve rla nd .

The quick e s t ro ute was suppo s e d t o b e by the

Pacific mail st e am e rs t o C o l o n and ac ro ss the
I s thm us b ut h e re the co nge s t io n o f t raffic ca us ed
,

e ndl e ss d e lay a nd it was o ft e n

,
t h e cas e o f the

I s t hmus ha re and the Cap e H o rn t o rt o is e be side s ,

which thi s ro ut e was te rribly e xpe ns iv e a nd mo st ,

go ld s e e k e rs a re no t milli o nai re s .

The t rip o v e rla nd in a p rai ri e s ch o o n e r m eant

faci ng h o st il e I ndia ns a nd a p o ssibl e d e ath fro m
thi rst o r privati o n Thus it was that the g re ate r
.

numb e r o f t h e fo rt une h unt e rs ch o s e t h e st o rmy

-

passage ro und the H o rn E v e ry s o rt o f v e s se l that

.

wo uld fl o at was pre s s e d i nto t he s e rvice fro m the ,

c rack Chi na clipp e r to t he s upe ra nnuate d I ndiaman ,

fro m t h e n imbl e N e w Y o rk pil o t sch o o ne r t o the

wa r wo rn v e te ra n o f the N a nt uck e t whali ng fl e e t
-
.

I n 1 8 4 9 and 1 8 5 0 7 60 v e ss e l s ro und e d the H o rn

,

fro m A m e rican p o rt s al o ne carryi ng ,

pas s e nge rs in 1 8 49 and in 1 8 5 0 .

Many a ship e nte re d th e G o lde n G at e wi th o nly

h e r p ump s ke e pi ng h e r afl o at Ma ny a ship
.
,

i ns t e ad o f anch o ri ng ra n up o n t he mud flat s o f

,

M i s s i o n Bay H e re d e s e rte d by t h e i r c re ws they

.
, ,

w e re o fte n t ake n o v e r by c o mpl e te s t rang e rs and ,

us e d as st o re h o us e s a nd h o t e ls S uch a fat e had

.
 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS 55

the full -
r ig ship N ia ntic which was fl o ate d
, up t o

what w o uld b e no w the c e nt re o f S an F rancisco and

t rans fo rm e d int o what We ste rne rs call a bunkh o us e .

A d o o rway was c ut in h e r sid e o v e r which was ,

pai nte d R e st fo r th e we a ry and sto rage fo r

The ship Ap ollo was turn e d into a sal o o n ;
”
t runks .

whilst the h ul k o f the b rig E ufib emia co nv e ni e ntly ,

bilge d o n the O ppo site sid e o f the ro ad was th e fi rst ,

pris o n o f S a n F rancisco .

I n a go ld rush th e p riz e is o fte n to t he fi rst man

o n t h e s p o t th us ship sp e e d all at o nc e b e cam e t h e
,

de s i re o f the who le wo rld Eve ry clippe r was .

e ngage d at e n o rm o us pre miums E ve ry D o wn .

Eas t s hipyard b e gan to wo rk o v e rtim e Fro m .

Mai ne t o Maryland fro m Baltimo re to S t J o h n

, .
,

N B t he hamm e rs b e ga n go ing night a nd day

. .
, .

E ve n fi s hing village s wh e re the launch o f a 3 0 0

,

t o n s hip had b e e n the sign fo r a ge n e ral h o liday

a nd t h e caus e o f m uch paro chial p rid e a nd rej o ici ng ,

b e ga n t o b uild ships o f 1 0 0 0 t o ns I n s o m e place s .

v e s s e l s w e re act ually built in the wo o ds and ha ule d ,

t o t h e wat e r s e d ge by t e ams o f o x e n Fa rm e rs
’
.

t urne d w o o d sawy e rs and e v e ry p e tty ca rpe nt e r

,

call e d hims e l f a ship wright The ships we re m o stly .

b uilt o n t he share pri n ciple ; the captai n the ship ,

chandle r the blo ck make r sail make r and co o pe r

, ,

e ach t aking his p ro p o rtio n o f sha re s .

A nd all al o ng the D o wn E ast Co ast t h e b o ys

we re s unning away t o se a until cabin b o ys we re a ,
-
56 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
glut in the mark e t and sto wing away b e cam e a
ne c e ssity fo r a n adv e nt uro us lad Th e ve ry i nfants .

l e arnt th e i r k no ts a nd gre w as c o nv e rsa nt with

gre ase a nd tar as th e o ld e st s he llback whilst e ve ry ,

D o w n Eas t gi rl c o uld si ng R o und Cape H o rn “

.

I o nly kn o w th re e ve rs e s ; no d o ubt t h e re we re a
h und re d .

I ked m id n by my id
as a a e s e,

Wh igh d nd l k d t m f rlo rn
o s e a oo e o e o ,

Wh i y ur h t ? Sh q ui k r pli ed
e re s o e ar
”
e c e ,

R und C p H rn o a e o .

I id I ll let y u f th r kno w
sa ,
’
o r a e ,

T b y in m i hi f n th l w n
o o s sc e o e a .

Th y ll r pli d
e a Th n y u m u t g
e e , e o s o

R und C p H rn
”
o a e o .

I n f ct I
a k d li ttl b y
as e a e o

I f h c uld t ll wh
e h w b rn
o e e re e as o .

H n w r d with
e a s m k f jy
e e a ar o o ,

R und C pe H rn
”
o a o .

N ew Yo rk and B o s to n w e re o f c o urs e th e t wo , ,

g re at c e nt re s o f the A m e rica n clippe r ship b o o m .

I n N e w Y o rk it wa s said that wo rkme n

we re e mpl o y e d by t h e g re a t s hipyard s al o ng the
Eas t R iv e r The chi e f fi rm s w e re William H
. .

We bb S mit h
,
D im o n J ac o b B e ll (s ucc e ss o r o f ,

B ro w n B e ll ) J aco b A We ste rv e lt a nd R o o s e ve lt
, .
,

J o yce . O f t h e se p e rhap s Wm H We bb had . .

t he fi ne st re co rd I n all h e b uilt 1 3 8 v e s se ls
.

to t alli ng t o ns .

B o s t o n in he r turn co uld b o as t o f S a m Hall

, , ,

Paul Curtis R E J acks o n and D o nald Mackay

, . .
, ,

o ne o f t h e g re at e st shipb uild e rs that t he w o rld has

k no wn The re is no d o ub t that his was a pe culiar

.
58 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
p ro fits , a ndth e i r cargo e s w e re no t always d e liv e red
in as go o d a c o ndi t i o n as th e y sh o uld hav e b e e n ,

add e d to which t h e i r ca rryi ng capacity c o mpare d to

th e i r t o nnag e was ve ry small S o it cam e abo ut.

that whe n th e gre at d e mand fo r ne w clippe r to nnage

arrive d in th e wak e o f t h e go ld disco ve ry me n like ,

Wm H We bb a nd D o nald Mackay made great

. .

e ffo rt s t o c o mbi ne st re ng th wi t h sp e e d a nd in thi s ,

t h e y w e re imita t e d by th e o th e r chi e f b uild e rs al o ng

t h e c o a s t with t h e re s ult th a t t h e A m e rica n clippe r

,

s hip s o f t h e e a rly fi fti e s w e re fa r s up e ri o r t o th e i r

p re d e ce ss o rs in all ro und m e rit -

.

S pac e will no t admit a full li s t an d d e sc ripti o n o f

all th e b e auti ful clippe rs built in A m e rica in the
e a rly fi fti e s b ut I will att e mpt t o giv e a s h o rt acc o unt
,

o f t h o s e which w e re b e st k no wn in t h e Chi na t rad e

(see page 5 9 )
Ame ric an Clipp e r Ship s Launc h e d 185 0-485 1 .

This list c o ntai ns th e n am e s of all t he fo re m o s t

capt ai ns builde rs a nd o wne rs in t he U nit e d S tate s ;
, ,

whil s t am o ngs t t he s hips nam e d no l e ss t han s ix o f

t h e m i nvad e d t he E ngli s h t e a t rad e a nd cause d ,

gre at c o mm o t i o n am o ngs t t he o w ne rs o f B riti sh tea

s hip s by maki ng pas s age s which at th e time we re

c o ns id e re d t o b e impo ss ibl e Th e s e we re the .

Celest ial, S urfi ris e , S ea S e m e n t, Cb a lle ng e, PVitc/z

of tb e Wave a nd N iglzt znga le Y e t if we co mpare
, .

th e m with the o th e r s e v e n we find that the s hips

that ke pt to the A m e rican t rade we re ce rtai nly
"
TH E C H INA C LI P PE R S 59
60 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
fast e r than th e s hips which made such g re at
re p utati o ns in th e E nglish t rad e .

The Celes tia l was We bb s first o ut a nd o ut

’
- -

clipp e r S he was a sp e e dy lit tl e ship tho ugh too

. ,

be amy fo r h e r l e ngth S he is chie fly i nte re sti ng

.

as b e i ng o ne o f the A m e rican clippe rs which

e nt e re d t h e B rit ish t e a t rad e H e r b e s t p e rfo rm .

ance was p ro bably he r maid e n passage wh e n she ,

w e nt o ut t o S a n Francisc o in 1 0 4 days from

N e w Y o rk .

”
Th e S urp rise .

Fro m
fi na ncial as w e ll as a spe e d po int o f
a , ,

vi e w t h e S urfi rise was a m o s t s ucc e ss ful clippe r .

S he wa s t he fi rs t als o t o b e fully rigge d o n the

, ,

sto cks a nd launche d with he r s kysail yards across

a nd h e r runn i ng g e a r ro v e o ff H e r laun ch i nd eed .
, ,

was mad e m o re o f a c e re m o ny than was us ual in

A m e rica at t hat dat e A ladi e s pavili o n was
’
.

sp e cially b uilt fo r it a nd H all s m o uld l o ft gaily

,
’

de c o rat e d wi t h fl ags was us e d as a banque ti ng hall

, ,

t h e ma s te r fo re man p re sidi ng at t h e fe ast whilst ,

M r H all p ro vid e d a s imila r e nte rtainm e nt fo r his

.

part icular fri e nds at his o wn h o us e .

The S urp rise was a n unus ually s igh tly v e sse l I f '

sh e lacke d t h e po w e rful she e r and rugge d ap

p e ara nc e o f s t re ngth s o m ark e d in h e r Mackay
,

rival s s h e wa s in ma ny re sp e cts m o re t aki ng t o t he

,

e ye with h e r g rac e ful li ne s a nd b e auti fully m o d e ll ed

,

e nd s Th e s e w e re magnific e ntly o rnam e nt e d

.
As .
 TH E CH INA CL IPPE RS 61

a figure h e ad she had a go ld e n e agl e in flight whilst ,

the a rms o f N e w Y o rk w e re ca rve d o n he r ste rn .

With regard to he r m e as ure me nts 30 i nch e s ,

d e ad r ise at hal f fl o o r will give s o me ide a o f he r

-

und e rwat e r bo dy whilst he r 8 4 fo o t mainmast and

,
-

7 8 fe e t o f mainyard wil l give an id e a o f he r s ail plan .

S h e carri e d a c re w c o nsisting o f fo ur mate s o ne ,

ste ward t wo co o ks two b o s ns carpe nte r s ail

, ,
’ ’

, ,

mak e r fo ur b o ys six o rdi nary s e am e n and thirty

, , ,

abl e s e am e n .

C apta in Philip D umare s q o ne o f the m o s t no te d ,

captai ns in th e China t rade had he r fo r o ne v o yage , ,

t h e n h e had t o l ea v e he r t o ta k e o v e r an o th e r n e w

c hp pe n

Wh ady fo r s e a the S myrise was to we d

e n re

ro und t o N e w Y o rk by B o st o n s histo ric t ug b o at

’

t h e R B Forbes
. Th e re s he l o ad e d 1 8 00 to ns o f
. .

ca rgo val ue d at
,
do llars fo r C ali fo rnia and , ,

it is re late d that he r man i fe s t was 2 5 fe e t lo ng .

Wi th the e xce ptio n o f the littl e S eaman she was ,

th e fi rs t clipp e r o f th e s e as o n to a rriv e in S a n

Fra ncisc o having mad e an e xtrao rdinary run o ut

,
.

Tho ugh he r b e st day s wo rk was o nly 2 8 4 mil e s

’

and s he re e fe d to ps ails b ut twice d uring the wh o l e

pas sag e she passe d th ro ugh the G o ld e n G ate o n
,

th e n i ne ty sixth day o ut a re co rd fo r that passage

-
, ,

which h o we ve r was no t to stand fo r lo ng

, ,
.

Fro m S a n F rancis c o th e S um ris e c ro ss e d to

Cant o n wh ere she was take n up to l o ad te a fo r the

,
62 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS
E nglish mark e t a t £ 6 a to n d o ubl e th e am o unt ,

o ffe re d t o E ngli s h s hip s H e r wh o l e v o yage was

.

so succ e ss ful fi na ncially that a ft e r payi ng h e r e nti re

,

co st as w e ll as running e xpe ns e s he r fre ight re ce ipts ,

l e ft he r o wne rs a cl e ar d o llars p ro fit .

Captai n D uma re sq was s ucc e e d e d by Captain

C harl e s R a nle tt wh o in t urn was s ucc e e d e d by his
, , ,

so n . U nd e r t he t wo R a nle tt s t h e S urp rise put up

a w o nd e rful re co rd racing h o m e fro m China She .

made s ix co ns e cutive passag e s fro m H o ng K o ng

a nd fiv e fro m S ha nghai t o N e w Y o rk o f which the ,

l o nge st was o nly 8 9 days and t he s h o rte st 8 1 whilst ,

sh e mad e th re e passag e s o ut to S a n Franci sco

av e ragi ng 1 0 9 days .

O n 4 t h Fe b ruary 1 8 7 6 wh e n c o mmande d by
, ,

Cha rl e s R anle tt j uni o r s h e st ruck a s unke n ro ck

, ,

be ati ng i nto Yo ko hama and be cam e a to tal lo s s .

Th e “
S ta gh o und ”
.

Th e S tag b ound was

gre at D o nald th e

Mackay s pi o ne e r clipp e r I n he r Mackay for

’
.
,

t he fi rs t t im e , gav e his wh o l e th o ught t o speed .

I nd e e d s o li t tl e did carryi ng capacity e nt e r i nt o his

,

calc ula t i o ns t hat the S tag/i ound co uld ba re ly carry

h e r re gi s t e re d to nnage o f d e adw e ight .

The chi e f i nn o vati o n in h e r d e sig n which ,

attracte d the c ri t ici s m o f the e xp e rts was i nc re as e ,

o f l e ng th in c o mpa ri s o n to bre ad th and d e pth .

A no th e r p o i nt which rai s e d th e d o ubt s o f he r c ri tics

was t he imm e nsity o f he r sail a re a I n all she .
64 TH E C H INA C L I PP E R S

Y o rk at the e nd o f th e R B Forées to w ro pe the

’
. . ,

caut i o us und e rwri te rs co ns id e re d t hat fo r o nce

Mackay had o v e rre ach e d hims e l f a nd insist ed
o n cha rgi ng e xt ra p re mium s fo r he r i nsurance .

N e v e rth e l e s s sh e fo und no di fficulty in taki ng in a

full fre ight at do llars a cubic fo o t which was ,

suffici e nt to m o re than pay fo r h e r i ni t ial co st .

Wh e n sh e s e t s ail fo r S an Fra nci s co unde r

Captai n J o s iah R icha rds o n s h e carri e d a c re w o f ,

fo rty s ix ha nds b e fo re th e ma s t
-
includi ng six ,

o rdi na ry s e am e n a nd fo ur b o ys .

Sh e a rriv e d at V alpa raiso o n 8 th A p ril 1 8 5 1 and , ,

Captai n R icha rds o n wro t e th e fo ll o wi ng l e tt e r to

h e r o w ne rs
G tl m — en Y u hip th S t gl u
e en h d i thi p t thi d y
o r s , e a zo na,
’
anc o re n s or s a ,

afte r a p assa g
d y th h t t b n v r m d h r ; nd if w
e of 66 a s, e s or e s ar o e e e a e e e a e

h d n t l t th m i nt pm t nd ll th
a o os t pg ll ntm t
e a n F b u y 6
o as a a re e o a a as s o e r ar ,

ou p rge d ub tl w uld h v b n th h t t v m d Th hip i

assa o ess o a e ee e s o r es e er a e. e s s

y t t b buil t t b t th S t g/ un d
e o e N thi ng th t w h v f ll n in wi th
o ea e a ro . o a e a e a e

y t e uld h ld h
co in pl y I m in l v wi th th
o er hip b tt r b t
a . a o e e s , a e e sea oa or

w rking hip dri r I n v r il d in

o s or e e e sa e .

The l o ss he r m as t s
had o ccurre d 6 days o ut
of

fro m N e w Y o rk in a s o uth e as t e rly gal e and no t

,
-
,

wi th s tandi ng b e i ng wi tho ut a mai nto ps ail fo r 9 days

a nd t O pga lla nts a ils fo r 1 2 day s s h e wa s s o uth o f the ,

li ne o n t h e t we n ty firs t day a fte r l e avi ng S andy -

H o o k I n spi te o f h e r j ury rig s he p ro v e d he rs elf

.
,

v e ry fas t in m o d e rat e b re e z e s whil s t abl e t o lo g 1 7 ,

m il e s wi th a fre sh gal e o n t he q uart e r Afte r .

re pai ri ng damag e s s h e w e n t o n t o S a n Franci s co ,

d o i ng th e wh o l e passage in 1 0 7 days he r be s t run ,

be i ng 3 5 8 m il e s .
 TH E C H INA C U PPE RS 65

F ro m S an F rancisc o S tag/round w e nt o n to China

by way o f H o no lulu making the run to H o no lulu
,

in 9 days .

L e aving Whamp o a o n 9 th Oct o b e r 1 8 5 1 s he , ,

made the run to N e w Yo rk in 9 4 days .

Th e re is no do ubt that the S tag/ wa nd was e ith e r

a ve ry hard ship o n he r ri gging o r e ls e the ge ar
.

was no t s uffici e ntly st ro ng t o stand the strain

o f s uch furio us d riving as he r captain ind ulge d in .

This was al s o th e case with many an o th e r fam o us

A m e rican clipp e r — n o tably Flying Clo ud S overeg
in ,

qf the S eas , W '

ztc/zcm t
f , S ea S e1¢ent, E clip se,
To rnado a nd Comet
This may hav e b e e n caus e d by a; miscalculati o n
o n t h e pa rt o f th e b uild e rs —no d o ubt t o a c e rtain

degre e it was ye t e xce ssive carryi ng o f sail such as

, ,

many of the A m e rican skippe rs d eli ghte d in was ,

b o und to re sult in o ccasio nal lo s s e s o f spars and

sails. A nyh o w S tag/round s e e ms t o hav e b e e n
s p e ci ally un fo rtunat e in t his re s pe ct as o n her
,

se c o n d vo yage s he was o blige d t o put into R io

wh e n 2 9 days o ut in o rd e r t o re pai r damages ,

having b e e n agai n partially di s maste d Thus fo r .

,

the s e c o nd tim e h e r run o ut was sp o ilt ho w e v e r , ,

she again mad e a go o d h o me wa rd pas s ag e l e avin g ,

H o ng K o ng o n 2 5 th S e pte mbe r 1 8 5 2 sh e re ach e d

, ,

N e w Y o rk 9 5 days o ut .

S tag /round e nd e d he r ca re e r in 1 8 6 3 b e ing burnt

,

o ff t h e B razil c o ast wh e n b o und t o S a n F rancisc o

F
66 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
fro m N e w Y o rk wi th a cargo o f s o ft c o al I t was .

s aid that t h e o nly thi ng s av e d fro m th e b urning

was he r U nite d S tat e s e nsig n which her
’

s hip ,

captai n b ro ught h o m e to th e o wne rs a s a re lic .

Th e Witc h c r ft a .
”

Th Wt / mft was fi rst e ffo rt at

’
Paul Curti s
’

e z c zc

a n o ut a nd o ut clipp e r
- -
S he was a v e ry hand so me
.

ve s s e l be auti fully fi ni s h e d with a w o nd e rful figure

, ,

h e ad o f a S al e m witch ridi ng o n a b ro o mstick .

I n po i nt o f s p e e d sh e wa s q ui te w o rthy t o rank
,

al o ngs id e S mybrise S tagéoz ma a nd t he o th e r c racks

,
’
,

o f he r y e ar .

H e r fi rs t v o yage was h o w e v e r a di s ast ro us o ne

, , .

L ike S tag/ w a nd she had t o , put i nt o V alparaiso to

re plac e l o st s pa rs a nd o n t o
p o f this s he had the ill
,
.

l uck to run i nto a t yph o o n o n he r way acro ss to

China fro m S a n Francisc o wh e n s he l o st he r mai n ,

and miz e n mas ts S h e was c o mmand e d by a ve ry

.

n o tabl e skipp e r in C aptai n William C Ro ge rs . .

This ma n was t he so n o f o ne o f h e r o wners and , ,

tho ugh h e ne v e r s e rv e d b e fo re th e ma s t o r as an
o ffi c e r h e p ro v e d t o hav e
, ra re capabiliti e s as a
s hipma s t e r .

H is was a s o m e what rare cas e H e w e nt to sea .

a nd k e pt th e s ea fo r t h e p ure l o v e o f t h e gam e and

,

h e t o o k c o mma nd wi th o nly such e xp e ri e nc e as a

fe w v o yage s to Ca nt o n a nd Calcutta as a pa sse nge r

co uld give A t th e o utb re ak o f the C ivil War he

.

was o ffe re d c o mmand in the U n ite d S tate s N avy

 TH E C H lN A C LI PPE R S 67

and s e rv e d with di s ti ncti o n H e marri e d a grand .

daughte r o f the c e l e b rat e d N athani e l B o wditch .

PVitenerafl was o ne o f the s e l e ct fe w which mad e

the run o ut t o S a n F ra ncisc o in und e r 1 00 days ;

this she did in 1 8 5 4 ta ki ng 9 7 days , .

Th e “
Se a Se rp e nt .
"

The S ea S e¢ pi o n e e r clippe r o f
ent w as th e

M e ss rs G rinn e ll M i nturn s C alifo rnian L in e and the

.
,
’

fi rst sharp ship built by G eo rge Rayne s o f Po rts ,

mo uth N H S he was a v e ry rakish tho ro ughbre d

, . .
,

l o o king race r and th e l o ng d e licate g re e n and go ld

,

s e rp e nt fo rming h e r figure he a d gave a m o st appro

priate hint o f h e r slippe ry qualiti e s .

S he was c o mman d e d by th e c e l e b rate d packe t

captai n William H o wland th e fo rme r co mmand e r
, ,

of s uch fam o us Yanke e packe ts as H o ratio ,

'
A skourton H emy Clay Co rnelius G rinnell and
, ,

Cons tantine H e was a re al pass e nge r ship capta in

.

who uph e ld the dignity o f his po siti o n H is o rde rs .

w e re o nly issue d to th e o ffice r o f the watch he put ,

o n kid gl o v e s wh e n he came o n d e ck and he n e v e r

le ft the sac re d planks o f the po o p .

On he r fi rst vo yage S ea S eff ent l o st spars and

sails o ff th e H o rn and was c o mp e ll e d to put int o
V alparais o ; d e d ucti ng th e d e lay s o caus e d he r run ,

o ut t o S a n F rancisc o was mad e in 1 1 5 days H er .

b e st passage t o S an Fra ncisc o was 1 0 7 days in

1 8 5 3 h e r b e st passag e h o m e t o N e w Y o rk fro m
,

China 88 d ays .
68 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
“
N B P alme r
. . .

N . B P a lmer wa s th e
. fi rs t A m e rican clipper
to l e av e th e ways in 1 8 5 1 and th e m o st n otabl e o f

all the ve ss e ls launch e d fro m We s te rve lt s yard

’
.

S he was nam e d o f c o urs e aft e r the c e l e b rate d

, ,

C aptain Palm e r A m o d e l o f this b e auti ful ship

.

wa s s e nt o v e r to E ngland and e xhibite d at the

Crystal Palac e in 1 8 5 1
I n C hi na she was kno wn as t h e Yacht o n “
,

acc o unt o f the smartne ss with which she was

k e pt up .

Captain Charl e s P o rte r L o w h e r c o mma nde r , ,

wa s a ri c h ma n a y o unge r b ro th e r o f he r o wne rs
, ,

and like Captai n Roge rs he we nt to s e a b e cause he

lo v e d the li fe Captai n L o w a nd his b eauti ful wi fe
.

mad e the i r h o m e o n the JV B P a lmer a nd whilst . .

,

in p o rt e s pe cially in Chi na th e y gave the m ost

, ,

pri nce ly e n te rtai nm e nts ab o ard a nd ma ny a re ti red ,

B riti s h N aval o ffice r has ple asant m e m o rie s o f the

c rack Yank ee clippe r .

A ft e r a v o yage o r t wo o ut to S a n Fra nci sco ,

C aptai n L o w k e pt the N B P a lm e r e nti re ly t o the

. .

C hi na t e a trad e a nd re mai ne d in h e r till s he was

,

so ld a nd change d he r flag in 1 8 7 2 H e r be st tea .

pas sage in t his time was 8 4 days to N e w Yo rk

l e avi ng Ca nt o n wa te rs in J a nuary .

A n i nt e re s ti ng re lic o f th e IV B P a lmer is still to . .

b e s e e n in N e w Y o rk Thi s is t he ca rve d figure of

.

a sail o r h o ldi ng a co mpas s which s ta nds o utsid e the

,
 TH E C H INA CL IPPE RS 69

establi shm e nt o f M e ss rs N egus th e nautical .

,

instrum e nt make rs This sailo r at o ne tim e s e rve d

.

as a bin nacle abo ard th e N B P almer But the -

. . .

he lmsm e n us e d to c o mplain that th e blank stare o f

this wo o d e n marin e r i nte rfe re d with th e i r ste e ring ,

a nd h e was e v e nt ually re m o v e d a nd re plac e d by t he

usual bi nnacl e .

Th e Flying C lo ud .

Of all t he A m e rican clipp e rs the Fly ing ,

”
Clona was p e rhap s the mo s t no tabl e o nly o ne ,

v e s s e l th e A ndrew jacks on e v e r rivalli ng he r

, ,

d o ubl e re c o rd o f 8 9 days t o S a n Francisco .

D o nald Mackay put h e r o n t he sto cks t o the

o rd e r o f h is o ld fri e nd and fi rst pat ro n En o ch ,

Train ; b ut Tra i . to t he re gre t o f his li fe s o ld h e r ,

be fo re s he was launch e d t o G rin ne ll M i nturn Co , .

The fo ll o wing a re a fe w p o ints wo rth no ting in

Fly ing Clond s d e sign and e q uipm e nt
’
H e r l e ngth .

o f ke e l was 2 0 8 fe e t a nd l e ngth o v e r all fro m

,

knigh th e ad t o taffrail 2 2 5 fe e t S he had 2 0 i nch e s .

o f d e ad ris e at hal f fl o o r which c o mpa re d with t he

-
,

40 inche s which Mackay gav e t o S lag nonn a his

’
,

fi rst clippe r ship s ho ws that the g re at d e signe r was

,
‘

alre ady atte mpti ng to pro d uc e a fas t ship with a full

midship se cti o n .

Flying Cloa a als o s e e ms to hav e had l e ss sp re ad to

’

he r canvas than S lag/ wa nd fo r tho ugh th e i r mai n , ,

masts we re o f e qual le ngth the mai nyard o fthe fo rm e r

,

o nly m e as ure d 8 2 as against S tagaonnd s 8 6 fe e t

’
.
70 TH E C H N A I C LIPPE R S
'
L ike n e arly all the Yank e e cl ipp e rs Flying Cloaa ,

c ro ss e d th re e skysail yards had ro yal stunsails a , ,

re e f ba nd in he r t o pgalla n t sails fo ur re e fs in her ,

t o ps ail s and swinging bo o m and pas sare e to spread

he r fo re l o w e r s tunsails and haul o ut th e cl e ws o f
the fo re sail .

S he was plac e d und e r th e c o mmand o f Captain

J o siah Pe rkins Cre e sy who had th e re puta ti o n o f ,

b e i ng o ne o f the m o st skil ful sailo rs o f his day .

O n 3 rd J un e 1 8 5 1 the Fly ing Clo aa ran o ut past

’
, ,

th e H o o k b e fo re a light w e s t e rly air A nd alth o ugh .

the wi nd s o o n fre s h e n e d t o a gal e C re e sy h ung o n ,

to his th re e skysails and ro yal stunsails with p e rfect

indiffe re nce to the law o f th e b re aking strai n But .

the re co m e s a tim e wh e n spar t o go and this ,

b egan as e a rly as 6 th J un e llo wing e ntri es .

in he r captain s abst ract lo g t e ll th e i r o wn tale

’
.

Ju 6 —L t m i t p il y d d m i n nd mi t pg ll tm t
ne os a n- o sa ar an a a ze n o a an as s.

Ju 7 —S nt up t pg ll tm t d y d
.

—
ne . e o a an as s an ar s.

lune 8 i t psail y d nd set all p sibl e s il

S ent up ma n -
o ar a os a

Jun 14 —Disco ver d m inmast b dly S prung b ut foot fro m th b

. .

e . e a a a o a e o un sd
a nd fi h d it
s e .

( Fro m this date she

had d o ld rum w e ath e r and for
fo ur c o ns e cutiv e days he r runs we re o nly 1 0 1 8 2 , ,

5 2 a nd 5 3 mile s H o w e ve r she c ro ss e d the line in

.

2 1 days in spit e o f a n un us ual s e ri e s o f calms .

Cre e s y lik e the maj o rity o f A m e rican mast e rs Se e ms

,

to hav e b ee n wagin
g th e usual b e laying p in and
knuckl e duste r warfare with his c re w and thi s came
-

t o a h e ad s o o n aft e r c ro s si ng the lin e s o m e o f the

,

me n b e ing put in i ro ns ) .
 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S 71

July 1 1 — V ry s v r th und r nd ligh t ni ng

. e D ubl r ef d t ps ils
e e e e a e . o e e e o a

I tt p t bl o wi ng h rd g l
a er ar l e r el d t p ils spli t f re nd m in t pm t
a a a e , c os e e o sa , o a a o as

st ysails
a A t 1 p m di . v d mai nm t h d sp ung S nt d w n r y l . sco e re as a r . e o o a

a nd t pg ll nt ya
o rd nd tuddi ng ail bo ms
a a ff l w r nd t p il y rd t
s a s s o o o e a o sa a s o

relieve th e m st H vy runni ng and hipping l rg q u n ti t ies o f w t r

. ea sea a s a e a a e

o ver l rail ee .

J uly 12 —H vy uth w e t g l nd . Dist nc 40 mil

ea so -
s a es a sea. a e es.

J uly l 3 —L t m n ut f i r ns in n qu n f w nting th i rvi c

. e e o o o co se e ce o a e r se es ,

wi th the und rstanding th t th y w uld b t k n r f n i vi ng t S n

e a e o e a e ca e o o a rr a a

Fr n i a At 6 p m
c sco . rri d w y m in t p il ty nd t u s b nd r und . ca e a a a -
o sa e a r s a o

m inm t
a S ingl e ef d t ps il s
as re e o a

July 19 —
. .

Cr d l titud 50 uth
. osse a e so .

J uly 20 A t 4 m l s . f d t p il -
nd furl d ur e H d g l
a . . c o e - re e e o sa s a e co s s. ar a e

with thi k w th nd sn w c ea er a o .

July 2 3 — P s d th r ugh th S tr i t
. f Le M i r
as e A t 8 m C pe H n o e a s o a e. a. . a or

n rth 5 m il
o di t nt th wh l t
es v r d with n w s a e o e co a s co e e s o

July 2 6 —C r d l ti tud 50 uth in th P ifi 7 d y f m m

.
,

. o sse a e so e ac c, a s ro sa e

l ti tud in A tl nti
a e a c.

J uly 3 1 —Fr h b e nd f n w
. th r A ll il t A t 2 p m wind
es r ez es a i e ea e . sa se . . .

so uth st A t 6 q u lly in l w
-
ea . nd t pg ll nt tudding ils 7 p m in
s a , o er a o a a s sa . . .
,

y l 2 m in f r t p m t tuddi ng il L tt p t t ng g l nd
ro a s. a. .
, o e o as s sa . a er ar s ro a es a

high runni ng hip v y w t f

s ea nd ft Di t n un thi d y by
, s er e o re a a . s a ce r s a

o bs rv ti n 37 4 mil
e a During th sq u ll 1 8 kn t f li n w r n t uffi i nt
o e s. e a s o s o e e e o s c e

t mo u th r t
eas f s pee d
re T pg ll nt s il e t a e o o a a a s se

A ugu t 1 —S tro ng g l
. .

s nd q u lly . A t 6 p m in t pg ll nt s il d ubl a es a s a . . .
, o a a a s, o e

re f d f r
e e nd mize n t ps il
o e H vy
a unning At 4 m m d il o a s. ea se a r . a. . a e sa

a ag i n D ist nc 33 4 mil a e es .

A ugu t 3 —S u p nd d first
.

s ffi r fr m d uty in
. n qu ns f hie e o ce o , co se e ce o s

a rr g t i ng t hi m l f th
o a privil g f utti ng up rigging nt y t my d r
o se e e e o c co rar o or e s

a nd l ng c nti nu d n gl
o t f d uty
o e e ec o .

A ugu t 2 5 —S p k b q u A meli P rqu t 18 0 d y o ut f m L o nd n

s . o e ar e a a e a s ro o

bo und t S n F n i o a ra c sco .

A ugu t 2 9 — Lo t f r t pg ll nt m t
s s o e- o a a as

A ugust 3o —S nt up f re t pg ll n t m t
. .

.
N igh t tr ng nd q u lly
e o -
o a a as . s o a s a .

6 m m d S uth F ll n
a . . a b i ng n rth t 5 t 7 m to k
e o ara o es e ar o -
eas eas . a . . o a

pil t A n h d in S n Fr n is o H b ur t I I 30 m ft r p s ge f
o . c o re a a c c ar o a . a. . a e a as a o

89 d y 2 1 h u sa s o r .

S n dy H k t qu t r a oo o e a o

E q u t r t 50 uth
°
a o o so

50 S uth A tl nt i t 5 0 S uth P ifi c
° °
o a c o o ac

50 S uth P c ifi t equ t r
°
o a c o a o

E q uato r to S n F n i a ra c sc o

T t l o a

Fly ing Clond s daily ave rag e wa s statute

’
222

mil e s and ,
he r b e st run 3 74 k no ts in a c o rre cte d day
72 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE R S

o f 24 h o urs 1 9 mi nute s 4 s e co nds This wo rke d .

into statute mil e s mak e s th e 2 4 ho ur run as m uch as

-

mil s I n all sh e sail e d stat ut e mil es

4 7 5
2 e .

at a rate o f n e arly 10 mil e s a n h o ur .

With this triumph o f Fly ing Cloud s fo llo wing so

clo s e ly o n that o f S urp rise B o sto nian s m ust have
,

b ee n j ubilant and it is like ly that N e w Y o rke rs

,

gre w tho ro ughly ti re d o f having the fo llo wing ditty

b e llo w e d in th e i r e ars
Wide aw ke Do wn Easters
-
a -
,

N o mist k e D o wn E aste rs
-
a -
,

O ld Massach use tts will carry th e day

F ro m S an Francisco Flying Cloud w e nt acro ss to

China . On the fi rs t day o ut she had a fav o urable

wh o l e sail b re e z e with s m o o th sea and ran 3 74 ,

mil e s unde r skysails and stunsails al o w and alo ft .

Fo r s o m e re as o n o r o th e r a re p o rt a ro s e in A me rica
that Cre esy had di e d o n th e s e co nd day o ut This .

sto pp e d an acti o n fo r damage s which his late mate ,

—he who had a rro gate d to hims e l f th e p rivil ege o f

cutting up rigging with t he aid o f a shyster
-

'
lawye r h o pe d to hav e re ady fo r Flying Cloud s
,

captain o n he r re turn C re e s y ho we ve r was ve ry

.
, ,

much alive and ra n the Fly ing Cloud ac ro ss to

,

H o no lulu in 1 2 days .

On the 6 th o f J anuary 1 8 5 2 Fly ing Cloud l eft

, ,

Canto n fo r N e w Y o rk Whe n half way ac ro ss the

.

I ndian Oce an she e xchang e d s o m e A nj e r fruit and

vege tabl e s fo r N e w Yo rk ne ws pap e rs in which ,

C re esy had th e pl e as ure o f re adi ng his o wn o bituary

 S TA G H O U N D ”
.

L I L
F Y N G C OUD ” .
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS 73

n o tice s . Flying Clo ud a rriv e d in N ew Y o rk on

10 th A pril
afte r a 9 4 day passage
, L ike all
-
.

Mackay s clipp e rs sh e e xce lle d in who l e sail a nd

hard b ree z e s and c o uld no t e qual s o m e o f the
,

small e r clipp e rs in light winds Fo r instance the . .

N B P almer l e ft Canto n 3 days be hind F i

. .

ly q
Cloud ye t arriv e d in N e w Yo rk 1 0 days ah e ad
, .

On he r s e co nd vo yage ro und the H o rn Flying

Cloud l e ft N e w Y o rk in May 1 8 5 2 S he too k 3 0 , .

days to the line o wi ng to light winds O ff the .

c o ast o f B razil sh e fe ll in with h e r rival th e JV B , . .

P a lme r Th ere wa s a light no rth erly wind b e fo re

.
,

which the Flyirg Cloud was running with e v e ry

stitch t o skysails and ro yal stunsails se t Whilst .

Cre e sy was o gling th e s un th ro ugh his s e xtant fo r

n o o n sights the N B P almer was repo rte d 6 mil e s
, . .

ah e ad lying almo st b e calm e d The dying b re e ze .

laste d lo ng e n o ugh to carry the Fly ing Cloud to

within signalling dista nc e o f the N B Palmer and . .
,

Lo w who had sail e d 8 days afte r Cre esy re po rte d

, ,

that he had had a go o d run to th e lin e including a ,

U n til 4 p m the two

’
day s wo rk o f 3 9 6 mil e s
'

. .

ships lay side by sid e be calme d A s th e re was .

e ve ry app e aranc e o f a so ut h e rly b ree z e app ro aching ,

bo th ships t oo k in th e i r stun sails in re adin es s .

Cre e sy had a fine c re w thi s v o yage and d e clare d ,

afte rwards that th e y w o rk e d like o ne man and

that man a h e ro L o w o n the o th e r hand had a
. , ,

t roubl e so m e lo t two o f who m w e re al re ady in i ro ns

, ,
74 TH E C H N A C I LIPPE RS
o ne fo r putting a bull e t in his mate and th e o th e r , ,

o ne o f th o s e fighti ng I ri s hm e n fo r having laid o ut ,

h is s e co nd mat e with a caps tan b a r .

Wh e n the wi nd cam e o ut o f th e s o uth e rn h o riz o n

bo th ships t o o k it at o nc e a nd sto o d away o n the
s ta rb o a rd tack with the yard s b rac e d sharp up .

Fro m a light rippl e th e wi nd ro s e t o a fine wh o le

s ail b re e z e a nd as it fre sh e ne d t he Fl
, ying Cloud
be gan to d raw ah e ad By dayb re ak ne xt m o rni ng
.

sh e had run th e JV B P a lmer h ull d o wn t o l e e ward

. . ,

a nd by e ight b e lls in th e a fte rno o n sh e was o nc e

m o re al o ne o n th e o ce an B o th v e ss e l s e nco unte red

.

h e avy we st e rly we ath e r o ff th e H o rn Fly ing Cloud ,

e ve nt ually a rrivi ng in S a n Fra nc is c o in 1 1 3 days .

The N B P a lme r h o w e v e r had put i nto

. .
, ,

V alparai s o t o land h e r re fracto ry s e am e n a ft e r fi rst ,

t rici ng th e m up in th e riggi ng a nd givi ng the m fo ur

'
d o z e n api e c e Thi s unfo rtun at e ly c o st 5 days
.
, ,

d e lay as it gav e s e v e nte e n m e n the o pp o rtunity

,
.

to d e s e rt and L o w had s o m e di ffic ulty in re placing

,

the m Th us h e wa s 3 we e ks b e hi nd Fly ing Cloud

.

in re achi ng S a n Fra nci s co .

Thi s y e ar t he Fly ing Cloud t o o k 9 6 days co mi ng

h o m e fro m Canto n aft e r s aili ng o n the I st o f
,

D e c e mbe r .

O n he r thi rd v o yage s he did n o thing v e ry

re ma rkabl e arrivi ng in S a n Francisco 1 0 6 days
,

o ut d uri ng J uly 1 8 5 3 But o n h e r fo urth v o yage

, .

sh e cam e wi t hi n t wo h o urs o f h e r maid e n passage .

76 TH E C H N A C I LI P PE RS
was bo ught by th e E nglish B l ack Ball L in e and ,

ra n to B ri s ban e fo r s o m e y e ars Th e n she .

d e s c e nd e d to th e Ca nadian l umb e r t rad e and cam e ,

t o h e r e nd in S e pt e mb e r 1 8 74 b e ing gutte d in
, ,

St J ohn N B
.
,
by fire and h e r h ull s o ld fo r
. .
, ,

b re aki ng up as b e i ng no t w o rth re pai ri ng She .

was th e n o w ne d in S o ut h S hi e ld s .

”
Th e Ch alle nge .

S h o rtly afte r th e Fly ing Cloud had sail e d o n

h e r maid e n v o yage th e no t o ri o us Cna lleng e was
,

launch e d at N e w Y o rk fro m Wm H We bb s yard

'
. .

o n t h e E a s t R iv e r I n s iz e s he surpass e d any ship

.

ye t buil t in N e w Y o rk a nd we a re t o ld that when

,

lyi ng at th e fo o t o f Pi ne S tre e t h e r b o wsp rit at high

tid e po ke d o v e r the ro o fs o f the sto re s I n d es ign .

s h e was m e an t t o go a s t e p furth e r tha n the sharp e st

clippe r afl o at a nd s he had no l e ss than 4 2 inche s o f

,

d e ad ri s e at hal f fl o o r H e r s par and sail plan was

.

like wi s e t re m e nd o us and Cap tai n Clark e says

,

H e r mai nmast was 9 7 fe e t a nd mai nyard 9 0 feet

in l e ngth and th e l o w e r st uddi ng sail b o o ms we re
,

6 0 fe e t l o ng
. Wi th s quare ya rds and l o we r studding
s ail s se t t h e di s t anc e fro m b o o m e nd t o b o o m e nd

was 1 6 0 fe e t S he ca rri e d
. runni ng ya rd s o f

co tto n canvas which was w o v e n sp e cially fo r he r by

,

th e C o l t Ma nufact uri ng C o mpany H e r mai nsail .

m e asure d 8 0 fe e t o n the he ad 1 00 fe e t o n the fo o t , ,

with a d ro p o f 4 7 fe e t 3 inch e s and 4 9 fe e t 6 inch es

”
o n t h e l e ach .
 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S 77

S he was painte d black with a go ld st ripe and , ,

unlike o th e r clippe rs which rej o ic e d in whit e pai nt

,

and varnish al o ft he r masts and ya rds w e re all

,

painte d black fro m the t rucks do wn .

She was o ne o f the mo st co stly v e sse ls e v e r buil t

o f wo o d in A m e rica a nd a ro use d so much int e re st
,

whil s t o n the sto cks a nd in the rive r that c ro wd s o f

pe o pl e visite d he r
.

On he r fi rst passage she was co mmand e d by the

no to ri o us B ully Wate rman who afte r his s ucc e s s in
, ,

th e S ea W itch
, had arrive d at the summit o f his
care e r I n N e w Yo rk he had b e e n s o fe te d and
.

mad e m uch o f th at th e re s e e ms littl e d o ubt that h e

was t h ro wn o ff his bala nc e and b e cam e so imb ue d
,

with his o wn imp o rta nc e that h e was unable t o put

up with the slighte st ch e c k t o his will The y o ung
.

da ndy who us e d to swagge r d o wn S o uth S t re e t in

,

a C anto n mad e straw co l o ure d suit o f raw silk and

- -

had his po rt rait painte d by a fashio nabl e artist had

.
,

b e co m e no thing m o re o r l e ss than a human tige r if

we a re to b e li e v e any o f th e th o usand a nd o ne
sto ri e s t o ld o f him . H e had always b e e n a
d e sp e rate sail carri e r ye t he se e ms to have b e co m e
,

latte rly a still m o re m e rcil e ss man driv e r H e is.

said to hav e b e e n the fi rst man who padl o cke d his

s h e e ts and p ut rackings o n his halliards in o rd e r t o

pre v e nt his scare d c re w fro m l e tting things go with

a run o n da rk nights Ye t th o ugh this p ro ce dure
. ,

ain e d him a nam e fo r m e re re ckl e ss c racking o

n
g
,
78 I
TH E C H N A C LI P PE R S
he co uld p ro udly b o as t that in all the ships he had
c o mmand e d h e had ne v e r carrie d away a spar o r
'

call e d upo n the und e rwrite rs fo r a d o llar s wo rth of

’

damage S uch a re co rd no o th e r A m e rican clippe r

.

s hip c o mmand e r c o uld lay titl e t o .The fact also

that six me n sail e d b e fo re th e mast with him th ro ugh
all his vo yage s in N a tchez a nd S ea I/Vitch is s om e
se t o ff a ainst t h e acc us ati o n s o f s e v e re hazing and
g
incre dibl e crue lty which we re rais e d against him
fro m so many quarte rs But I fe ar th e re is li ttl e
.

d o ubt that th e s e daun tl e ss six we re e ith e r privileged

fav o urit e s o r e lse to o big a hand ful fo r e v e n B ully
Wat e rman to tackl e To thi s day the fo c s l es o f
.
’ ’

B ritish and A m e rican sailing ships us e the terrible

d e eds o f B ully Wat e rman to cap the lat e st instance
o f ill usag e at s e a .

H o we v e r much A m e rican w rit e rs may attempt to

d e ny it th e fact re mai ns that th e A m e rican M erchant
,

Marin e has always b e e n no to ri o us fo r its hard

tre atm e nt o f the man b e fo re th e mast . B e laying
pin s o up had always be e n an instituti o n o f the
Yank e e pack e t ships a nd it was co ntinued in the
,

clipp e rs and o th e r d e e pwate rm e n th o ugh in th e m it

,

was no t a cas e o f d e ali ng wi t h m e n o f the to ughn e ss

o f pack e t rats who w e re always re ady to take
,

advantage o f the l e as t s h o w o f s o ftn e ss o n the part

o f an o ffic e r b ut o nly t h e ha ndli ng o f a mix e d c rew
,

mad e up o f d ull witt e d fo re ig ne rs and landsm en

-
.

Fo r wh e n that rarity a re al B ritish o r A m e rican

,
30 TH E C H N A CI LI P PE R S
he cho s e to risk b e i ng c ripple d fo r li fe by a h e avy
hand s pik e The usual Yank e e mat e s m e th o d of
’

d re ss i ng a d e ck was fi rs t to sc rape and h o lysto ne

v e ry tho ro ughly th e n giv e a co at o f co al tar then
,
,

s c rap e agai n a nd finally h o lyst o n e until th e d e ck

cam e up a s whit e as s no w A nd h o w w e ll the o ld

.

hand kn e w tho s e ships with shi ni ng yard s and de cks

o f s no w ! H o w h e av o id e d s uch ships as if th e y we re

plague ridd e n
-
.H e w e ll k n e w that such smart
re s ults w e re n o t o btai ne d by fai r m e th o ds b ut by the

s h e e r b rutal d rivi ng o f w o rn o ut m e n -
.

I hav e be e n shipmate s with m e n who had sail ed

fo r ye ars in Ya nk e e clipp e rs and C ap e H o m e rs and
-

the y w e re alm o st invariably po o r sa ilo rm e n yet

i nc o mparabl e s c rubb e rs and s wabb e rs a nd whe ther ,

th e y w e re big m e n o r littl e it matt e re d no t the re

, ,

was no s pi rit l e ft in the m— it had b e e n b ro ke n lo ng

a
go .

But to t
re urn t o B ully Wat
man whe n he took
er ,

co mmand o f th e Cha llenge his re putati o n was so

,

bad that no re al sail o rman wo uld sign with him of

h is o wn fre e will I n th e S ea Witch he had made a
.

nam e a s a pi s t o l sh o t a nd his fo n d ne ss fo r p o tting

,

th e m e n o n t h e ya rd s had c o mp e ll e d him t o make a

p rac t ice o f l e avi ng his ship b e fo re s h e ancho re d .

O ne o f th e s to ri e s t o ld o f Wat e rma n re lat ed to

Frase r wh o afte r b e i ng mate s ucc e e d e d him in
, ,

c o mmand o f the S ea Witch Fraz e r is s aid to have

.

bluffe d him in his o wn cabi n The sto ry go e s that.

 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S 81

whilst th e y we re b e l o w to ge th e r Fraz e r p ro duc e d two ,

bull do g pisto ls and pushi ng th e m ac ro ss the table

-
.

t o B ully Wat e rma n said E ith e r yo u o r I have

,

”
go t t o l e av e this ship .

A t which Wat e rman at o nc e k nuckl e d und e r with

th e re ma rk Yo u a re th e o nly man I e v e r had
“

an
y re sp e ct fo r .

I t was always said o f Wat e rman that at the s tart

o f a v o yage as s o o n as the ship was cl e ar o f the
,

sho re g o e rs h e w o uld call to his ste ward : B ring

-
,
“

m e a buck e t o f salt wate r to was h o ff my s ho re fac e ,

a nd s t raightway h e w o uld cha ng e fro m a p riggish ,

s anctim o n i o us s o ft m o uthe d humbug t o a re gular

,
-

fi e nd in human shape .

I t wo uld b e imp o s s ibl e t o d e tail all th e h o rro rs he

is s uppo se d t o have co mmitte d fro m casti ng o ff the ,

le e mai n b rac e in a Cap e H o rn s no rte r a nd j e rki ng

-

hal f a d o z e n me n into the se a to sho o ti ng h is

- -

o wn child .

The Challenge s ail e d fro m Pi e r 1 9 fo o t o f Wall ,

S t re e t in J uly 1 8 5 1 j us t a m o nth late r than Flying

, ,

Cloud H e r p ro ud o wn e rs w e n t o ut with h e r as fa r
.

as the H o o k and b e fo re the y l e ft the s hip B ully

,

Wate rman muste re d his c re w a ft A nd whilst the .

“
o ld m a n was maki ng the usual s p e e ch landing ,

th e m erits o f his s hip fo r go o d g rub and littl e wo rk ,

with the us ual sting in its tail as to the he ll he

w o uld mak e it und e r ce rtain co ntinge nci e s h is ,

’ ’
of fi c e rs w e re ransacki ng th e fo c s l e fo r black b o ttl e s ,

G
82 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE RS

bo wi e knive s and bull do g pisto ls A t th e s ame

- .

ti me the carp e nt e r wa s e mpl o y e d b re aking the

po ints o ff the m e n s sh e ath k n iv e s
’
.

I t was s o o n fo und that o ut o f a c re w o f fift y s ixmen -

and e ight bo ys th e re was scarc e ly a re al sail orman ,

o wi ng t o th e captain s re putati o n
’
Onl y six men .

c o uld ste e r and o nly fo ur c ould Sp e ak English .

With all the i r tricks the crim ps had o nly b e e n able

t o c o ll e ct a rabbl e o f D ag o s Dutchm e n S o uWegians , ,

and nigge rs o f wh o m many we re sick and the

,

maj o rity d ea d b e ats -

.

A t th e sight o f th e se s we e pings fro m all nati ons ,

th e o w ne rs s e ri o usly p ro p o s e d that th e Challenge

s h o uld
put back fo r a fre sh c re w b ut Wate rman ,

w o uld have n o ne o f it Th e y w e re j ust the so rt o f

.

fo c s l e c ro wd which gav e h im a chanc e to sho w his

’ ’

tal e nts .

I ll make sail o rs o f e m o r e ls e minc e m e at he

“ ’ ’
,

gro wl e d A nd it was no t l o ng be fo re h e b egan to

.

make go o d his wo rds Th e o wn ers N L and G .

, . . .

G ri s w o ld ( kn o wn in N e w Y o rk as N 0 Lo ss and
G re at G ain G riswo ld ) had hardl y l e ft the ship
be fo re h e laid o p e n the darke y ste ward s Scalp with ’

a carvi ng kni fe Fro m that m o m e nt n e v e r a day

. .

pas s e d witho ut blo o d o n th e d e cks .

Th e mat e J im D o ugl as a b i bl o ck o f a man

,
g , ,

was as to ugh a buck o a s th e o ld man and as

h e adstro ng .

A no th e r nasty man to tackl e was th e S w edish

84 TH E CH IN A C LI PPE RS
Whilst thi s was g o i ng o n B ully Wate rman was
up o n the po o p t ryi ng t o catch t he s un with an
”
i ns trum e nt call e d a ci rcl e o f re fl e cti o n A s so o n .

a s h e s a w his mat e fl o o re d h e j ump e d o ff t he p o o p

,

i nto the midst o f the cre w a nd struck o ut right a nd ,

l e ft with his ci rcl e o f re fl e cti o n until he had ho pe

l e ssly s mash e d t he i ns t rum e n t .

A no th e r acc o un t s ays that h e kill e d two me n with

a n i ro n b e layi ng in a nd that D o ugla s re c e iv e d no
p ,

l e ss than t we lv e k ni fe wo unds The ma n o f wars .

- -
’

ma n h o w e v e r disapp e are d in th e ge ne ral mix up

, ,
-
.

H e s go ne o v e r th e rail d e clare d th e me n
’

, .

D— n him I k ne w he was afraid o f me gro wl ed

”
, ,

t h e mat e The o th e r th re e E nglish sp e aki ng fo re

.
-

mast hands w e re e v e ntually s e iz e d take n i nto the ,

cabi n a nd mad e to sign a state m e nt in t he pre se nce

o f th e pass e nge rs A ft e r which th e y w e re ti e d up
.

by the i r thumbs to the miz e n rigging a nd fl o gged .

But th e m a n o f war s m a n was no t fo und until the

’
- -

s hip was o f f the H o rn Th e mat e who did no t

.
,

b e li e v e the ma n had go ne o v e rb o ard waite d fo r an ,

o pp o rt un ity t o s e a rch t h e fo c s l e whil s t all hands

’ ’

w e re o n d e ck H e ch o s e a n ight wh e n th e Challenge
.

wa s h o v e t o und e r S tat e n I s lan d duri ng a h eavy

gal e A ll hands w e re call e d a ft a nd mad e to stand
.

by o n th e po o p Thi s was D o ugl as s o ppo rtunity

.
’
.

Taki ng o ne o f th e s hip s b o y s wi t h him he went

’

fo rwa rd a nd care fully s e arch e d t he fo c s l e with a ’ ’

lant e rn .
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 85

Be twe e n th e
l o w e r bunks and the flo o r bo ard s ,

had be e n nail e d up e ncl o si ng the space unde r

ne ath . Th e s e b o a rds he ca re fully fe lt o v e r with
'

h is hand . A t last he fo und what h e was l o o king

fo r— a c o upl e o f k no ts sh o wi ng that th e re was a ,

b e ck e t o n th e insid e a nd as s o o n as h e c ut th e
,

k no ts th e plan k gave way a nd fe ll o ut The b o y .

was th e n o rd e re d t o c rawl i nt o the s pac e und e r the

bunks a nd fe e l ro und fo r the mi ss i ng man I t was .

n o t a pl e a s an t
jo b fo r th e b o y b ut h e was m o re ,

afraid o f th e mat e than the d e vil hims e l f so in ,

h e we nt .

Pre s e ntly his hand to uch e d s o m e thing warm ! I n

a m o m e nt h e was o ut o f th e ho l e a nd sc rambli ng up
th e fo c s l e l add e r sc re e chi ng with fright
’ ’
.
,

A nd M r B uck o D o uglas caught th e pan ic a nd

.
, ,

d ro ppi ng his lante rn foll o we d th e b o y ; b ut as s o o n

,

as h e re ach e d th e d e ck h e pull e d hims e l f to ge th e r,

and waite d .

I n a fe w s e co nds th e missi ng ma n appe are d b ut ,

o n s e e ing D o uglas d ro pp e d o n his k ne e s a nd b e gge d

fo r m e rcy .

S narling o ut a curs e th e mat e st ruck th e mise rabl e

,

w re tch with a b e av e r The latt e r tri e d to pro t e ct

.

his h e ad with the re sult that his a rm was b ro k e n in

,

two plac e s .

H e was th e n put in i ro ns and ke pt a p riso n e r o n

bre ad and wate r fo r th e re mai nd e r o f the pass age ,

his b ro k e n arm m e nding as b e st it co uld .

36 TH E C H IN A C LI P PE R S

B ully Wat e rman lik e his mat e had a pa rtiality

, ,

fo r a h e av e r a nd g e ne rally ca rri e d o ne ti ed to his

w rist j us t as a N e w Y o rk po lic e man carri e s his club
,
.

’ ”
The usual victim s o f t he o ld m an s h e av e r we re
“

th e h e lms me n ; h e us e d to mak e a practice o f

st anding b e hind th e m until he s aw an o ppo rtunity o f
us ing it O ne n ight h e b e at th re e me n into
unc o ns ci o us n e ss o ne a ft e r th e o th e r —
.

,
the fi rst fo r

havi ng di rty hands and th e o the r t wo fo r no t

,

und e rsta nding th e c o mpa ss .

Th e s e c o nd mat e o f the Challenge a man named ,

Co l e was j ust such ano th e r hard nut as B ully

,

Wate rman and J im D o uglas .

Whilst o ff the H o rn he was up alo ft with the me n

t ryi ng to furl the miz e n to p s ail which was givi ng ,

t ro ubl e and bl o wi ng up o v e r the yard ; this made it

dang e ro us to m o ve o ut alo ng th e yardarm .

“
G e t th o s e me n o ut y e ll e d the impati e nt mate
,

”
fro m b e l o w lay o ut o n the yard th e re .

The me n we re alm o st fro z e n a nd utte rly do n e up ,

s o that th e th rashi ng sail was alt o ge the r to o much

fo r th e m Th e mat e s wo rd s h o we v e r s o in furiated
’
.
, ,

Co l e that he l o s t all c o nt ro l o f him s e l f S p ri ngi ng .

o n t o th e ya rd a nd h o ldi ng o n b t h e t e h e b o o t ed
y y ,

thre e me n o ff th e w e ath e r fo o t ro p e s -
.

Two o f th e m hit th e b rac e b umpki n and re

b o und e d i nto th e s e a wh e re th e y flo at e d fo r a sho rt
,

tim e witho ut any att e mpt b e i ng mad e to save th em ,

a nd th e n s an k . The thi rd fe ll o n th e p o o p and

88 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
fin e r sho t with his mi s sile than a n A m e rican mat e this ,

tim e D o uglas misse d a nd i ns te ad o f the g re e nhe art

pin d o wning th e s e co nd mat e it w e nt cle an thro ugh
th e t o pgallant rail Co l e was e vid e ntly a nasty man
.

t o tackl e fo r t h e re d o ubtabl e J immy D o uglas o n

, ,

missing his sho t th o ught it wis e t o tak e to his h e els

,
.

The s e c o nd mate h o we ve r s o o n caught him and

, ,

kn o ck e d him flying i nto th e fo re to ps ail halliards .

H aving no w vanquishe d his two supe rio r o fficers ,

th e valiant Co l e fac e d th e c re w an d sh o ut e d

H e re s th e ship ! tak e he r if yo u want her

’
.

But n o b o dy m o ve d ; that was wh e re th e sa fe ty of

a mix e d cro wd cam e in ! Co l e size d up the state of
things at a glance and wi th admi rable sangfroid ,

qui e tly re sum e d his place as o fli c e r o f the watch as

if n o thing had happ e n e d .

A b o ut an h o ur late r th e o ld m a n having re co vered ,

fro m his kn o ck o ut cam e o n d e ck again

-
,
.

G o ing up t o his s e co nd mat e h e said ,

Co m e into th e cabin M ist e r Co l e I want t o see , ,

yo u ab o ut so m e thing .

U nd e r th e ci rcum s ta n ce s it was no t unnatural that

Co l e sh o uld sm e ll a ra t .

’
I m o ffice r o f the d e ck a nd wo n t l e ave it fo r any ’

”
man h e repli e d
, .

Th e n B ully Wat e rman b e gan to wh e e dl e .

’
I ll giv e yo u my wo rd no thing will happen ,

M r Co l e I want t o talk t o yo u I ve fo rgo tte n that

.
, .
’

”
o th e r t ro ubl e .
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 89

Co l e was at l e ngth fo o l e d into fo ll o wi ng h lS

captain be l o w H e cam e up again in ab o ut a n
.

ho ur a nd it was th o ught that the ro w had b e e n

patch e d up .

But alth o ugh h e sto o d his watch o ut and ,

again cam e o n duty fo r the six to e ight do g watch -

,

b e fo re the night was o ut he was to o we ak to stand

up witho ut h e lp .

The o ld man had give n him a d rugge d glass o f

gro g Co l e saw his o wn finish b ut g e tting h o ld o f
.
, ,

t wo o f t h e s hip s b o y s h e mad e th e m supp o rt him

’

whil s t b e d ragge d him s e lf fo rward with th e ide a o f ,

hidi ng fro m B ully Wate rman But the latte r was o n .

t h e watch a nd as th e two b o ys w e re st ruggli ng t o

,

e t t h e wre tch e d s e c o nd mat e fo rwa rd h e s lipp e d u

g p ,

b e hind him a nd struck him o n the he ad with h is e ve r

re ady h e av e r C o l e was th e n i ro n e d hands a nd fe e t
.
, ,

and th ro wn into the po rt quart e r bo at wh e re he was ,

k e pt fo r th e re s t o f th e pass ag e a nd fe d o n b re ad
and wate r lik e th e unfo rtunate man o f war s ma n - -
’
.

But it was th e las t o utrage the m urd e r o i a po o r ,

o ld I talian which caus e d t h e S a n Fra nci s c o t rial

, .

”
O ld Papa a s h e was call e d by the me n o ne day
, ,

fail e d to sh o w up o n watch I t was the afte rn o o n

.

watch and B ully Wat e rman lik e a tige r in s e arch o f

‘

, ,

blo o d acco mpani e d h is mat e fo rward in o rd e r to

,

Po undi ng o n th e
’ ’
fe tch the D ago o ut o f th e fo c s l e .

scuttle with his h e av e r t h e i rat e skipp e r ye ll e d fo r

,

Old Papa and wh e n the ma n appe are d ask e d him

,
90 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
why h e was tanding watch By way o f re ply
no t s .

Old Papa m umbl e d s o m e thi ng in I talian a nd po i nted

to h is fe e t The y w e re black with m o rt ificatio n !
.

S o me o ne had s to l e n his o nly pai r o f b o o ts and he ,

had b e e n co mpe lle d t o go bare foo t th ro ugh the

bitte r we ath e r o f the H o rn with the re s ult that his ,

fe e t had b e e n fro z e n .

But as s o o n a s h e b e gan to m umbl e I talian B ully ,

Wate rman le t fly .

he y ell ed
’
Curs e yo u sp eak E ngli sh can t yOu
, ,

and st raightway st ruck the w re tch ed o ld man o ve r

th e h e ad with h is h e av e r .

The D ago d ro pp e d as if he had b ee n po l e ax ed -

.

A t thi s th e c aptai n ro a re d t o the st e wa rd to b ri ng

,

s o m e ho t whisky fo rward .

Yo u d o n t n e e d any whisky said the mate

“ ’

th e man s d e ad
’
calmly
“
.
,

The Cha lleng e was 3 4 days runni ng up to the

lin e and ano th e r 1 9 o n to S a n Franci s co H er .

’
b e st day s run duri ng the pa ssage was 3 3 6 miles
und e r all plai n s ail with wi nd ab e am On the who le .

h e r p e rfo rmanc e wa s di s app o inti ng ye t B ully ,

Wate rman had spare d no e ffo rt in o rde r to s e nd her

al o ng I t is s aid that he ne ve r to o k his cl o th es o ff
.

e xc e pt t o change th e m a nd m ad e a p ractice o r
,

s natchi ng what s l e e p he co uld o n a s e tte e in his

chart ro o m
-
.

A s was c us to mary at that ti me wit h h e ll ship -

capt ai ns Wate rman slipp e d as h o re b efo re the

,
92 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
Fo r many ye ars h e ld th e o ffice o f Po rt Ward e n
he
a nd I p c
ns e to r o f H all s in S a n F ra n cisc o L ike .

many ano th e r ma n driv e r at s e a h e was ano the r

-
,

b e i ng as h o re and too k up re ligi o n with s o much

,

z e al that he actually w e nt ab o ut s aving s o uls “

.

O n o ne occa s i o n wh e n e mpl o y e d o n thi s v o l untary

,

mi s s i o nary wo rk h e b o ard e d a s hip lyi ng in S an

,

Franci s c o Bay b ut unfo rtunat e ly fo r th e o ld bucko

, , ,

s o m e m e n wh o had sail e d with him happ e ne d to b e

’

am o ng th e c re w Th es e m e n th re w him o ve rbo ard

. ,

a nd w e re b us y t ryi ng t o d ro w n him by sh o ving him

und e r t h e wat e r with a l o ng p o l e wh e n th e ha rb o ur

po lic e re s cue d him H e di e d o n his farm in 1 884

.

at th e age o f s e ve nty six -

.

Thi s fi rst passage o f t he Challenge may s e e m to o

highly co l o ure d— many may co ns ide r my acco unt a
gre at e xagge rati o n— b ut I fe ar it is o nly to o t rue ,

a nd th o s e wh o hav e any acq uai ntan ce with the

A m e rica n C ape H o rn fl e e t as it us e d t o b e and in ,

a fe w instanc e s still is will no t find anything ve ry

,

unus ual in th e d o i ngs o f B ully Wat e rman a nd his

buc ko o ffi ce rs .

M a ny o f t h e i n cid e nts I hav e re lat e d we re swo rn

t o a t t h e t rial ye t th e y c o uld no t c o nvict in th e face
,

o f Wa t e rma n s w e ll laid o ut d o lla rs

’

But it is a .

s ig n ifica nt fact that ne ith e r t h e o w ne rs o f the

Cha lleng e no r t h e und e rw ri t e rs e v e r s aid a w o rd in
d e fe nce o f Wate rma n .

With a ne w captai n o ffice rs a nd c re w the , ,

 TH E CH INA C LIP PE R S 93

Cha lleng e mad e a fine run ac ro s s to S hanghai a nd

lo ad e d te a fo r E ngland The re s he was s o much .

admi re d that he r lin e s we re tak e n o ff fo r the

A dmi ralty whilst sh e lay in the Blackwall D o ck .

H e r s ubs e que n t ca re e r is sh ro ud e d in myste ry ,

o wi ng t o lat e r clipp e rs b e i ng giv e n th e sam e nam e .

Th e C o me t .
”

The Co met
ano the r o f t he large r was
A m e rican clipp e rs S he mad e s o m e v e ry fine
.

passage s und e r Captai n G ard ne r th e b e st b e ing ,

1 85 2 .
—N ew k
i 102 d y
Y o r to Sa n Franc sco a s.

C nt n t N w Y k 99 d y
a o o e or a s.

1 8 5 3 —N w Y
. k t S n F n i 11 d y
e or o a ra c sco 2 a s.

( Aft l ing f e t p m t nd m in t
er os or o as a a o pgallantma st in
y l n ff B mud )a c c o e o er a.

S n Fr n i a t N w Y k 76 d y
a c sc o o e or a s.

1 85 4 —Liv rp
. l t H ng K ng 84 d y
e oo o o o a s.

( A v gi ng 2 1 2 mil
e ra d y) es a a .

S he was aft e rward s s o ld to J am e s Bain e s o f the ,

Black Ball L i ne to A us tralia a nd re nam e d Fiery S ta r , .

O n I s t A p ril 1 8 6 5 s h e l e ft M o re to n Bay fo r
, ,

Lo nd o n. O n t he l gth o ne o f t he m e n re p o rte d a
’ ’
st ro ng s m e ll o f s m o k e in th e fo c s l e which s o o n ,

b urs t fo rth in cl o uds the fire be i ng l o cate d in the,

l o we r ho ld The captain ( Yul e ) imm e diat e ly had

.

all hatchways batte n e d d o w n a nd ve ntilati o n pipe s

blo cke d up The ship was running fre e 40 0 mil e s
.

fro m Chatham I s land A fe w days b e fo re a h e avy .

s e a had mad e matchw o o d o f t wo o f the b o ats so ,

th e w e ath e r was e vid e ntly t rue e a s ting w e ath e r .

On the 2 0 th a st e am pump was rigg e d do wn a

hatchway and w e tt e d sails we re faste ne d d o w n o v e r
,
94 TH E C H INA C LI P PE R S
all ve nts in the d e ck But th e fire c o ntinue d to
.

gain and at 6 p m it burs t th ro ugh the po rt b ow

,
.

and wat e rways Th e fo ur re mai ning b o ats we re at

.

o nc e p ro visi o ne d a nd go t o v e r th e sid e S eeing .

that th ere was no t ro o m fo r e v eryb o dy M r S argeant ,

.
,

t h e chi e f o ffic e r fo ur
,
and thi rt ee n b oys
agre e d to stand by the ship the re mai nd er of the ,

pass e nge rs and c re w t o the numb e r o f s e v e nty e ight -

l e aving in the bo ats und e r th e c aptain .

A s so o n as the b o ats had l e ft M r S argeant , .

re n e w e d e v e ry e ffo rt t o s ubdue t h e fire and at the ,

sam e tim e alte re d his c o urs e in o rd e r to ge t into the

t rack o f o th e r ships Th e n fo r 2 1 days he and his
.

gallant band fo ught t he flam e s and the n um erous

gal e s o f tho s e re gi o ns Finally o n 1 1 th May
.
, ,

wh e n the fo re mast was alm o st burnt th rough a ship , ,

call e d the Dauntless h o ve in sight and to o k the

,

me n o ff the d o o m e d s hip .

The p e o pl e o f A uckland N e w Ze aland whither , ,

th e Dauntless was b ou nd fo r th e i r gallantry in,

re mainin
g b e hind p re s e n te d S arge ant and his b rave
cre w with a te stim o n ial in the shape o f £ 1 60 ,

l;8 0 go i ng to the mate and 8 0 to th e c re w .

The captain with th e fo ur h e avily lad e n b o ats

,
-
,

was als o re scue d aft e r e xp e ri e nci ng all the usual

,

ha rdships o f hunge r thi rs t and bitte r w e ath e r

, , .

Th e Swo rdfis h .
”

The S wordfi sh was t he

thi rd o f the famous
lippe rs built by Wm . H We bb in 1 8 5 1 Tho ugh
.
.
96 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
by C aptai n Cha rl e s C o lli ns a rriv e d in San , a nd

Fra ncis c o o n 3 o th May 1 8 5 3 1 0 5 days o ut , ,

.

Fro m S a n Francisc o sh e we nt ac ro ss t o S hanghai

in 3 2 days 9 h o urs B e l o w I giv e the abs tract of .

h e r lo g which it will b e o f i n t e re s t t o c o mpare with

,

th o s e o f th e lat e r B ritish te a clipp e rs .

Lo g o f C lip p e r S h ip S w o rdfis h fro m San

Fra nc is c o to S h angh ai .

Jun 8 53 — l ng W; pilo t boat left 2

° ’
12 6
° ’
e 17 , 1 L . at. 3 5 25 N .
, o .
35
p m
.
4 p m
. . .
, l o st use of ma n i to pgallantsail, s tay p arte d ; fo ggy Dist . .

2 36 m e s il
—
.

J un e 18 . L a t. 32
°
30
'
N .
, l ngo . 1 32
°
7
'
W Fi rst part c le
. ar, en s d fo ggy .

Di s t. 3 40 m il e s.

Jun 19 —L t 30 36 N l ng 1 3 7 34 W F ir b e ze h zy Di t
e . a .
° ’
o .
° ’
. a r e , a . s .

2 80 mil es .

—
June 20 L t 2 8 40 N l ng 140 49 W F ir b r ze h y Dist
.
'
a .
° ’
o .
°
. a ee , az . .

2 50 m il es .

Jun 2 1 L t 2 6 5 3 N l ng 144 2 3 W Pl nt t d s Dist

e .
-
a .
° ’
.
, o .
° ’
. easa ra e . .

2 2 5 mil es.

J un 2 2 —
e L t 25 25 N . l ng 1 47 46 W Pleas nt t d
a . Di t ° ’
.
, o .
° ’
. a ra es. s .

20 2 mil e s.

J un —L t 2 3 5 6 N l ng 1 5 1 14 W Pl s nt tr de
e a . Di t
° ’
.
, o .
° ’
. ea a a s. s .

20 1 m il es.

—
Jun 24 L t 22 49 N l ng 1 53 2 7 W Light irs nd c lm
e
'
. a .
°
.
, o .
° ’
. a a a s.

D i t 1 42 m il
s es.

J un 5 —L t 2 1 30 N l ng 1 56 40 W Ligh t i ; 5 m l nd
.

° ' ° ' “
e 2 . a . .
, o . . a rs a. , a ,

D ist 208 T t l distance un 2 084 mil — v r g p r

.

ho M r e I l nd
o re s a . . . o a r es a e a e e

d y 2 3 2 mil
a es.

Jun 2 6 —L t 20 5 N l ng 160 1 5 W Ligh t br z

e . a . 2 p m
°
in
’
.
, o .
° ’
. ee e. . .
,

th p e g f th i l nd p s g 8 d y 2 h ur
assa e o e s a s as a e a s o s.

J un 2 7 L t 1 8 33' N l ng 1 62 46 W V ry light i r Dist

e .
-
a .
°
.
, o .
" ’
. e a s. .

1 8 0 mil es.

Jun 8 L t 1 8 34 N l ng 166 W V ery ligh t ir Di t 18 1 mil

e 2 .
-
a .
° ’
o .
°
. a s. s . es.

Jun 2 9 L t 1 8 37 N l ng 1 7 0 4'W G d br
e -
a Di t 240 mil ° ’
o
°
oo eeze . s es

J un 30 —L t 1 8 3 7 N l ng 1 7 3 2 1 W Cal m nd ligh t ir Dist

. . .
, . . . .

° ’ ° '
e . a . o . . a a s. .

1 9 0 mil es.

J uly 1 —L t 1 8 50 N l ng 1 7 6 48 W B nt ld il s ; ship do s
. a .
° ’
.
, o .
° ’
. e o sa e

n t
o il f t wi th h vy ui t 1 5 kn t difl n by l g
sa as as as ea s o e re ce o
July 2 —L t 18 3 8 N l ng 1 8 W Light tr d
.

n m ridi n
° ’ °
a o 0
. . .
, . . a es o e a .

Di t 1 9 5 m il
s es .

J uly 4 —L t 18 38 N l ng 1 7 6 E Fin t d
.

Di t 2 30 mil
° ’ °
a o e ra es. s es.
—
. . .
, . .
.

J u ly s L t 1
. 8 43 N l n g 1 2 a
'
7 51 E Ligh t tr des D i t 1 90 mil s
° ’
. , o .
°
. a . s . e .
 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S 97

July 6 —Lat 18 47 ' N l ng 169 16 E Ligh t trad s Squally

. .
°
.
, o .
° ’
. e . .

Di st 2 12 mil es
.

July 7 —
.

L t 1 8 5 2 'N l o ng 1 65 2 9 E Fai r tr d es H vy w ll
° “
° ’
. a . . . . a . ea s e .

D i t 2 28 m il
s . es .

July 8 —Lat 18 49' N long 16 1 53 E Fair tr d s H vy swell

. .
°
.
, .
° ’
. a e . ea .

D ist 2 10 mil s
. e

July 9 —Lat 1 8 42 N l ng 1 5 7 2 5 E F i trades Pl nt

.

° ’ ° ’
. . .
, o . . a r . e asa .

D i t 2 62 mil
s . es.

1 —
July 0 Lat 1 8 35 N l ng 1 54 38 E Ligh t ir D i t 15 7 mil
'
. .
°
.
, o .
° ’
. a s. s . es.

July 1 1 —Lat 1 8 2 5 N l ng 1 50 2 7 ' E Ligh t i s H t nd

. .
° ’
.
, o .
°
. a r . o a

sul try Dist 2 2 2 mil

. . es.

July 12 —L t 1 8 19 N l ong 146 54 E Light i s H t nd

. a .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. a r . o a

s ul try E nd s q u lly
. D i t 2 2 9 mil s s a s e

July 13 —L t 18 20 N l ng 143 2 8' E Ligh t a r 5 p m l nd

. . .

° ’ ° i
“
. a . .
, o . . s. . .
, a ,

h o I l nd f P g n nd Alm gu n ( Ladr ne ) 8 p m p d th r ugh ll

s a s o a o a a a o s , . . asse o a

l r D i t 2 10 mil
c ea s es

—
. . .

July 14 Lat 1 8 19 N l ng 1 39 S7 E Begin ligh t ir end sq u lly

'
.
'
.
°
o .
°
. s a , s a .

Di t 2 10 mile
s . s.

July 1 5 —L t 19 2 7 N l ng 1 35 38 E Sq u lly mu h r in th und r

. a .
° ’
. o .
° ’
. a , c a , e

a nd ligh tn i ng D ist 2 6 5 mil . . es .

July 16 Lat 1 4 N l ng 13 1 E C mm n v y w m
.
-
.m 2
° ’
.
, o .
°
. o e ces er ar . 2 a. .
,

sh p h in ligh tning ; l ks ve y b ad ; x p t typh n ; in ll il x pt

ar c a oo r e ec a oo a sa e ce

l re f d f
c ose - nd m i n t p
e e il ; b tt n d d wn ll h at he D yligh t
o re a a o sa s a e e o a c s . a ,

str ng b r z ;
o v rh d l ; h riz n f ul nd lo ks b d ; thi m yb
ee e o e ea c ear o o o a o a s a e

ca u d by th
se ship d wing in b tw n N E tr d nd S W m n n
e ra e ee . . a es a . . o soo s.

The hip w en t 9 k not wi nd b m und e t w l e r ef d t p il m d ail

s s, a ea r o c os -
e e o sa s, a e s

as r q ui ed
e D i t 2 60 mil
r s es.

—
. .

July 1 8 L t 2 7 2 8 N l ng 12 5 14 E St ng b r
'
. a M idnigh t
.
°
.
, o .
° ’
. ro eezes.

a ll il sa D i t 2 53 mil s
. s . e .

July 19 —Lat 30 50 N lo ng n bserv ti n 36 h u s in thi d y

. .
° ’
.
, . o o a o . o r s a .

m m d S ddl I l nd n h r d fo d yligh t ff Gut t fl '

a. .
,
11 p m a e a e s a . . .
, a c o e r a o z a

Isl nd ( Sh ngh i ntr n ) Di t 2 24 mil D yligh t t k Sh ngh i pil t

a a a e a ce . s . e s. a oo a a o

a nd p c d d up Y ng tse ki ng
ro ee e a - -
a .

t o tal di s tance run was 7 2 0 0 mil es givi ng a n

Th e ,

av e rage p e r day o f 2 25 mil e s a nd a pas s ag e o f 3 2 ,

days 9 ho urs t ill e n o tic e d that 3 rd J ul y

( I w b .

'
and 1 7 th J uly are o mitte d in the captai n s ab s tract ) .

On the fo ll o wi ng v oyage o n the usual ro und o f ‘

C ali fo rn ia C hi na and h o m e th e S word fish und e r

, ,

Captai n H N O sgo o d lo gge d mil e s av e r . . ,

aging 1 5 3 mil e s a day and mad e the ro und in 1 0 ,

mo nth s and 1 0 d ays incl udi ng 3 5 days in po rt

“

.
,

H
93 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
“
Flying Fis h .

Th e Fly ing Fish S wo rdfi sh s ival in 1 8 5 2

’
r ,
,

was o n e o f the fas t e s t a nd m o s t b e auti ful clippe rs

d e s ig ne d by D o nald Mac kay a nd h e r re co rd s w ere ,

v e ry ne arly as go o d as th o s e o f th e ce l e brat ed

In 18 53 s h e wo n a mag nific e nt race o ut .

to San
Fra nci s co agai ns t th e john G ilp in The john Gihbin .

was d e s igne d by B o s t o n s o th e r gre at shipbuilde r

’

S a m H all a nd m e as ure d 1 0 8 9 t o ns thus like the

, ,

S wo rd fish s he was handicapp e d by to n nag e U nder .

C aptai n D o ane sh e sail e d fro m N e w Y o rk o n 2 9 th

,

O cto b e r 1 8 5 2 a nd was fo ll o w e d by Fly ing Fish o n

, ,

I s t N o v e mb e r I t was t h e b e st s e aso n o f the year fo r

.

maki ng go o d passage s a nd bo th v e s se l s made ,

spl e ndid runs s o uth Th e Fly ing Fis h was actually

.
-

°
do wn to th e parall e l o f 5 N o n th e s ixte e nth day out .

fro m N e w Y o rk a nd th e fo ll o wing day l o st he r

,

wi nd in 4 S 3 4 W H e re N icke ls mad e a great

° °
. .
,

mi s tak e fo r i ns te ad o f s ta ndi ng bo ldly o n and trust

, ,

ing t o s lan t s t o ca rry him cl e ar o f S an R o q ue he did ,

j us t what th e g re at Maury advis e d captai ns no t to

do : h e t ri e d t o w o rk t o t h e e as twa rd agai ns t the
we s te rly s e t a nd was thus h e ld up in 3 N by °
.

cal m s a nd d o ld rums fo r fo ur wh o l e days H o we ver .

,

t hi s was h is o nly re al hal t in t h e wh o l e pa ssage

“

O n 2 4 th N o v e mb e r in 5 S th e Flying Fish a ndjohn

°
.
,

G ilp in w e re l e v e l with e ach o th e r t he la t t e r so me ,

3 7 m il e s m o re t o th e e as tward and th e Fly irg Fish ,

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 99

so cl o se o n th e lan d that she had to tak e advantage

o f e v e ry slant t o stand o ff sh o re The john Gilp in .

in th e b e st po siti o n fo r w o rkin S gain e d th re e

g .

days o n th e Fly ing Fish b e tw e e n S a n R o que and 50

°

s o uth b ut thi s t h e latt e r re t ri e v e d by g e tti ng a sla nt

,

th ro ugh the S t raits o f L e Mai re .

O ff the H o rn t h e two v e s s e ls w e re in c o mpany fo r

t h e first tim e and the ho spitabl e N icke l s act ually
,

invit e d D o ane to c o m e abo ard and di ne with him .

The H o rn h o we v e r d o e s no t allo w o f ship visiti ng

, , ,

a nd D o an e rem arke d in h is lo I w as reluctantly

“
g :

o blig e d t o d e cli n e the invitati o n .

I n th e s t ruggl e against the w e st e rli e s b e twe e n

° °

5 0 S a nd 5 0 S th e la rge r and m o re po w e rful s hip

. .

had a gre at advantage and o n this s t re tch Fly ing Fish

,

ai n e d fo ur days o n h e r rival
g .

O n th e 3o th o f D e c e mb e r b o th s hips c ro s s e d t h e
,

parall e l o f 3 5 S th e Fly ing Fish b e ing in co mpany

°
.
,

with ano th e r v e ry fas t clipp e r the Wild P ig eon , ,

w hich had sail e d fro m N e w Y o rk o n 1 2 th O ct o b e r

b ut had b e e n v e ry un fo rtunat e with h e r wi nds .

O n t he 1 3 th o f J an ua ry 1 8 5 3 th e Fly ing Fish

, ,

1 7 W 2 5 mil e s ah e ad
’ °

c ro ss e d th e e q uat o r in 1 1 2 .
,

o f th e Wild P igeon and 2 60 mile s ahe ad o f the

,

ohn Gil i which w as als o furth e r t o th e w e stwa rd

j p n .

O n th e sam e day th e Westwa rd H o ano th e r ,

Mackay cl ipp e r o wn e d by S ampso n 8: Tappan a nd ,

o f alm o st th e sam e to nnage as Flying Fish c ro ss e d ,

t he lin e 4 furth e r w e st a nd the two ships o f alm o s t

°
,
100 TH E C HIN A c u rrnns

the sam e to nnage and d e sign ( the Westwa rd H o

b ei ng o n he r maid e n pas sage) and Own e d by the
s am e m e n mad e a d e ad h e at rac e o f it t o S an
,
-

Fra ncisc o arriving o n I s t Fe b rua ry Westwa rd H o

,
.
,

ho we v e r had tak e n 1 0 3 days o n the passage having

, ,

sail e d fro m B o sto n o n 2 0 th Octo b er S he had b e e n

.

badly handicappe d by a d runk e n capta in as the ,

fo ll o wing acc o unt gi ve n by o ne Of h e r pass e nge rs ,

a s e aman will sho w

,

Westward H o o ught to have do ne the run in 90

days . The captai n was a d runk e n b e ast and
re main e d in his cabi n fo r n e arl
y th e wh o l e p as sage ,

b o o s ing o n his o wn liquo r and that o f the pass e nge rs

‘

fro m wh o m he c o uld b e g a nd at las t b ro k e o ut the

,

fo re h o ld in s e arch o f liq uo r and fo und s o me

,

champagne cid e r o n which h e b o o s e d the rtemainde r

o f t he passag e .We We re o ff the R ive r Plate with
a fair stro ng wi nd he ad e d e ast a nd no rth for s e ve ral
,

days until th e re was ne arly a mutiny am o ng the

,

pass e nge rs I finally t o ld the mate to put her o n

.

h e r co urs e a nd we Wo uld bac k h imup in a ny tro ubl e .

Th e captai n n e v e r k ne w o f a ny change ; We l o st at
l e as t 1 0 days by s uch d e lays A t o ne tim e afte r
pass ing Cap e H o rn we w e re runni ng ab o ut N by W . .
,

wi nd l ong e a Sy s e a a nd wind stro ng unde r

to pgallant s ails and she was go i ng lik e a scare d do g
, ,

he r s tarbo ard pl ank sh e e r e v e n with th e water, t wo

me n at the wh e e l and th e y had all th e y c o uld do to
ho ld her o n he r co urs e O ne day she ran o ve r 400
.
1 02 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
In N o ve m be r 18 8 t h Fl ng Fish
was w re ck e d
i
, 5 ,
e y
o n h e r way o ut o f the M in R iv e r,
l o ad e d with
Fo o ch o w t e a fo r N e w Y o rk S h e was aband o n e d.

by th e und e rwrit e rs a nd the w re ck s o ld to a S panish

,

m e rchant o f Manila wh o manag e d to fl o at h e r and

, ,

th e n had he r practically re b uilt at Whampo a .

Th e n fo r s o m e y e ars s h e s ail e d b e twe e n Manila and

C adiz di sgui s e d und e r th e nam e o f E l B neno
,

S uceso and e v e ntually fo und e re d in th e Chi na S eas

,
.

Th e “
Witc h o f th e Wav e ”
a nd
“
Nigh tingale .
”

Th e s e chi e fly c e l e b rate d fo r th e i r pe r
a re

fo rma nc e s in th e E nglish t e a t rad e Th e y we re o f .

t h e s mall e r cla s s o f A m e rica n clipp e r a nd unlike , ,

th e Fly ing Fish w e re m o re s uit e d t o t he China

,

S e as than th e S o uth e rn O c e an thus ne ith e r o f th em ,

did anythi ng re markable in th e Cali fo rn ian trad e .

PVitoh of the Wa ve was t h e p rid e o f t he i nte re s ti ng

o ld p o rt o f S al e m wh e re s h e was o wn e d
, S he was .

a n e xt re m e clipp e r with 40 i n ch e s o f d e ad ri se 8 1
, ,

fe e t o f mai nya rd a nd a 9 0 fo o t mai n mast

,
-
.

Th e N ig hting a le had a s o m e what c uri o us hi s to ry .

S h e was o rigi nally b uilt t o ca rry pass e nge rs t o the

Wo rld s Fair in Lo nd o n a nd th e n to b e e xhibite d
’

in t h e Th a m e s as a typical A m e rican clippe r ship .

S h e was th e re fo re fit te d o ut re ga rdl e ss o f e xp e ns e
, ,

Wi th large s al o o ns a nd the m o st lux uri o us cabi n

arrang e m e nts A nd in e v e ry o th e r way she was a
.

m o st e xpe ns iv e ly built ve s s e l h e r figure h e a d fo r , ,

i ns tanc e be i ng a m o st b e auti fully carv e d b ust o f the

,
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 103

fam o us singe r J e nny L i nd in ho n o ur o f who m the

, ,

v e ss e l was nam e d U n fo rt unate ly fo r the pro m o t e rs

.

o f t h e sch e m e th e y fe ll s h o rt o f m o n e y b e fo re th e
,

ship was launch e d a nd th e N ightingale was th e n

,

bo ught by Sa mps o n Tappan fo r d o llars .

A fte r sh e had had a v e ry succ e ssful care e r in th e

B ritish t e a trade o f which we s hall h e ar lat e r she
, ,

was so ld to th e B razilia ns who put he r into the ,

A frican slav e t rad e A ft e r t wo o r th re e y e ars in

.

this h o rribl e t ra fiic she was capture d abo ut 1 8 60 , ,

by an A me rican gun bo at a nd s e nt h o m e as a p rize, .

Th e n wh e n th e C ivil War b ro k e o ut sh e was fi tte d

, ,

as an arm e d c rui s e r A t th e cl o s e o f the war she

.

w e nt back to the C ali fo rnian a nd China t rade and , ,

y e ars late r e nde d he r days und e r the N o rw e gian flag

, .

Ame ric an Tea P a s s age s 185 1-4 853 .

On th e fo ll o wing
page will b e fo und a table
sh o wing the passage s fro m C hi na t o A m e rica at the
z e nith o f the A m e rica n te a trade A lso th e pe r .

fo rmance s o f o th e r clipp e rs o f which lack o f spac e ,

has no t pe rmitte d a d e s c rip t io n .

Th e R ivalry o f G re at Britain a nd A me rica in th e

Te a Trade .

At pre se nt day wh e n the sup re macy o f

t he ,

o ur M e rcantil e Ma ri n e as th e w o rld s ca rri e r is so

fi rml y e stablish e d it is hard to re alis e that in the

,

fo rti e s and fi fti e s A m e rica was no t o nly o ur e q ual ,

b ut in many ways o ur s up e ri o r I n m e re n umb e rs .

th e two gre at ma ritim e nati o n s w e re ab o ut e qual .

104 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS

A me rica n Te a Tra de P as s age s 185 1-185 8 .

N ew Yo r k

Canto n

P a n ama

Canto n
106 TH E C H N A I C LIP PE R S
i s te re d t o nnag e — was ad o p te d it was at o nc e
re
g ,

fo und that th e alt e rat i o n was m o re adva ntage o us to

th e s hipo w n e r t han th e o ld law b e s id e s giving the ,

build e r m o re latitud e to h o w his tal e nts s .

Th e navigati o n laws which w e re s o p ro te ctive

,

a s t o giv e o w n e rs n o i nd uc e m e nt t o mak e imp ro ve

m e nts we re re p e al e d in 1 849
,
Fre e t rad e was .

ad o pte d in s pit e o f th e s tre nuo us o pp o siti o n o f the

s hip o w ne r a nd o ur fo re ig n ma rk e ts th ro w n o p e n to
,

t h e w o rld .Th e A m e rica n clipp e rs at o nc e to ok

advantage o f th e chanc e to e nte r th e B ritish te a trade .

Th e O rie ntal Lo a ds Te a fo r th e British

Mark e t .

This v e ss e l caus e d as g re at a ati o n in s e ns

E ngland as the R a in bow a nd S ea Witch had caused

in A m e rican b e i ng the fi rst A m e rican s hip to e nter
,

t h e We s t I ndia D o cks t e a lad e n a ft e r th e re peal o f

t h e navigati o n law s I n app e a ra nc e she was a

.

big e ditio n o f S amuel R uss e ll H e r m e as ure ments .

we re — L e ngth 1 8 5 fe e t b e am 3 6 fe e t de pth 2 1 , ,

fe e t. H e r p o o p which wa s st o re d with te a o n the

,

h o m e ward run was 4 5 fe e t l o ng

, S he was a .

s h o rt i s h s hip with a m o d e rat e clipp e r b o w s uppo rt ,

ing v e ry l o ng b o wsp rit a nd j ibb o o ms and the ,

h e avy lo o ki ng A m e ri c an s t e rn L ike all A m e rican .

clippe rs sh e c ro s s e d s kys ail yards .

S h e l e ft N e w Y o rk o n th e 1 4 th S e pte mb e r 1 849 , ,

o n h e r maid e n v o yag e a nd re ach e d H o ng K o ng by

,

t h e Ea s te rn Pa ss ag e o n I s t Ja nuary 1 8 0 1 0
5 9 days , ,
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S 107

o ut . S ail e d fro m C hina o n th e 3 o th , and ra n ho me

to N ew Y o rk in 81 days .

O n he r s e co nd v o yage she was co mmande d by

C aptain T D Palm e r his b ro th e r havi ng re ti re d
. .
,

fro m th e s e a By this tim e Th e o d o re Palm e r had

.

e vid e ntly l e a rnt t o d riv e a s hip fo r o n this v o yag e

,

h e mad e b o th his o wn nam e and that o f the ship .

On the pas sage o ut s he le ft N e w Y o rk o n l gt h

May 1 8 5 0 ; had ve ry scant N E t rades ; c ro s se d
, . .

t h e lin e in l o ng W 2 5 days o ut ; lo g t o the

. .
,

li ne 3 9 0 4 ; b e st day s run 2 6 4 mil e s To o k 4 5 days ’

.

t o C ap e M e ridia n B e st run fro m the lin e to t he

.

C ape M e ridian 3 0 0 und e r d o ubl e re e fs pa rt o f the

tim e the b re e z e N W fre sh
, Fro m lat 4 2 S . . . .
°
.
,

°
l o ng 3 1 E to l o ng 9 7 E she ave rage d 2 6 4 mil e s
. . .
°
.
,

a day be st day 30 2 wo rst 2 2 8 fo r 1 0 days

, , ,
.

’
Passe d S t Paul s I sla nd 5 8 days o ut
. R e ach e d .

A nj e r 2 9 t h J uly 7 1 days o ut and a rriv e d H o ng

, ,

K o ng 8 th A ugust 8 1 days o ut ave raging 2 00 , ,

mil e s a day .

A ft e r this v e ry fine p e rfo rmanc e th re e o f the

bigg e st t e a fi rms in E ngland gav e the i r age nts
o rd e rs t o s e c ure h e r at a ny p ric e a nd sh e was at ,

o nc e cha rt e re d th ro ugh Rus s e ll 8: Co at 6 p e r to n .

o f 40 c ubic fe e t whilst B riti s h s hips lay waiting fo r

,

t e a at 3 1 0 8 p e r t o n o f 5 0 c ubic fe e t
~

. .

Th e Orien ta l l o ad e d 1 1 1 8 t o ns o f te a he r fre ight ,

am o unting to £9 6 0 0 —alm o st th re e quarte rs o f he r -

o riginal c o st .
1 08 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
She l e ft H o ng K o ng o n 2 8 th A ugust had a ,

s t ro ng S W m o ns o o n a nd ye t b e at d o wn t o A nj e r
. .
,

in 2 1 day s .

S he s ignall e d t he L iza rd 9 1 days o ut a nd o n ,

3 r d D e c e mb e r haul e d i n t o th e W e st I ndia D o cks

9 7 days fro m H o ng K o ng Thi s wo nd e rful saili ng

.

caus e d g re at e xcite m e nt in E ngl is h shippi ng c i rcle s ,

a nd all kinds o f gl o o my no tic e s app e a re d in the

pap e rs p re dicti ng th e e x t i ncti o n o f the B ri tish

,

M e rcantil e Mari ne e t c The A dmi ralty s urve yo rs

, .

we re e v e n s e nt d o wn to take o ff he r lin e s whilst she

lay in the dry d o ck at Blackwall .

Th e Ab e rde e n Clipp e r M o de l .

In the
ge ne ral d e spo nd e ncy am o ngst ship
o w ne rs th e re s e e m e d t o b e o nly o ne spa rk o f h o pe
, ,

a nd that was in th e A b e rd e e n m o d e l On all hands .

it was admi t te d that no o th e r typ e o f ship co uld

po s s ibly rival th e pe rfo rmanc e o f the Oriental .

Th e A b e rd e e n m o d e l was d e vis e d by A l e xande r

H all a s hipbuilde r o f that t o wn as fa r back as 1 8 4 1
, ,
.

I t was a v e ry s impl e imp ro v e m e nt a nd m e re ly c o n ,

s is t e d in ca rryi ng o ut t h e s t e m t o th e cutwat e r and

givi ng a s h ip a l o ng s ha rp b o w i nste ad o f the old
‘

fashi o ne d appl e ch e e k s -
.

The fi rs t v e s s e l b uilt by A l e xa nd e r H all o n this

plan ra n b e twe e n A be rd e e n and L o nd o n a nd s o o n ,

mad e a gre at re putati o n by th e rapidity o f he r

pas s ag e s .

B e twe e n 1 8 4 1 and 1 8 5 0 M e ssrs H all launche d no .

1 10 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
Th e s e t wo s hip s hav e s ally b e e n spo k e n o f as
u u

th e fi rs t o f th e B riti s h t e a clipp e rs .

I n d e s ig n th e y had no thi ng in c o mm o n with the

g re at A m e rican clippe rs Th e chi e f di ffe re nc e be i ng
.

t h e na rro w b e am o f t h e A b e rd e e n s hips which is ,

w e ll s ho wn in the fo ll o wi ng co mpari so n o f beams

t o le ngth
S ea W
itch,
S urp rise, 4 87. Chm/se ttle,

Oriental, I 3

Thi s lack o f b e am mad e th e m fa r l e ss po we rful in

h e avy w e ath e r and the y co uld no t b e d rive n in
,

st ro ng bre e z e s like th e A m e ricans I nd e e d the y had .

,

s o littl e b e a ri ng fo rwa rd that th e y w e nt th ro ugh the

s e as rathe r tha n o v e r the m a nd gai ne d a bad ,

re putati o n fo r washi ng me n o ff th e j ibb o o m wh e n the

huge jib o f that day had to b e hand e d .

A t th e sam e tim e th e y w e re un d o ubte dly faste r

a nd m o re w e ath e rly t ha n t h e A m e rica ns in m o d e rate

b re e z e s.

The S torno way was th e fi rst o f the t wo to l eave

th e way s . S h e was c o mmand e d by th e c rack raci ng
s kipp e r o f h is day R o b e rt s o n wh o had c o m e fro m
, ,

t h e joh n 0 G a un t which with t he Foam A lexander

’

, ,

B a ring E ughrates a nd M o na rch had b e e n the pick

, ,

o f th e B riti s h t e a fl e e t in th e fo rti e s .

H e t o o k h e r o ut t o H o ng K o ng in 1 0 2 days and ,

b ro ught h e r h o m e fro m Whamp o a in 1 0 3 days .

C h rys o lite ’
s
”
Maide n V o yage , 185 1 .

The Chrysolite also made a v e ry go od

 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
passage o ut to H o ng K o ng o f 1 0 2 days th o ugh she ,

had a v e ry bad tim e runn i ng he r c asting do wn .

Captain E n right d e sc rib e d his e xpe ri e nc e as

fo ll o ws :

I n the I ndian Oce a n we had a gal e fro m the

we st , and th e
t re m e nd o us s e as that ince ssantly swe pt
o v e r th e ste rn caus e d g re at i nj ury t o s o m e o f my

me n . My chi e f o ffi ce r had h is skull s e ve re ly hurt .

I did my b e st to plaste r and bandage up the wo und ,

b ut had scarce ly d o ne it b e fo re I was call e d t o att e n d

t o o ne o f th e m e n wh o had h is thigh b ro ke n We .

sh o rt e n ed sail and lay t o fo r a whil e and I se t the ,

limb as we ll as I co uld .

“
A lto ge th e r six o f th e m e n w e re s e v e re ly inj ure d
by the h e avy s e a a nd I k no w no t ho w I e scape d
,

as all th ro ugh that dark night I sto o d watching the

'
s te e rin
g A t daylight we sighte d S t Paul s I sland
. .
,

and no w saw that o ur mis fo rtune s by sto pping th e ,

ship had pro bably b e e n the m e ans o f saving o ur

,

liv e s H ad we no t laid to at the tim e we did we

. ,

sho uld have be e n thro wn o n to the island and in ,

that da rk night and furio us se a no t o ne o f us co uld

”
have e scape d Chrys olite was o nly 8 0 da ys to
.

A nj e r co mpare d t o the Oriental s 8 9 days which ,

was c o nsid e re d t o b e a re c o rd .

F ro m H o ng K o ng t h e Chrysolite p ro c e e de d to
Whampo a to discharge he r cargo ; and she bare ly
had e mpti e d he r h o ld wh e n the A m e rican clipp e r
M emnon pass e d he r go ing d o wn the rive r with a
1 14 TH E C H N A I C LI P PE R S
it led to his ship s d e s t ructio n Ma c c lesfield S trait
’
. ,

which li e s b e twe e n Banca and Pul o Leat was o ne ,

o f th o s e favo urit e sh o rt c uts us e d by t he racing t ea

skipp e rs b ut its navigati o n wa s v e ry dange ro us

, ,

e s pe cially at night o wi ng to a ro ck call e d

,
D isco ve ry
”
Ro ck which li e s in t h e c e nt re o f the channe l and
,

o nly has a fe w fe e t o f wat e r ab o v e it .

A ll that night the wind bl e w fi e rc e ly fro m S W . .

,

and b o th ships be at t o windward und er all sail the ,

Ch rysolite sl o wly gai n i ng unt il s h e l o st sight o f her

rival in a h e avy s quall That s q uall was fatal to
.

t he M emnon a b e auti ful s hip o f 1 0 0 0 to ns built by

,

S mith D im o n o f N e w Y o rk in 1 8 48 fo r
, ,

Warre n D e lan o .

B e ing fo rc e d i nto s hall o w wate r she le t go b oth

anch o rs b ut in spite o f th e m sh e be gan to bump o n
,

the ha rd c o ral b o tto m a nd a h o l e was s o o n sto ve in

h e r S he was h e ld hard a nd fast a ft th o ugh she

.
,

had 8 fatho ms o f wate r und e r the b o w, and it was

s o o n fo und impo ss ibl e to k e e p th e wate r o ut o f he r .

A t daylight th e ship was bo ard e d by pl unde ring

Malays and a num be r o f th e c re w who we re mo stly
, ,

Malays a nd Po rtugue s e s hipp e d at Macao j o ine d .

t he wre ck e rs in st rippi ng t h e s hip .

U po n which Captai n G o rd o n who was h e lpl e ss

, ,

in the fac e o f th e i r numb e rs saw n o thing fo r it b ut

,

to aband o n th e s hip a nd h e sh o rtly s e t o ff fo r

,

G aspa r I sland with t he th ree bo ats und e r th e co m

mand o f hims e l f a nd his t wo mate s I n his o wn .
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S 1 15

b o at h e had his wi fe and he r maid U n fo rtunate ly .

t h e y had no t furnish e d t h e b o a t s with e no ugh wat e r

a nd o wi ng t o t h e h e at s uffe re d v e ry m uch fro m

thi rs t. Th e y lan d e d o n t he N W sid e o f th e . .

island a nd luckily fo und wate r t h e re C aptai n .

G o rd o n at o nc e e s tabli s h e d a l o o ko ut a nd also s e nt
’
his bo s n away to S ingapo re to pro cure he lp H e
’
.

t h e n l e ft h is p e o pl e e n camp e d o n t h e i s la nd and

w e nt back t o th e w re ck b ut fo und th e M emnon full

,

of wate r a nd st ripp e d o f e v e ry thi ng m o vabl e .

A fte r s ix days o n G aspa r I sla nd t he s hipw re cke d

c re w w e re re s cue d by th e barque jeremiah Ga rrett ,

which in turn trans fe rre d th e m t o the b rig j M . .

Casse ll b o un d fo r S i ngap o re wh e re th e y a rrive d

,

wi th li ttl e m o re than th e cl o the s th e y s to o d up in .

M e a nwhil e t he Chrys olite had mad e a fai r passage

t o Mauri t i us o ff which isla nd sh e e xp e ri e nc e d t h e
,

mo s t t e rrific e l e c t ric s to rm which laste d th re e days ,

duri ng which t im e the s ky wa s pitch black with the

e xc e p t i o n o f t h e vivid light n i ng t h e rai n fe ll lik e a
,

wate rs po ut and th e s hip was s hake n lik e a le af by

the t re m e nd o us ro lli ng o f t h e th und e r .

C ro ss ing th e t rad e s s he mad e the fo ll o wi ng

runs —2 3 5 , 2 6 4, 2 60 , 1 80 , 1 7 2 , 2 2 5 , 2 8 9 , 2 90 , 2 3 6 ,

2 30 3 2 0 2 6 0 2 0 0 ,
e s — which was
2 1 2 , a nd 2 6 8
mil
, , ,

wo nde rful wo rk fo r a v e s s e l o f h e r s iz e G o i ng fre e .

und e r all sail s he l o gg e d a ste a dy 1 2 3 t o 1 3 % k no t s ,

and we nt up to 1 4 fo r limite d pe rio ds ; o n the wi nd

he r b e s t sp e e d was at t h e rat e o f 1 0
1
2; kn o ts .
1 16 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE RS
'

On 6 th N o ve mb e r in 8 N t he Chrysoli te fe ll in
°
.

with the ho m e wa rd b o und B riti s h frigate H ava nnah

a nd th e clipp e r s hip Fl y b o th n o t e d sail e rs
,
T h e .

t h re e s hip s w e re in c o mpa ny fo r 1 8 day s t h e littl e ,

white te a clippe r mai ntai ni ng a l e ad o f fro m 2 to 5

mile s . O ne day in calm we ath e r Captai n E nright
actually di ne d ab o ard th e H ava nn ah wh o s e o ffice rs ,

'

d e clare d that the Ch rysoli te was th e o nly v e s s e l that

had b e e n abl e to ho ld t he m duri ng th e wh o l e o f
t h e i r c o mmi ss i o n and t h e y w e re so c o nvi n c e d o f he r
,

supe ri o rity that th e y gave him th e i r l e tte rs to p os t

o n h e r a rrival in E ngland .

The th re e ships fi nally pa rte d c o mpa ny 7 0 0 mil es

s o uth o f t h e We st e rn I s l e s th e Chryso lite l o si ng
,

s i ght o f t h e H ava nna h which was th e n 1 0 mil e s o ff

,

o n h e r le e b e am in a s quall
, .

Pass ing t he A z o re s t h e t e a clippe r had the mis ~

fo rtune t o l o se all th re e t o pgalla nt mas t s in a h e avy

p uff A s hip nam e d t h e A driat ic was in c o mpany
.

at the tim e and Captain E nright as ke d he r in vai n

,

to l e nd him s o m e s pa rs h o w e ve r h e re fitte d as be st
h e c o uld a nd e v e ntually had his re ve nge by a rrivi ng
fi rs t by s o m e d a ys .

The Ch rysolite e nte re d th e Pri nce s D o ck ,

L iv e rp o o l o n I s t D e c e mb e r 1 0 3 days o ut fro m
, ,

Whampo a afte r a re ma rkabl e maid e n vo yage

, ,

duri ng which s h e had run mil e s in 2 0 6 days .

H e r o w ne rs w e re s o pl e as e d t hat th e y gav e
E nright a g rat uity o f 50 A t the sam e tim e the
.
1 18 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
to a nd to give t he B ritis h v e ss e l 14

days ’
s ta rt .

”
Dic ky G re e n a nd th e C h alle nge r .

It was R icha rd G re e n , of t he fam o us

Blackwall L i ne who fi rs t put h e art i nto the ,

B riti s h ship o wn e r H e had b e e n o ne o f th e fe w

.

pe o pl e i nte re ste d in s hippi ng who had s uppo rte d the

G o v e rnm e nt in th e re p e al o f th e navigat i o n laws .

D uring 1 8 5 1 a t a la rge ci ty di nne r h e ro se t o spe ak

, ,

afte r th e s e c re ta ry o f th e A m e rica n L e gati o n who had ,

mad e t he us ual c o mplim e nta ry i nt e rnat i o nal sp ee ch .

“
We hav e h e ard s aid D icky G re e n a great , ,
“

d e al t o night abo ut the di s mal p ro sp e ct s o f B ri ti sh

-

s hippi ng a nd we h e a r t o o fro m a n o th e r q ua rte r a

, , , ,

gre at d e al ab o ut the B ri t i sh li o n a nd th e A me rican

e agl e a nd t h e way in which t h e y a re g o i ng to lie
,

d o wn t og e th e r N o w I d o n t k no w any thi ng abo ut

.
’

that b ut thi s I do k no w that we the B ri t i s h ship

, ,

o w ne rs hav e at las t sat d o wn t o play a fai r a nd

,

o p e n gam e wi th the A m e rica ns and b y J o v e w e ll

’

, , ,

"
t rump t h e m .

A nd h e was as go o d as h is w o rd fo r he ,

imm e diate ly s e t ab o ut b uildi ng a te a clippe r which ,

he ap t ly nam e d t he Cha lle ng e r Thi s v e s s e l was .

s e nt o ut t o C hi na in t im e fo r t h e ne w t e as o f 1 8 2
5 .

Th e C h alle n ge r a nd th e C h alle nge .

The ye ar 185 2 a re markabl e o ne fo r the

was
k e e nne ss o f th e raci ng b e tw e e n t h e t e a clipp e rs o f
 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S 1 19

th e t wo nati o nalitie s and Challenger s part hi s

’

, in t

rival ry was a v e ry big o ne .

A fte r l o adi ng at S ha nghai sh e fe ll in with the

te a

fam o us Cha lleng e a v e ss e l o f ne a rly th re e tim e s h e r

,

s iz e at A nj e r t h e Cha llen e b e i ng h o m e wa rd b o und

, , g
with C anto n te a The t wo v e s s e l s l e ft A nj e r o n
.

t h e s am e day and wh e n thi s was te l e graph e d h o m e

,

t re m e ndo us stak e s w e re wag e re d a s t o which s h o uld

b e th e fi rst a rrival in L o nd o n ; it was e v e n rum o ure d

that th e l o s e r was t o b e fo rfe ite d to the wi nne r .

A fte r a v e ry s ma rt run th e lit t l e Cha lleng er j us t

s ucc e e d e d in b e ati ng t he big Challeng e into cl o ck by
t wo day s th e i r actual tim e s b e i ng
,

Ch ll g a S h gh i t L d n
en er, 3 d y
an a o on o , 11 a s.

Ch ll g Wh m p
a t L
en e , d 5 d y
a oa o on o n, 10 a s.

Tho ugh be at e n by t wo days in he r t ime fro m A nj e r ,

t h e Cha lleng e ac t ually mad e t h e s h o rt e s t pa s sage ,

,

b ut wh e n o ne all o w s t he di ffe re nce in mil e age

be twe e n S hanghai a nd Whampo a it will b e s e e n that
th e re was v e ry lit tl e t o ch o o s e b e twe e n th e pas sage s
o f t h e t wo v e s s e ls .

Curi o usly e no ugh a s if in supp o rt o f the fo rfe it

“

rum o ur all t rac e o f th e Cha lleng e se e m s t o b e l o st

,

afte r thi s race S he we nt i nto the Blackwall D o ck

. ,

whe re he r li ne s w e re tak e n o ff as tho s e o f th e ,

Orie nta l had b e e n and many p e o pl e d e clare d that

,

sh e ca me o ut und e r t h e nam e o f th e R e sult .

Th e R esult c e rtai nly wa s a big A m e rica n buil t -

ship b o ught by G re e ns to tak e part in the bo o ming

,
12 0 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS
A ust ralian t rad e ; b ut sh e was a small e r ship
alto ge th e r fro m the Cha ll enge .

A m o re lik e ly sto ry was that M e ssrs G ree n .

bo ught he r with the m o n e y wo n o ve r the race .

Thi s h o we ve r d oe s no t th ro w any light o n the

, ,

afte r li fe o f the Ch a lleng e fo r which late r ve ssels , ,

nam e d a ft e r h e r hav e o ft e n b e e n mistake n

,
.

O ne o f th e s e was a 1 2 0 0 t o n ship b uilt in Que bec -

,

in 1 8 6 3 A n o th e r was a clippe r call e d the Golden

.

A g e which in he r last days was re nam e d the

,

Challenge This v e ss e l th e re was s o m e e xcus e fo r

.

co nfusing with the o riginal Cha llenge as she was ,

e xc e e di ngly fast with th e tall re p utati o n o f havi ng

,

run 2 2 kn o ts an h o ur and at t he sam e ti me was ,

t e rribly st rai ne d fro m ha rd d rivin

g S h e was . ,

h o we v e r a flush d e ck e d s hip with an inn e r rail a

,
-

fe w fe e t in fro m the co v e ri ng b o a rd and o nly ,

re se mbl e d the re al Cha lle n e in t he l e ngth o f he r

g
mai nyard .

N aval sci e nc e o f J uly 1 8 7 3 giv e s the fo ll o wi ng

, ,

1 0 th J uly 1 868 Cha llenge l e ft S hanghai a rrived

, , ,

L o nd o n 1 3 1 days o ut 6 th A ugust 1 8 6 9 Challenge

.
, ,

l e ft S hanghai arriv e d L o ndo n 1 48 days o ut

, .

Th e se passa ge s may po ss ibly b e th o s e o f the real

ship b ut it is m o re lik e ly that the y re fer to a B riti sh
,

built clippe r barq ue o f s o m e 5 0 0 t o ns S o I fe ar I .

m us t l e av e the fate o f th e n o to ri o us Cha llenge

uns o lv e d in t he h o p e that o ne o f my re ad e rs may
,

b e abl e t o sh e d light upo n it .

 122 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
p e rs o nality nam e ly G e ne ral G aribaldi wh o was
, , ,

th e n in co mma nd o f a Chil e an barque o f 4 50 to ns .

G e n e ral G a ribaldi had b e e n b ro ught up as a sail o r ,

and it was t o th e s e a that h e g e ne rally re t urne d

aft e r the s ucc e ss o r fail ure o f h is g ue rilla campaigns
in t he ca us e o f lib e rty . Whe n E nright me t him he
was still m o urni ng the d e ath o f his wi fe A net ta , ,

who had di e d in h is a rm s th ro ugh e xpo s ure in an

o p e n b o at o n th e A d ria t ic wh e n th e y w e re fl e e i ng
,

fro m t h e Fre nch . A nd h e t o ld E nright with t e ars

o f g ri e f a nd rag e h o w wh e n h e had b uri e d h e
, ar in

t h e sa nd at t h e back o f a fa rmh o us e the Fre nch ,

had e xhum e d he r b o dy thi nki ng t o find h is hidde n

t re asure S t ra ng e ly e no ugh wh e n a b o y G aribaldi
.
, ,

had s ail e d in a ve ss e l b e l o ngi ng to E nrigh t s uncle ’

a nd ,
wi th this as a b o nd be twe e n th e m the t wo ,

m e n s t ruck up a g re at fri e ndship .

G e t t ing away t o g e th e r o n t he oth o f J uly ,

'

S tom oway and Cfirysolzze w e re in c o mpany fo r 2 1

‘

days d o w n th e Chi na S e a ne ith e r ship p ro vi ng abl e

,

t o giv e t h e o th e r th e s lip .

O f t hi s rac e to A nj e r Captai n E n right re marke d

,

in h is p e rs o nal lo g ° “
I re mai ne d o n d e ck n ight and
day in a bambo o chai r mad e fas t t o the s kylight
, .

I no dd e d o ccasi o nally b ut o nly wh e n I da re d all o w

,

myse l f a fe w m o m e n t s re s t fro m my c e as e l e ss
’

watchi ng o f t he wi nd a nd c o urs e H o w e ve r all my .

,

e ffo rt s t o ge t ah e ad w e re una vaili ng t h e S t ornowa

y ,

”
b e i ng th e larg e r v e s s e l and b e t te r s ail e r .
 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S 123

I t was a ding d o ng race in spite -

this admissi o n of

o f E n ri h t s th e t wo v e ss e ls b e ing in c o mpan y fo r
’

g ,

no l e ss tha n 4
5 days alto ge th e r b ut in th e las t la p ,

th e be st wind s fe ll t o C/cr solzte a nd s h e a rriv e d

'

y ,

fi rs t d o cki ng in L ive rpo o l o n 2 2 nd Octo b e r 1 0 4

, ,

days o ut S lornoway re ach e d the D o w ns th re e days

.
'

lat e r 1 0 7 days o ut
, .

Th e Chrysolzte was the fi rs t ship in wi t h th e ne w

'

te a o f th e s e as o n a nd C aptai n E n right agai n,

re c e iv e d a gratui t y fro m h is o w ne rs .

S o gre at was the d e mand fo r h e r te a t hat

t h e L iverp o ol M e rcury re c o rd s : C/nysolzte wa s
’

d o cke d o n S at urday m o rni ng at 9 o cl o ck a nd ’

b e fo re n ight a co ns id e rabl e p o rti o n o f the cargo was

land e d we igh e d d uty paid and ab o ut 1 0 0 ch e s ts o f
, , ,

t e a w e re o n th e i r way t o di s tant parts o f the

K ingd o m a nd a qua ntity o f it was in t h e hands
,

o f re tail d e al e rs in t h e to w n s o t hat no d o ub t it ,

was actually up o n t h e t e a t abl e s o f s o m e o f t he

p e o pl e o f L ive rpo o l th e s am e night— an i ns tanc e o f
d e spatch unparall e l e d in this o r a ny o th e r po rt o f
”
th e Ki ngd o m .

Be st Te a P a ssage s o f 185 2 .

Two ships b e sid e s the

o the r A m e rican
PV zlc/c qf t/ze W C/ca lleng e mad e go o d
'

a ve a nd
'

pas s age s t hi s y e a r Th e S uq zse Captai n . ,

D uma re sq l e ft Whampo a o n l gth J uly and

, ,

a rriv e d at D e al o n zud N o ve mbe r 1 0 6 days o ut , ,

whilst the N zgatzhga le cam e h o m e fro m S hanghai

1 24 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
in 1 10 days this be ing th e b e st passage fro m
,

t ha t po rt .

I t s e e ms that th e re was a lo t o f w ra ngling this

y e ar as t o which ship co uld claim t he b e s t passage
h o m e in th e S W m o ns o o n . A nd s o c o nvince d
. .

we re th e o wn e rs o f the N egicinga le o f th e i r v e sse l s /

’

s up e ri o rity that the y chall e nge d the wo rld fo r a

,

Chi na rac e b ut th o ugh th e i r chall e nge

,

was di re cte d against A m e rica n clipp e rs as much as

E ngli sh lik e th a t o f the A m e rican N avigati o n Club
, ,

it me t wi th no re s po n s e .

Cairngo rm
”
.

N o ticing the way in which th e i r lit tl e clippe rs

we re ha ndicappe d wh e n in co mp e ti t i o n wi th t he
A m e rica ns which w e re us ually ab o ut d o ubl e th e i r
,

to nnage M e s s rs H all o f A b e rde e n in the winte r

, .
, ,

of 185 2 laid d o w n a 1 0 0 0 —
, t o n clippe r with fin e r

li ne s a nd s t ro nge r scantli ng tha n a nything th e y had

built up t o that date Th e y als o us e d i ro n fo r the
.

mai n d e ck be ams a nd hal f o f th e h o ld b e ams which ,

gav e m o re ro o m fo r s t o wag e .

Thi s v e sse l which wa s call e d the Ca zrngorm was

'

, ,

bo ught by J ardi ne Math e so n C o who placed

, .
,

Captain R o b e rts o n o f t he S torno way in c o mmand .

The Ca zrngorm has b e e n give n t he c re dit o f

’

b e ing the fi rst B riti sh clipp e r which re ally c o uld

rival , if no t e xc e l t he w o nd e rful A m e rican ships
, .

N autical w rit e rs o f th e day d e clare d that no t o nly

did sh e b e at th e m o n tim e b ut that o wi ng t o the ,
12 6 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE RS
r adical d e parture fro m t he acce pte d type as sho wn
by t he g re at A b e rd e e n build e rs .

I n th e fi rs t plac e sh e was c o nst ruc t e d e nti re ly o f

i ro n and s e co ndly s h e had m o re b e ams to l e ngth
, ,

t ha n a ny v e s s e l launch e d withi n t e n y e a rs o f he r

appe aranc e the pro p o rti o n b e ing 6 4

,
S he was .

als o s o fine in th e e nds that s he was n icknamed

The D ivi ng B e ll
”
“
a nd Maxt o n ,
he r c e le b rat e d ,

s kipp e r us e d t o s a
, y that s h e div e d in at o ne s id e o f
a s e a a nd o ut at th e o th e r .

O n h e r fi rs t v o yage s he w e nt o ut t o S yd ne y in 7 0
days a nd in 1 8 5 8 s h e cam e h o m e fro m S ha nghai in
,

t h e re c o rd tim e o f 8 9 days H o we v e r in spi te o f .

,

h e r s ucc e s s a nd the fact that sh e d e live re d he r “

carg o wi th o ut o ne s p o t o f damage i ro n s hips we re ,

n e v e r p o p ula r in t h e t e a t rad e a nd it was no t until ,

t he s e ve nti e s that a ny m o re i ro n t e a clippe rs

w e re b uilt .

’
L ora of th e I s les had a s h o rt li fe O n 2 4 th J uly .
,

1 8 6 2 wh e n b o und t o H o ng K o ng fro m G re e no ck
, ,

°
sh e caught fire in lat
’ ° ’
12 13 N l o ng 1 1 5 5 0 E
. .
,
. .
,

in c o n s e que nc e it wa s s upp o s e d o f t h e s p o n taneo us

, ,
“

co mb us ti o n o f s o m e bal e s o f fe lt plac e d in j uxta

p o s i t i o n wi th b undl e s o f rail ro a d i ro n in the l o we r
h o ld . C ap t ai n D avi e s his c re w a nd pas s e nge rs in
, ,

all thi rty s o ul s manage d to make Macao in the

,

bo ats afte r be i ng twic e bo ard e d by pi rat e s

, .

Th e N o rthfl eet was a v e ry di ffe re nt v e ss e l o ne o f .

’
Duncan D unbar s sup e rb frigate built ships -
.
128 TH E CH N AI C LI PPE R S
The st e am e r that did damage turn e d o ut to
the

b e the S pan i sh s t e am e r M urillo b ut at th e inq ui ry ,

i nto his co nduct h e r captai n e s cape d punishm e nt o n

th e a s se rt i o n that h e had no id e a that his ship had

d o ne any damage .

Te a P a ssage s of 185 4.
The chi e f i nte rnati o nal rac e o f 1 8 54 was that
'

b e tw e e n th e Ch rysoli te an d Celestia l .

Th e fo rm e r s ail e d fro m Fo o ch o w
la tte r a nd the

fro m Whamp o a o n 1 4 th J uly a nd Ch rysolzte a rrive d

'

at D e al 1 0 8 days o ut o ne day ah e ad o f he r rival

,
.

The Cha llenger and S torn oway l e ft S hanghai

t o ge th e r w e re to ge th e r in S unda S t rait a nd the
, ,

fo rm e r arriv e d at G rav e s e nd o n th e 4th D e c e m be r ,

t h re e days ah e ad o f S tornoway .

Ca irng ornz agai n mad e t h e b e s t pass age fro m

S hanghai b ut a ne w clipp e r the Crest of the W
,
ave
, ,

saili ng o n 2 o th Octo be r was o nly a fe w days be hi nd

,

h e r in tim e .

N igh tingale P a ssage in 185 5

’
s .

N ghtinga le was the las t o f the A m e rican

i

clippe rs to di s t i ngu i s h h e rs e l f in th e E nglish tea

t rad e. I n 1 8 5 5 sh e ra n t o Lo nd o n fro m S hanghai
in 9 1 days he r b e st run b e i ng 3 3 6 mil e s
, .

Fro m this dat e th e A m e ricans who t wo o r th re e ,

ye ars back w e re a c o mm o n s ight in the Lo ndo n

d o cks gradually fe ll o ut o f the E nglish t rad e and
, ,

A m e rica S q uare n e a r the M ino ri e s which had b ee n ,

13 0 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
fo ll o wi ng w o rd s w e re pa i nt e d : Thi s s hip will b e “

in A us t ralia b e fo re a ny o th e r .

Whil s t th e y we re gazing at this e arly sp e cim e n o f

A m e rican adv e rtisi ng th e captain o f t h e Sp irit of
,

th e A g e cam e up t o th e m and p o i n t ing at the

Ya nk e e s s kys ign as ke d with a s h o w o f passi o n

’

H o w ca n yo u s ta nd that a nd yo u B riti s h e rs ? ,

We ll it s a bit ch e e ky mayb e re pli e d o ne o f

,
’

th e J ack s b ut h o w can we h e lp it ?
,
“

That s what I v e c o m e to yo u fo r re turne d the

’ ’

captai n o f the Sp irit of the Ag e e ag e rly yo u are , ,

“

”
all l o o ki ng fo r b e rths are n t yo u ? ,
’

”
Ye s a ns w e re d t h e m e n s s p o k e s man
’
.
,

We ll we nt o n th e e nte rprisi ng S und e rland

,
”

s kipp e r I hav e all my c re w o n bo ard al re ady

“
,

a nd a g o o d c ro wd t o o b ut c o m e with m e as a so rt
,

o f e xt ra wa t ch a nd I ll s e e if we ca n t bustl e the
’ ’

”
b o unc e o ut o f that Yanke e .

A nd th e m e n did ship with him with the re sult ,

that th e Sp irit of the A g e afte r b e i ng d riv e n night

,

a nd day mad e th e pas s ag e t o S yd ne y in 7 3 days

, ,

a nd b e a t t h e b o a s t ful A m e rica n who was about ,

th re e t im e s he r s iz e by a day a nd a hal f
, .

Th e Ya n ke e s s ignb o ard was a sp e cim e n o f the

’

s h re wd bus i n e s s q ualiti e s s h o wn by A m e rican

c aptai n s .

A Ya nk e e C ap tain s Cute ne ss
’
.

Th e re w e re many o th e r s to ri e s o f Yanke e
cut e ne ss in th e days o f A m e rica s g re at m e rcantil e
’
13 2 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
rem e mb e re d as b e i ng th e fi rs t o f a l o ng list o f b e aut i
ful s hip s launch e d fro m S te e l e s ya rd at G re e n o ck
’

amo ngs t which w e re s uch cracks as S erica Ta ep ing , ,

A rie l S ir L a ncelot Tita n ia

, ,
an d L ah loo .

I n th e s am e y e ar Chal o ne r o f L ive rpo o l launch e d

th e fi rs t Fiery Cross which in the hand s o f a v e ry
,

e xc e p t i o nal s kipp e r nam e d D alla s mad e s o m e v e ry

fine pass age s . U nfo rt unat e ly D allas l e ft he r in

1 8 6 9 t o s up e ri nt e nd th e b uildi ng o f a ship a ft e r ,

wa rd s c e l e b rate d as the Fie ry Cross N O 2 and o n .

,

he r pass age o ut t hat autum n und e r a ne w captai n

Fiery Cro ss N o 1 was w re cke d. .

”
“
R o b in Ho o d an d
“
Friar Tuc k .

The gre at Ka te Ca rnie and Fiery

ival s
r of

Cro ss ( N o 1 ) w e re th e A b e rd e e n built R ahin H ood

.
-

a nd Fria r Tit ch v e s s e l s which w e re c o ns id e re d the

,

S ir L a n celots o f th e i r day alth o ugh it was a sho rt o ne

, .

Th e Fria r Tit ch was w re ck e d o n th e Co as t o f

Co rnwall wh e n h o m e ward b o und in th e sixti e s he r
,

cargo fl o ate d ash o re a nd the p rim e China te a which

,

was re t ail e d t h ro ugh the c o unty by the Co rni sh

wre cke rs will l o ng b e re m e m b e re d th e re .

Te a P assa ge s o f 1856 .

Th e y e a r 1 8 5 6 is b e i ng the fi rstno tabl e as

y e ar in whi c h th e £ 1 p e r t o n pre mi um o n the

fre igh t was o ffe re d fo r th e fi rs t t e a s hip t o arriv e in
th e L o n d o n d o c k s .

Th e chi e f A m e rica n c lipp e rs taki ng part in the

ra ci ng w e re th e M a ury R ing lea de r a nd Ce lest ial
, , .
 ”
F E R Y C R O SS
I
13 4 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
g o i ng o n b e t we e n captai n a nd c re w it is no t surp ri s
ing t hat Ch ry s olite t o o k 1 4 4 day s t o ge t h o m e .

Th e b e s t pas s age fro m Fo o ch o w was mad e by

Fie ry Cross which l e avi ng o n 4 th S e pt e mb e r was
, , ,

und e r t h e 1 0 0 days t o L o nd o n .

Sp irit of the A ge did t h e b e s t pa ss ag e fro m

Whampo a L e avi ng 2 o th A ugust s he arrive d in
.
,

t he D o w ns o n 2 8 th N o v e mb e r e xactly 1 0 0 day s ,

o ut . R ing le a de r cam e n e xt with 1 0 9 days l e avi ng ,

1 4 th J uly a nd re a c hi ng L o nd o n o n 3 l s t O ct o b e r
,
.

O f the S hanghai s hip s t h e Cha lle nger l e ft o n 8 th ,

S e pt e mb e r a nd cam e h o m e in 1 2 9 days This was .

no t o ne o f h e r b e s t b ut all th e pas s ag e s fro m

,

’
S hanghai w e re l o ng o n e s that y e ar Cha llenger s .

av e rag e fo r e ight pas sage s fro m S hanghai was 1 10

days the s h o rt e st run b e i ng 10 5 A ll th e s e w e re
, .

mad e und e r Cap tai n Killick who e v e ntually l e ft ,

he r a nd fo und e d t he firm o f Killick Marti n and ,

o w n e d t he w e ll k n o w n clipp e rs Ka is ow Om ha
-
Wylo , , ,

Osa ha ,
a nd L oth a ir .

Te a P assage s o f 1857 .

Ship . Po rt from . A rri vd

e . Days Out .

Crest of the Wav e May 25 Lo n d on p

Se t 2 8
J uly
.

3 n oct I 7
July 10 Dea Oc t 3 0.

N o rt hfleet A ug . 8 ly
P mo ut h Oct 2 9 .

Cha llenger 5 Lo n o n d De c .

R obin H ood N OV 30
Lihe
.

Spirit of the A ge 8 rp o o l Dec

j
.

An e r
A ug 2 9.
O ff D a rt mo ut h N ov .

Celestial 23 Lo nd on
Jan . 11
L ord of the I s les n 25 1) Ja n . 13
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 13 5

I hav e b e e n abl e to find Fiery Cross s s aili ng

un
’

date b ut sh e p ro bably l e ft Fo o cho w abo ut the

,

be gin n i ng o f A ugust a nd thus cam e h o m e in l e s s

,

than 1 1 0 days a v e ry fine pe rfo rma nce

, .

I hav e al re ady m e nti o ne d N orthfl eet s re co rd It ’

.

is as giv e n in th e S h ipp in
g Gazette which re co rds ,

h e r passing A nj e r o n 7 th S e pte mb e r so that w o uld ,

o nly giv e h e r 5 2 day s fro m S unda S t rait h o m e ,

which is mani fe s tly impo s s ibl e a nd ye t I ca n find no ,

e vid e n c e o f it b e i ng a mi s p rint .

Ce les tial a nd L ord of th e I s les m ust hav e s ail e d a

cl o s e race b ut t h e y e vid e ntly had p o o r wi nd s o n the
,

C hi na Co as t as I find t hat L ord of the I s les was 4 5

,

days t o A nj e r which s h e pass e d o n 9 th Octo be r

, .

Te a P a ss age s of 1858 .

Ship . Po rt fro m
. Arri vd e .

Fiery Cross J un e 27 L d
on o n Oct . 20
July 8 N ov . 26
N ortlyleet “
July -
22 A ug . 24 ly
P mo ut h N ov . 25
Kate Ca rn te A ug . Lo n o n d Dec . 2
S pt
e . 6 Jan . 21

R ob in H ood S pt
e . 8 O ct 7 . Dec . 17
Ch a llenger S pt
e . 1 8 Oc t 22 .
Jan . 11
Banca S t
Ca irngorm N ov 6 Feb 6
.

N ov 18
. .

L ammermuir N ov . 8 Feb .
9
L ord of the I sles N ov . 29 Dv
o er Feb . 26

Fiery Cross to o k p re mi um fo r the fi rs t s hip

t he

in b ut this ye ar is re ma rkabl e fo r th e wo nd e rful

,

tim e s o f the late starte rs which with a n N E , , . .

m o ns o o n a nd go o d wi nd s in th e A tla nt ic had rath e r ,

an advantage o ve r the fi rs t ships .

13 6 TH E I
CH N A C LI P PE R S
The ab t ac t s r o f L ora
’
o f th e I sles
’
89 -
day run was
as fo ll o ws
L f Sh
e t ang a hi v mb 29
No e er

R o und d th C p
e e a e J nu ry 14
a a

P d St H l n
asse e e a J nu y 2 3
a ar

W
.

C d th li n
rosse e e F b ru y 2 in l ng
e ar o . 23
°
40
'
.

P d th Liz rd
asse e a F b u y 25
e r ar

A rriv d fl D v r F b u ry 2 6
"
e o o e e r a

S he carri e d 1 0 30 t o ns o f te a a nd it was giv e n o ut ,

that she had ave rag e d 3 2 0 k no ts fo r fiv e co nse

c ut iv e day s c ro s sing th e t rad e s in th e I ndia n Oc e an .

La mme rmuir
”
R a c e b e tw e e n Cairngo rm and .

O wi ng with China th e Canto n

to t he wa r
R iv e r was cl o s e d t o E uro p e an c o mm e rc e in 1 8 5 7 and
1 8 5 8 ; b ut t h e o p e rati o ns o f th e B ritish fl e e t und e r

A dmi ral S ir M ichae l S e ym o ur o p e ne d Whamp o a t o

t rad e in the autum n o f 1 8 5 8 up o n which fiv e ships ,

rus h e d u
p t o l o ad te a at that p o rt .

Th e se w e re th e Ca irng orm L a ncin e rrn uzr Ch ief , ,

ta in Wa rrior Q ueen a nd M orn ing S ta r

,
O f th e s e
, .

t h e Ca irng orm was th e o nly o ut a n d— o ut clippe r -

.

L a mm e rmuir which had b e e n b uilt by Pil e o f

,

S und e rland fo r J o h n Willis in 1 8 5 6 was no t a ,

s ha rp e nd e d s h ip
-
b ut sh e was a go o d all ro und,

s ail e r a nd pa rt ic ula rly fas t in light wi nd s

, Chieftain .

was a J e rs e y built ship and co ns id e re d fast b ut , ,

ne ith e r t h e W a rrio r Q ueen no r M o rn in S t a r had

g
a ny re puta t i o n fo r s p e e d .

H o w e v e r as it was the fi rst te a that had be e n

,

l o ad e d in the Cant o n R iv e r fo r s o m e t im e the ,

m e rchants w e re v e ry e age r to ge t it o n the ho m e

 13 8 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS
N e ve rth e l e ss the latte r d o ck e dly th re e days b e hind on

the A b e rd e e n c rack aft e r a spl e ndid passage .

L ammermuir s p e rfo rmanc e was c o nsid e re d so m eri

’

to rio us that the b ro k e rs p re s e nt e d t he sam e b o n us

t o he r captain and o ffic e rs as that which th e y had

iv e n t o Ca irngorm fo r b e ing t h e fi rst a rrival

g .

O f the o th e r th re e s hips th e Ch iefta in was o nly

,

two o r th re e days b e hi n d L a mm e rmuir b ut the ,

Warrior Queen and M orn ing S ta r we re no whe re .

L a mmermuir t he h e ro i ne o f this ra c e e v e ntually

, ,

le ft h e r b o n e s o n the A mh e rs t Re e f Macclesfie ld ,

Chann e l G aspa r S t raits a nd he r mainmast was fo r

, ,

many y ears a go o d guidi ng ma rk .

”
Elle n R o dge r an d Zib a .

In 18 58 v e ry fast littl e clippe rs we re

t wo

built the E llen R odg er fro m S t e e l e s yard and the

,
’

barq ue Ziha fro m H all s Th e i r day h o we v e r was

’
.
, ,

o nly a sh o rt o ne as th ey w e re s o o n o utclass e d by
,

th e imp ro ve d clippe rs which app e are d at the

be ginning o f the sixti e s .

Chaa~sze
B e fo re l e avi ng the fifti e s fo r the sixti e s and -

t he gre at days o f th e t e a rac e s I will m e nti o n o ne ,

m o re o f the e a rlie r A be rd e e n clippe rs the Chaa sze ,

-
,

which fo ll o w e d Ziha o ff th e sto ck s and was the first ,

te a ship d e si g ne d by R e nn i e This littl e ship was.

o f m o re than usual i nt e re s t M e asuring 5 5 6 to ns

.
,

and built by H all s he was laid d o wn fo r a ste am

,

Whal e r and mad e as st ro ng as it was p o ssibl e b e ing

, ,
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 13 9

o f ea
t k th ro ugh o ut I ns id e he r te ak tram e s which
.
,

w e re 4 t o 6 fe e t apart s he was diago nally plank e d , .

This with 3 inch o uts id e planking bo und he r up

-

tightly with no l e ss than 9 i n ch e s o f te ak I nde e d .

,

sh e wa s so tightly b o un d that o n b e in ut i n to t h e
gp ,

t e a t rad e sh e had s e v e ral o f he r l o we r d e ck b e ams

,

mad e to unship in o rd e r to giv e h e r m o re play .

This id e a was tak e n p e rhaps fro m the t rick o f th e

o ld s lav e rs which wh e n ha rd p re ss e d by a c ruis e r
, , ,

w o uld saw th ro ugh the i r d e ck b e ams in o rd e r t o

impro v e the i r sailing and i nd e e d o fte n attribut e d , , ,

th e i r e s cap e s t o this caus e .

Th e Ch aa sze mad e s o m e v e ry go o d passage s

-

fro m Whamp o a in the e arly sixti e s .

O n o ne o ccasi o n she was in c o mpany o ff ,

Mauriti us with a S und e rlan d clippe r barque nam e d

,

th e Cha n ticleer a p re d e ce ss o r o f M aitla na a nd

,
’

(I nclin e . The t wo ships had b ee n in co mpany fo r

fo ur days with light variabl e winds bo th b e ing b o und ,

t o C hi n a A t last a ste ady b ree z e arriv e d a nd

. ,

Ch aa — sze at o nc e b e ga n t o sh o w h e r h e e ls a nd d ro p

th e o th e r U po n which th e G eo rdi e s kipp e r o f t he

.

Cha nticleer re ma rk e d re sign e dly t o h is mat e

The re she go e s Th e y hav e unsc re we d the
.

b e ams and we sha n t se e h e r again

,
’
.

A nd no m o re th e y did .
14 2 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
b e auti ful and yacht lik e m e rcha nt m e n that e ve r -

s ail e d th e s e a s .

Th e i r m o st no tabl e rival s fro m C o n ne l s yard

’

w e re Ta its ing Sp indrift and PVindhover b ut Co n ne l

, , ,

m us t als o re c e iv e c re dit fo r S k inne r s Castles which ’

we re v e ry smart litt l e ships b ut b e i ng m uch s malle r , ,

t ha n t h e c racks did no t rac e in t h e fi rs t flight with

,

th e ne w t e as .

H all s b e s t k no w n s hips o f th e sam e date w e re

’

Fly ing Sp ur Blach P rin ce a nd Ya ngtze whils t H o o d

, , ,

built jerus a lem Thyatira a nd Thermopylae fo r, ,

Th o mps o n s A b e rd e e n White S ta r L i ne O f th e s e
’
.

th re e the Th ermopy lae was th e o nly v e s s e l which

re g ula rly l o ad e d t h e fi rs t t e as o f t h e s e as o n .

A fe w o th e r build e rs e nt e re d t he a re na fro m tim e

t o tim e . Th e w e ll k no w n Pil e o f S und e rland fail ed
-

t o h o ld h is o wn H is M a itlan a o f which s o much

.
’
,

was e xp e ct e d was a fail ure a nd U ndin e t h o ugh she

, , ,

mad e a fai r av e rage o f passage s wa s no t quit e e qual ,

to th e S t e e l e c racks G re e n o f Blackwall built

.

H ig hfl yer a nd p ut h e r int o th e Chi na t rad e fo r a

c o upl e o f v o yag e s b ut e ve n und e r A n th o ny E nright
,

s h e did no t p ro v e fa s t e no ugh Chal o n e r o f L iv e r .

p o o l pro d uc e d o ne mas te rpi e c e t h e fam o us Fiery ,

Cross ; L auri e o f G lasgo w b uil t L ea nde r ; S te ph e n o f

G lasgo w laun ch e d s o m e hal f d o z e n s hips fo r the -

t rad e i ncludi ng Forwa rd H o ; whil s t th e wo nd e rful

,

Cutty S a rh was b uilt by S co t t L i n to n o f

D umba rto n .
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S 14 3

As a rul e th e s e fam o us clipp e rs w e re de s ig ne d

in th e d rawi ng l o fts o f th e i r b uild e rs ; in fact th e re ,

w e re o nly t wo o utsid e d e s ig ne rs o f any n o te ,

B e rnard Waymo uth S e c re ta ry o f Ll o yd s R e giste r

,
’

and R e nni e .

Wa ymo uth was re sp o nsibl e fo r the li ne s o f the

L ea n der a nd Ther mopyla e whils t R e n n i e d e s ig ne d
,

Fiery Cross , Blach P rince , N orma n Court , a nd

john R . W orces ter .

Th e Be auty o f S te e le ’s C re ati o ns .

Th o ugh t h e re was no s uch thi ng as an gly

u

te a clipp e r S te e l e wa s witho ut a do ubt the de sig ne r

, , ,

o f t h e m o st b e auti ful littl e ships that e v e r fl o at e d .

L ike h is m o d e rn c o nfre re Fi fe he c o uld no t p ro d uc e

, ,

a n ugly b o at Th e li ne s o f h is v e s s e ls ne ve r fail e d
.

t o pl e as e t h e e ye ; th e i r s w e e t ne ss a nd b e auty
’

sat isfi e d that a rtis t ic s e ns e in a s ail o r which , ,

th o ugh always p re s e nt can hardy b e d e scrib e d in

,

w o rds . S uffic e it t o say that th e re was n o t a

curv e o r li ne o r angl e in a b o at such as th e
A riel o r S ir L a ncelot which did no t carry o ut,

t h e id e a o f p e rfe ct p ro p o rti o n and bala nc e A nd .

it is j ust thi s bala nc e in d e sig n which giv e s a

’
ship m e rit in the e ye s o f sail o rs S te e l e s g rac e .

fully c urvi ng c utwat e rs a nd n e atly ro und e d st e rns

fitte d e ach o the r t o p e rfe cti o n H is v e s s e ls ne ve r .

gave o ne t h e imp re s s i o n as s o me bo ats do that, ,

t h e b o ws o f a ship had b e e n j o in e d o n t o t h e s t e rn

o f a sc o w a nd vice versa A nd it was th is abso l ut e

.
1 44 TH E CH N AI C LI PPE R S
swe e tn e s s to th e e ye which gav e th e S te e l e clipp e rs
”

a l o o k o f d e licat e alm o s t fragil e b e auty and distin

, , ,

g u ish e d th e m fro m th e i r rivals T h e C lyd e clipp e rs . ,

al s o w e re no t e d fo r a yacht like fini s h : all t h e i r

,
-

wo o dwo rk o n d e ck o r b e l o w wa s o f the fin e st te ak
‘

o r mah o gany so b e auti fully fas hi o ne d as to

,
b ear
c o mpari s o n with t he wo rk o f a firs t clas s cabin e t -

mak e r whil s t bulwark rails stanchi o ns skylights

, , , ,

capsta ns a nd bi nnacl e s sh o ne with m o re b rass wo rk

,
-

tha n is e v e r fo und in a m o d e rn yacht .

P ride of th e C lyde S hip wrights .

The b uildi ng clipp e rs o n the Clyde

o f te a

laid th e fo undati o ns o f that rive rs supre macy in ship ’

c o ns t ructi o n Many are th e sto ri e s re late d o f the

.

p rid e o f G re e no ck and G l a sgo w S hipw rights at this

pe ri o d H o w th e y had the i r fo o t rul e p o ck e ts made
.
-

s hall o w o n p urp o s e t o s h o w thi s e mbl e m o f th e i r

t rad e H o w th e y wo uld s wagge r i nto t he barb e rs

.
’

s h o p s a nd d e ma nd t o b e s hav e d b e fo re th e o rdi na ry

c us to m e r b e caus e th e y w e re S hipwrights .

Th e y e v e n t o o k up o ars m a nship a nd a c re w o f ,

Clyd e S hipw rights calli ng t h e m se lv e s th e Carts dyke

,
“

Wo rthi e s actually suc ce e d e d in wi nni ng the fo ur

,
”

o a re d Champi o ns hip o f B ri t ai n a t t h e Tham e s

N a ti o nal R e ga tta in 1 8 7 1 .

C ra ze fo r Ne a tne ss alo ft in Ab e rde e n Sh ip s .

The A b e rd e e n s hip s th o ugh

, no t so e xpe n

s ive ly fi n i sh e d as th o s e o f th e Clyd e with re gard to

14 6 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
lat e r by S ir L ancelot with d o ubl e o n th e fo re and
main b ut re taini ng t he si ngl e yard o n th e miz e n
,
.

The d o ubl e to psail had o ne disadvantag e it was ,

no t s o e ffe ctiv e in light wi nds as th e singl e t o psail

o wing t o t h e splitting up o f t he sail A s a p ro o f o f

.

this fact Captain K e ay w ro te to me ap rop os o f his

, ,

ce l e b rat e d rac e up chann e l with Taep ing in 1 8 66 ,

t hat wh e n th e wi nd slack e ne d Ta ep ing had slightly

th e b e tte r o f it wh e re as as s o o n a s it fre s h e ned

, , ,

A riel w e nt ah e ad a nd h e acco unt e d fo r this

di ffe re nc e in th e i r saili ng b y th e fact that Taep ing’s
si ngl e t o p s ail s w e re m o re e ffe ctiv e in light we athe r
than his d o ubl e o n e s . D o ubl e t o psails al so ne c essi
t at e d the s lacking up o f th e le e t o pmast rigging

wh e n by th e wi nd in o rd e r t o allo w the l o we r yard

t o b rac e up w e ll . Whe n racin g it Was custo mary o n
t h e t ea clippe rs t o lat e t h e fo o t o f th e upp e r to psails

t o th e l o w e r t o psail yard s The v e s s e ls had th e i r full

.

co mpl e m e nt o fstunsail s (o r s t uddi ng s ails to sp e ll the m

-

co rre ctly) fro m ro yal st unsails do w n t o s av e alls and -

wate rs ails which w e re se t und e r th e l o w e r s tunsail s .

I n mo st o f th e t e a clipp e rs t he t o pgallant stunsails

w e re se t fro m th e d e ck I n th e favo urabl e t rad es
.
,

s uch as wh e n runn ing fro m A nj e r t o M auriti us o r

ro lli ng d o w n t o S t H e l e n a a stays ail was lac e d o n

.
,

as a wing o uts id e th e l o we r s tunsail Captain .

K e ay o f A riel e ve n w e nt s o fa r a s to lace two

s tay s ail s to ge th e r thus maki ng a s quare sail to
,

go o utsid e t he l o w e r s tunsail A small se t and

.
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 14 7

a larg e s e t o f stuns ails w e re carri e d o n th e s e we ll

fo und clipp ers .

Passare e s w e re bo o m e d o utb o ard s o m e 30 fe e t

at the fo re and wh e n b e fo re th e wi nd the fo re sail
,

was se t as flat as po ssibl e with its cl e ws haul e d we ll

o ut o n t h e passa re e b o o ms whilst the cle ws o f th e ,

mai nsail w e re carri e d a ft .

S taysails w e re b e nt o n e v e ry s tay incl uding that ,

fro m t h e main sky sail mas t h e ad I t was th e

-
.

un iv ersal practice am o ngst th e lat e r t ea clipp e rs t o

haul d o w n th e i r s taysails wh e n clo s e haul e d o r -

t urn i ng t o windward The e p o ch maki ng Fa lcon .

-

s tart e d this fashi o n a nd claim e d that it e nabl e d h e r

,

t o la y hal f a p o i nt ne a re r th e wi nd tha n h e r rivals

- -
.

S o m e o f t h e e a rli e r c lippe rs o wi ng t o t h e i r sharp ,

b o ws had a lo t o f rake in th e i r s pars a nd o fte n

, ,

carri e d a gre at d e al o f we ath e r h e lm To o v e rc o m e .

t his a j ib o j ib o r j ib to psail wa s s e t w e ll up o n t h e
- - -

fo re ro yal o r fo re t Opgallant s tay and a sail call e d a

'

- -
,

J ami e G re e n mad e o f N o 4 canvas and c ut as a .

,

mai n to pgallant stuns ail with th re e fe e t m o re h o ist

-
,

was s e t al o ng the b o wsp rit a nd j ibb o o m und e r the

h e adsails This a v e ry fav o urite sail o n the t e a
.
,

clippe rs was fill e d m o s tly fro m th e fo o l wi nd o f the

,
-

j ib b ut pull e d hard e v e ry i nch t e lli ng bo th in light

, ,

a nd m o d e rat e wi nds .

I t was always se t o n a wi nd be ing carri e d e ve n ,

wh e n making sho rt ta cks by th e smart s hips and the ,

fo c s l e h e ad me n att e nde d t o it wh e n g o ing a b o ut

’ ’
-
.
148 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
I t will pe rhaps i nt e re s t m o d e rn s ail o rsh e a r ho w to

thi s s ail was se t Th e s ail was run o ut and in al o ng

.

ro p e t rav ell e rs ro v e b e tw e e n t h e e nd o f th e j ibb o o m

a nd th e cat h e ads The halliards w e nt t o the

-
.

j ibbo o m e nd th e tack to th e l o we r e nd o f the

,

ma rtingale and th e i nne r o r sh e e t cl e w o f th e sai l

,

was flatt e ne d o r e as e d o ff by m e a ns o f a p e ndant

’ ’

fro m the fo re riggi ng a nd a whip to th e fo c s l e h e ad

-
-
.

A ri ng tail was o f c o urs e s e t o utsid e th e spanke r

-
, ,

with a wa te rsa il unde r it o r e ls e a s av e all und e r the -

s pa n k e r A b o nne t als o was g e ne rally lac e d und e r

.
, ,

th e fo re s ail The c ro ssjack o f a t e a clippe r was

.

s e ld o m s e t o n a wi nd as it was di fficult to make it

stand o v e rlappe d as it was by the mainsail and
,

a nk e n
s
p
O ne large st sail s se t wh e n raci ng was the
o f t he .

mai n to pmas t s tays ail which st re tch e d the who l e ,

l e ngth o f th e s tay M o s t o f th e e arli e r clippe rs

.

carri e d a hug e j ib b ut in th e lat e r ships this v e ry

,

unha ndy s ail which caus e d th e d e ath o f m a ny a man

,

in th e fi rs t A b e rd e e n fly e rs wa s spli t i nto the ,

m o d e rn s tyl e i nne r a nd o ute r j ib .

Th e S te e l e clipp e rs w e re no te d fo r th e i r fai ry like -

mai n skys ail s b ut th e A b e rd e e n bo ats and mo s t o f

-
,

th e o th e rs ca rri e d no thi ng ab o v e th e i r ro yal s a nd ,

re li e d m o re o n sp re ad than h o ist A fe w ships .

,

h o w e ve r s e nt up t e mp o rary skysail ya rds in favour

,

abl e w e ath e r a nd th e M a itla nd al o n e se t m o o nsail s

,
.

ab o v e standing skysail yards -

.
 I I
M DS H P SE C TI O N SI R LA N C E LO T
.

M O DE L OF TITA N IA .
”

[To face Page 149:

 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S 149

Th e s e m o o nsails of
h e rs we re h o we v e r a standing , ,

j o k e am o ngst the t e a fl e e t a nd we re co mpare d t o ,

p o ck e t handk e rchi e fs
-
.

De ck Plans .

The d e ck plans w e re g e n e rally alik e—a sh o rt

’ ’
t o pgallant fo c s l e t e rm e d a m o nk e y fo c s l e ; a small
,
’ ’

midship ho us e ; the bo at s carri e d o n lo w skids b e

-

twe e n th e main and miz e n mas ts j ust fo rward o f

th e miz e n rig ing ; a nd a rais e d quart e r d e ck fl ush
g
-
,

with th e main rail and e xte ndi ng a fe w fe e t fo rward

o f th e miz e n mast -
.

De a d-rise and Ballasting .

The midship cti o n o f the S ir L ancelot

se
’
sh o ws t he am o unt o f d e ad ri s e us ual in S te e l e s pro-

duc t io ns S t e e l e lik e th e A m e rican D o nald Mackay

.
, , ,

in his lat e r ships b e li e v e d in a full midship s e cti o n

,

and fine e nds b ut s o m e clippe r ship d e sign e rs c ut

,

th e i r ships away alm o s t lik e yach ts A ll th e t ea .

clippe rs re quire d a de al o f balla s t and be sid e s so m e ,

1 00 to ns o f p e rma ne n t i ro n k e n tl e dg e sto w e d und e r

th e skin in th e limbe rs th e y to o k in o v e r 2 00 to ns
,

o f wash e d shingl e b e fo re l o adi ng t e a .

I t re qui re d v e ry littl e t o alte r the t rim an inch o r

two . A riel in th e 1 8 6 6 rac e us e d a shi fti ng b o x
, , ,

1 2 fe e t by 3 § by 2 mad e o f 3 inch d e als and fill e d

,
-
,

with spare k e dge s anch o r sto cks and co al to t rim

, , ,

t o windwa rd .A nd t he m o vi ng o f salt p ro visi o ns

fro m the fo re pe ak o r putti ng the cabl e s aft in th e
,
 15 0 TH E I
CH N A C LI P PE R S
sail ro o m was quit e e no ugh to put th e s te rn d o wn
,

an i nch o r t wo .

Wh e n l e v e lli ng the ballas t be fo re l o ading tea it

was us ual to t rim abo ut 3 fe e t by th e st e rn so that ,

wh e n l o ade d th e s hip o fte n dre w 4 o r 5 inch e s m o re

a ft than fo rwa rd .

To ge t he r c o rre ct t rim was as imp o rtant in th e s e

s e nsitiv e te a clippe rs as it is in a m o d e rn yacht and ,

hal f i nch o ne way o r the o th e r o fte n mad e all the

di ffe re nce in a ship s saili ng ’
.

S h e e r.
L ik e m o d e rn raci ng yacht the tea
th e ,

clippe rs had j us t the right p ro po rti o n o f she e r and ,

in this re spe ct ca m e hal f way b e tw e e n the Black

wall frigat e s which had ab s o lute ly n o ne and the
, ,

Yanke e clippe rs which in many cas e s carri e d sh e e r

,

to e xc e s s .

R igidity of Build .

Wh en th e
ival ry in th e t ea trade be twe e n
r

A m e rica a nd th e U nit e d K i ngd o m was at its h e ight

t he B ritish v e ss e ls we re no t e d fo r th e go o d c o nditi o n

in which t h e y d e liv e re d th e i r cargo e s wh e re as in ,

A m e rican s hips the t e a was o ft e n inj ure d o wing to

th e lightn e s s o f th e i r c o nst ructi o n a nd the s o ft wo o ds

e mpl o y e d which all o w e d th e wat e r t o d rai n into the

,

h ull whe n unde r th e strai n o f a h e avy p re ss o f sail .

The B ritish c o mp o site built clippe rs o f the sixti e s

-

we re ho we ver s o b e auti fully b uilt a s to b e as tight

, ,

a s a b o ttl e S uch ships as th e A riel re qui re d a

.
15 2 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S
clipp e rs usually had to co nt e nd with w e ak o r
muti no us c re ws whils t th e i ro n clippe rs o fte n had to
,

p ut u p with w e ak c re w s a nd fo ul b o tto ms B ut .

all o wanc e e sp e cially in h e avy w e ath e r m ust als o b e

, ,

mad e fo r t o nnag e and the littl e t e a clipp e rs we re

,

littl e m o re than hal f the siz e o f t he o th e rs .

Thus it wo uld no t b e re as o nabl e t o e xp e ct th e m

to rival s uch v e s s e ls as t h e B lack B all e r s L ightning
’

a nd ja mes B a ines o r th e Ya nk e e clipp e rs Fl y ing

Cloud a nd S overeign of the S eas wh e n runn i ng the
cas t ing d o wn The Black Ball e r o wing to he r
.
,

(
s iz e a nd h e ight o ut o f th e wat e r e mig ra nts we re a

light e as y cargo givi ng a high fre e bo ard ) co uld run

, ,

b e fo re th e we s te rli e s with dry d e cks and skysails se t ,

wh e n a t e a clippe r with h e r narro w be am and lo w

,

fre e b o ard w o uld o nly b e buryi ng h e rs e l f if p re s s e d

,

o r hal f b e calm e d und e r th e le e o f e ach ro ll e r if

-

s nugg e d d o wn t o th e l o w e r c a nvas .

But in th e light w e ath e r o f th e t ro pics and mo re

e s p e cially in t h e baffli ng ai rs o f t h e d o ld rums the ,

littl e t e a clippe rs co uld sail 2 fe e t to a Black Ball e r s ’

o ne . I hav e tak e n o ut t h e tim e s b e twe e n the two

tro pic s fro m th e l o gs o f va ri o us s hips a nd find that
t he t e a clipp e rs w e re us ually fiv e o r s ix day s fast e r

than e ithe r the Black Ball e rs Yank e e clipp e rs o r the

,

i ro n clipp e rs .

O n zo th S e p t e mb e r 1 8 5 5 th e Black Ball e r
, ,

L ightn ing c ro ss e d th e t ro pic o f C an c e r a nd was 2 5

days to Capric o rn whil s t A riel c ro ss e d Cance r o n
,
 TH E CH INA C I L PPER S 15 3

2 2 nd S e pt e mb e r , and o nly to o k 1 8 days

1 86 5,

b e tw e e n th e t ro pics I hav e ch o s e n this instanc e as

.
,

the y cro s s e d the tro pics at th e sam e s e as o n o f th e

ye ar and e xpe ri e n ce d pre tty m uch the same we athe r .

A riel s b e st tim e b e tw e e n the t ro pics was in

’

N o v e mb e r 1 8 6 6 1 3 days ; Thermopylae s 1 2 days

’

, ,

in N o v e mb e r 1 8 6 6 ; L ightn ing s 1 6 days in Fe b ruary

’

, ,

18 5 5 and P a tria rch s (R> give an e xample o f a n i ro n

’

clipp e r) 1 5 days in J une 1 8 8 3 I hav e picke d th e s e

, .

fo ur ships as th e y w e re p ro bably as fast as if no t ,

faste r than a ny o th e rs o f t h e i r type

,
.

I n do ld rum w e ath e r such v e sse ls as A rie l ,

Thermopylae S ir L a ncelot and Tita nia po s se sse d

,

th e po we r o f gh o sting al o ng 4 o r 5 kn o ts wh e n th e re

was s carce a rippl e o n the wat e r and wh e n a Black

B alle r o r C ali fo rn ian flye r wo uld bare ly have had
st ee rage way .

Weath e rlines s o f th e Te a C lipp e rs.

A t th e sam e tim e the y we nt to wi ndward in

a wo nd e rful mann e r A go o d instanc e o f this was
.

sh o w n during Thermopylae s fi rst v o yage wh e n ’

,

l e aving M e lb o urn e fo r N e wcastl e N S W , . . .

Th e rmo pylae ”
b e a ting to Windward .

The t ug to w e d mile s b e lo w the G e lli

he r 2

b rand L ightship ; she th e n cast o ff sa il was se t a nd ,

s h e st o o d o v e r t o wa rds th e S t K ilda B ank ; stay

.
ed

and o n the po rt tac k h e ad e d fo r Po int Co o k ; w e nt

ro und again and th e n fe tch e d th e h e ad o f t he S o uth
15 4 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
Chan ne l . The pil o t
to o k h e r d o wn was
, who ,

amaz e d and t o ld the tug maste r that h e had tak e n

many s hips to se a und e r simila r co nditi o ns b ut the ,

we ath e rly q ualiti e s o f th e Th ermopy lae e clips e d any

thi ng he had e v e r s e e n N o v e s s e l he d e clare d .
, ,

had e v e r mad e th e S o uth Channe l in th re e tacks

b e fo re with th e wi nd fro m the sam e qua rte r .

We ath e rline s s of S ir La nc e lo t a nd Arie l .

”

The iste r s hips S ir L an celo t and A riel

s

w e re s p e cially no t e d fo r the way in which th e y co uld

b e at de ad to windward in a st ro ng b re e z e
_ .

The fo ll o wi ng e nt ri e s in C aptai n K e ay s abstracts

’

’
t e s ti fy to A riel s po we rs
S hip go e s 1 2 kn o ts o n a b o wli ne quite e asy .

S hip go i ng cl o s e haul e d 8 o r 1 0 k no ts -
,

pitchi ng m uch le e sid e o f d e ck co nstantly fl o o d e d

, ,

wate r co mi ng o v e r b o w a nd le e quarte r clo s e aft

D i s tance in 2 4 h o urs 2 2 2 mil e s agai ns t such a se a .

Fre sh gal e s s e ve re s quall s ve ry high

“
, ,

turb ul e nt sea she be hav e s s pl e ndidly go i ng 1 1

, ,

kno ts agai nst such a s e a D is tance by o bse rvatio n

, .

fro m 9 p m to no o n 1 7 4 mil e s
. . .

I have no i ns tanc e s o f th e t e a clipp e rs m e e ti ng

large r clippe rs in fre sh wi nd s b ut in light we ath e r ,

th e Fly ing Sp ur o nc e pass e d th e L igh tn ing v e ry

e asily ; sh e lik e wi s e w e nt by S o hra on a nd Ta nta llon

Castle . A riel als o o v e rhaul e d t he latt e r v e ss e l with

gre at e as e the wi nd be i ng light and ah e ad and
,

stunsails in .
15 6 TH E C H I N A C LI P PE R S

many to b e as fas t as Th ermopyla e b ut s h e s uffe re d

,

fio m b a d captai ns . L otha ir was o ne o f t h e fa s t e st

o f th e lo t in light a nd m o d e rate b re e z e s b ut had no t
,

th e p o w e r t o stand d rivi ng in h e avy w e athe r .

N o rma n Co urt c o uld o ut we ath e r and o utsail the

fl e e t o n a wi nd b ut was no t so fast run ning .

The rmopylae a nd Cutty S a rh b e i ng la rge r and

,

m o re p o we rful sto o d d rivi ng in h e avy w e athe r

,

be tte r than th e g rac e ful S t e e l e fly e rs a nd had much

t h e b e s t o f it wh e n runn i ng th e i r c a s ting d o wn In .

hard b re e z e s Cutty S a rh was th e fas te s t ship o f the

fl e e t b ut in light w e ath e r Thermopyla e a nd the
,

S t e e l e c racks c o uld b e at h e r
.

Y e t t aki ng th e m all ro und t h e re was v e ry littl e

di ffe re nc e in s p e e d b e twe e n the b e s t k no w n o f the
clipp e rs a nd in the racing o ne c an safe ly say that
,

t h e i r captai ns had as m uch o r m o re t o do with th e i r

s ucc e s s o r fa i lure tha n th e s hip s th e m s e lv e s .

I have c o ll e cte d wh e re I co uld i nstanc e s o f ships

, ,

in c o mpany which will sh o w at o nc e t h e l e v e l Saili ng

,

o f t h e fi rs t ra nk e rs .

A riel a nd Sp in drift w e re o v e r a w e e k in c o m
pany in th e Chi na S e as wh e n ho m e ward bo und in
1 8 6 8 a nd A riel o nly s ucc e e d e d in g e tti ng th ro u h
,
g
A nj e r S t rait ah e ad by a da ri ng pi e c e o f navigati o n
o n t h e pa rt o f h e r c o mma nd e r .

O n ano th e r o ccas i o n A rie l was six days in co m

pany with Fiery Cross th e wi nd b e ing m o stly ahe ad
,

a nd fro m a fre sh b re e z e to ligh t ai rs and C aptai n

,
 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS 15 7

K e ay t o ld me that in all that time he o nly gain e d

ab o ut a mil e o r a co upl e o f po ints to we ath e r .

Flying Spur a nd S ir L ancelot in 1 8 6 7 we re te n

days in c o mpany runni ng d o w n to S t H e l e na . .

A gain Fly ing Sp ur was in c o mpany with Ta ep ing fo r

s e v e n days .

S ir L a ncelo t a nd N o rman Co urt w e re a w e e k in

co mpany go i ng d o wn th e China S e a h o m e ward
b o un d in 1 8 7 4 I n th e s am e y e ar N o rman Court a nd
.

Ka iso w w e re in s ight o f e ach o th e r m o st o f the

way b e tw e e n B e achy H e ad a nd th e li ne .

I n 1 8 7 2 wh e n raci ng h o m e ThermW
, yla e a nd
,

Cutty S a rh w e re withi n a fe w h o urs o f e ach o the r

fro m S hanghai right do w n t o th e Cape wh e re Cutty , ,

S a rh wh e n l e adi ng had th e mi s fo rtune t o l o s e h e r

, ,

rudd e r .

Th e s e fe w i nstanc e s will s ho w h o w narro w was

’

t he ma rgi n in spe e d b e tw e e n t he clipp e rs .

Th e H andling o f a Te a Clip p e r .

The han dli ng o f a t e a clippe r was a ticklish

busi ne s s a nd the captai n who w e nt i nto the te a
,

rac e s a ft e r b e ing us e d t o sl o w e r a nd l e s s s e ns i t iv e
-

c raft o ft e n fo und hims e l f all at s e a a nd made a bad

m e ss o f it at fi rs t .

A cas e in p o int was th e dismasting o f th e Titan ia .

I n clipp e r s hips it was bad practic e to put y o ur h e lm

up in a squall tho ugh the B o ard o f Trad e o nly
,

re co gnis e d that man oeuv re wh e n o ne was passi ng

the e xamin e rs .
15 8 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
E xp e ri e nc e d ship capt ai ns invariably gav e
te a -

st rict o rd e rs to an o ffice r who had j ust c o m e o ut of

,

a no n clippe r ne v e r t o k e e p away in a sq uall b ut to

-
, ,

l uff and shak e th e squall o ut o f h e r th ough the ,

o ffic e r had o f c o urse

, t o b e ca re ful no t t o ge t his
,

ship aback and th e re was als o th e danger of

,

splitting sails .

The dange r o f putting th e h e lm up in a s e nsitive

and he avily sparre d clippe r was this A s the wind
-
.

fre e d th e ship gath e re d m o re way and he r yards , ,

b e i ng m o re fo re and aft o wing to he r l o ng lo wer

masts than th o s e o f o th e r ships th e sails go t the full ,

we ight o f the squall abe am I f th e ship was the .

l e ast bit t e nd e r o r it was a n e xt ra h e avy puff she

, ,

wo uld put he r rail und e r s o fa r that the he lm l o st its

po w e r o v e r h e r Th e n p ro bably the halliards
.
, ,

wo uld b e le t fly b ut o wi ng to the angl e at which the

, ,

ship was h e el e d th e yards w o uld no t c o m e down

, ,

which m e ant that s o m e th ing had to go .

I n Titania s cas e she e nco unt ere d a fi e rce squall

’
,

j ust n o rth o f th e C ape V e rds H e r captain B o bby .

,

D e as who had co m e fro m a wago n call e d the

,

R eig ate o rd e re d th e h e lm t o b e put up

, Even so . ,

if he had b ee n in tim e t o ge t th e ship o ff the wind

be fo re th e w e ight o f the squall s t ruck he r all would ,

hav e bee n w e ll ; b ut h e was t o o lat e The squall .

caught he r square o n the b e am S he w e nt right .

o v e r until h e r fai rl e ads we re in th e wat e r The .

to psail yards stuck at th e masth e ads and away went ,

16 0 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE R S
M o st o f th e t e a clipp e rs w e re i nclin e d to b e o n
t h e t e nd e r sid e S o m e o f th e m i n d e e d w e re s o
.
, ,

o v e rhat t e d as t o b e da ng e ro us ly c rank b ut such ,

s hip s w e re n e v e r in th e fi rst flight But wh e n .

cl e v e rly handl e d no square rigge d ship that e ve r -

sail e d the s e as was as handy and willi ng as th e se

b e auti ful littl e te a ships .

Th e O wne rs .

A m o ngs t th e te a -
s hip
wne rs th e re we re o

many m e n o f th e go o d o ld fashi o n e d t ype who -

,

l o v e d th e i r s hips a nd t o o k m o re i nt e re st in them
than th e y did in the i r bala nc e s h e e ts Th o ugh .

k e e n e n o ugh bus i ne ss m e n the y had that prid e in,

th e i r ships which i nsiste d that e v e rythi ng do wn to ,

t he small e s t d e tail sho uld b e o f the ve ry be st

, .

S uch o w ne rs t rus t e d th e i r captai ns a nd gave the m

a fre e hand and we re as lib e ral a nd g e n e ro us in
,

th e ir t re atm e nt o f th e i r e mpl o y e e s as the y we re

re ga rdi ng t he o utfit a nd upk e e p o f th e i r ships .

Th e i r v e s s e ls ne ve r lack e d pai nt o r ro p e a ny mo re
than th e i r captai ns lack e d a bo nus o r th e i r cre ws a
s uffici e ncy o f go o d pro vi s i o ns .

Ma ny o f th e m w e re o ld s e a captai ns who had ,

e ith e r s e t up fo r th e m s e lv e s o r e l se o wi ng t o th e i r
,
,

g re at e xpe ri e nc e a nd disti nguis h e d care e rs had ,

o btai ne d pa rt ne rs hip s in go o d fi rm s O f s uch we re .

Maxto n who c o mmand e d L o rd of th e I s les and

,

Fa lcon ; R o dg e r who c o mmand e d Ka te Ca rnie ;

,

a nd Killick who c o mmand e d t h e Ch a llen er A nd

,
g .
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS 16 1

m o st o f the o th e r o w ne rs had at o ne tim e o r an o the r

mad e vo yage s o n th e i r o wn ships and kn e w th e m as ,

a sailo r k no ws a s hip .

Th e s e m e n a s I hav e said l o v e d th e i r ships a nd

, , ,

th e l o s s o f a ship m e a n t fa r m o re to th e m tha n a m e re

po ck e t lo ss o f cas h A cas e in po i nt was the wre ck

.

o f t he S in dri t o n D unge n e ss
p f which b ro k e o ld,

F indlay s h e art and re sulte d in his mi nd givi ng way

’
.

Pro bably o ne o f t h e b e st k no wn o f th e o ld
fashi o n e d t yp e o f shipo w ne r was J o hn Willis ,

C aptain J o h n a s h e was call e d in shippi ng ci rcl e s

, ,

wh o with h is whit e hat wa s alm o st a s familiar a

, ,

landmark as the do ck capstan o n the pi e rh e ad o f

t h e We st I ndia D o cks N o ship o f his e ve r
.

d e parte d o r arriv e d witho ut his pe rso nal fare we ll o r

gre e ti ng at th e d o ck gate s .

Th e fo ll o wi ng e xtrac t s fro m a fri e ndly a rticl e in

Fa iip lay will giv e a go o d id e a o f thi s fine o ld
s hip o w ne r

“
J o h n b e tte r k no w n as C aptain J o hn co mmand e d
, ,

o ne o f his fath e r s ship s b e fo re h e was w e ll o ut o f h is

’

te e ns a nd his c o nt e mpo ra ri e s will te ll yo u no

,

smart e r man e v e r tro d a quarte r d e ck N o thing b ut -

.

th e b e st and pl e nty o f it will do fo r J o h n wh e n h is

ships are in que sti o n Once whe n o ne o f his ships

.

had run o ff he r clas s and it was fo und that it wo uld

,

co st m o re to re plac e h e r than she was wo rth he s o ld ,

he r t o a ship b re ak e r at a lb w p ric e in o rd e r tha t

she s h o uld b e b ro k e n up having re fus e d a high e r
,

M
 16 2 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
I f he s aid s h e is no t
’
pric e fo r he r to wo rk .
‘

, ,
‘

g o o d e no ugh fo r me s he o ught no t to go t o se a
’
agai n I f I w e re t o s ay that J o h n s t e mpe r
.
’

is e xact ly that o f a lamb I am afra id I sh o uld b e

ro ugh o n t h e lamb s H e is as hard a s i ro n and as
.

straight as th e day H e calls a spad e a spad e and . ,

if h e d o e s no t like a ma n h e calls him a sc o und re l .

That is h is wo rd H e d o e s no t m e an m uch by it
. ,

a nd h e appli e s it i ndi s c rimi nat e ly t o a nything that

o ffe nd s him J o h n says wh at h e thi nks b ut no o ne

.
,

is m uch the wo rs e fo r it H e is rich and a bache lo r .

,

a favo urite with th e ladi e s With whate ve r faults .

h e ha s h e is a fine s p ecim e n o f the o ld fashi o ned -

,

"
high class ship o wn e r
-
.

A ft e r h is t ro ubl e with th e und e rwrit e rs o ve r

B lach A dder s mi s fo rtune s J o h n Willi s ne v e r i nsured
’

his ship s H e was al s o p e c uliar in ne v e r allo wing

.

his captai ns to h av e any int e re s t in th e m .

Th e C ap ta ins .

man had m o re to do with the re putati o n

No
o f a s hip than h e r cap tai n I n t h e Chi na trade .

dari ng e nt e rp rise a nd e nd uranc e w e re th e s ine qua

, ,

n ons o f a s ucc e ss ful skipp e r A nd many a spe edy .

s hip as we s hall se e wa s n e v e r giv e n a c h a nce o f

, ,

do i ng h e rs e l f j ustice o wi ng to h e r mi s fo rtune in the

,

way o f captai ns Fi rst clas s m e n we re so s carce

.
-

t hat I c an ba re ly s c rap e u
p a d o z e n wo rthy o f
re m e mb ra nc e .

Th e re we re many sa fe s te ady go e rs b ut th ese , ,

 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS 16 3

w e re no t the passage mak e rs I t requi re d dash a nd .

s t e adin e ss, darin g and p rud e nce to mak e a c rack

racing skipp e r and th e se are no t att ributes o r
,

characte r which are o fte n fo und in co nj unctio n A .

bo rn racing skippe r has always be e n as rare as a

bo rn cavalry l eade r a nd th o s e in c o mmand o f th e
,

t e a s hips p ro v e d no e xc e p t i o n to this rul e M o st .

me n w e re e ith e r t o o cauti o us o r to o re ckl e ss— add e d

'
t o which the China C o ast was v e ry we t
(sail o r s
parlance ) in tho s e days a nd a d runke n c aptain was
,

’
t o o o fte n th e e xplanati o n o f a fine ship s no n s ucc e ss -
.

H o we ve r th e re we re a fe w me n who he ld th e
, ,

n e c e s s ary qualiti e s o f a t e a ship c o mmand e r wh o s e

-
,

e nd ura n c e e q uall e d th e i r e ne rgy wh o s e daring was ,

t e mp e re d by
go o d j udgm e n t who se b usin e ss capa,

b ilit ie s w e re o n a par with th e i rs e amanship a nd wh o se ,

n e rv e s we re o f cast i ro n The se me n co uld e asily

.

b e pick e d o ut o f the ruck fo r th e i r ships w e re inv a ri

,

ably in the fro nt o f the battle A m o ngst th e be s t .

kn o wn w e re R o binso n o f S ir L a nc elot K e ay o fA riel , ,

M c Kin no n o f Taep ing Ke mb all o f Thermopy lae

, ,

A nd re w S h e wan o f N o rma n Court B urg o y ne o f ,

Tita n ia J o hn S mith o f L ahloo and O rchard

, ,

of L otha ir .

The re many ways o f making a passage a nd

a re ,

a s many o f sailing a ship S o m e captains invariably

.

mad e g o o d t racks o th e rs did no t b o th e r ab o ut

,

mile age as l o ng as th e y co uld ke e p th e i r ships

m o ving o th e rs again prid e d th e ms e lve s o n th e i r
,
16 4 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE RS
dari ng navigati o n in cutti ng c o rn e rs and dashing
th ro ugh narro w channe ls at night .

Th e clipp e rs like th o ro ughb re d h o rs e s re sp o n de d

, ,

t o t h e ma s te r t o uch lik e t hi ngs o f li fe R o bi ns o n fo r ,

i ns ta n ce was said to b e wo rth a n e xt ra hal f k no t an

,
-

h o ur o n any ship ; this co uld o nly b e d o ne by the

m o s t s l e e pl e ss vigilance .

Th us the s t rai n o f a th re e m o nths rac e was

’

nat urally tre m e nd o us S o m e captains o nly we nt

.

b e l o w to chang e the i r cl o th e s o r take a bath o th e rs .

us e d t he s e tt e e in th e cha rt ro o m o r e v e n a d e ck
-

chai r as a b e d Thi s wa s the habit o f o ld Captai n

.

R o b e rt s o n o f t he Ca irng o rm who d uri ng t he ho m e

, ,

ward run ne v e r turn e d in b ut d o s e d with o ne e ye

o p e n in a d e ck chai r o n th e p o o p
-
.

C ap tai n K e ay o f A riel w ri t ing o f h is passage

, ,

d o wn th e Chi na Co ast re mark s , My habi t during

th o s e w e e ks was ne v e r to und re s s e xc e pt fo r my
m o rning bath a nd that o ft e n to o k the plac e o f sl e ep
,
.

The naps I had we re o f t he b ri e fe s t and we re

”
m o s tl y o n d e ck .

Many a ma n b ro k e d o wn afte r a fe w ye ars o f it ,

b ut t h e gia nt s s uch as K e ay o r R o bin s o n we nt o n

, ,

a nd o n wi th o ut a re s t a nd s t ill m o re w o nd e rful
, , ,

with ha rdly a s e rio us accid e nt .

R use s us e d b y th e C ap ta ins a gainst o ne a no th e r.

Th e e xcite m e nt o f t heacing was o f c o urse r , ,

d o ubl e d whe n the ships w e re in co mpany S o me .

captains had a stro ng di s lik e to saili ng in c o mpany ,

1 66 TH E C H IN A C LI PPE R S
the n ight was th us e nabl e d t o gain a l e ad o f
,

7 0 mil e s .

H e did no t s ight th e N icholson again until he was

o ff t h e S cilli e s whe n s he was s e e n away t o the
,

no rra rd . C a re manage d t o ge t i n to th e L iza rd ,

th e n the no r w e st wind c o mi ng away s t ro ng he

’
-
,

b o o m e d up chan ne l a nd a rrive d ne arly a w e e k ah e ad .

H e was s p e cially pl e as e d at thi s victo ry as the ,

s kipp e r o f the E liza beth N ichols on had t re at e d t he

id e a o f th e L ord M aca ulay b e i ng abl e t o b e at his

ne w ship with s c o rn a nd was so s t rait lac e d i nto t he
,
-

bargai n that he re fus e d e v e n to b e t th e p ro v e rbial

hat o n th e re sult .

I t was in quit e a di ffe re nt fa shi o n t hat Captain

R o bi ns o n o f th e S ir L a n celot fo o l e d Captai n I nn e s
o f th e Sp indri ft in the 1 8 6 9 rac e Th e Sp indrift .

had s ail e d fro m Fo o ch o w o n the 4 th o f J uly 1 3 days ,

b e fo re S ir L ancelot ; ne ve rth e l e ss Ro bi ns o n managed

t o o v e rhaul I nne s o ff th e C ap e a nd o ne fine cl e a r ,

mo rni ng t he Sp indrift s ighte d a s hip o n he r s tar

bo ard b e am which s ignall e d the numb e r o f the
,

City of D unedin O n h is a rrival C aptai n I nne s

.

re p o rt e d s p e aking th e City of D unedin o n 3 l st

A ugus t o ff t h e C ape li tt l e k no wi ng t hat th e v e sse l
,

was in re ality his rival t he S ir L ancelot which had

, ,

al re ady arriv e d in the Tham e s fiv e da ys a he ad o fhim , .

O n a no th e r o ccas i o n Captai n K e ay in the A riel

go t th e b e t t e r o f Sp in dr ift Thi s was in 1 8 6 8

.
.

Th e t wo v e ss e ls had t rav e ll e d ne arly t he wh o l e

 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 16 7

l e ngth o f the Chi na Co ast in co mpany until o ne

e v e nin
g fo und th e m alm o st b e calm e d o ff the We st
Co ast o f B o rn e o B o th sh ips sto o d in to ge t the
.

land b re e z e until at 8 p m th e y w e re so clo s e o n to p

. .

o f the land that S in dri t w e nt ab o ut and sto o d o ut

p f
t o s e a a gain But Capta in K e ay putting o ut all h is
.
,

lights h e ld o n and with h is l e ad g o ing c re pt n ea re r

,

and n e a re r the sho re A t midnight he had 9

.

fath o ms Th e n cam e t he fi rst puff o f the land

.

bree z e and he imme diate ly ho ve ro und o n the po rt

tack . The n e xt th re e cas ts o f t he l e ad gav e 5 4g , ,

and 4 fath o ms s o h e wa s o blige d to ke e p o ff a bit

, ,

b ut all t he tim e the b re e z e was fre sh e ning and as ,

he st00 d away o n h is c o urs e h e was re ward e d fo r

’
his da ring by a last glimps e o f Sp indrift s po rt light
as s he lay b e calm e d in t h eo ffi ng .

On m o o nlight n ights dari ng captains o fte n sto l e a

march o n the i r rivals by cutting th ro ugh S t o lze s
Chann e l in G aspa r S traits o r taking th e A llas
Passage o ut o f th e Ban da S e a inste ad o f the Ombai
I hav e al re ady de sc rib e d Captain Enright s
’
Passage .

da ring navigati o n i ns id e the C o ral R e e f o ff Banca

I sland the night wh e n t he A m e rican clipp e rM emnon
,

go t asho re .

Th e P ride o f C ap tains in th e ir S h ip s .

The fo ll o wi ng i ns tanc e will give s o m e id e a

p rid e th e se captains had in th e i r b e auti ful ships
o f th e .

Captain S tainto n C l ark e who c o mmand e d the ,

fo ur mast e d barq ue L och Ca rron fo r s o many y e ars

- ,
16 8 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
v d his tim e a nd fi nally ga i ne d his fi rst co mmand
se r e

in S ki nne r s Ca stl e s
’
.

Whil s t he was se rvi ng a s an o ffice r o n b o ard the

E din burg h Cas tle h e was s e nt ab o a rd th e Tita nia
,

o ne e ve ning wi t h a m e s sage fo r h e r capta i n t he ,

n o to ri o us D andy D unn wh o s e nicknam e was the ,

re s ult o f p re dil e cti o n fo r fro c k c o at s and lav e nde r

kid gl o v e s .

A s so o n as Cla rk e had d e liv e re d hims e l f o f h is

m e ss ag e Captai n D unn ask e d
,

I s this the fi rst tim e yo u hav e b e e n ab o ard the

Tita nia
“
Ye s , pli e d yo ung Cla rk e
s ir, re .

U po n which D a ndy D un n call e d o ut impre ss iv e ly

t o h is fi rs t o ffic e r

Mi s t e r tak e a lamp and s h o w M r Clarke o ve r .

t h e s hip .

Te a C lip p e r Cre w s .

The c re w s o f th e clippe rs w o uld make a

tea

m o d e rn s hipmas te r s m o uth wat e r B ri t i s he rs to a

’

m an t he y w e re p rim e s e am e n a nd e nt e re d i nto the

,

raci ng wi th a ll t h e z e s t o f t h o ro ugh sp o rt s m e n .

Many a re the st o ri e s o f th e i r k e e nne s s o n the ho m e

ward run .

Th ermopy la e s c re w a re state d to have s p re ad th e i r

’

bla nk e ts in the riggi ng as a n auxili a ry to h e r sail s .

I n th e g re at rac e o f 1 8 6 6 th e c re ws o f S erica and

,

Fie ry Cross back e d a m o nt h s pa y agai nst e ach o the r

’

”
O ft e n re lat e s C apta i n C a re
, hav e I s e e n the ,
“
17 0 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE RS
o th e r m ast h o ist e d o ut o f mainmast which was no ,

e asy j o b and wh e n go t o n d e ck fo und t he h e e l s o

,

spli nt e re d and chafe d that had we be e n wh e re

a no the r c o uld b e go t it wo uld no t hav e be e n s e nt
,

al o ft B o lte d the spli nt e re d he e l to ge th e r and go t

.

it re ady fo r go ing al o ft .

“
A t 1 p m watch busy g e tting ri gging cl e a re d and
. .
,

mas t re ady ( no t we rk fo r all hands ab o ut the mas t) ,

fo und that h o o p and i ro n grumm e t at ro yal mast

h e ad had b e e n l o st o ve rb o ard .

6 p m c o mm e nc e d to h e av e t he mast up
. .
, .

9 30 p m fidde d t he mast go t stays and back

. . .
,

stay s s e t up by midnight .

S unday 8 th Oct o b e r 1 8 6 5 —Pro ce e ding to ge t

, , .

mai n to pgallant ya rd ac ro ss and sail be nt and se t ;

ro yal ya rd u
p and sail se t .

e m
go t fi ni s h e d cl e are d th e d e cks up
. .
, , .

I c o uld quo te many o th e r i ns ta nce s o f this s o rt

to sho w what clippe r s hip c re ws co uld do b ut ,

thi s will e asily b e s e e n wh e n I co m e to d escribe

th e racing .

Th e re has b e e n a go o d d e al s aid ab o ut the d o ubl e

c re ws o f the tea clippe rs A s a matte r o f fact they .
,

we re by no m eans o v e rma nne d e sp e cially whe n ,

fre ight s b e gan t o fall ; a nd wh e n o ne re m e mb e rs the ,

cre ws o f sixty to e ighty m e n carri e d by the little

1 00 0 to n Blackwall frigat e s
-
o ne is alm o st i nclin e d ,

t o thi n k t hat the t e a shi s had ba re ly s uffici e nt me n

p .

I n 1 8 60 wh e n fre ight s we re at th e i r h e ight L ord

, ,
 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS 17 1

M acaulay had a c re w all to ld A nd Fly ing of 40 .

’
Sp ur s c o mpl e m e nt c o nsist e d o f tw e nty abl e s e am e n ,

t wo o rdina ry s e am e n two midshipm e n b o s n ’ ’

, , ,

sailmak er carpe nte r j o i ne r butch e r co o k t wo

, , , , ,

ste wards th re e o ffi ce rs a nd captain—thirty six all

, ,
-

to ld . A riel and S ir L a ncelot ca rri e d captain t wo ,

’ ’
mate s b o s n sailmak e r carpe nte r c o o k s te ward
, , , , , ,

and twe nty fo ur abl e s e am e n—a to tal o f thi rty t wo

- -
.

Thi s was fo r th e passage h o m e wh e n t wo e xtra ,

A B s w e re ge ne rally shippe d at H o ng K o ng
. . .

But it m us t b e re m e mb e re d that e v e ry man was

an A B in the full e st s e nse o f the te rm Wi t h to rn
. . .

sails co ns tantly und e r re pair it was ne ce ssa ry that

e v e ry man sh o uld kn o w h o w t o us e a palm S uch .

e n t ri e s as th e fo ll o win g w e re c o nt i nually o n t he

wo rk s late Watch side s eami ng and repai ring

“

”
to rn sails .

U n do ubt e dly th e c re w o f a te a clipp e r had v e ry

littl e re st wh e n racing This h o w e ve r was mad e .
, ,

up fo r by th e e xcit e m e nt The te nsi o n o f the .

raci ng was n e v e r o ff a nd s p re ad t o all hands who , ,

c aught t he e xhila ra t i o n o f it and b e cam e animat e d

with a fine c ¢ rit de corp s s uch as is alm o s t as de ad

. .
,

as t he d o do in the s e m o de rn days o f machin e ry and

s e l f int e re st t rad e uni o ns a nd ship ma nag e rs
-
,
.

“
Th e rmo p yla e Co c k
’
s .

sto ry sh o ws the p rid e o f the c re ws in

No
th e ir ships b e t t e r than th e th e ft o f Thermopylae s
’

c o ck Whe n she arriv e d in Fo o cho w o n her

.
17 2 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS
maid e n vo yage afte r t wo re co rd pas s age s she
,
,

s urp ri s e d th e o th e r s hip s at th e Pag o da A nch o rage

by e xhibiti ng a gild e d co ck o f victo ry at he r mai n

t ruck . Thi s was t o o m uch fo r t he c re ws o f the
o th e r v e ss e ls which al re a dy had t e a rac e s t o th e i r
,

c re dit whilst Th ermopy lae still had h e rs to win

,
.

'

Th e sto ry go e s that a sail o r o n th e Td ep i ng j umped

o v e rb o a rd a nd s wam ac ro ss t o th e The rmopylae

whilst he r o ffic e rs a nd c re w we re havi ng a g rand

s p re ad b e l o w in h o no ur p e rhap s o f h e r captai n s
’

, ,

bi rthday C limbi ng t he cabl e h e go t ab oard

.
,

uns e e n a nd s o o n re m o v e d t h e co ck fro m its pro ud

,

po s iti o n th e n s hi nni ng to the de ck s wam safe ly

,

back to his o wn s hip with the e m bl e m o f victo ry in

his a rm s Wh e n the Thermopylae s c re w di s co v e re d
.
’

th e i r l o ss the fa t was in t he fire and wo rds if no t , ,

bl o ws o ccurre d wh e n a ny o f th e rival c re ws me t
, .

I nd e e d t h e i ncid e nt ca us e d a gre a t d e al o f tro ubl e

, ,

a nd n e a rly le d t o a laws uit Captai n A lla n o f the

.
,

A b e rd e e n li ne r M a ra thon wh o was ma te o f the ,

Th ermopyla e at the tim e d e cla re s tha t the pl o t to

,

ca rry o ff the co ck was ha t ch e d by the o ffic e rs and

c re ws o f all th e o th e r clipp e rs But b e thi s as it .
,

may th e re m o val o f the p ro ud e mbl e m was carri ed

,

o ut a s ab o ve .

The rmopy lae ne ve r re c o ve re d h e r go ld e n co ck ,

b ut s he s o o n re plac e d it with a no th e r which she ,

ca rri e d p ro udly a t h e r mai n t ruck fo r th e re s t o f he r

e xi s t e nc e .
 17 4 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
S ir L auncelot in 1 8 69 .

L d
on on g K ng H ng K ng t B ngk k B ngk k to H ng
to H o n o , o o o a o ,
a o o

K ng H ng K ng t S ig n S ig n t Y k h m Y k h m t Foo h w
o , o o o a o , a o o o o a a, o o a a o c o ,

Fo ch w h m
o o o e .

N orman Court in 1 87 2 .

L d
on on to S h ngh i Sh ngh i t S w t w
a a , a a o a o , S wtw a o to Kb
o e, Kob e to

H on g K ng o , Ho ng K ng t Wh mp
o , Wh mp
o a oa a oa to M acao , M acao h o me .

Life on th e Co as t.
I t was a pl e asa nt li fe co ast and the on the ,

t e a clipp e rs w e re a s a rul e happy s hips ,

Th o ugh ,
.

t h e w o rk was s t re nuo us and th e navigati o n o fte n

pe ril o us th e re was always a s pic e o f e xcite m e nt to

ke e p m o no t o ny away .

A s J o s e ph Co nrad rightly re marks : The Chi na “

S e as no rth a nd s o uth a re narro w s e a s

,
Th e y a re , .

s e as full o f e v e ry day e l o que nt facts such as isla nds

-
, , ,

s a ndba nks re e fs swi ft a nd cha ng e abl e curre nts

, ,

ta ngl e d fact s that ne v e rth e l e s s sp e ak to a s e aman in

c l e a r and d e fi nit e la nguag e .

I n th o s e days t he chart s w e re by no m e ans as

c o rre ct a nd c o mpl e t e as t h e y a re no w I o nly h ave .

’
t o q uo t e a pass ag e o r t wo fro m C aptain K e ay s

ab s t racts t o s h o w thi s
I s t D e c e mb e r 1 8 6 5 — B
y p m s ight s fo und that
, . . .

A mbla is o n c hart ab o ut 1 1 mil e s t o o fa r w e s t if ,

S av u N E Po i nt a nd O mbai East Po i nt a re laid

. .

d o w n righ t ( co nfi rm e d fo ll o wi ng v o yag e s ) .

“
8 th D e c e mb e r 1 8 6 5 — K i e l I s la nd d o e s no t e xist
, .

a s plac e d o n I m ra y s c ha rt o f 1 8 6 A ngo ur I s land

’

5 .

p re tty righ t S a w no app e a ra nc e o f sh o al o n its

.

we s t s id e O n o ne o ccas i o n w o rke d sh o rt tacks to

.
 TH E CH N A I CL IPPE RS 17 5

s o uthard al o ng w e st sid e o f Pe lle w Re e f fo r ab o ut

40 mil e s n o rth o f A ngo ur S aw n o thing like K ie l .

I sland . We st e dge o f re e f v e ry distinct n early ,

awash with many h e ads o f ro ck sh o wing 1 0 o r 1 2

,

fe e t ab o v e wat e r .

2 4th Fe b ruary 1 86 7 , s to o d in to wards .

O nval Po int s o m e 3 o r 4 mil e s to l e e ward o f sp o t

,

marke d Po rt s m o uth B re ak e rs pli e d o n and o ff ,

di re ctly o ve r the spo t wi t h o ut s e e i ng anythi ng o f

the m fro m fo re to psail yard .
”

C apta in S h e wan s e n io r using D utch charts

, ,

fo r G aspa r S t raits fo und that th e c o as t o f

,

B o rn eo abo ut Tanj o ng Datoo was 1 0 mil e s o ut

in latitud e .

A nd no d o ubt many o f th e inn um e rabl e w re ck s

a re t o b e acc o unt e d fo r by inc o rre ct cha rts I find .

that o f the te a clippe rs th e fo llo wi ng we re l o st in

, ,

Chine se wa t e rs z—Fie ry Cross ( N o L ooch oo .

,

King A rthur jap an Ch ilders Young L och inva r

, , , ,

To eman , Guinevere (No . Ta ep ing , S erica ,

L a hloo, E lle n R odg er, B la ch P rince, and Chinaman .

T he Pilo ts on th e Co ast—C hine se and Euro p e an .

The ship s w e re furth e r handicapp e d by the

unre liability o f th e pil o ts I t was co nsid ere d a m o st
.

risky thing t o ta k e a C hi ne s e pil o t The y k ne w .

the wate rs w e ll e n o ugh b ut w e re g e n e rally in th e

,

pay o f the pi rat e s o r e v e n co ast fish e rm e n and th us

, ,

rare ly miss e d an o pp o rtun ity o f p utting the ships in

the ir charge asho re o r w re ckin g th e m o n s o me

 17 6 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
un cha rte d ro ck which th e y purp o s e ly k e pt s e c re t
,

fo r s uch o ccas i o ns .

S uch a ro ck was t he pi nnacl e ro ck at t h e m o uth

o f th e M in R iv e r wh e re t h e char
,
ts gave 1 5 fath o ms .

Thi s ro ck was s t ruck by th e N orma n Court in 1 8 7 8 .

Th e E uro p e an pil o ts d e cla re d that it m ust have

b e e n a sunk e n w re ck H o we ve r wh e n t he clippe r
.
,

wa s d o ck e d in S ha nghai o yst e rs w e re fo und ,

sticki ng in he r b o tto m C aptai n D e lan o o f the

.
,

Yank e e clippe r G olden S tate also stat e d that he had ,

had a sh o al cas t abo ut the sam e plac e But it was .

no t until t wo ye ars late r wh e n the B enja min ,

Ayma r had stuck o n an uncha rt e d ro ck cl o s e by

a nd re mai ne d th e re t hat t he pil o t s b e ga n t o b e li e v e
,

in th e N o rma n Court s ro ck Th e n H M gunb o at

’
. . .

M o orhen was se nt d o wn and fo und a pi nnacl e ro ck , ,

o nly 9 fe e t b e l o w lo w wat e r sp ri ngs right o n ,

C aptai n S h e wa n s b e a ri ngs
’
.

Curi o us ly e n o ugh j ust b e fo re the N orman Co urt

,

had disco v e re d thi s uncha rte d ro ck wi th he r ke e l ,

she had succe ss fully e mpl o ye d a Chi ne s e pil o t .

Co ming d o w n fro m S hanghai fo r Fo o cho w in thick

N E m o ns o o n w e ath e r Cap tai n S h e wan o n hauli ng
. .
, ,

in fo r t h e re gula r cha nne l fo und hims el f to l e e ward ,

o f th e Whit e D o gs H e picke d up a Ch i ne se pilo t

.

a t d a yb re ak. I t wo uld hav e take n a day b e ating

up fo r th e usual cha nne l and wh e n t h e pil o t said : ,

S upp o s e yo u lik e I can take the ship in as we go

, ,

I savvy pl e nty wat e r ca n do all right Captain ,

-

,
17 8 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
O ff Cap e Yangtze t wo s te am c o aste rs w e re sight ed
,

ah e ad b e ari ng away s o uth fo r th e B o nham Pass .

Old H ughi e l o o ke d hard at th e m fo r a m o m e nt

and th e n t urning to Captai n S h e wan said ,

What do yo u say ? S hall we fo llo w those

ste am e rs
( The o rtho d o x c o urse fo r a saili ng ship was ro und
t he S addl e s ) .

”
A bit risky isn t it ? re pli e d th e captain
’
“
.
,

”
Lo o k h e re ! said H ughi e s e e ing th e o th er in ,

This no r ea st e r cam e away this m o rning

’
d o ubt .
“ -
,

’
didn t it P
Ye s .

W ll e , yo u kn o w th e y always last 24 h o urs .

”
Ye s .

W llby that tim e

e , we s hall be th ro ugh the

N arro ws will we no t P
,

”
Yes .

The n why , no t ? A nyway we have always go t

”
th e anch o rs .

Quite right agre e d S h e wan le t her go

“
, , .

S o th e y square d t he mai nyard a nd we n t flying

afte r the ste am e rs O ld H ughi e was right ; the
.

b re e z e h e ld ; the N o rma n Court s o o n o v e rhaul ed

th e co ast e rs and d ro pp e d th e m a s t e rn and she go t
t h ro ugh sa fe ly b e fo re da rk th us s aving a day o n the ,

passage do wn to Fo o ch o w .

That trip the N orm an Court was o nly 2 3 days

fro m S hanghai t o Fo o c ho w and back On the .
 TH E C H IN A C LIP PE RS 17 9

t n pa ssage po o r o ld H ughi e fe ll ill and di e d and

re ur

th e y buri e d him at s e a o ff th e H ushan I slands .

C aptai n S h e wa n had l e ft his wi fe at S hanghai ,

a nd his c ritics always

put d o wn this fast t rip t o he r ,

b ut in re ality it was chi e fly o wi ng t o the da ri ng

pil o tag e o f o ld H ughie H e always w e nt into the
.

c hain s hims e l f with t he l e ad a nd if it was p o ssibl e ,

t o sav e a ta ck h e wo uld do so .

C hin e se Pira te s .

Th e re w e re o th e r dang e rs in the Chi na S e as

t o b e re ck o ne d with b e s id e s i ndi ffe re n t pil o ts ro cks , ,

s h o al s a nd t re ach e ro us c urre nts Pi rat e s swa rm e d.

a l o ng th e c o ast Fo r p ro t e cti o n agai nst th e se

.
,

e v e ry t e a clipp e r was p ro vid e d with a n a rm o ury o f

m us ke ts pi s t o ls and c utla s s e s b e s id e s t wo canno ns

, ,

which w e re capable o f m o re than o rnam e ntal o r

s al uti ng d uti e s A nd th e y had s p e cial magazi n e s
.

fo r p o wd e r ball and g rap e sh o t

,
small arms ,

a mm uniti o n e tc , .

R e ga rding t h e us e o f th e cann o n fo r saluting

u rp o s e s a n am using i n cid e nt o ccurre d in S ha nghai
p ,

in 1 868 .

S e v e ral clippe rs we re lying m o o re d in

o f th e t e a

t h e riv e r discha rgi ng

,
e tc b e fo re pro ce e ding to
, .
,

Fo o ch o w wh e n the L ea nder having fi n is h e d un

, , ,

'

m o o re d a nd t o w e d t o s e a H e r d e parture was .

s i gnalis e d by a ge n e ral sal ute fro m th e o th e r

c lipp e rs p re s e nt .

A nd it so happ e ne d that j ust as the A rgonaut

18 0 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S
fi re d o ne o f he r guns fro m th e s t arb o ard s id e o f the
p o o p a C hi ne s e man o f wa r j unk happ e n e d to b e
,
- -

s aili ng past .

Th e wad which had b e e n mad e purp o s e ly hard

,

o f o ld ro p e in o rd e r t o rai s e a l o ud re po rt we nt ,

righ t th ro ugh t h e j unk s mai nsail a nd la nd e d o n t he

’

qua rte r o f ano th e r ship ne ar by k no cki ng away ,

s o m e o f t h e gilt ca rvi ng o n h e r s te rn Th e me n o n .

t h e j un k fe ll flat o n th e d e ck with fright wh e n the

u n w e nt o ff a nd it k no ck e d a h o l e in h e r sail la rge
g ,

e n o u h t o d riv e a wag o n th ro ugh

g .

Th o ugh I ca n find n o i ns tanc e o f th e se ca nno ns

e v e r havi ng b e e n us e d fo r s e l f d e fe n c e th e i r m e re
-
,

p re s e n ce o ft e n had the de s i re d e ffe ct o f k e e pi ng the

pi rate s o ff .

Lo rd M a c aulay a nd th e P irate Lo rc h a s .

This is p ro ve d by a n adve nture o f t he L ord

M acaulay . I t happe ne d t hat in o rd e r t o av o id a
typh o o n Captai n Ca re put back into a bay n e ar
,

H o ng K o ng O n runni ng i nto th e bay h e fo und it

.

full o f pi rat e Io rchas H o w e v e r he d e te rmi ne d to

. ,

fac e the pi rat e s rat h e r tha n th e typh o o n as the ,

l e s se r o f two e vil s s o he le t go his anch o r a nd

,

put t i ng o n a b o ld fro nt l o w e re d away his b o at and

ro w e d o ff t o e ach j unk in t urn o n a t o ur o f ins e c
p
ti o n ; he pre t e nd e d that he tho ught th e y we re
fi s h e rm e n a nd as k e d e ach o ne if th e y had any fish ,

th e n sati s fi e d in h is mi nd as to th e i r re al characte r ,

h e re t urne d to his o wn v e ss e l All th ro ugh that

.
18 2 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
sampan I hail e d th e W/zzte A dder to s e nd me n
'

the ,

in his sampa n s e v e n me n j ump e d in with c utlass e s ,

b ut b e fo re ge tti ng th e re t h e pi rat e s had cl e a re d o ut ,

l e avi ng a ch o pp e r and large kni fe in the i r hurry t o

b e o ff . I also hail e d ship s aste rn to st o p th e m if
th e i r bo ats we re o ut b ut no ne succe e d e d
-

,
.

A h o y s m o th e r had he r ha nd c ut A h oy was
“ ’
,

ripp e d by th e th ro a t and was s udd e nly re l e as e d

g ,

by s t riki ng backward with his e lbo w pro bably the

bl o w to o k fatal e ffe c t as the man was sil e nc e d and ,

A h o y b e li e v e s h e fe ll o v e rb o a rd—a d e ad b o dy was
fo und in the ha rb o ur to day -
.

R e p o rte d the at ta ck t o captain o f p o lic e to day -

,

and hav e a gre at m i nd to publi s h it in the ne ws

pape rs in the h o p e s that t he B ritish public may
,

k no w ho w i ne ffici e nt o ur rul e IS that such flagrant

o utrag e s as thi s a n d fre que nt p iraci e s a re p o s sibl e

h e re . A co ll e cti o n o f s imila r fact s which hav e

o cc urre d in th e past t wo y e ars in this ha rb o ur and
'
ne ighb o urh o o d no t a day s sail fro m o ur s quad ro n o f
,

g unb o ats a nd ship s o f wa r wo uld b e s ta rtling and

"
l e ad to pro mpt me as ure s .

Th e fact is tha t at t hat tim e the wh o l e l o ng s ho re -

po p ulati o n o f the Chi na Co as t co nsiste d o f no thi ng

b ut vas t ro o k e ri e s o f pi rat e s The myste ri o us .

'

di s appe a ra nc e o f th e Ca lzp fi in t he C hi na S e a s was

always put d o wn to pi rate s as no trace o f he r was ,

e v e r fo und a nd t h e re was no re c o rd o f a n
,
y bad
we ath e r at the tim e .
 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS 18 3

Th e Lo o ting of th e Yo ung Lo c hinvar .

A ll C hi n e s e
fis h e rm e n we re re ady fo r a bit o f
pi rati ng if th e chance cam e th e i r way I n 1 8 66 .

wh e n t he Yo ung L oo/Line a r go t as h o re in a fo g at
t he e nt ranc e t o t he M in R iv e r it was e a rly m o rn i ng
,

a nd the fishi ng fl e e t was j us t putting t o s e a The .

s t rand e d clippe r pro v e d to o g re at a t e mptati o n .

S warmi ng o n b o a rd th e y d ro v e he r c re w o v e r the
,

sid e a nd s o o n s trippe d he r o f e v e rythi ng m o v e able

, .

S he was in ballast c o mi ng in to l o ad ne w te as a nd
, ,

in h e r h o ld w e re s o m e l o ng pigs o f l e ad Th e s e .

we re to o he avy to handl e so th e l o o t e rs p ro ce e d e d
,

to c ut th e m i n to sh o rt l e ngth s Th e y e ve n haul e d
.

t h e s ails o ut o f t he s ail l o ck e r a nd c ut th e m i nt o

l e ngths s o that th e y co uld b e e as ily di s t ribute d .

A nd as t he clippe r s c re w p ull e d away up t h e riv e r

’

the i r last V i e w o f th e ir be auti ful s hip sh o we d he r

”
mas ts a nd yards c o v e re d wi t h l o ng tails as the s e -
,

wre cke rs p ro c e e d e d t o s e nd d o w n he r s ail s a nd

runn i ng ge a r .

I n a v e ry sh o rt tim e t h e Young L oo/Airma n was

cl e an gutte d a nd t he fi shi ng s ampans l o ad e d with
, ,

spo il p ulli ng back to th e i r village s

,
.

But if th e C hi n e s e pi rat e s did o ccasi o nally capture

a B riti s h ship it mus t b e co nfe ss e d that t he y w e re
,

o nly ge t ting a bit o f th e i r o wn back Pe rhaps a s h o rt .

whil e b e fo re th e s e sam e pi rate s we re c o o li e s dis

charging rice at H o ng K o ng wh e re it was th e cus to m
,

t o s e nd t h e ship s b o y s i nt o the h o ld with l o ng

’
18 4 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
bamb o o s with i ns tructi o ns to e nc o urag e th e c o o li e s
,

t o w o rk ha rd e r by givi ng th e m a c rack e v e ry no w

a nd th e n a s th e y pas s e d al o ng .

I nd e e d t he B ritish e r o f the s ixti e s had a fine

co nt e mpt fo r the ye ll o w race s Th e re was no fals e .

se nt im e nt ab o ut him H e c o ns id e re d hims e l f bo ss
.

wh e re v e r h e w e nt a nd he le t o th e r pe o pl e k no w it .

C utting o ut Ballas t Ligh te rs at Yo k o h ama

in 1867 .

It was in the ne w1y 0 p e ne d co unt ry o f japan

~

t hat he s o m e tim e s re ck o ne d with o ut his h o s t The .

j apa n e se a re a w a r lik e high spi

-
ri t e d rac e
, a nd -
,

t h o ugh by t h e s ixti e s E uro p e an s had go t a fo o th o ld in

th e c o unt ry it was s till a p re ca ri o us o ne

,
.

A s ma ny o f th e japa ne s e had n e v e r s e e n a
E uro pe an at that date e ve n in the s e apo rts a who l e
, ,

s t re e t w o uld turn o ut with m uch laughte r a nd

g e s ticulati o n to watc h o ne pas s i ng .

Th e n if a japane s e b rav e happ e ne d t o b e ab o ut

,

a nd i nflam e d by wi ne o r patri o t i s m the un ,

fo rtunat e E uro p e an w o uld m o s t like ly b e attack e d .

S lashi ng as t hi s m o de o f at tack was call e d

, ,

caus e d many a ma n th e l o ss o f a limb o r e v e n

d e ath in N agas aki Ye t the E uro p e ans e s p e cially
.
,

B ri ti s h e rs pe rs i s t e d in t re ati ng the J aps wi th that

,

sam e conte mpt fo r a n i nfe ri o r rac e wi th which the y

t re a t e d th e C hi ne s e .

The N o rman Co urt in 1 8 7 2 happ e ne d t o b e l o ad

ing G o v e rnm e nt ric e in H io go Bay a n d had a gre at ,
18 6 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
hands t o act as p riz e mas t e rs -
Th e s e latte r we re .

arm e d with pisto ls o r re v o lv e rs and pe rhaps a cutlass ,

o r m usk e t . Wh e n the ballast fl e e t was sighte d

co mi ng ro und the po int e ach bo at dash e d fo rward
,

fo r o ne o f th e light e rs Th e n as she ran al o ngside

.
, ,

th e p riz e mast e r had to j ump abo ard o v e rawe the

-
,

japs a nd co mpe l th e m to tak e the lighter to his

particular ship .

This re qui re d a fl o uri s h o f the pisto l o r a p rick

with th e cutlass ; b ut e v e n so th e s e c utting o ut -

e xp e diti o ns w e re no t always a s ucc e ss Occasi o nally .

the J aps w e re o bstinat e a nd sail e d o ff with the

,

pro te s t i ng p riz e mast e r who h o we ve r did no t

-
, , ,

always pro t e st v e ry m uch as it ge ne rally m e ant a run

,

ash o re and a fe w h o urs po ki ng his n o s e into the s o cial

cus t o m s o f th e n e wly o pe ne d c o unt ry But he was
-
.

no t e mpl o y e d again in t h e c utting o ut e xp e diti o ns -

.

S o m e tim e s a priz e maste r j umpe d sho rt a nd had

-

t o b e fish e d o ut o f th e s e a which caus e d much had

,

languag e as the d e lay pro bably le t in ano th e r bo at

, .

S o m e t im e s he j ump e d full o n t o p o f a J ap re clini ng

o n t he d e ck o f the lighte r Th e n again the re .

was t ro uble .

But in this happy go l ucky way t h e te a clipp e rs

- -

w e re e ve ntually ballaste d a nd hurri e d o ff to lo ad the

te as o f the s e aso n .

To Jap an agains t th e N E Mo ns o o n.
. .

Of all the in t e rm e diat e passage s taki ng rice ,

up to Y o k ohama fro m H o ng K o ng was by far the

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS 18 7

m o st trying and unpl e as ant The clippe rs had the .

full st re ngth o f the N E m o ns o o n a ainst the m all

g . .

t h e way and it was a st e ady th rash t o wi ndwa rd

,

with hardly a favo uring tack D ay afte r day the .

sa m e vici o us N E gal e s t rai ne d th e i r hulls split

. .
,

th e i r sails a nd w o re th e i r ge ar N e ve rth e l e ss the s e

, .

galla nt littl e ships mad e th e t rip in und e r 2 0 days ,

th o ugh th e y re turne d in le ss than hal f that tim e

with the m o ns o o n b e hi nd th e m .

Th e Te a P o rts .

I n th e o ld
days the te a was o nly l o ade d at
C anto n Wh amp o a a nd Macao
, ,
Th e n S ha nghai .

b e cam e a fav o urite p o rt if a late lo adi ng o ne But

,
.

wh e n Fo o cho w was o pe n e d it o utdid th e o the rs in

p o pularity o wi ng to t h e e arly date a t which its te as
,

we re re ady fo r shipm e nt Late r in the s e v e ntie s.

H anko w b e gan t o att ract atte nti o n b ut by that tim e ,

t h e raci ng was p ractically o v e r .

Allo w anc e s to be ma de in C alc ulating th e

R a c ing R e c o rds .

'

I n calc ulati ng th e c o rds o f the raci ng th e

re

t im e o f ye ar t h e ships sta rt e d a nd th e latitud e o f

th e di ffe re n t p o rts th e y s ail e d fro m m us t b e tak e n

i nto c o ns id e rati o n Thus the s pl e ndid tim e s o f the

.

Claryso lzle Ca irngorm L ord of Me I s les and s o m e

'

, , ,

o f th e A m e rican clipp e rs in the fi ft i e s m us t b e

s o m e what disc o unte d by the fact that th e y sta rte d
lat e in th e ye ar and had the fav o urabl e N E . .

m o ns o o n to carry th e m do wn the China S eas .

18 8 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
Wh e reas in t he sixt i e s the be st tim e s w e re made
, ,

against t h e S W m o ns o o n I n t his re spe ct also a

. . .

big all o wanc e m us t b e mad e in fav o ur o f v e ss e ls

sailing fro m S hanghai at th e e nd o f J un e o r
b eginning o f J uly wh e n th e y had t he full stre ngth
,

o f t h e S W m o ns o o n agai n st th e m
. . Th e i r handicap . ,

whe n co mpa re d with th e Fo o ch o w ships was at ,

l e ast five o r six days as in th e S W: m o nso o n ,

S hanghai is 5 00 mil e s d e ad t o l e e ward o f F o o cho w .

The fi rst starte rs fro m Fo o ch o w had still an o th e r

advantage o v e r th e i r S hanghai rivals in that th ey
go t away b e fo re the S W m o ns o o n was bl o wi ng its
. .

full stre ngth ; wh e re as t h e t e a was n e v e r re ady in

S ha nghai until th e m o ns o o n was at its w o rst .

The Cutty S a rk invariably l o ad e d at S hanghai

and sail e d at the wo rs t s e aso n o f the ye ar and ,

b e caus e she co uld no t do the trip in und e r 1 0 0 days ,

like h e r m o re favo urably ci rcumstanc e d Fo o ch o w

rivals , sh e was c o ns id e re d by many t o b e e ith e r

unl ucky o r a fail ure ye t s h e afte rwards p ro v e d

,

h e rse l f t o b e o ne o f th e fas te s t s hips e v e r built the ,

o nly s hip in fac t which co uld rival Taermopylae s

, ,
’

pe rfo rmance s in the A ustralian trad e .

Th e Te a Ch es ts .

Th e re is th e r po i nt which I m ust no t
o ne o

o v e rl o o k in c o mpa ri ng t h e di ffe re nt t e a p o rts and ,

that is the siz e o f th e te a ch e s t s I n Whampo a t he .

te a was packe d m o s tly in I O ca tt y b o x e s o r q ua rte r

ch e sts ; at Fo o ch o w o ne go t hal f ch e sts a nd full

19 0 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
S ir L an celot s c o l o ur was pal e g re e n B ro ckl e bank
’
,

c o l o ur fo r Capt ai n Ro bi ns o n had b e e n b ro ught up

,

in th e i r s e rvic e .

S o m e o f t h e s hips w e nt so fa r a s t o paint e lab o rate

land s cap e s o r po si e s of fl o w e rs o n th e i r bulwark
pane l s But no n e o f th e m co uld e xc e l th e A b e rd e e n
‘

Whi te S tar clipp e rs such as Tlzermopylae and ,

j e rusa lem wh e n it cam e t o l o o ks

,
T h e i r g re e n .

sid e s white figure h e ads white bl o cks white l o we r

, , ,

mas ts b o wsp rit a nd yardarm s go ld s t ripe a nd go ld

, , ,

s c ro ll wo rk we re t h e admi rati o n o f sail o rs wh e re ve r

t h e y w e nt .

Th e am o unt o f brass wo rk o n th e se te a clippe rs

w o uld hav e put a m o d e rn s te am yacht to s ham e .

A rie l fo r i ns tanc e had b ras s le t in fl us h t o all

, ,

he r bulwark rail s and stanchi o ns i ns id e a nd o ut , .

I nd e e d sh e mus t hav e sh o ne in a blaz e o f fire fo r , ,

wh e n sh e was in po rt it to o k fo ur m e n fro m 6 a m
, . .

t o 6 p m e v e ry day t o k e e p h e r b rass w o rk cl e an
. .

a nd b right .

N orm an Co urt an o th e r b e aut i fully fini sh e d ship

, ,

had a s o lid b rass rail all ro und he r bulwark s .

A nd wh e n we re m e mb e r th e i r b rass cann o ns ,

bi nnacl e s b uck e t a nd harn e s s cas k h o o ps capstan

, ,

caps ship s b e lls e tc we may we ll imagi ne h o w

,
’

, .
,

t h ey wo uld hav e pl e a se d t hat w e ll k no w n admi ral -

,

wh o always wa nt e d his ship t o b e a s hi ni ng “

,

”
s pa rkli ng ma s s o f b urn ish e d g o ld .

Wh en all t he s hips had be e n po lish e d up a nd lay ,

 TH E CH N AI C LIP PE R. 19 1

with the i r yards c ro sse d and sails b e nt all re ady fo r ,

t he a rrival o f the t e a a day was se t asid e fo r a

,

g rand regatta in which all the b o ats o f the fl e e t

,

to o k part . Thi s was always a gre at o ccasi o n a ,

wh o l e h o li day fo r the c re ws with libe ral priz e s fo r ,

t h e b e s t c utt e rs gigs and saili ng yawls ; a nd

, , ,

naturally , th e rival ry b e tw e e n t h e di ffe re nt ships

was int e nse .

Lo ading th e Te a .

Th e came do wn the rive r in sampans

te a ,

and th e l o adi ng o f it at th e Pago da A nch o rage was

d o ne with all the hustl e o f co ali ng a man o f— war -

agai nst t im e The fi rst light e rs do wn di s t ribute d a

.

gro und ti e r t o e ach o f the fi rst ships afte r which ,

th e re we re t wo o r th ree sampans alo ngside e ach

s hip until s he wa s l e ad e d The t ea was b e auti fully
.

sto w e d ti e r o n ti e r by Chi name n using big mall e ts

, , .

I t was hand e d day and night S undays includ e d ; ,

a nd t he o ffic e rs o f th e fi rs t ships we re re li e v e d in

th e i r tallyi ng by th o s e be lo nging t o ships which had

n o t t hat p rid e o f plac e o th e rwis e th e re w o uld hav e
,

b e e n no sl e e p fo r th e m until the t e a was in Clark e .

,
' ’

in his Clz fip e r S lzzfi E ra giv e s a v e ry go o d acc o unt

,

o f this sc e n e which I ca nno t do b e tt e r than quo te

,

Cargo j unks and l o rchas w e re b e i ng wa rp e d

alo ngsid e at all ho urs o f the day and night ; d o ubl e
gangs o f g o o d nature d chatte ring co o li e s w e re o n
-
,

bo ard e ach ship re ady t o handl e and sto w the

matte d ch e sts o f t e a as the y cam e al o ngside ;
19 2 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
co m fo rtabl e s ampa ns w o rk e d by m e rry bare fo o te d
, ,
-

C hi ne s e w o m e n s ail e d o r ro w e d in ha s t e b e twe e n
,

t h e ships a nd th e sh o re ; s l e nd e r s ix o a re d gigs -
,

wi t h c re ws o f stalwart Chi nam e n in whit e d uck

un i fo rm s da rt e d ab o ut th e ha rbo ur ; whil e dig n ifi e d
,

mas te r marin e rs d re ss e d in white li n e n o r s t raw

,

c o lo ure d p o ng e e silk with pip e clay e d sh o e s and

,
-

b ro ad pith hats impati e ntly handl e d t he y o ke li ne s

,
.

“
O n sh o re th e t ye pans a nd th e i r cl e rks h urri e d
ab o ut in s e dan chai rs carri e d o n th e s h o uld e rs o f
,

p e rs pi ri ng co o li e s with quick firm s te p to the

,

rhythm o f th e i r mild b ut e n e rg e t ic Wo o ho — wo o ‘

ho — wo o ho
Th e bro ad co o l v e ra ndah o f the cl ubh o us e wa s
,

alm o s t d e s e rte d I n th e gre at h o ng s o f A dam s o n

.
,

B e ll ; G ilman Co ; jar di ne Math e so n ; G ibb

.
, ,

L ivi ngs t o n ; and S as s o o n th e ge nt ry o f Fo o ch o w

,

t o il e d by candl e light o v e r m an ife s ts a nd bills o f

ladi ng a nd e xchang e sus tain e d fa r i nto th e night by
,

s l o wly — s wi ngi ng punkah s ic e d t e a and th e frag rant

, ,

Man ila che ro o t .

Tugbo ats we re s c arc e at Fo o ch o w in tho s e days ,

a nd th e i r p o w e r was v e ry i ndi ffe re nt b ut t he ,

co mpe t i t i o n to s e cure th e m was ge ne rally g re at .

Th e Woos ung a n A m e rican b uilt b o at came d o wn

,
-
,

fro m S hanghai fo r th e s e as o n ; a nd b e s id e s he r , ,

t h e re we re th e paddl e b o at I s land Queen which

go t ,

in a m e ss with A riel in 1 8 6 6 a nd the Undine , ,

a sc re w b o at .
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S 19 3

In 1 866 fl e e t at Fo o cho w co nsiste d o f

th e te a

s ixte e n fro nt rank clipp e rs and in th e t wo fo ll o wing

-
,

ye ars th e re w e re e v e n m o re .

A nd no w that I hav e giv e n a ge ne ral id e a o f th e

ships th e i r o w ne rs captai ns a nd c re ws a nd th e
, , , ,

e xciting t rad e in which th e y w e re e ngage d I will ,

d e sc rib e th e clipp e rs in d e tail a nd make a n atte mpt ,

t o sh o w th e w o nd e rful way in which th e y rac e d

h o me with the te a .

Th e Falc o n, ”
First o f th e I mp ro v e d C lipp e rs .

Th e Fa lcon which wa s la unch e d by S te e l e

,

in 1 8 59, h as
always b e e n co ns ide re d so gre at an
impro v em e n t o n t h e fam o us h e e l e rs o f the fi fti e s ,

bo th in h e r li ne s a nd sail plan that she is spo ke n o f ,

as th e pi o ne e r s hip o f a ne w e ra I f the t wo .

S te e l e s h e r d e sign e r and b uild e r d e s e rve d c re dit

, , ,

gre at cre dit mus t also b e award e d to Captai n

Maxto n who supe ri nte nd e d h e r building and co m
,

m a nde d h e r fo r a c o upl e o f vo yage s I nde e d it .

,

was s aid at the tim e that a g re at many o f th e

impro v e m e nts a nd i nno vati o ns i nt ro duce d i nto th e
Falcon e ma nat e d fro m the b rai n o f t he famo us
skippe r S he was chi e fly no te d fo r he r po we rs o f
.

go ing to wi ndward b ut she was als o ve ry fast in

,

light winds .

The ne w S te e l e clipp e r did no t a rriv e in China in

tim e to lo ad the ne w t e as at Fo o cho w b ut s he gav e ,

a tas t e o f h e r m e tal by maki ng the be st run ho m e

fro m S hanghai .

0
 19 4 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
Th e Te a R a c e of 185 9 .

Wh ere To D ate o f Days

.
Arri vl a . Out .

Fiery Cross june 9 D uncan Londo n Oc t . 26

E lIen R odger 10 K y ea n H

W ve
.

Crest of th e a 16 St l ee e N ov I O .

Zzba 19 T mli n o n
o s O ct 3 I
Whi tm r o fl Plym th
.
' ’
S ea S erp en t 19 o e

Cha llenger 6 Killi k Lo nd n

c o N ov . 21
23 M xt na o De c .

S tornoway . Se t p 4 H at }: n
Cairngo rm A ug . 17 Ryri c
R obin H ood Oct . 1 Co bb th e S tart Jan .

Kate Ca rnie n 25 on o n d Feb .

The ye ar 1 8 5 9 is ce l e b rate d in th e annal s o f the

t ea rac e s as b e i ng th e last ye ar in which the
A m e ricans c o mp e ted in the E nglish t rad e .

The A m e rican clipp e r S ea S e r¢ent with he r , ,

fam o us c o mman d e r d o ubl e c re w a nd w e ll kno wn

,
-

re p utati o n is suppo s e d to hav e re ce iv e d s pe cial

,

induce m e nts t o l o ad the fi rs t te as fo r the E nglish

mark e t S o m e d e clare d that sh e re c e ive d £ 1 0 0
.

d o wn in Fo o cho w s o c e rtai n w e re t he shippe rs that

,

sh e wo uld o utst rip h e r rivals A no th e r rum o ur was .

t hat s h e was t o ge t 3 0 5 p e r t o n e xt ra fre ight if she

.

be at t he Cres t of t/ze Wave .

I t wa s a bad y e ar in th e China S e as a nd all the

“

ships mad e v e ry l o ng passage s t o A nj e r S ea S erpent ,

pas si ng thro ugh the S traits o n sth A ug us t s ix days ,

be hi nd the sp e e dy littl e barque Ziéa The fi rs t o f .

t he s hips t o a rriv e in L o nd o n was th e ne w c rack

E llen R odger But s o m e h o w o r o th e r th e s t o ry has

.

ari s e n that the S ea S e rp ent a nd the Crest of the

Wa ve we re the fi rst ships in the Chann e l re aching ,
19 6
'

TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
pass age ho m e arrivi ng at D e al o n 1 6 th N o v e mb e r
, ,

1 1 4 day s o ut fro m Whamp o a .

The chi e f t im e s fro m Fo o ch o w we re as fo ll o ws

C aptain . D ate L e ft . Days Out .

Jun e 7 july 14 O ct . 11

H 7 4
10 July 10 p
Se t 2 8 .

27 A ug .
5 O c t 30
.

J uly 19 22 N ov . 20

In v e ry c e l e bra t e d t e a clipp e rs w e re
1 8 60 t wo

built nam e ly th e s e co nd Fiery Cross a nd the

,

“
Fie ry Cro ss .

Th e Fiery Cross was built to re plac e the o ld

Fiery Cross which had be e n w re ck e d in 1 8 5 9
, She .

wa s d e sig ne d by R e n ni e a nd h e r hal f m o d e l is to b e
s e e n in th e S o uth K e ns i ng t o n M us e um .

S he was co mma nd e d o n h e r maid e n v o yage by

D allas who had be e n so succe ss ful wi th the fi rs t
,

Fiery Cross th e n R ichard R o bi ns o n had h e r until

,

1866 a nd und e r th e s e
, t wo fa mo us skipp e rs she

p ro v e d we ll n igh i nvi ncibl e re c e ivi ng th e p re mi um ,

fo r th e fi rs t v e s se l in d o c k o n n o l e ss than fo ur
.

o cca s i o ns a nd b e i ng o nly 2
, 4 h o urs b e hi nd in 1 8 6 4
a nd 1 8 6 6 B e s id e s re mai ni ng in th e fo re fro nt o f
. -

th e rac i ng fo r y e a rs l o nge r t ha n a ny o th e r v e ss el ,

s h e o utliv e d all h e r c o n t e mp o ra ri e s .

Flying S p ur .

Th e Fly ing Sp ur wa s b uilt to take the place

 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S 19 7

of Ca irngorm , an d was
las t clippe r in whichth e

J ardin e Math e s o n Co had a large i nte re st

, . .

She also was a v e ry fast littl e ship b ut o wing t o , ,

no t b e i ng sail e d as ha rd as t h e o th e r c racks sh e did ,

no t re main v e ry l o ng in th e fi rs t flight .

Y e t sh e sho w e d up s o we ll w he n in c o mpa ny with

o th e r clipp e rs t hat th e re is littl e d o ubt tha t b ut fo r ,

t h e cauti o us ne s s o f h e r v e t e ra n s kipp e r in ca rryi ng

s ail s h e w o uld hav e mad e a nam e alm o s t e qual t o

,

that o f Fiery Cross Pe rhaps Fly ing Sp ur s b e s t

.
’

p e rfo rmanc e was 7 3 days to S yd ne y th e n o n t o .

,

C hi na re achi ng S hanghai o n th e 12 0 th day o ut fro m

,

E ngland H e r be s t run o n this o ccasi o n was 3 2 8

.

mil e s and he r be s t w e e k s wo rk 2 1 0 0 mil e s S h e

,
’
.

dis charge d a ge ne ral cargo at S yd ne y a nd 10adi ng ,

co al in he r h o ld and ho rs e s in he r t w e e n d e cks bro k e ,

t he re c o rd b e t we e n A us t ralia a nd S ha nghai .

The Fly ing Sp ur c o st t o b uild b e i ng ,

o f t e ak a nd g re e nh e a rt c o ppe r faste n e d ; a nd she

,

carri e d 1 0 0 0 to ns o f t e a wh e n fully lo ad e d .

The large s t sha re h o ld e r in h e r was S ir Ro b e rt

J a rdi ne wh o s e cre s t a wi nge d s pur gave the
, , ,

re as o n fo r h e r nam e Fly ing Sfi ur wa s al s o t he

.

'
nam e o f o ne o f S ir R o b e rt j ardi ne s b e st rac e
h o rs e s and a m o de l o f th e h e ad o f thi s h o rs e with
,

the c re st o n a shi e ld b e l o w fo rm e d th e figure he ad

o f th e v e ss e l .

Captain Ky ri e who l e ft Ca irngorm t o t ak e he r

, ,

o wn e d a qua rt e r o f h e r a nd b e ing w e ll o n in y e a rs
, ,
 19 8 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
p re fe rre d nursi ng he r to th e s trai n o f cracki ng o n
th ro ugh the l o ng pas s age h o m e But that he .

co uld pre ss he r o n o ccas i o n is p ro v e d by the

fo ll o wi ng i ncid e nt
O ne m o rn i ng Fly ing Sp ur wa s s no ring th ro ugh
t he N E t rad e s und e r all s ail to ro yal staysail s with
. .
,

he r l o w e r ya rds j us t to uching t h e back s ta ys -

.

At a m a sail was sighte d o n t h e h o riz o n

. .

ah e ad This pro v e d to b e the G lasgo w clippe r L oc/c

.
,

leven Castle 8 0 days o ut fro m R ango o n t o L iv e rpo o l

, .

A t 1 p m the Fly ing Sp ur was up with he r and

. .
,

as t h e t e a clipp e r w e nt fo ami ng by t he L ocaleo en ,

Cas tle s main t o pgallant sail w e nt to ribb o ns with a

’

clap o f thund e r a nd he r mai nsail s plit fro m to p to

,

bo tto m at th e s am e m o m e nt the co o k o f the Fly ing

Sp ur with all his p o ts and pa ns was wash e d fro m
th e gall e y t o th e b re ak o f t he po o p A n ho ur and a .

hal f lat e r the L ac/i leven Castle was o ut o f sight as te rn .

Lo rd Ma c a ulay ”
Th e .

A n o th e r ship launche d in 1 8 60 was the

tea

L ord M aca ulay this v e ss e l th o ugh ne v e r race d

,

agai ns t the c racks was a v e ry fast and handy v ess e l

, ,

and a g re at fav o uri t e o n t he c o ast She had a .

ch e que re d s tart to he r ca re e r be i ng o rigi nally ,

d e s ign e d as a co rve tte fo r the Russian N avy and ,

sh e had b e e n b uilt as fa r as th e fi rst futto cks wh e n

th e C rim e an Wa r b ro k e o ut This naturally b ro ke

.

th e co nt ract b ut , as s h e was a s s ha rp as a w e dge

,

und e r wa t e r s h e was fi ni s h e d o ff fo r t h e t e a t rad e

, .
200 TH E I
CH N A C LIP PE RS
ve t e ra ns b ro ught K e ay t o th e h e lm o f Fa lcon and
D ick R o bi nso n t o that o f Fiery Cross .

A t th e s a me t im e C aptain R o dg e r p e rc e ivi ng
, ,

t h at h is c ra ck E llen R od g e r was b e i ng o utclass e d by

th e n e w s hip s d e te rmi ne d t o i nc re a s e h e r sail plan

,

by putti ng h e r mai n yard s to th e fo re and givi ng he r ,

ne w mai n yard s 6 fe e t l o nge r .

Thi s gav e h e r t wo wid t h s m o re ca nvas o n the

fo re a nd th re e widths m o re canvas o n t he mai n ,

with t he re sult that h e r s aili ng was v e ry much

impro v e d in light wi nds A nd in 1 8 6 2 she made
.

t h e b e s t tim e c o mi ng h o m e o t th e wh o l e fl e e t which ,

i ncl ud e d th re e ne w ships the M in W/i infell a nd

, , ,

H ig n flyer ; t he latte r a n i nt e re s ti ng ve ss e l in that s he

was buil t at Blackwall by R H G re e n a nd. .
,

c o mmand e d by that ve te ra n A nth o ny E nrigh t who

, , ,

aft e r l e avi ng the Cnryso lite ha d mad e him se l f ,

wo rld famo us by h is wo nde rful pas sage s t o M e lb o urne

-

in t h e Black Ball e r n ntn ing .

Th e Te a R a c e of 1862.

Ship . Cap tain . Fro m . Date Left .

Flying Sp ur s ho uld hav e b e e n fi rs t ship h o m e thi s

 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 20 1

ye ar S he was the l e adi ng s hip in the cha nn e l a nd

.
,

wh e n she was o ff B righto n the wi nd b e ing v e ry ,

light a tugbo at range d al o ngs id e a nd aske d £ 10 0

,

t o to w th e ship t o d o ck C aptai n R yrie re fus e d a nd

.

o ffe re d l e ss m o ne y wh e re up o n th e mast e r o f th e tu
, g
hail e d t o say that h e w o uld go and to w up the
Fier y C ross which he de clare d wa s o nly a littl e
, , ,

way as te rn o ff t h e I s l e o f Wight Captain R yrie .

th o ught thi s was o n ly bl uff o n th e part o f the t ug s ’

s kipp e r a nd le t him S o m e h o urs lat e r whil s t

go .
,

th e Fly ing Sp ur lay h e lpl e s s ly b e calm e d Captai n ,

R yrie had th e m o rt ific at io n o f s e e i ng th e s am e tug

b o at s te am by wi th Fiery Cross at th e e nd o f h e r
t o w ro p e .Th us Fiery Cross go t fi rs t i nto d o ck ,

gai ne d th e pre mi um o n t h e fre ight Captai n Ro bi ns o n ,

a gratuity o f £ 3 0 0 a nd h e r o ffi ce rs a nd c re w a n
,

e x t ra m o nth s pay
’
.

Th e re was a n i nte re sti ng i ncid e nt in thi s y e a rs

’

rac e,
which c aus e d mo re tha n a littl e s urpri s e in
shippi ng ci rcl e s— thi s wa s th e b e ati ng giv e n to s o m e
o f th e c racks o f t h e Chi na fl e e t by M o n e y Wigra m s
’

g rand littl e Blackwall frigate Ken t .

Fo ur o f th e clipp e rs fo und th e ms e lve s b e calm e d

withi n a mile o r t wo o f e ach o the r wh e n o ne d eg re e
no rth o f t h e li ne in th e A tlantic t wo o f th e m th e , ,

R odin H ood and Fa lcon b e ing b o und fo r L o nd o n, ,

and the o th e r two th e Colleen R odg er and Queens

,

borougn fo r L iv e rp o o l
,
.

Th e re was no t s uffici e n t wi nd t o give ste e rage .

202 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
way and the ships lay with th e i r h e ads po intin g all
ro und th e c o mpass . I n t h e midst o f this b e calm e d
te a fl e e t and cl o s e to t h e Falco n and R odin H ood
,

lay th e Blac kwalle r Kent h o m e ward b o und fro m the

,

Co l o ni e s with pass e nge rs .

S ignals w e re e xchange d b e tw e e n th e five ships ,

and the co mmande r o f the barque R ooin H ood

aske d Captain Clayto n o f the Kent which ship ,

happe n e d to b e n e are s t to him to t ry and k e ep him

,

co mpany as his v e ss e l had damage d he r rudd e r h e ad -

.

Captain Clayt o n at o nc e p ro mi s e d to do his b e st .

A n h o ur lat e r b e ing ab o ut 10 a m a light no rth

, . .
,

e ast t rad e sp ran u a nd all the s hips st o o d away

g p
with e ve ry rag hung o ut that w o uld d raw incl uding ,

fo re to pmast stunsails and all s tays ails .

The Kent th o ugh she was o nly an 1 1 kn o t ship

,
-
,

was a marv e l in light wi nd s a nd th e m e re st z ephy r

gav e he r ste e rage way Th e Falcon o n the o th e r
.
,

hand had th e mi s fo rtune t o b e s uffe ring fro m ragge d

,

co ppe r and the Bla c kwalle r actually l e ft he r i kno t “

an ho ur in the light bre e z e ; at the sam e time the

Kent e asily h e ld h e r place abe am o f the R obin H ood .

M e anwhil e the E llen R odger with he r ne w sail

,

plan appe are d o v e r t he ho rizo n as te rn and rapidly

, , ,

o v e rhauli ng th e wh o l e fl e e t, pas s e d th e m and was

so o n o ut o f sight ah e ad .

Fo r two days the trad e re mai ne d light and steady

and all that tim e the Kent a nd R obin H ood ran
be am and b eam whil s t the Fa lcon with he r ragged
,
204 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
N e xt m o rning fo und t h e Bla c k walle r o ff D unge
ne s s and g re at was the e xci te m e nt o n b o ard wh e n
,

t wo cl o uds o f canvas w e re sigh te d a s t e rn fo r it had ,

b e e n as ce rtai ne d fro m th e pil o t that no ne o f the

s hip s re p o rt e d by th e Kent had a rriv e d I t o nly .

n e e d e d a gla nc e t o t e ll C aptai n C layto n t o wh o m

th o s e l e ani ng pyramids o f canvas as te rn be lo nge d .

"
H e re c o m e th e te a clippe rs he c ri e d to his chie f ,

o ffic e r . S ignal fo r a s te am e r a t o nc e .

The Kent wa s 5 mil e s o ff th e N e ss wh e n a t ug

appe are d to b e gre e te d by ch e e rs fro m the e xcite d
,

pas s e nge rs a nd c re w o f th e Blackwall frigate The .

wi nd was d e ad a ft a nd the Chi na s hips o nly 4 o r 5

,

m il e s ast e rn Clayt o n had h is s t uns ail s in in five

.

m in ut e s a nd th e t o w b o at h us tl e d he r li ne ab o a rd
,
-

as quickly as po ss ibl e A nd hardly was th e Kent

.

fast b e hi nd h e r tug b e fo re th e clipp e rs which p ro v e d ,

t o b e th e Fa lcon and R obin H ood b e ga n t o t ak e in ,

t h e i r kit e s a nd s ig nal fo r s t e am Th e re up o n no t .
,

b e i ng c o nt e nt with o ne tug Clayto n s ig nalle d fo r

,

an o th e r and was s o o n be i ng sw e pt up channe l wi th

,

a to w ro p e o ve r e ach b o w b ut th e t e a ships we re
,

cl o se o n h is h e e l s I n the e nd t he Kent j ust

.

manage d t o b e at th e R obin H ood i nto the East

I ndia D o ck by hal f a n h o ur t he Falcon b e i ng cl o s e
,

b e hi nd th e R o bin H ood .

The th re e v e ss e l s had pa rte d c o mpany 2 7 days

b e fo re a nd the Kent s fe at in b e ati ng the two fl ye rs
,
’

in the run h o m e fro m t h e li ne b e cam e the talk o f

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS 205

th e city whilst y o ung Clayto n fo und hims e l f fam o us

,

in shipping ci rcl e s H e e v e n had th e ho no ur o f

.

be i ng int ro d uc e d by o ld M o n e y Wigram to the

gre at D uncan D unbar wh o l o o k e d him up a nd
,

d o w n with as to n ishm e nt fo r he was ve ry yo ung t o

,

b e captai n o f a c rack L o nd o n pass e nge r s hip .

Th e Te a R ac e of 1863
.

Ship . Cap t ain

. Fro m . D at e Left .

Lon d on Se t p m .

Oc t .
l

U
l
'

U
I
U
I
'

U
A
L iv ipo ol S t
é gp
L

. 19
d
Lo n o n O ct . 20

1’ 20

H 29

30
3, 28
N ov . I4

H 7
27

—
N

Clip p e r S hip s Launc h e d 1861 1862.

M e an whil e s e ve ral ne w t e a sh ips ha d be e n
laun ch e d N o n e o f th e m h o we v e r we re as fast as
. , ,

e i t h e r Fier y C ross o r Fly ing Sfi ur T h e s i s te r ships .

-

M in a nd G uine vere we re p e rhaps th e pick o f the

b unch th o ugh th e y did no t satis fy th e ambiti o ns
,

o f e ith e r th e i r o wn e rs or th e i r build e r Ro be rt ,

S te e l e
. Th e y w e re no t fine e no ugh in t h e b ut to cks ,

and wh e n at full spe e d he ap e d up a wav e unde r t he

le e butto ck which d e t racte d fro m th e i r pace .

N e v e rth e l e ss M in was the fi rs t s hip h o m e fro m

hangh i in 8 6 6 d G i disting u ish e d he r
S a 1 a n u never e
206 TH E CH INA C LIP PE R S
s e l f by b e ati ng E liza S naw fro m S hanghai in 1 8 64
in a d ual rac e fo r larg e s take s But th e s e t wo ships .

und o ubte dly ta ught th e S t e e l e s a g re at d e al fo r th e y ,

we re fo ll o we d by th e G re e no ck firm s maste rpi e ces ’

S e rica , Taep ing A riel a nd S ir L a ncelot

, .

H ig lzflyer
’
G re e n s was no t a s ucce s s as a te a
clipp e r . di ffe re d v e ry littl e fro m the
I n fact sh e
Blackwall frigate s o f the tim e H e r st e rn was .

h e avy he r fo re mast t o o m uch in the bo ws a nd

, ,

o wing t o h e r wa n t o f l e ngth h e r mai n and miz e n

masts w e re m uch to o cl o se to ge the r .

The Blackwall firm had an o th e r t ry wi th C/zilders ,

b ut h e re th e y w e re agai n unl ucky a s s he was

w re cke d in th e M in R iv e r o n h e r s e c o nd vo yag e .

”
S e ric a a nd Tae p ing .

In M e s s rs S te e l e launch e d t wo o f the
1 8 63 .

m o st ce l e b rate d ships in the t e a trade th e S erica ,

on th e 4t h A ug us t and Taefi ing o n th e 2 4th

D e c e mb e r R e giste ri ng 5 9 t o ns m o re tha n S e rica
.
,

Ta efi in
g w a s 2 fe e t s h o rt e r b ut 3 fe e t d e e p e r a nd in , ,

po i nt o f spe e d s h e was p e rhaps a t rifl e fast e r all ro und .

Th e y w e re b o th fine ha ndy s e a b o ats ve ry fast in -

,

ligh t ai rs a nd as us ual wi th S t e e l e s c re ati o ns ve ry

, ,
’

s ightly s hip s O wne d by s uch ke e n raci ng me n as

.

Fi ndlay a nd R o dge r a nd we ll s kipp e re d th e y we re

, ,

bo th rac e d fo r all th e y w e re w o rth .

Bla c k P rinc e a nd Be lte d Will .

Of t he o th e r clippe rs launch e d in 1 8 6 3,
208 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE RS
spe ciall y s uitabl e th o ugh fo r the t e a t rade wh e re
, , ,

gre at st re ngth was wante d and in which i ro n ships ,

we re ne v e r po pular fo r t wo re aso ns fi rs tly that i ro n , ,

was c o ns id e re d bad fo r the t e a a nd s e c o ndly that , ,

th e y c o uld ne v e r e qual wo o d e n s hips in light wi nds .

The c o mp osit e clipp e rs p ro v e d th e ms e lve s e xc e e d

ingly st ro ng a nd fully abl e t o s tand th e s t rain o f
hard d rivi ng witho ut b e i ng twiste d o ut o f s hape as ,

was th e cas e with th e A m e rican s o ft wo o d clipp e rs -

at th e s am e tim e the a ge to which many o f th e m

live d is litt l e s h o rt o f amazi ng The syste m th o ugh .
,

it had a s ho rt li fe am o ngs t m e rchant s hips s till ,

s urviv e s in t h e c o ns t ructi o n o f yachts .

Th e Te a R ac e of 1884 .

Cap tain . From Dat e of A rri vl a .

Fiery Cross Ro bin so n Fo och o w May 2 9 Lo nd o n, S e p t . 20 1 14

Gunn Jun e 1 7 , O ct . 13 134
S erica I nne s Se t p 19 10 9
W
.

Belted ill. h
G ra am H on g K ng o ’5 20 10 9
l
Young Lochinva r G ass H Oc t . 126
R o bin H ood . D li g
ar n
E nr igh
t h gh i
S an a L ndo o n, Oc t . 13 4
Th mp o so n Can to n 3) 12 8
M in S m i th Fo o ch o w 11 3) 9 1 25
Ziba J n
o es 14 Liv rp l e oo , 12 1
R ed R iding H ood July 14 L nd n N
o o , o v. 12 3
E liza S lzaw S h ngh i J un
a a e 14 7! Oct . 129
Guinevere M ‘ ea nL 17 H 125
Ch allenger M ace y H nk w
a o 17 H J . 13 0
Yangtze F ooch w o 17 H 1, 12 7
M ‘Ki nno n 19 N 97 1 24
Fa lcon Ke ay H a nk o w 20 H l , 1 16
g g
H o n Ko n 25 H H 12 1
t Am y di
Sh ngh i J uly
ut i
M Kinno n
‘
a a 1 p no
b l d J uly 23
a e
o s

p ut i t H n ogK g on on
di b l d J uly 20
sa e
1 L nd n N 15 137
o o , ov .

I , H 1 1 12 6
H 16 1 3 1 N

H 16 28 1
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 2 09

O f the t wo ne w
cracks S erica wo n h e r spurs by ,

be ati ng the re d o ubtabl e Fiery Cross a nd taki ng the

pre mium fo r fi rst s hip in d o ck Taop ing h o w e ve r .
, ,

wa s un fo rtunate B e i ng o nly launch e d at t he e nd o f

'
‘

1 8 6 3 s h e did no t
,
ge t o ut to Chi na in tim e t o l o ad
th e n e w te as fro m Fo o ch o w so s h e w e nt u
p to ,

S hanghai O n I st j . uly sh e l e ft S hanghai in

co mpany with Coulnakyle and be ati ng do w n th e ,

Chi na S ea b o th ships cam e to g ri e f b e ing s o ,

disabl e d that th e y w e re co mp e ll e d to put i nto po rt .

Ta ep ing we nt i nto A m o y and Coulnaéy le i nto ,

H o ng K o ng A fte r re pai rs had b e e n affe ct e d

.
,

Ta op ing l e ft A m o y in O cto b e r and mad e such go o d

us e o f t h e favo urabl e m o ns o o n that s h e a rrive d in

L o nd o n e arly in j an uary 1 8 6 5 o nly 8 8 days o ut , , .

Th e Te a R ac e of 1865 .

Ship . Fro m . D a te Left . Dat e A rri vd e .

Fo o c h w o M ay 2 6 P mo ut
o ff ly h , O ct .
5
Ziba J o ne s H H 2 7 L o ndo n, 79 7
S erica I nne s 28 Se pt . I I
Fiery Cross bi
R o nso n 28 ’9 H I 1

30 o f S c illy O ct 4
Belted Will
, .

G h mra a M acao Jun e 5 o ff P mo utly h ,

B lack P rince I ngli s 5 o ff Fa mo ut l h ,

M in Smi h t 8 Lo n o n, d
Gl
'

Yo ung L oci nnva r ass Fo o c h o w

E liza S h aw S h ngh i
a a u o f! filymo uth ,

P alawan M acao 1 4 o ff L zari d ,

Taop ing M ‘Knno n i Fo o cho w 29 in th D w n

e o s

Ta ep ing which agai n mad e ,

b e st t im e o f the th e

ye ar was unfo rtunat e in no t be i ng abl e t o sail

,

e arli e r th us havi ng no chanc e o f gai ni ng t he

,

pre mi um H e r late launch in 1 8 6 3 and he r dis

.
-

P
 2 10 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S
a b le me nt in 1 8 64 had th us k e pt he r o ut o f th e fi rst
flight fo r t wo y e ars .

.
S eriea a nd Fiery Cross h o w e ve r
a ma rve ll o us
, , ra n

rac e .C aptai ns R o bi ns o n a nd I n n e s a rrange d to b e

t o w e d t o s ea by th e sam e mg and o n b e i n g cast o ff ,

at the m o uth o f the M in R iv e r mad e s ail at o ne

a nd th e s am e m o m e nt .

A ft e r b e i ng c o nstantly in c o mpa ny d o w n t he
C hi na S ea t h e i r tim e s at A nj e r w e re
,

2 3 rd Jun e, 27 dy a s o ut.

2 4 th June , 28 d y a s o ut.

Th e y w e re agai n many tim e s in c o mpany d uring

t he t o f the pas sag e a nd fi nally mad e th e i r
re s ,

numb e rs O f f S t C ath e ri ne s s im ulta n e o us ly

. .

H e re l uck which s o o ft e n affe ct e d th e e nd o f

,

th e s e o c e an rac e s cam e in I t wa s a S und a y a nd

, .
,

a ligh t w e s t e rly wi nd wa s bl o wi ng O ff B e achy .

H e ad the S erica was l e adi ng by t wo mil e s b ut ,

Fie ry Cross had th e go o d fo rtune t o fall in with a

t ug a nd b e i ng t ak e n in t o w re ach e d G rav e s e nd o n
,

t h e s am e t id e N o o th e r t ug b e i ng ab o ut S e rica
.
,

s t o o d o ut i nto mid channe l in o rd e r t o ge t th e

-

b e ne fi t o f the fl o o d a nd s h e was up t o th e Fo re land

,

b e fo re a tug ho v e in s ight and gave h e r a to wro pe ,

t h us s h e j us t mi s se d t h e tid e which ca rri e d Fier

y
Cross i nto t he riv e r a nd gav e h e r th e rac e .

L arge s um s w e re wag e re d o n S erica a nd Fiery

Cross a nd t h e re s ult o f t h e rac e caus e d s o m e
,

di ss atis facti o n am o ng s t th e back e rs many o f wh o m ,

2 12 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE RS
th e s e yacht lik e t e a clippe rs that th e i r p ro p er
-

ballasti ng wa s o ne o f th e m o st impo rtant co n

sid e rati o ns with th e i r captai ns a nd had no t a littl e ,

t o do with th e i r s ucc e ss .

D uring the th re e v o yag e s that C aptai n K e ay had

A riel h e g rad ually l e ss e ne d th e t e a ballas t and
,

t rimm e d he r mo re by the s te rn .

O n her fir t v y g
s o a e sh e had 3 40 to ns wi th m e an d t of 13
raf ft 6 ins
. .

O n h e r se c o nd 32 4 x3 ft 4 } ins
. .

O n he r thi d
r 3 10 I 3 ft 3 ins
. .

trim was as m uch as 5 i nche s by th e s te rn

H e r b e st .

N o o ne c o uld b e m o re q ualifi e d t o give a n

acco unt o f A riel than Captai n K e ay who c o m ,

ma nde d h e r th ro ugh h e r vict o ri o us care e r I .

th e re fo re hav e no h e s itati o n in quo t i ng his l e tte r to

me in which he sp e ak s o f he r with th e t rue l o v e
,

o f a s ail o r fo r h is s hip
1 '

A riel wa s a p e rfe ct be auty t o e v e ry nautical

“

ma n wh o sa w h e r ; in s ymm e trical grac e and

p ro p o rti o n o f h ull spars sail s riggi ng and fi nish
, , , ,

s h e s atisfi e d the e ye a nd
put all in l o v e with h e r
With o ut e xc e pti o n The c urve o f ste m figure head
.
,

a nd e nt ra nc e t he e a s y s h e e r a nd g rac e ful li n e s o f
,
-

th e h ull s e e m e d g ro w n a nd fi ni s h e d as li fe t ake s

shape and be a uty ; th e p ro p o rti o n a nd s ta nd o f he r

m as ts a nd ya rds w e re all p e rfe ct O n d e ck th e re .

wa s t he s am e c o mpl e te go o d tas t e ; ro o my fl ush

d e cks with pure white b ulwa rk pan e l s d e licate ly ,

bo rd e re d with gre e n and mi nute ly to uch e d in the

c e nt re with azure and v e rmilio n She had no to p .
 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S 2 13

gallant bulwarks (h e r main rail was o nly 3 fe e t high)

b ut stanchi o n s o f p o lish e d t e ak p ro t e cte d by b rass ,

t ubi ng le t in fl ush .

I t wa s a pl e asure t o co ach h e r V e ry light ai rs .

gave h e r he adway and I c o uld t rust h e r lik e a thi ng

aliv e in all e vo luti o ns ; in fact sh e c o uld do anything ,

sh o rt o f sp e aki ng .

“
A riel o ft e n w e n t 1 1 a nd 1 2 k no t s s harp o n a
bo wlin e and in fai r winds 1 4 1 5 and 1 6 k no ts fo r
, ,

ho urs t o ge th e r The b e st day s wo rk in s o uth

’
.

latitud e runn i ng e ast was 3 40 nautical mil e s by

, ,

o bs e rvati o n a nd t ha t was d o n e ca rrying all plai n

,

s ail e xc e pt miz e n ro yal th e wind b e i ng th re e o r fo ur

,

po i nts o n th e q uarte r .

We co uld tack o r we ar with the watch b ut ne v e r ,

he s itate d to call all hands night o r day tacking , , ,

”
re e fin e tc in s t ro ng wi nd s
g
~
. .
, ,

With re gard to sail plan A riel was no t o ve r ,

hatte d ye t carrie d a s uffici e nt cl o ud o f canvas to

,

mak e h e r a ticklis h bo at t o handl e whe n be ing

h e avily p re s s e d a nd Captai n K e ay state s that s he
,

always re q ui re d care ful watching .

H e r actual s ail a re a was ab o ut th e s am e a s S ir

S h e had v e ry l o ng l o w e r masts a nd he r
'
L ance lot s .

co urs e s we re ve ry d e e p he r mai n tack co mi ng right ,

do wn to the de ck Th e s e big co urs e s gav e he r a

.

go o d pull in light and m o d e rate wind s L ik e all .

sharp ships s he was v e ry we t in bad we ath e r ;

,

indee d he r pe tty o ffic e rs co uld no t sho w the mse lv e s

,
2 14 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS
t id e the mid s hip h o us e witho ut g e t ting d re nch ed
ou s -

in a ny thi ng o f a bl o w a nd th e y w e re l ittl e b e tt e r o ff
,

than wat e r rat s wh e n runn i ng th e e asti ng d o wn .

H e r chi e f s par m e as ure m e nt s w e re

—
M ainmast d eck to l o we r masth ead
M a in mast—d eck to truc k
M a i ny ard —b o o m i ro n to b o o m i ro n
Sp nk b m
a er oo

Knigh th d to flying jibb

ea s o o m e nd

”
Th e “
S ir Lanc e lo t .

S ir L a ncelo t was launch e d on 2 7 th J uly ,

1 865, j us t a m o nth aft e r A riel M r M ac Cunn s . .

’

fi rs t wi sh had b e e n to b uild h e r 1 0 fe e t l o nge r b ut ,

thi s id e a was giv e n up a nd h e r build e r s m e asure ’

m e nts wo rke d o ut the s am e a s th o s e o f A riel ,

tho ugh h e r ne t re gis te r mad e he r 34 to ns large r and

h e r re gi s t e re d dim e ns i o ns al s o di ffe re d s lightly .

L ike A riel s he wa s o f c o m p o s it e c o nstructi o n

wi t h t e ak plan ki ng to bilge a n d e lm b o tt o m H er .

ballas t i ng als o was e xactly th e s am e a s A riel s ’

.

S he d e liv e re d 1 4 3 0 t o ns o f t e a o n a m e an d raft
o f 1 8 fe e t 8 i nch e s .

N o e xp e nse o f c o urs e wa s spare d in h e r o utfi t

, , .

I n th o se day s a c rack clipp e r o r packe t was a s

s ma rt ly k e pt u
p as a m o d e rn yacht a nd as artistic ,

b e auty was th o ugh t m o re o f than it is no w such ,

v e s se l s as A riel a nd S ir L ancelot w e re p e rhaps the

m o s t be aut i ful fab ric s e v e r c re at e d t o pl e ase the
nautical e ye o f ma n A k n ight in mail a rm o ur wi th
.

pl um e d h e lm e t h is vizo r o pe n a nd h is right hand in

,
 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE RS 2 15

the act of d rawing his swo rd fo rm e d S ir L a ncelot s

’

figure he ad .

With regard to the nam e M r Mac Cunn had , .

a n i n t ere sti ng co rre sp o nd e nc e with Te nnys o n as ,

”
t o wh e th e r it s h o uld b e sp e lt L aun c e l o t or

Te nnys o n w ro te that it sh o uld b e

”
“
L anc e l o t
L anc e l o t . I m e nti o n this as I no tic e that the
nam e is s o o fte n s p e lt w ro ngly a n insta nc e o f which ,

is t o b e fo und in Captain Clarke s Clifp er S /cifi E ra ’

.

A noth e r mi s tak e which I s h o uld lik e to c o rre c t

is t he s q ua re fe e t o f ca n va s c re dit e d t o S ir ,

L a n celot by L i ndsay in h is M e rcli an t S kipp ing ,

which has b e e n fo ll o we d by se ve ral o th e r w rite rs .

M r J am e s Ma c Cunn has ki ndly s uppli e d m e with

.

S ir L an celot s sail pla n in d e tail which will b e fo und

’

in th e app e ndix This sh o ws that S ir L a ncelo t s

’
.

ne t s ail sp re ad w o rke d o ut at 1 sq ua re fe e t no t ,

o ve r a s ha s b e e n stat e d This tabl e ho w .

,

e v e r tak e s no acc o unt o f s uch f

,
lyi ng kit e s a s the
J ami e G re e n ri ngtail wa te rs a ils bo nne ts a nd wi ngs
, , ,

t o l o we r s t uns ails which w e re always mad e by t he

,

sail mak e r o n b o ard acco rdi ng to t he di re cti o n s

giv e n him by the captai n Wh e n all th e se auxil
.

ia rie s w e re se t th e re was a n additi o n o f fro m 2 0 0 0 to

2 5 00 s q ua re fe e t o f ca n va s t o t h e full w o rki ng s uit

o f t he ship .

Sir La nc e lo t s
’
Unfo rtuna te Ma ide n V o ya ge.
Thi ngs a ly go abs o l ut e ly right o n a
r re

v e ss e l s maid e n vo yage and thus it is v e ry ne c e ssary

’

,
2 16 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
to plac e a ne w ship unde r th e c o mmand o f an
e xp e ri e n c e d cap tai n I n thi s re s p e ct A riel was
.

l ucky in havi ng Captai n J o h n K e ay wh o afte r ,

putting th e vari o us s mall mistak e s o f rigge rs and

build e rs right l e arnt t o k no w his ship th o ro ughly
,

a nd had h e r t une d up t o the n i ne s by t h e tim e s he

re ach e d Fo o ch o w t o l o ad th e ne w t e as .

But that th e v o yag e until th e n had no t b e e n

’
with o ut th e usual maid e n passage i ncid e nts A riel s ,

ab s t ract l o gs sh o we d o nly to o cl e a rly .

I t was no t h o w e v e r until h e r s e co nd v o yage that

, ,

S ir L a ncelot had a chanc e t o s h o w wha t s h e c o uld do .

M r M ac Cunn was unfo rtunate in b e i ng unabl e t o

.

o btai n a g o o d s kipp e r fo r h e r a t t h e s t art a nd whil s t

,

A riel und e r Cap tai n K e ay mad e h e r re putati o n o n

h e r fi rs t v o yage S ir L a ncelot was ha ndicapp e d o ut
, ,

o f th e runni ng by a bad j o ck e y M r Mac Cunn l o s t

. .

t h e s kipp e r wh o m h e had in h is mi nd o wi ng t o a

slight d e lay in the co mpl e ti o n o f S ir L a ncelot t he ,

ma n b e i ng snapp e d up by a no th e r firm So a .

cap tai n nam e d Macd o ugall with go o d c re d e ntials

was giv e n the c o mma nd .

This ma n s o o n sh o we d that h e was to tally unfi t

t o c o mma nd s uch a t h o ro ughb re d o f t h e s e a s as a

Chi na clipp e r a nd po ss e ss e d o f ne i th e r n e rv e no r
, ,

g o ,
h e bl und e re d th ro ugh th e e nti re v o yag e .

A ft e r a p ro t ract e d i nte rm e dia t e passag e t o

Ba ngk o k a nd back t o H o ng K o ng wi th ric e the S ir ,

L a ncelot re ach e d H anko w a nd wa s l ucky e no ugh to

 2 18 TH E CH I N A C LIP PE RS
t ea r ace o f 1 8 6 6 Fo r s o m e y e ars past t he
.

public inte re st had b e e n gro wi ng until it had no w ,

c o m e t o pass that e ve n th o se who d we lt in sl e epy

i nland villag e s l o o k e d e ag e rly d o wn the shippi ng
c o l umns o f the m o rni ng pape rs fo r n e ws o f
t he racing clippe rs .A nd if this inte re st was sh o w n
b y landsm e n who had no co n ne cti o n with e ithe r t he
s hips o r the t rad e it is no t s urp risi n
, g that t h e g re at

s hipping c o mmuni t y o f G re at B ritain l o o ke d up o n

t he t e a rac e s m uch as th e B ritish p ublic l o o k up o n

th e D e rby o r th e B o a t R ac e .

Ev e ry ma n with a nautical c ut t o his Jlb had a b e t

up o n th e re s ult ,
whil s t t h e rival o wn e rs ag e nt s ,

a nd shipp e rs wag e re d h ug e s ums N o r w e re th e

.

captains and cre ws o f th e v e ss e ls th e ms e lve s

backward in this re spe ct I hav e al re ady re
.

lat e d ho w the c re ws o f th o s e o ld antago n i s ts

Fie ry Cross and S e rica wage red a m o nth s pay
’

agai nst e ach th e captains it had ,

c o m e to b e rm o f e tique tte o n th e

Chi na Co ast fo r a captain t o back his o wn ship .

I s hall no t fo rge t t he s c o rn in the v o ice o f

'

o ne o f th e s e o ld t e a clipp e r captains wh e n in , ,

d e s cribi ng a rac e to m e h e re mark e d that he

,

c o uld no t ge t his o ppo n e nt to wag e r e ve n the

cus to mary b e av e r hat O ne o th e r captain I kn o w
.

o f wh o ste adily re fus e d t o b e t and that was the

fam o us A nth o ny E n right wh e n in co mmand o f

,

C/i rysolite . H e re fus e d fro m re l igi o us sc rupl e s .

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 2 19

In 1 8 66 fre ights
w e re up to 7 a to n fo r the fi rs t
six o r e ight ships l o ading at Fo o cho w a nd the ,

be gi nni ng o f May fo und sixte e n o f the b e s t k no wn

and fin e st clipp e rs ass e mbl e d at th e Pago da
A nch o rage waiting fo r the fi rst s e as o n s t e a to
’

c o m e do wn th e riv e r .

A mo ngs t t h e s e w e re th e A riel Fiery Cross , ,

S eric a Taef ing Fa lcon Flying Spur B lack P rince ,

, , . ,

Cainama n A aa Con lnaéy le a nd Ta its ing Findlay s

’ ’

, , , ,

new c rack who se cha nc e s w e re fa nci e d by ma ny a

,

s h re wd j udge .

Th e b e aut i ful A riel lay b e l o w th e re s t o f the fl e e t ,

cl o se to the Pago da R o ck Th o ugh no b e t t i ng .

price s w e re publi s h e d and no b raze n to ngue d bo o ki e s -

we re p re s e nt to c ry th e o dd s s he was re c o gn is e d a s ,

t h e fa v o uri t e a nd a s s uch fav o ure d by t h e s hipp e rs

, , , .

A s a rul e in th e t e a rac e s t he fi rst s hip to fi ni s h ,

l o adi ng was t hat which the shippe rs b e li e v e d to b e

th e fa s t e s t .

O cca si o nally th e y w e re mista k e n as in th e cas e ,

o f M a itla nd which th e y mad e fav o urit e in th e 1 8 6 7

,

rac e ; o ccasi o nally al s o o ne o f t h e c rack s a rriv e d t o o

.

lat e to ge t away amo ngst th e fi rs t ships .

O n 2 4 th May th e fi rst lighte rs o f n e w te a cam e

d o wn t he riv e r and A riel sto we d h e r fl o o ring ch o p
o f 3 9 1 ch e sts a nd 2 2 0 hal f ch e sts On S unday the -
.
,

2 7 th May s he had sixte e n light e rs al o ngs id e

,
and ,

Chi ne s e c o o li e s w o rke d day a nd n ight ge tti ng it

ab o ard until at 2 p m o n M o nday 2 8 th May the
,
. .
, ,
220 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
last ch e st wa s ha nd e d lbs o f
,
. t ea

b e i ng o n b o ard .

Th e carg o e s o f t h e o th e r fa nci e d ship s w e re

Fiery Cross lb s .

99

S erica
1 1 0 93 1 1 30 n

A riel was th e fi rst s hip re ady A t 5 p m o n the . . .

’
a 8 th s h e un m o o re d a nd with t h e t ug b o at [s la na
,
-

Queen al o ngs id e d ro pp e d we ll b e l o w t he s hippi ng

,

a nd a nch o re d fo r th e night Th e ne xt s hip t o .

unm o o r was th e Fie ry Cross tw e lve h o urs lat e r and , ,

s h e in turn wa s fo ll o we d by th e Tae fi ing a nd S erica ,

which fi ni s h e d l o ading a nd go t away to g e th e r th e n ,

cam e Ta its zng a day b e hi nd But as was pro v e d

, .
,

in th i s in s tanc e th e fi rs t v e ss e l to fi nish l o ading was

,

no t alwa ys t h e fi rs t v e s se l t o cl e a r t he riv e r .

A t 5 a m o n Tue s day 2 9 th May th e A rie l h o v e

. .
, ,

up a nd p ro c e e d e d d o w n t h e rive r with t h e tug

t o wing al o ng s id e A t 8 3 0 wh e n ne a ring S ha rp
. .

Ro ck s he di s cha rge d he r C hi ne s e riv e r pil o t a nd

,

t h e t ug was s e nt ah e ad t o t o w .

Th e s c e ne ry o f th e Min R iv e r is magnific e nt ; o n
e a c h s id e hill ri s e s ab o v e hill h e re c ultivate d t o the ,

s ummit s by m e ans o f te rrac e s th e re s o s t e e p as t o ,

o nly admi t o f s t unt e d fir A l o ng th e bank s q uaint

.

Chi ne s e village s fo rt s a nd j o ss h o us e s a re s catt e re d

, ,

whils t o n th e s urfac e o f t he wa t e r w o o d lad e n j unks -

a nd all ki nd s o f riv e r c ra ft a re pl e nti ful But like .

m o st b e aut i ful rive rs the M in is a s wi ft run ni ng

.
-
2 22 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
pro c e e d by 8 3 0 p m th e w e ath e r was s o thick a nd
. . .
,

sho we ry that the pil o t re fus e d to v e nture H ow .

as t he
’
e v e r th e re was a full night s w o rk abo a rd
, ,

A riel was badly o ut o f t rim b e ing no l e ss than 5 ,

i nch e s by the h e ad ; this no d o ubt had no t made ,

'
t h e tug s di ffic ulti e s a ny e asi e r E v e rythi ng o f .

w e ight incl udin g cabl e s haws e rs salt p ro vi s i o ns

, , ,

and fo re p eak st o re s was cl e are d o ut fro m fo rward

-
,

a nd b ro ught a ft o f t h e miz e n mast in additio n to ,

which the captai n s cabi n was fill e d with t e a This

’
.
,

ho we v e r did no t e ntail much hardship o n th e

,

A riel s c o mmand e r fo r h e was rare ly o ff th e d e ck

’
.
,

A t 9 a m o n t h e 3 o th A rie l o nc e m o re go t und e r
. .

w e igh th e t ug go i ng ah e ad with a haw s e r fro m

,

e ach q ua rt e r But the d e lay had giv e n Fiery Cross

.

a l e ad o f 1 4 h o urs and al s o bro ught up th e Ta ep ing

,

a nd S erica which w e re o nly a fe w mi nute s b e hi nd

,

A riel in c ro s s ing th e b ar By a m all th re e . . .

s hip s A riel
, Taep ing a nd S e rica we re o uts id e t he
,

O ut e r Kn o ll and h o v e —t o in o rd e r t o d ro p th e i r
pilo t s . Onc e m o re the l uck was against A riel .

The wre tche d I sland Queen in l o we ring he r b o a t to ,

fe tch o ff t he pil o t cap s iz e d h e r and was s o l o ng in

,

saving h e r b o at s c re w wh o we re struggli ng in the

’

wat e r t hat the A riel had at last to signal fo r a pilo t

,

bo at to c o m e and take o ff he r pil o t .

A t last at ,a m C aptain K e ay fill e d his . .

,

mainyard and sto o d away S by E g E fo r . . .

Turnab o ut I sland Th e re was a m o d e rat e N E

.
. .
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE RS 22 3

wi nd All th re e ships s e t mai n skysail s and fo re

.

t o pmast a nd l o w e r s t uns ail s I t was as l e ve l a sta rt

.

a s c o uld b e wi s h e d fo r th re e fav o urit e s Fo r a tim e .

t h e v e s s e ls k e pt cl o s e t o e ach o t h e r t h e A riel ,

s l o wly gai n i ng o n b o th Tae in But

p g a nd S erica .

t he w e a t h e r wa s thick and rai ny a nd b e fo re n ight fall

th e t h re e rac e rs had l o s t s ight o f e ach o th e r .

I t is no w tim e t o m e n ti o n t h e o th e r c o mpe tito rs ;

Ta itsing th e ne xt away l e ft th e riv e r at mid n igh t
, ,

o n t h e 3 1 5 1: May th e n cam e B lack P rince o n t h e

,

3 rd j une fo ll o w e d by Cli ina ina n a nd Fly ing Sp ur

,

o n t h e sth a nd A da o n t h e 6 th a nd at s till lat e r

, ,

dat e s cam e the re st o f the fl e e t i ncl udi ng Falcon ,

Co nlna éyle , Ya ng tze B elted

, Will , Fakwa n , Wait e

A dder a nd Golden St a r Th e
ace to b e fi rst ho m e
. r ,

h o w e ve r was co nfi ne d t o th e fi rs t fiv e sta rte rs

, ,

as no ne of t he late r ships had a chan c e o f

o ut s t ripping th e m .

C aptai n R o bi nso n wi t h his s ix y e a r o ld v e t e ra n - -

,

Fiery Cross le d th e way t o A nj e r fo ll o wi ng th e

, ,

us ual ro ute d o wn th e C hi na S e as th ro ugh t h e ,

Fo rmo s a Chan ne l to th e Pa rac e ls a fte r which with , ,

th e fickl e S W m o ns o o n o f J une it wa s a cas e o f

. .
,

co urti ng the land and s e a b re e z e s d o w n the Co chi n

Chi na Co ast th e n c ro ss i ng t o th e B o rne o Co ast
,

and re pe ati ng t he o pe rati o n K no wi ng captains .

sh o w e d gre at s kill in tacking in a nd o ut s o timi ng ,

it that th e y w e re w e ll und e r the land abo ut th e h o ur

that the land b re e z e was due to s p ri ng up which ,
224 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE RS
wa s t n no t until th e middl e o f the night The
of e .

ships us ually we nt th ro ugh the A pi Passage and

the n s o uth to A nj e r by th e G as par S t rai t .

This fi rs t part o f the rac e wa s the m o st t ryi ng

part . E ve ry advant age had to b e tak e n o f t he
fai nt e s t rippl e o n th e wate r I n t h e S W m o ns o o n
. . .

t h e re was no s e ttl e d we ath e r t h e wi nd no w cam e

,

wi th a rus h no w di e d away to no thi ng a nd it

, ,

wo uld ch o p ab o ut in s qualls s o q uickly that it was

alm o s t a n imp o ss ibili ty to avo id g e tti ng caught
aback a nd wo e b e tid e th e v e sse l caught a back with
,

flyi ng kite s al o ft Thi s wa s the m o s t fruitful s o urce

.

o f l o s i ng s pa rs a nd sail s in all t he va ri e d w e ath e r o f

t he l o ng pass age .

I t w o uld b e baki ng h o t with a sc o rchi ng calm a nd

glari ng s un o ne m o m e nt a nd the ne xt a s q uall
,

wo uld s w e e p up o ut o f no whe re acc o mpani e d by a

,

cas cad e o f rai n— the wi nd wo uld c o m e wi th the

s tre ngth o f hal f a gal e in o ne s quall a nd in the ne xt
p e rhaps th e re w o uld b e no wi nd at all b ut o nly a
bli ndi ng sluice o f rai n . Th e navigati o n t o o wa s
t ricky a nd s t re wn with faul t ily charte d re e fs ; ro cks
bl o ck e d th e fai rway o f narro w chan ne l s whil s t the ,

curre nts ge ne rally be have d c o ntra ry to t he saili ng ia

s t ruc t io ns o r app e a re d wh e re no ne had b e e n b e fo re
, .

U nd e r such c o nditi o ns it is no t s urp risi ng that

t h e captai n s rare ly l e ft th e i r qua rt e r d e ck s fo r m o re
-

than a fe w mi nute s a t a t im e unt il A nj e r wa s passed .

Fiery Cross had fai r N E winds t o 1 9 2 0 N

. .
° ’
.
226 TH E CH INA I
C L PPE R S

I t was b e twe e n A nj e r Mauriti us und e r th e

a nd ,

i nfl ue nc e o f the s te ady $ 1 3 trade wi nd o f the .

I ndia n O c e a n that th e raci ng t e a ships we re

,

accus t o m e d t o make th e i r b e st t im e s I t was o n .

this st re tch that e v e ry ki nd o f flyi ng ki te was se t

a nd h ung o n t o until th e v e ry last m o m e nt .

R i ngtails We re b e nt o utsid e th e spanke r with a

wat e rs a il und e rne ath t h e b o o m wings in th e s h ape
o f spa re miz e n s taysails w e re lac e d o n t o t h e l o w e r

stun sail s ; th e J ami e G re e n was alm o st a fixture

al o ng the bo wsprit ; a b o nne t was lac ed o n the fo re
sail wat e rSails haul e d o ut und e r th e pas s e re e b o o ms
,

and a spare flyi ng j ib run we ll up o n th e fo re ro yal

o r fo r e t o pgalla nt s tay a s a j ib to ps ail E ve ry s tay
‘

to th e mai n s k ys t ay had its s taysail whil s t th e ,

fo re t o pmast a nd mai n t o pmas t s tay sail s w e re s o

V o l umin o us that th e i r h e ad s c am e to th e c o ll ars of
th e i r re spe ctiv e s tays Th e n the large s uit o f s tun
.

s ails from the ro yal d o w n w e re s e nt al o ft t ea

, , ,

clipp e rs havi ng as a rul e a large a nd s mall s uit .

The fo ll o wi ng e ntry o n 2 6 th J un e in A riel s log ’

giv e s s o m e id e a o f th e carryi ng o n Ca rpe nt e r “

maki ng s tuns ail yards having carri e d away two

,

t o pmast o ne ro yal and o n e to pgalla n t st unsai l ya rd

”
, .

Th e b e s t runs o f the pas sag e we re mad e o n this

s t re tch a nd w e re
Miles
Jun
.

On e 24 Fiery Cross 328

26 A rid 3 30
3 19 A riel 3 17 .

29 S erica 29 1

J uly 2 Ta itring 3 18
 TH E CH IN A C LI P PE RS 227

The ships pass e d l o ngitud e o f the Mauritius the

with o ut changing th e i r o rde r as fo llo ws ,

1. Fiery Cross on J un e 29 10 d ys
a fro m An j er .

2 . A riel July 1 11

1 11

4 . S erica 4 12

9 13

Fro m Ma uriti us t o t he
all kinds o f w e ath e r Cap e
w e re e nco unt e re d fro m light ai rs to he avy sto rms
, .

Fie ry Cross st e e ring i nto th e N atal Co ast t o

,

mak e th e m o st o f th e A gulhas curre nt actually ,

sighte d the Cap e b ut A riel a nd Taep ing furth e r t o

, ,

t h e s o uthwa rd w e re l ucki e r wi t h th e i r wi nds a nd

, ,

clo s e d up o n he r whils t S erica ste e ring a m o re

,

s o uth e rly c o urs e tha n th e o th e rs

go t caught by the
we s te rli e s and had to tack up no rth agai n in o rd e r
t o ge t t he fav o urabl e curre nt .

Whilst ro undi ng the A frica n Co ast the te a ships

had a chan c e o f sh o wi ng th e i r pac e s against o th e r
fast h o m e ward b o und e rs O n 1 0 th J uly with a .
,

fre s h s outhe rly b re e z e A riel pass e d o ne o f S m ith s

’

s mart littl e C iti e s t he City of Bomba , y go ing ne arly ,

2 fe e t t o h e r o ne and o n 1 5 th J uly with a light

, ,

N W wind she o v e rhaul e d the Do nald Curri e

. .
,

fly e r Tantallon Castle with the gre ate st o f e ase

, , .

The m e ridian o f the Cap e was pass e d in the

fo ll o wi ng o rd e r
1. my Cross July 15 t I O p m 16 d ys frOm M uriti us
on a . . a a , 47 dy a s

fr mFoocho w
o .

2. A riel n J uly 1 5 a fe w ho ur l ter 14 d ys fr m M uri ti us

o s a , a o a , 44 d ysa

fro m Fo oc how .
228 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
3 . Taep ing J uly 1 6 h lf d y l te r 1 5 d ys fr m M auri ti us 4 5 d ys
on a a a a , a o , a

fr m F o h w ooc o .

4 . S eri n J uly 19 1 5 d y f m M uriti u 5 0 days fr m Foo ch o w

ca o , a s ro a s, o .

5 . T itring on J uly 2 4 5 d y fr m M u i ti u 5 4 d y fr m Fo h w
a ,
1 a s o a r s, a s o oc o .

Fro m t he C ap e Fiery Cross

and A riel s te e ring ,

th e s am e co urs e had light wind s whilst Tageing

, , ,

s o me 3 00 mil e s ne a re r the A frican Co ast had ,

b e tte r l uck .

O n 1 9 th J uly all th re e ships w e re ab re as t th o ugh

,

o ut o f sight o f e ach o th e r a nd Ta o p ing c o ntinuing , ,

to gain wa s th e fi rst to pass S t H e l e na

, M e an . .

whil e S erica fo ll o wi ng in the wake o f Taefi ing was

, , ,

maki ng the be st tim e o f the wh o l e fl e e t and ,

actually we nt ah e ad o f A r iel fo r a day o r two .

A t S t H e l e n a t he o rd e r was
.

1 . Taep ing on July 2 7 11 dy a s fro m t he Ca p e.

2 . Fiery Cross 28 13

3 . S erica 29 10

4 . A riel 29 14

5 . Ta itsing A ug .
5 12

H o we ve r b e twe e n S t H e l e na a nd A sce ns i o n
, .

A riel go t a s lant a nd maki ng up a day agai n d re w ,

l e v e l with Fiery Cross ; at the sam e Taitsing which ,

had lagged b e hi nd fo r so l o ng b e gan to make up ,

gro und .

Th e timi ng o f the fl ee t at A sc e ns io n was

1. Taeping on July 3 1 4 dy a s fro m S t H e . l e na .

2 . Fiery Cross A ug . 1 4
3 . A riel 1 at
p m
. .
3
4 . S erica 2 4
5 . Ta ming 8 3

A q ato r Fiery Cross and A riel had again

the e u

d rawn l e v e l with Ta ep ing all thre e v e s s e ls c ro ssing ,

t he lin e o n the sam e day the o rd e r b e ing ,

23 0 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
co ntinue d to cl o s e up a nd o n 2 9 th A ug ust the fi rs t
fo ur ships pass e d Fl o re s wi t hin the 2 4 h o urs A riel ,

still ho ldi ng the l e ad fro m Fiery Cross the i r no o n ,

p o siti o ns b e i ng
A riel
°
4 1 54 N
'
.
,
°
34 3 2
’
W
. Fiery Cross
°
41 5 N
'
.
,
°
3 5 SI
'
W
.

But th e m o s t re markabl e i ncid e nt in thi s stre tch was

t h e wo nd e rful saili ng o f Ta its ing which had mad e ,

up th re e da ys o n the l e adi ng s hip .

The tim e s h e re are t ruly asto nishi ng in th e i r

cl o s e ne ss
1 . A riel on Aug . 29 17 dy
a s fro m San A nto n o 9 1 i dy a s o ut.

2 . Fiery Cross 29 1 6 92
3 . Taep ing 29 16 91
4 . S erica 29 16 91
5 . Taitsing Se t p . 1 13 93

Fro m th e W stac e rs had fre sh W

e e rn I s l e s t he r .

and S W wi nd s with o nly o ne day o f e ast e rly

. .
,

we ath e r all o f th e m maki ng the run to s o undi ngs

,

in six days .

At a m o n sth S e t e mb e r A riel sigh t e d t h e

.

p .
,

B is h o p L ight a nd with all po ssibl e sail s e t t o re

, , ,

al o ng fo r th e mo uth o f th e Chan n e l A t dayb re ak .

a v e s s e l was s e e n o n he r starb o ard quarte r carryi ng

a p re ss o f s ail .

“
I ns t i nct to ld m e t hat it was the Taep ing ,

Captai n K e ay w ro t e in a l e tt e r t o m e ; a nd so it
pro v e d to b e .

A ll day th e t wo sh ips surge d up Channe l t o g e th er ,

g o ing 1 4 k no ts with ro yal s tunsails and all flyi ng

ki te s s e t the wi nd b e i ng stro ng fro m W S W
, . . .

The L izard Lights we re ab e am at 8 a m and . .

 TH E C H INA C LI P PE RS 23 1

S tart Po int at n o o n To wards 6 p m wh e n o ff . . .

,

Po rtl an d b o th ships w e re co mpe ll e d to take in th e i r

,

J amie G re e ns in o rde r to ge t the anchors o ve r At .

.
p m S t Cath e rin e s b o re n o rth 1 mil e and
. .
,

s o o n afte r mid night B e achy H e ad was ab e am ,

distant 5 mil e s .

All this tim e the re had b e e n no alt e ratio n t o

s p eak o f in the dista nc e b e tw e e n t he t wo v e ss e ls

A rie l ke pt he r l e ad gaining a littl e as th e wind ,

fre sh e ne d and l e t t ing Ta op ing up again as it too k o ff .

A t 3 a m wh e n n e a ring D unge n e ss A riel b egan

. .
, ,

t o red uc e sail s e nd up ro ck e ts an d b urn bl ue lights

.
, .

A t 4 a m wh e n ab re ast o f the light and 1 5s mil e s

. .
,

o ff sh e h o v e t o
, s till signalling with flare s a nd
,

rock e ts fo r a pil o t .

A t 5 a m Taep ing was cl o s e aste rn o f A riel and

. .

als o signalli ng b ut as s he sh o w e d no signs o f

,

he aving to Captain K ea y b e gan to fe ar that she

,

m ea nt to run ah e ad o f him h e the re fo re bo re up ,

athwart he r haws e de te rmine d at all co sts to ,

p re ve nt M Kinno n fro m nicking in and ge tting

‘

the fi rst pil o t This dari ng manoeuvre s ucc e e d e d

. .

M Kinno n at o nce gave in and h o ve to

‘
.

At a m the pil o t cutte rs w e re s ee n co ming

. .

o ut o ft he Roads and Cap tain K e ay at o nc e ke pt away

and laid A riel in b e tw e e n Ta efi ing and the cutte rs .

At a m the pil o t ste pp e d ab o ard th e A riel

. .

and sal ute d Captain K e ay as the first ship o f the

s e as o n fro m China .
23 2 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS
At 6 a bo th s hip s s to o d away fo r th e S o uth
. m .

Fo re land with th e i r pil o ts ab o a rd A riel s et all .

plai n s ail b ut Ta ep ing s e nt al o ft t o pmast to pgallant ,

a n d l o w e r stunsails o n o ne s id e With thi s e xtra

canvas sh e manag e d t o cl o s e up a littl e o n he r rival ,

b ut A riel was s till a mil e ah e ad wh e n M Kinno n ‘

,

aft e r s hi fti ng his stun sails acro ss to th e p o rt s id e o n

hauli ng up th ro ugh the D o w ns was at last co mpe ll e d ,

t o t ak e th e m in o ff D e al .

H e re bo th ships to o k in th e i r white wi ngs and

signall e d fo r st e am with th e i r numbe rs flyi ng fro m
,

th e i r pe ak halliards This tim e it was Taep ing s .

’

turn to c ro w fo r the be st tug co mi ng o ut fro m

,

be hi nd th e N e ss s e nt h e r t o wli ne ab o ard the

,

ne a re s t of th e t wo clippe rs which be i ng th e , ,

ste rnm o s t o ne was o f c o urs e Taefi ing

, A riel had .

t o p ut up wi th a p o o r tug which was waiti ng in t h e

D o w ns C aptain K e ay wo uld hav e take n a s e co nd

.

tug al o ng s id e b ut th e re was no o bj e ct in the e xt ra

,

e xp e ns e as in any ca s e th e y w o uld hav e t o wait at

G rav e s e nd until th e tid e mad e .

Ta ep ing with h e r supe ri o r t ug a rrive d o ff

, ,

G rav e se nd 5 5 mi nute s ah e ad o f A riel ; b ut the

la tt e r avo id e d anch o ri ng by taki ng ano th e r tug
alo ngsid e A s s o o n as th e re was e no ugh wat e r
.

b o th v e ss e l s pro ce e d e d A t 9 p m A riel arrive d

. . .

o ut s id e th e Eas t I ndia D o ck gate s Ta op ing having .

,

furth e r t o go did no t re ach th e L o n d o n D o cks until

,

10
p m b ut d rawing l e s s wat e r than A riel sh e was
. .
,
,
23 4 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
clai me d and re ce iv e d the 1 0 5 pe r to n which she . ,

divide d with A riel ; Captain M Kinno n at the sam e ‘

tim e dividing the £ 10 0 give n t o the captain o f the ,

wi nne r with Captai n K e ay

,
.

M e anwhil e an o th e r o f the race rs was cl o s e o n

the h e e ls o f th e d e ad h e at e rs and whilst the te a -
,
.

sampl e s we re be ing to ss e d ash o re fro m A riel and

Taep ing at midnight S erica was b ei ng haul e d int o
,

th e We st I ndia D o ck I t app e are d that whilst the

.

fi rst t wo ship s we re racing n e ck a nd ne ck alo ng th e

E nglish C o ast S erica had b e e n t e ari ng up the
,

Fre nch sid e o f the Ch an ne l and passi ng th ro ugh , ,

t he D o wns at n o o n go t into the riv e r o n t he

,

sam e tide and j ust manage d to scrap e i nto the

We st I ndia D o ck at 1 1 3 0 p m as the gate s we re . . .

b e i ng cl o s e d .

S ure ly a m o re marve ll o us rac e c o uld ha rdly b e

imagi ne d L e avi ng the M in R iv e r o n the sam e
.

tide A riel Taep ing and S e rica had d o cked in the

, ,

R iv e r Tham e s o n the s am e tid e I t was a pro ud .

day fo r S c o tland fo r all th re e captains K e ay o f

, ,

A riel M Kinno n o f Taep ing and I n ne s o f S erica

,
‘

hail e d fro m th e Land 0 Cake s ’

.

A nd what had b e co m e o f the Fiery Cross which

had h e ld th e l e ad fo r s o l o ng ? She wa s o nly a
littl e o v e r 2 4 ho urs b e hind A t 1 0 a m o n the 7t h . . .

S e pt e mb e r sh e sight e d t he I s l e o f Wigh t The .

wi nd which had b e e n fre sh fro m the

, no w

inc re as e d to a gale and o n he r arrival in the D o wns

,
23 6 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
Tita nia which in b o th b e auty ,
a nd sp e e d was to ,

rival tho s e inco mparabl e sist e r ships A riel and

,

S ir L a ncelot .

If th e re was a fault t o b e fo und with th e s e two

l o v e ly littl e clipp e rs it was that th e y we re a littl e
,

t e nd e r and in squally we ath e r re qui re d v e ry ca re ful

watching Wh e n S haw Maxto n
. C o gav e S t e e l e
,
.

th e o rd e r fo r Titan ia th e y ask e d him t o giv e th e m

,

a sti ffe r b o at a nd he re sp o nd e d by givi ng the ne w

,

ship m o re b e am .

Co mpa ri ng th e re giste re d m e asure m e nts o f th e

th re e t he numb e r o f b e ams to l e ngth w o rks o ut
,

as fo ll o ws
A riel
S ir L ancelot 5 83
°

Titania 5 55
'

Tita nia was launch e d o n 2 6 th N o v e mb e r 1 8 6 6 , ,

h e r dim e nsi o ns by build e r s m e asure m e nt b e ing

’

L gth f k l nd f
en o k ee a
99 f t
o re ra e 1 ee

d h f beam
Brea t o
36
D pth f h ld
e o o 21
T nnage
o to ns

H er be st po int o f s ailing pro v e d t o b e with the

wind j ust abaft the b e am wh e n it was no t t o o ,

s t ro ng t o p re v e nt he r ca rrying all plai n sail She .

was a spl e ndid s ea b o at and handl e d lik e a to p ; she

wa s v e ry liv e ly and like m o st t e a clipp e rs th re w
, , ,

t h e wa t e r all o v e r h e r in h e avy w e ath e r I n light .

ai rs s he cut al o ng lik e a kni fe as l o ng a s th e re was a

rippl e o n the wat e r a nd it re q ui re d a n ab s o l ute ly flat

calm to sto p he r ste e ri ng Th e re is no d o ubt that .

23 8 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
carpe nte r th re e days cutti ng th ro ugh the b uckl e d
i ro n fo re mast S aving what he c o uld o f th e spa rs ,
.

Captai n D e as p ro c e e d e d t o rig j ury masts a nd th e n

mad e the be s t o f his way t o R io .

H e re Titania was de laye d s o m e tim e whilst a

w o o d e n fo remas t was be i ng buil t fo r h e r Whe n .

s he did re s um e h e r v o yage sh e had no s o o ne r go t

d o wn i nto c as t ing we ath e r than ano th e r d e fe ct was

di s c o v e re d al o ft S he was abo ut the m e ridian o f th e
.

C ap e , wh e n th e l o w e r mai n mas th e ad was fo und to b e

fracture d S ail was at o n c e re d uc e d a nd th e mast
.

h e ad fi s he d th e to pgallant mast be i ng s e nt o n d e ck
,

t o re li e ve th e st rai n upo n th e cap S h e th us had t o .

make t he re st o f the pas sage unde r e as y canvas and

was a l o ng tim e ge tti ng o ut t o S hanghai .

Whil s t runni ng no rth in the Chi na S e as sh e

ne arly fi n i s h e d h e r o wn ca re e r as w e ll as A riel s
’

th ro ugh th e fa ult o f h e r o ffic e r o f t h e watch .

C aptai n K e ay was al re ady o n his way h o m e At .

2 a m . o n th e m o rn ing
. o f 2 9 th J un e wh e n in ,

° °
lat 1 0 N lo ng 1 1 0 E h e was b eati ng s o uth
. .

agai nst th e m o ns o o n th e wi nd b e i ng fre sh and

,

s qually wh e n he was ne a rly run d o w n by Tita nia

, ,

which sh o uld o f c o urs e have give n way to him in

acco rdanc e wi th the Rule s o f the R o ad Captai n .

’
K e ay s e nt ry in his lo g runs as fo ll o ws
2 a m — Had t o ke e p o ff fo r a run nin ship to
. .

g
avo id co llisi o n H ad l o st h is mai n to pgallant mast
.
-
.

H ad d o uble to psails and aske d us What ship is ,

 TH E CH INA I P
C L P ER S 23 9

that P ’
I re p ro ve d his lubbe rly co nduct in no t
'

hauli ng up to go ast e rn o f us and did no t hav e tim e

t o a nswe r him Was it the Titania ?
.

I t was the Tita nia and we may gue ss what ,

Captain K e ay had t o say t o Captain D e as and his

o ld mat e D un can wh e n ne xt th e y me t .

O n h e r a rrival in S hanghai Tita nia had h e r main

a nd miz e n masts re m o v e d and ne w i ro n masts
put
in with p ro p e r angle i ro ns S h e was o f c o urs e t o o
.
, ,

late t o take any part in the racing b ut g e t ti ng ho m e ,

t o L o nd o n b e fo re the e nd o f t h e y e a r wa s th e n ,

give n a co mpl e t e ne w o utfit o f spars and in ,

J anuary 1 8 6 8 s ail e d again fo r Chi na with Captai n

, ,

D e as still in c o mmand .

— dis maste d he r Passage O ut

”
S ir Lanc e lo t on

in 1866 7 .
Th e
c o ns t ructi o n o f i ro n masts and spars
was in its i nfa nc y at thi s date with t he re s ult ,

that many a v e s Se l suffe re d dismasting A nd S ir .

L ancelot o n h e r s ec o n d v o yage was am o ng t he

victims o wing to lack o f St ructural stre ngth in he r
,

bo wsp ri t .

A t th e e nd o f h e r mismanage d fi rst vo yage ,

‘

M e ss rs Mac Cunn with many a s cathi ng e pi the t,

. ,

discharge d th e ir in capable skippe r, and d ete rmi ned

“

to s e cure a firs t rate man at all Co sts o ffe red

-
,

Captain R o bins o n wh o had co m ma nd e d th e Fiery

,

Cross fo r t wo y e ars and was in the v e ry fro nt rank

o f racing skippers a hand so m e induc e m e nt to l e av e
,
24 0 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS

the o ld fly e r and tak e cha r g e o f t h e u nt ri e d S ir

M gain ’

L ance o l t . T o C ampb e ll s l o s s and a c Cu

’
n n s ,

he acc e pt e d th e o ffe r and th us it,

was that S ir

L a ncelot with a ne w capta in and picke d c re w l e ft

,
,

the Thame s at th e b e ginning o f D e c e mbe r 1 8 6 6 , ,

with e ve ry anticipati o n o f a p ro sp e ro us v o yag e .

Th e s ta rt h o we ve r was a bad o ne
, ,
Fro m the .

”
first the F lying H o rs e clippe r had di rty w e ath e r
“

a nd was c o mp e ll e d t o b e at d o wn Chann e l agai ns t

a stro ng sou we st bl o w which re s o lv e d its e l f

’
-
,

into a h e avy gal e as s o o n as she was abre ast o f

U s hant .

O n 1 3 th D e c e mb e r with th e wi nd inc re as i ng ,

with e v e ry squall Captain Ro bins o n w o re h is ship

,

At p m
’
t o th e s o uth ard and re e fe d d o wn . . .

bo t h fo re sail and mai ns ail w e re haul e d up a nd

mad e fast .

A t 4 3 0 S ir L a nce lo t was h e ad re achi ng c o m

.
-

fo rtably o u the sta rb o a rd tack whe n sh e was st ruck

by a tre m e nd o us squall Th e gallant clippe r sto o d .

up t o it man fully ; b ut o f a s udd e n in the midst o f

, ,

t h e b urly burly o f sc re ami ng wind and hissi ng s e as

-
,

the re aro s e the Siniste r s o und o f cracki ng s pars and

t e ari ng canvas—the bo ws prit had carri e d away
i ns ide the fo restay band clo se to the knight h ea ds
- -
.

B e fo re Ro binso n had tim e to iss ue a co mmand the ,

fo re mas t fo ll o we d it o v e r th e sid e b re aki ng o ff like ,

a ca rro t j ust abo v e the mast co at Th e n the mai n .

mast w e nt This mas t bro ke b e lo w the main d e ck

.
2 42 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
i nto Falm o uth with o ut a ny assistanc e le t go his ,

anch o r in Carrick R o ads Fo r this fine pi e c e o f

.

s e amanship t h e und e rw rit e rs awa rd e d £ 2 5 0 t o b e

divid e d in p ro po rti o n b e twe e n Captain R o bins o n ,

h is o ffic e rs and c re w .

But th o ugh th e ship was sav e d th e re w e re ye t ,

innumerable di ffic ulti e s t o b e o ve rc o m e if s he was

t o re ach China in tim e fo r t h e t ea s e as o n A t fi rst .

it was p ro po s e d to t o w th e lame duck to L o ndo n

t o re fit b ut in the e nd it was d e cid e d t o ca rry o ut
,

th e w o rk at Falm o uth Fo r thi s purp o s e M r

. .

J am e s Ma c Cunn hurrie d d o wn t o Co rnwall t o take

charg e whilst Captai n R o bi nso n was away l o o king
fo r n e w masts and ge a r
The re s o urc e s o f Falm o uth we re taxe d to t he
ut m o s t a nd M r M ac Cunn fo und it ne c e s sary t o
, .

bri ng d o wn a gang o f L ive rp o o l rigge rs h e ad e d by ,

a mas te r rigge r nam e d N ich o las wh o s o o n pro ve d

- -

hims e l f invaluabl e a fi rst rat e man o f go and g rit

,

wh o m no thi ng di s maye d ( Ma ny y e a rs a ft e rwa rds

.

N ich o las had c o mmand o f t h e S ir L ancelot

a nd lat e r s till b e came s e c o nd o ffic e r o f the
Cunard e r Urn oria ) .

Th e re was no tim e t o b uild ne w i ro n masts b ut ,

luckily M e s s rs M o ne y Wig ram

. S o ns w e re abl e
,

t o s upply a mag nific e nt s e t o f O re go n pi ne s tick s ,

which the y s e nt o ff to Falm o uth with admi rabl e

d e spatch .

M e anwhil e with Captain R o bi ns o n away in

,
 TH E CH NA I C LIPPE RS 24 3

L o nd o n , M r . M ac Cunn fo und that h e had a stiff

c o nt ract b e fo re him Fi rst the ca rgo had t o b e
.

t ake n o ut t h e undamage d part b e ing st o re d in th e

,

d o ck wa re h o us e s and th e damage d part re turne d

,

t o t he shipp e rs fo r re pai rs a nd re ne wal A s s o o n as .

th e ca rgo was o ut o f he r th e re fit b egan , This was .

carri e d o n night a nd day the night gangs b e ing ,

lighte d by th e primitiv e m e ans o f t o rch e s and

blazi ng ta r barre ls .

Plan k t ramway s w e re laid fro m t h e railway d e p o t

’
t o th e ship s sid e by which th e h uge O re go n ma s ts
,

a nd spa rs w e re b ro ught t o th e wate r s e dg e U sing

’
.

a big h e rmaph ro dite d e rrick in s te ad o f mast S h e e rs ,

N ich o las s o o n had th e l o we r mas ts o n e nd afte r ,

which re — riggi ng wa s ca rri e d o n with a rush .

N e w s ail s standing and running riggi ng w e re

,

mad e by the o rigi nal co nt racto rs in re co rd tim e s o ,

th e re was no waiting ; ye t th o ugh all hands wo rk e d

,

wi t h a will a n unparall e l e d s e ri e s o f o b s tacl e s

,

fo ught t o d e lay t he re fit .

S n o w blizza rd s swe pt th e land fo ll o w e d by ,

inte ns e frost— such we ath e r as had no t b e e n e xp e ri

e nc e d in C o rn wall fo r 5 0 y e a rs Th e n t he imp o rte d .

rigg e rs caus e d t ro ubl e th ro ug h the j e al o us y o f th e

,

l o cal me n and thi s re sulte d in ri o ts a nd bl o o dsh e d

,
.

Ye t in spite o f a fo o t o f s no w o n the l e v e l a nd
,

c o nstan t ro ws b e twe e n th e warri ng facti o ns the ,

w o rk we nt o n like magic .

The ne w riggi ng was d ro ppe d o ve r th e mast

24 4 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
h eads the yards c ro ss e d and s ails be nt th e h ull
, ,

its e l f re pai re d a nd re me talle d by Falm o uth ship

w rights—who we re m o re pl e nti ful th e n than th e y
a re no w—th e b o ats re pai re d o r ne w o ne s b uilt and ,

lastly the cargo and sto re s safe ly sto w e d— all in six

we eks . A nd o n 3 15 t J anua ry S ir L ancelot o nc e ,

m o re se t sail fo r China The re st o f the passag e

.

was une v e nt ful the ne w O re go n pi ne masts we re a

,

gre at succ e ss a nd Ro bi ns o n s wo re by the m Th o ugh .

t o o lat e fo r t he Fo o ch o w t e as the S ir L a ncelot was

,

able to sail fro m S hanghai o n 1 sth J une .

Arie l s ’
R e c o rd Pa s s age o ut to Ho ng Ko ng
in 1866-3 .

Whils t Tita n ia
was re fitting in Rio a nd
S ir L a ncelot in Falm o uth A riel the fi rst o f th e
, ,

ce l e brat e d S te e l e t ri o was co ve ring he rs e l f wi th

,

mo re gl o ry .

L e avi ng G rav e se nd th Octo be r she arriv e d

o n 14 ,

in H o ng K o ng ha rb o ur o n 6 th J anua ry 1 8 6 7 afte r , ,

a re c o rd passage o f 7 9 days 2 1 ho urs pilo t to ,

pil o t o r 8 3 days fro m G rav e s e nd to H o ng K o ng

, ,

a nch o rage t o a nch o rag e .

This wo nd e rful pas s age mad e agai nst the N E . .

m o nso o n raise d q uite a se nsati o n in H o ng K o ng ,

and wh e n it was te l eg raph e d h o m e was hardly

b e li e v e d I t was a n e asy re co rd fo r the run o ut
.

t o H o ng K o ng and has n e v e r b e e n b eate n sinc e .

Th e re w e re many imaginative re p o rts o f b e tter

24 6 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
The passage s this y e ar we re as fo ll o ws
Dat o 0!
.

Ship . Fro m .

Fooc h w o May 30
M a itland June 1

Sm t ih
p
Se t .

S h ngh i
a a Oct . 12
E liza Shaw g, M I I
A ug . 12 x9
e pt . 2 2
July O ct .
31
Tit'am a S pt De c
'

e . 2 Oc t .
9 . 26

The fi rststarte rs fro m Fo o ch o w we re ne w

t wo

s hip s .Ta ewan had t he mis fo rtun e to b e w re cke d

o n t h e day o f saili ng a nd b e came a to tal l o ss ; b ut

M a itla nd had a spl e ndid start as she fo und a fine ,

N E bre e z e o utsid e a nd was abl e t o st re tch away

. .

s o uth with he r m o o nsail s s e t .

Thi s ve ss e l was e xp e cte d to mak e a g re at

re p utati o n fo r h e rs e l f H e r captai n had b o as t e d
.

that s he had run 1 7 kn o ts a n ho ur o n the pas s age

o ut a nd sh e had an unus ually la rge sail spre ad ,

b ut she fail e d to co m e up to the e xp e ctati o ns

o f h e r o wn e rs who had as k e d Pil e o f S und e r
,

land fo r a wo rld b e ate r But sp e e d is always

.

e l usiv e and th o ugh M a itland was fast e n o ugh o ff

 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S 24 7

the wi nd s he wo uld no t go t o wi ndward like the

,

S te e l e c racks .

Fo ll o wi ng the t wo ne w ships cam e t h e th re e o ld

rival s, Fie ry Cross S erica a nd Ta ep ing the t wo
, ,

latte r with th e s am e s kippe rs as in 1 8 66 b ut Fiery ‘

Cross was c o m ma nd e d by Captain Kirkup R o bi ns o n ,

havi ng g o ne to the S ir L ancelot .

A riel me t all th re e s hi ps o n h e r way up to l o ad .

She pas s e d S erica o n th e afte rn o o n o f t he 3 rd th e ,

wi nd b e i ng v e ry light fro m S W by S Ta ep ing . . .

to we d pass e d h e r in the o ute r chann e l o n th e aft e r

no o n o f th e 4 th a n d s h e had t o wai t at S ha rp Pe ak
,

t ill p m o n th e st h fo r th e re turn o f th e tug

. .

Woosung which had l e ft S harp Pe ak at 9 a m

, . .

with Fiery Cross in to w .

The Tails ing and t he ve t e ran Fly ing Sp ur had a

g re at rac e as t o which sh o uld b e l o ad e d fi rst in the
e nd Fl in
y g Sp a r j us t manag e d t o fi n i s h a n h o ur
ah e ad s o had fi rst call o n th e Woosung N o o the r
, .

tug b e ing availabl e C aptai n N uts fo rd o f the

,

Ta its ing wh o c o ns id e re d that his ve ss e l was much

,

t h e fast e r o f t h e two t ri e d ha rd t o ge t Captai n

,

R yrie t o all o w t h e Woosung t o tak e him t o s e a fi rs t ,

b ut th e latt e r naturally re fus e d no t wi s hing to l o s e

,

2 4 h o urs H o we v e r Ta ilsing s skippe r was no t t o

’
.
,
/

b e b e at a nd e ngage d fi fty large s ampan s to t o w h is

v e ss e l do w n and by th e i r m e ans was e nabl e d to ge t
ac ro s s the b a r o nly an h o ur o r s o afte r Fly ing Sp a r .

B lack P rin ce th e whipp e r in was o nly a tid e

, ,
24 8 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
b ehind the m O utsid e the w e ath e r b e i ng hazy the
. , ,

v e s s e l s we re no t l o ng in sight o f e ach o th e r b ut ,

th e re was no t much t o ch o o s e b e twe e n Flying Spa r ,

Ta its ing a nd B lack P rince in light we ath e r and

th e y w e re ne ve r v e ry fa r apart all the way d o w n
th e C hi na S e as .

O n I 3 th jun e the Fly ing a r was j o gging al o ng

o ff t h e Co chi n C hina Co a s t und e r sh o rt s ail havi ng ,

j us t e xp e ri e nc e d h e a vy w e at he r wh e n the Ta itsing
,

was s ight e d c o mi ng up as t e rn und e r e v e ry rag s h e

c o uld s e t C ap tai n R yrie at o nc e mad e sail and
. ,

tho ugh the Ta its ing o ccas io nally c re pt up t o Flying

Sp a r s he ne v e r succ e e d e d in pas si ng h e r a nd m o re
, ,

than o nc e th e lat t e r ra n away fro m h e r a nd l e ft h e r

o ut o f s igh t a s t e rn .

I n t h e A p i Pa ss age Flying Sp a r a nd B lack P rin ce

fo und t h e m s e lve s in c o mpa ny A h e avy sq uall
.

maki ng up s truck the t wo s hips simultane o us ly .

The care ful I ngli s at o nc e cl e w e d up his t o pgalla nt

sails and ligh t s ail s a nd k e pt away b e fo re it b ut ,

Ryrie l uffe d th ro ugh it a nd wh e n it cl e a re d up the

c re w o f B la ck P rince had th e mo rt ifica t io n o f s e e i ng
th e Fly ing Sp a r fa r away t o wi ndwa rd s h e e ti ng

h o me h e r ro yal s . O f th e th re e t h e Fly ing Sp a r

was fi rst thro ugh the S t raits o f S unda .

Th e Black P rince n o bly uphe ld he r ti tl e o f the

whipp e r in by layi ng h e r main t o ps ail t o th e mast
and i nd ulging in a fe w h o urs fi s hing o nthe A gulhas
’

Bank ; ne ve rth e l e ss s he ma nag e d t o ro und the Cap e

in c o mpany wi t h Ta its ing o n I 3 th A ugust .
25 0 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
L a ncelot had h e e l e d right o ve r a nd ge tting st e rn ,

way was within an ac e o f b e ing dismaste d I ndee d

,
.
,

so fa r o v e r did s he go and so cl o s e w e re th e t wo

ships to e ach o th er that the c re w o f the Flying

,

Sp ur c o uld s ee e v e rything that t o o k plac e o n he r

d e cks Th e y saw Captain Ro bins o n sp ring upo n
.

his care l e ss h e lmsman k no ck him d o wn and j ump

,

on him and the y saw th e watch b e l o w c o m e

,

flying o n d e ck in the i r s hi rt t ails H o w e v e r S ir .

,

L a ncelot s c re w w e re as s ma rt a s paint in whipping

’

th e sail o ff h e r and t he galla nt clippe r as s o o n as

, ,

sh e was re li e v e d o f s o m e o f t he p re ss ure al o ft ,

b ro ught he r spars to wi ndward a nd sto o d up b ut it ,

had b e e n a cl o s e shav e .

Aft e r thi s e xciti ng e pi s o d e the t wo ships w e re in

co mpany fo r te n day s a p ro o f that Flying Sp ur
,

wh e n ha rd sail e d c o uld s e e th e way in fai r winds

with any o f he r n e w e r sist e rs .

Run ning d o wn t o S t H e l e na th e S ir L a ncelo t

.
,

and Flying Sp ur bo th o v e rhaul e d the m o o nsail

clippe r M aitland and th e i r treatm e nt o f he r must
,

have b e e n mo re than t ryi ng to Captain Co uls o n

afte r his braggi ng o n th e C hina Co ast .

Whe n the Sir L ancelot pas s e d he r M aitland had ,

e v e ry kite in h e r w e ll fille d s ail l o ck e r h un

g o ut
- -
,

fro m m o o nsails a nd skysail stunsails to wate rsails

a nd sav e alls -
Captai n R o bi nso n had th e usual flag
.

talk as he was pass ing a nd th e n as S ir L a ncelot

,

quickly d re w ah e ad h e sig nall e d sarcas tically

,
 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S 25 1

G o o d b ye
-
sha ll b e fo rc e d to l e av e yo u if yo u
, I
can no t mak e m o re s ail .

C aptai n R yrie o f th e Fly ing Sp ur was e v e n m o re

co nt e mptuo us The Fly ing Sp a r s ight e d the
.

wo nd e r right ahe ad and co mi ng up with he r ve ry

fast w e nt by he r to windward th e n c ro ssi ng o v e r to , ,

th e M a itlan d s le e b o w Captai n R yrie back e d his

’

mai nyards a nd le t the M a itland pass him again ,

th e n re filli ng he agai n w e ath e re d o n he r a nd agai n

,

sail e d pas t h e r t o wi ndward witho ut a ny di fficulty .

This is the ma noeuv re which is th e o rigi n o f the

te rm saili ng ro und a v e ss e l a nd it is und o ubte dly
“
,

th e m o s t h umiliati ng d re s s i ng d o wn that o ne v e s s e l

can giv e a no th e r This e xpe ri e nc e co ming right

.
,

’
o n t o p o f R o bi ns o n s sarcas m m ust have take n ,

'
m o st o f the s tarch o ut o f Captai n Co ulso n s
braggart spi ri t .

Th e winds this y e a r we re abno rmally s tro ng in

t h e A tlantic e sp e cially t h e S E t rad e s which w e re
,
. .
,

blo wing a n e as t e rly gale o ff A sc e nsi o n wh e n B lack

P rince pass e d th e i s la nd .

Whe n in 1 2 N a nd e xpe cting the N E trade s

°
. . .
,

Black P rince afte r a s q ually variabl e night was

, , ,

caught aback at 4 a m by a sudd e n burst o f wind

. .

fro m the no rra rd which was stro ng e no ugh t o mak e

,

he r furl t o pgallan t sails A t daylight the wi nd .

cam e away s o uth again with a m o st unacc o untably

nasty se a and thick w ea the r A ll that m o rn ing she .

was passing th ro ugh a fl e e t o f o ut ward b o und e rs

25 2 TH E CH N AI C LIPPE RS
carryi ng v e ry lo w s ail s o me o f th e m with o nly a
,

main to ps ail se t .

A t 1 0 a m a v e ss e l was d e sc ri e d st e e ring n o rth

. .

und e r a c o upl e o f t o psails a nd fo re sail b ut o n

ge tti ng a b e tt e r s ight o f he r th o s e o n th e B lack ,

P rince saw that h e r j ibb o o m was g o ne and t hat h e r

to pgallant mas t s with all the i r ge ar w e re lying
ac ro s s the backstays .

B y 1 1 o cl o ck the Ba ri ng clippe r was alo ng

’

s id e t h e c rippl e which pro v e d t o b e h e r rival

,

It app e are d t hat at 4 a m wh e n B lack P rince . .

wa s caught aback in a n o rdi nary s q uall Ta its ing , ,

2 0 mil e s t o t h e no rth o f h e r was disma st e d by a ,

to rnad o o f g re at vi o l e nc e which acco unte d fo r t he

,

lo w sail carri e d by t h e o utwa rd b o und e rs a nd th e

ch o ppy s e a Captai n I ngli s o ffe re d ass istance b ut
.
,

no ne b e i ng re qui re d t h e B lack P rinc e w e nt ah e ad

a nd s o o n d ro pp e d Ta its ing b e l o w t he h o riz o n .

N ut s fo rd s o o n had his clipp e r re rigge d a nd a -

day o r s o lat e r fe ll in wi th t h e Fly ing Sp ur and ,

b o th ve ss e l s we re s o m e days in co mpa ny in d o ld rum

we ath e r o n the e dge o f t he N E t rad e s Black . .
,

P rince b e i ng s o m e wh e re j us t b e hi nd th e h o riz o n .

Th e t o rnad o had e vid e ntly ups e t th e w e ath e r ,

b ut wh e n th e t rad e s did c o m e al o ng Fly ing Sp a r ,

w e nt ah e ad a nd e v e ntually a rrive d in L o nd o n five

day s ahe ad o f h e r rivals .

We will no w re t urn to A riel which o nly arrive d ,

 25 4 TH E CH NA I C LIPPE RS
A riel, tho ugh no t maki ng s uch go o d tim e s as o n
t h e p re vi o us h o m e wa rd passag e c o ntin ue d t o catch ,

up and pass th e s hips which had sta rt e d ah e ad o f h e r .

O n l o th J uly with a fine S S E t rad e s h e sighte d

, . . .
,

a te a ship at daybre ak o n he r s tarb o ard b o w This .

turne d o ut t o b e S erica which had sail e d 1 1 days ,

ah e ad .A t I I p m that night A riel was up with

. .

he r a nd s o cl o s e that C aptai n K e ay hail e d b ut

o t no a n s we r
g .

M us t b e unwe ll o r in th e s ulks at o ur b e ati ng

”
him was K e ay s c o mm e nt in his j o urnal
,
’
.

A ll t h e ne xt day S e rica c o nti nue d t o dro p as t e rn

a t ab o ut hal f a mil e a n h o ur until at 5
p m he r , . .

ro yals w e re o nly j us t vi s ibl e ab o v e t he h o riz o n .

Th re e day s lat e r A riel pass e d Waite A dde r ,

sighti ng h e r at 7 a m a nd s ig nalli ng h e r at no o n ;
. .

a nd at 7 a m o n 1 sth J uly j ust 2 4 h o urs a ft e r b e i ng

. .
,

s ight e d ah e ad t h e Willis clipp e r disapp e a re d b e l o w

,

t h e h o riz o n a s t e rn .

O n i 6 th J uly A riel mad e h e r b e st run— 3 2 0 mil e s .

S h e pass e d Mauri t i us o n 2 3 rd J uly a nd ro und e d the

C ap e o n 8 th A ugust in a n N N E gal e Sh e had . . . .

t ak e n 5 6 day s fro m Fo o c h o w t o th e C ap e t e n days ,

l o ng e r than in 1 8 6 6 .

O wi ng t o t h e s t ro ng t rad e s t he s hips had a b e tt e r ,

run u
p th e A tlantic this y e ar than in 1 8 6 6 and if ,

o nly A rie l had mad e as g o o d a tim e t o t h e C ap e as

sh e had d o n e o n h e r p re vi o us pas s ag e sh e w o uld ,

hav e b e e n h o m e in 9 2 days S h e pass e d w e s t o f.

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 25 5

St .H e l e na o n 1 8 th A ugust t e n days fro m the C ape ;

,

and two days late r o v e rhaul e d B elted Will which ,

had b e e n nin e days ah e ad at S unda S t rait A t .

daylight o n 2 0 th A ugust Belted Will was sighte d

ah e ad o n A riel s po rt b o w and at 1 0 a m o n
’

, . .

th e 2 1 s t s h e w e n t o ut o f sight o n th e latt e r s
’

s t arbo ard q uarte r .

O n 2 st h A ugust A rie l c ro ss e d th e e q uato r .

O n S unday 8 th S e pt e mb e r at daylight A riel

, ,

sighte d a ship right as te rn with a J ami e G re e n a nd

o th e r t e a clipp e r kit e s s e t which was th o ught t o b e
,

Fieiy Cross . Ho we ve r t hi s was a mistak e a s

,

Capt ai n K e ay fo und o ut wh e n h e s ignall e d Fiery

Cross a w e e k lat e r The wi nd wa s baffli ng a nd all
.

ro und t h e c o mpass b ut in t he a ft e rn o o n t h e unkn o wn

,

rac e r as te rn d ro pp e d o ut o f sight .

O n 1 sth S e pt e mb e r A riel cam e up with Fiery

Cross which was 3 mil e s ah e ad at daylight
,
Th e .

t wo s hips e xcha ng e d signals and co mpa re d G re e n

wich tim e The wi nd was fre sh fro m E S E with

. . . .

stro ng gus ts b o th v e ss e ls w e re b race d sharp up o n

,

t h e s tarb o a rd tack with ro yals and s taysail s fast a nd ,

it was s o o n e vid e nt that o n this po int o f saili ng

th e re was littl e t o ch o o se b e twe e n the two A riel ,

o nly ma naging t o w e ath e r a nd h e ad re ach o n Fie ry

'
Cross a mil e o r so t ho ugh t he fo rm e r s run fo r t h e
'

2 4 h o urs wa s 2 6 0 mil e s I t to o k A riel fiv e days t o

.

shak e o ff the w o nd e rful v e te ran On the 1 7 th s he .

,

had run Fiery Cross s h ull d o w n aste rn b ut at 8 a m

’
,
. .
25 6 TH E CH INA C LIP PE RS
o n t he fo ll o wing day
latt e r b o bb e d up again , th e ,

passi ng 3 o r 4 t o l e e wa rd o f A rie l o n th e
mil e s
o pp o site tack A fte r thi s Cap t ai n K e ay saw he r no
.

m o re a nd e v e ntually a rrive d 2 4 h o urs ah e ad .

O n Friday 2 0 th S e pte mb e r at
, p m A riel ,
. .
,

made the B ish o p L ight 4 3 days fro m the Cape and ,

fro m Fo o ch o w T h e fo ll o wi ng is an abst ract o f

99 .

h e r s pl e ndid run fro m t he Cap e to s o undi ngs

Passe d St . He len a, A ug . 18 to d ys f
a ro m p
Ca e M e r idi an

Asce n i n
s o , 21 3 S t H e e na
. l
q
E ua to r, 25 4 A sce n i
s on

Ca p e V erdI l s s .
, Se pt . 1 7 q
E uato r
l
F o res, Az o re s , I I 10 Cap e V e rd I s an l d s

Sc illi e s, 20 9 l
F o re s, Az o res

This was e ight days b e tt e r than h e r 1 8 6 6 tim e fo r

th e sam e run b ut h e r pa ss ag e had b e e n spo ilt by
,

po o r wi nds in the I ndian O c e a n .

Whils t A riel a nd Fiery Cross we re be ati ng up fo r

th e S cilli e s agai nst s o uth e a s t e rly a nd e as te rly wi nd s -
,

Captai n R o bi ns o n was s e nding S ir L a nce lot al o ng a

cl e an full a nd by H e was o ne o f th o s e s kippe rs who
.

did no t mi nd additi o nal mile age if he co uld o nly k e e p

his ship m o vi ng and he had a gre at o bj e cti o n to
,

jammi ng th e ya rd s hard o n the back s tays if it co uld

po ssibly b e avo ide d Thus und e r him S ir L a ncelot .
, ,

was ne ve r pi nche d o r jamm e d in the wi nd s e ye O n .

1 9 th S e pt e mb e r h e mad e t h e M iz e n H e ad
9 6 days ,

o ut fro m S hanghai Th e n b e a t i ng ac ro s s fro m

. ,

I re land pass e d t o the no rra rd o f the S cilli e s whilst

,

A riel was pas si ng t o t he s o uthard .

C aptai n Ro bi ns o n s naviga t i o n o n the n ight o f

’
25 8 TH E I
CH N A C LI P PE R S
h o urs o n tim e h e r s ucc e s s was o ve rs had o w e d by the
,

spl e ndid pe rfo rmanc e o f h e r sist e r s hip S ir L ancelot ,

.

'
At la s t t h e e nt e rp ri se o f S ir L a n c elot s o w ne rs

was re ward e d a nd th e i r v e s s e l in o ne b o und at the

,

h e ad o f the raci ng fl e e t h e r re putati o n mad e

,
.

That s he was re ally fa s te r than e ith e r A rie l o r

Tita nia I do no t b e li e v e b ut o ne thi ng is c e rtai n
, ,

C aptai n R o bi ns o n was t/ze sail carri e r am o ngs t a

fl ee t o f sail carri e rs and go t the las t o unc e o f sp ee d
o ut o f h is v e s s e l .

Ta ep ing th o ugh sh e did no t mak e the b e st tim e

, ,

had th e s ati s facti o n o f g e tt i ng h e r te as o n th e ma rk e t

a we e k be fo re the ne xt arrival C aptai n M Kinno n .
‘
,

th e h e ro o f 1 8 6 6 had di e d o n th e v o yag e o ut b ut
, ,

his place was ably fill e d by Captai n D o wdy .

I t will b e no tic e d that no l e ss tha n s e v e n o f th e

t e a s hips d o ck e d in L o nd o n o n th e sam e day o ne o f ,

which was the Ya ngtze This s hip mad e the be s t

.

tim e o f the s e ve n tho ugh s h e was admitt e d t o b e

,

t h e sl o w e st o f th e m all A nd it wa s this p e rfo rm

.

anc e whi c h mad e Captai n Ke mb all s re putati o n a nd ’

b ro ugh t him to th e no t ic e o f M e ss rs Tho mp so n o f .

t h e A b e rd e e n Clipp e r L i ne a nd t h us gai n e d him t he

,

c o mmand o f th e c e l e b rat e d Tli e rr nopy la e in 1 8 6 8 .

H e wa s o ne o f th o s e s kipp e rs wh o was no t a fraid

o f a na rro w ro ck s tudd e d-
chann e l a nd o n o ne ,

o ccas i o n to o k th e Ya ng tze th ro ugh A tlas S t rait by

m o o nlight wh e n th e wi nd was un fav o urabl e fo r the

O mb ay Passage .
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 25 9

Th e Te a Clip p e rs b uilt in l867 Sp indrift,”

“ ” “ ” ”
Lah lo o , “
Le a nde r, and Undine .

The s ucc e s s o f the si s t e r ships A riel and S ir

L ancelot was no t l o ng to re mai n undis p ute d ,

e sp e cially with s uch k e e n racing o w ne rs as R o dg e r

a nd Fi ndlay in th e fi e ld .

D uri ng t he y e a r 1 8 6 7 fo ur ne w c racks w e re be ing

b uilt— Sp indrift fo r Fi ndlay L a/i loo fo r Ro dg e r , ,

L eande r fo r J o s e ph S o m e s and Un dine fo r J R ,

. .

K e ls o
. Sp indrift cam e fro m Co n ne ll s yard In
’
.

de s ig n sh e was s o m e what o f a ne w d e pa rture ,

e sp e cially in t h e way o f m o re l e ng t h b e i ng 2 2 fe e t ,

l o ng e r than S ir L ancelot th o ugh th e i r to n nage ,

di ffe re n ce was o nly 1 3 t o ns I nde e d s he had m o re

.
,

b e am s to l e ngth than a ny v e s se l launch e d fo r th e

t e a t rad e si n c e t h e fam o us L o rd of Me I s les th e ,

pro po rti o ns be i ng :
Lord o f t he I s les ,

61 7 .

I n fact , Sf indrift had m o re be am s t o l e ngth than

a ny o t h e r clipp e r b uilt o f w o o d .

S he als o had o ne o f the la rge st sail plans in t he

”
t e a t rad e a nd was n icknam e d th e G ibl e t Pie “
, ,

”
b e ing all l e gs and wi ngs
“
.

Th e s e two facto rs gav e he r gre at spe e d in re ach

ing wi nds and s he may b e re ck o n e d a s o ne o f th e
,

faste st o f all the t e a clippe rs F i ndlay wh o s e .

,

Ta zts ing was

'

a mbiti o ns had no t b e e n re alis e d in ,

de light e d with his ne w ship and he r p re mature e nd

b ro k e his h e art .
26 0 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
L a/i loo was a v e ry di ffe re n t and l e ss e xt re m e

v e ss e l R o dg e r in spi t e o f t he s ucc e ss o f A riel

. ,

and S ir L ancelot still clung to th e o ld singl e to p ,

sails and L akloa was a n e nlarge d and impro v ed

,

'
L ik e all S te e l e s c re atio ns s h e was a v e ry b eauti
ful and taki ng v e ss e l t o l o o k at c ro s si ng t he dainty ,

skysail yard at the main a fe ature which to my

-
, ,

mind always gave a full rig ship a th o ro ugh

,
-

b re d l o o k .

S h e was launch e d o u 2 3 rd J uly 1 8 6 7 h e r build e rs , ,

m e asure m e nts b e i ng
L ngth f k l d f e k o ee 9 f t an o re - ra e. 1 0 ee

d h of b m
Brea t ea , 33
Depth of h ld o ,
20

T nn ge
o a 9 85

S he was c o mmand e d by J o hn S mith o ne o f th o s e ,

daring skipp e rs who ca rri e d sail and was no t afrai d

o f a re e f studd e d pa ss ag e
-
.

L eander was d e s ign e d by B e rnard Waymouth ,

th e w e ll kn o w n n aval -
archit e ct and s e cre ta ry o f
L l o yd s R e giste r a n d was built by L aw ri e o f
’

G lasgo w fo r th e fam o us fi rm o f J o s e ph S o m e s .

I n d e sign sh e was right up t o date and sh o uld ,

hav e mad e a gre at re putatio n a s sh e was und o ubte dly

an e xce e di ngly fast s hip But s h e was un fo rtunate .

in having o ne o f th o se captai ns who was to o fo nd

o f his gro g .

H e r fi rst pas sage o ut t o C hi na was an e xc ee dingl y

fast o ne 9 6 days to S hanghai ; this s e e ms t o have
,
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS 26 1

turn e d he r c o mmand e r s h e ad and fro m the day o f

’

his arrival to the day he sail e d he n e v e r miss e d

a n Opp o rtunity o f c e l e b ratin it in th fashi n f
g e o o

th e co as t .

O ne an e cd o te will suffic e to sh o w his way o f li fe

and th e re as o n why L eande r did no t do as w e ll as
s h e s h o uld hav e d o n e .

D uri ng the inte rm e diate passage s th e L ord ,

M acaulay arriv e d at Fo o ch o w to l o ad po l e s fo r
S hanghai and fo und L ean der lying th e re al re ady
,

lo ade d wi t h th e Blue Pe te r flying whilst a big

, ,

champagne l unche o n was go ing o n ab o ard o f h e r .

Th e fe stiv e skipp e r o f S o m e s ship at o nc e s e nt

’

ac ro s s to as k Captain Ca re to j o in his pa rty b ut th e ,

lat te r e xcus e d hims e l f o n th e pl e a o f havi ng t o go

asho re a nd re po rt his ship But it was no t e as y to
‘
.

”
make th e L eander s o ld ma n take no fo r an answe r
’ “

a nd C are o nly e scap e d a caro us e by ro wing ash o re .

Th e days pass e d and L ea nder still lay all re ady

fo r s ea whilst daily b e an fe as ts t o o k plac e ab o a rd
, .

A t last t he L ord M a ca ulay l o ad e d and sail e d a nd ,

still L ea nder lay to h e r ancho rs The n wh e n he r .

s kipp e r did at last think o f m o ving he was in s uch ,

a re ckl e ss m o o d that he att e mpte d to take his clippe r

thro ugh a chann e l in the rive r which was so narro w
a nd ro ck stre wn as t o b e o nly p o ssibl e t o shall o w

draft j unks H o w e v e r it wa s a sh o rt cut and that

.

was go o d e n o ugh fo r the dare d e vil captain o f the -

L ea nder .
262 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE R S
As was o nly to b e e xp e cte d, he stuck o n a l e dge
o f ro cks and sc rap e d a go o d d e al o f fals e k ee l and
,

co ppe r away in k e dgi ng his s hip o ff again I nd e e d .

it was o nly by s h e e r go o d fo rtun e that L eander did

no t l e av e h e r bo ne s o n t he re e f fo r go o d and all .

Th e re was o f co urs e a n inqui ry b ut the c ulprit

, , ,

co nt e nde d that he had struck s o m e sunke n wre ckage ,

which sto ry the Co urt was go o d e n o ugh t o swall o w

and th e re fo re re frai ne d fro m d e aling with his ticke t .

L ea nder was patch e d up in tim e t o l o ad at

S hanghai th o ugh no t in tim e t o rac e fro m F o o ch o w
,

with th e o th e r cracks .

Undine an o th e r e ffo rt fro m the fam o us ya rd o f

,

Pil e o f S und e rland was a fine fast littl e ship and

, ,

th o ugh no t quit e e qual to the o th e r th ree 1 8 6 7

clippe rs was c e rtai nly a g re at imp ro ve m e nt o n
,

M aitland
The Te a Ra c e of 1868 .

Wi th fo ur ships a nd all the o ld c racks

ne w

tun e d up to the limit o f e ffici e n cy the te a race o f ,

1 8 6 8 was o ne o f th e m o s t k e e nly c o nt e ste d o f the

wh o l e s e ri e s .

I n th e int e rm e diat e pas s age s th e re w e re many

o pp o rtuniti e s o f t e sti ng t h e ships against o ne a n

o th e r ; and in th e s e A riel e s p e cially mainta in e d he r

, ,

re p utati o n .Le avi ng L o n d o n o n the 2 zud Oct o be r ,

1 8 6 7 sh e w e nt o ut t o S ha nghai in 1 0 6 days b e tin

,
a g ,

h e r o ld rival Taep ing by fiv e days A gain o n th e .

,

co ast in a passage fro m S aig o n t o H o ng K o ng the

TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 26 3

a N m c 0 w 0 n N o M
h
2 m9
a
2m n m m H N
. .
u u
m m
.

o 3
a u
s
o o
w0 mO

« m n m n w
m u u e u N

H N F‘ H M

m
.

n
mw “ 9
o o m S
c
o
0
0
0 0
08
m m8
a

mm o 8 m mm I l
l I I
d fi d6 s n 0 a
nw m m $ S e w
9 0
u u a ” u 0 o w 0 n
H n u n a

e
s e
e m
t ޣ
u t
us nu
s

—
e c
h e 3 n t “
a
p
m
mn
a a a A
w e 8 c G
k b k k N
264 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
t wo v e ss e ls had a v e ry e v e n match th e i r tim e s pil o t , ,

to m o o ri ngs b e i ng ,

A riel 4 dy
a s 20 h o urs

4 23

Fro m H o ng K o ng t he y we nt o n to Fo o c ho w to
l o ad t e a and o nc e m o re A riel b e at Ta ep zng by a
,

fe w h o urs a nd a nch o re d o ff Pag o da I sland o n 1 5 th

,

Ma y 7 8 h o urs fro m H o ng K o ng ha rbo ur

,
.

Sfi indrzft a nd L a /t loo b o th s h o w e d that th e y w e re

w o rth re cko n i ng wi th by th e i r sp e e d o n rice passage s
up th e c o a s t Sp indrift th o ugh n e arly fi n i s h e d h e r
.
, ,

care e r by ge tting agro und o ff Cap e S t J am e s b ut .

,

was l uckily re fl o a te d wi th o ut damag e .

The c o mp e titi o n t o b e fi rs t s hip away fro m

Fo o ch o w was c o ns e q ue nt ly v e ry k e e n agai n this
y e ar a nd the s ta rt was a g o o d o ne the fi rst th re e
, ,

s hip s A rie l Ta ep in a nd S ir L a nce lot c ro s s i ng t h e

, g , ,

b a r to ge th e r wi th Sp indrift o ne day a nd L anloo

, ,
‘

two day s b e hi nd, .

At p m o n 2 8 th May t h e th re e l e ad e rs
. .
,

d ro ppe d th e i r pil o ts o ut s id e t he b a r a nd made all

plai n s ail o n a wi nd S ir L ancelot havi ng a s light
,

l e ad o f A riel a nd Taep ing b ri ngi ng up the re ar .

At p m A riel pass e d S ir L a n celo t a ft e r which

. .
,

th e t wo s hips w e re s e pa rat e d by Tu rn ab o ut I s la nd ,

A riel taki ng th e n o rth sid e a nd S ir L a nce lot t he

s o uth .O n 2 9 th May t h e wi nd had d ro pp e d away
t o no thi ng a nd th e s hips w e re s ca rc e ly st e e ri ng
, .

S ir L a ncelot wa s ah e ad at mid n ight b ut t o wa rd s ,

m o rni ng o n th e 3o th A riel pas s e d he r again and ,

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 26 5

with a v e ry light N E wind g rad ually l e ft . .

, he r
a st e rn
. By 5 p m o n 3 15 11 May A riel had run
. . S ir
L a ncelot o ut of
sight a nd th e t wo ships saw no ,

m o re o f e ach o th e r d uring the race .

M e an whil e Ta ep ing Sp indrift and L afiloo s e rv e d, ,

with be tt e r wi nds had b e e n cl o sing up o n th e l e ad e rs

,

a nd o n th e 9 t h o f J une wh e n in 1 2
’ ° °

36 N 1 10 E , .
, .
,

with a light S S W b re e ze A rie l disco v e re d Taep ing

. . .
,

a nd S indri t t o wi ndwa rd o f h e r
p f A t th e sam e .

tim e Undine s h o we d up 1 0 mil e s to wi nd wa rd o f the

o th e r th re e .

Th e Sp indrift had c o m e al o ng wi t h go o d wi nds

whil s t A riel had had sq ualls and fai n t baffling ai rs
and no rth e as t e rly s e a o n t he I s t 2 nd and 3 rd o f J une
-
, .

O n We d ne sday th e l o th o f J une the fo ur s hip s

, ,

w e re still clo s e to ge the r and I find th e fo ll o wi ng ,

e ntry in C aptain K e ay s ab s t ract

’

1
p m in stays was t ak e n aback wi t h a s e ve re
. .
, ,

squall a nd rai n in to rre nts — bl e w away fo re and mai n

to pgallant sails a nd ro yal s flyi ng j ib a nd miz e n ,

sta ysail Sp indrift cam e up and passe d us b ut we

.
,

s e e m e d to gain o n h e r di re ctly o ur fo re and mai n

to pgallant s ails w e re s e t agai n Th e y the n tacke d .

a nd pas s e d s o m e 1 5 mil e s m o re t o l e e wa rd Can .

be at h e r o n a wind ce rtai n .

O n t h e 1 1 th a nd 1 2 th o f J un e v e ry sq uall y w e ath e r
was e xp e ri e nc e d a nd split sails w e re th e o rd e r o f
,

t he day . A t 1 0 a m o n t h e 1 1 th A riel w e ath e re d

. .

Undine by ab o ut 2 mil e s .
26 6 TH E C H N A I C LIP PE R S
On the 1 3 th o f J une ano th e r o f the rac e rs L alzloo , ,

app ea re d in sight to wi ndward o f the l e ad e r A riel , ,

and in the afte rn oo n Captain K e ay re ma rks

L a lzloo sam e b e ari ng n o t so fa r t o windwa rd ,
.

To o k in o ur main t o pgalla nt ro yal and sky sta ysails ,

”
and we s e e m e d to gai n o n h e r .

On t he 1 4th with th e B o rne o Co ast in sigh t A riel

, ,

pass e d withi n hail o f L a lzlo o a nd th e n ste adily

d ro ppe d he r aste rn H o we ve r L alzloo hung o n to
.
,

h e r g re at rival and c o uld s till b e s e e n aste rn o n the

e v e ning o f t he 1 5 th .

The 1 8 th o f J une fo und A rie l and Sp indrift

b e ating th ro ugh the A p i Passage to ge th e r A t 3 .

p .m . wi,t h a light S W b re e z e th
. e y w e ath e re d A pi
.
,

Po int the A riel sl o wly gai ni ng

,
.

B o th ships h e ad e d i nsh o re t o wa rd s suns e t in o rde r

t o catch the land b re e z e b ut C aptain K e ay was the ,

m o s t daring fo r whil s t Sp indrift w e nt ab o ut wh e n

,

fai rly cl o s e in fo r fe ar o f ge tti ng ash o re A riel k ept ,

o n with t h e l e ad g o ing until midnight wh e n with ,

o nly 9 fath o ms und e r h e r sh e ca ught t h e fi rst b re ath ,

o f th e land wind a nd go i ng ab o ut sto l e a march on

, ,

Sp indrift wh o se po rt light c o uld b e s e e n as she lay

,

be calm e d in the o ffing C aptai n K e ay had run it

.

cl o s e e no ugh fo r th e ne xt th re e casts o f the l ead

,

gave 5 4; and 4 fath o m s b ut his daring paid as

, , ,

th e advantag e gai ne d o v e r Sp indri ft gav e him a

l e ad o f 1 9 h o urs a t A nj e r .

O n l gth J un e wh e n o n the li ne A riel sight e d a

, ,
26 8 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
c o m e al o ng o ff K rakat o a S erica was h ull d o wn
.

ah e ad o f B lack P rince at this po int A squall ca me .

o ff th e i s land S erica h e e l e d t o it and h e ad e d gaily

,

away fo r Mauriti us .I t was th e fi rs t b re ath o f the

t rad e a nd sh e carri e d it right away and mad e a
,

v e ry quick run t o the C ape .

M e anwhil e th e timid B lack P rince put he r h e lm

up and ra n a way b e fo re it until t h e s t re ngth o f th e

s quall had e as e d th e n wh e n s h e did fi nally haul to

,

t h e wi nd s h e was t o o fa r t o l e e wa rd t h e b re e z e fe ll
, ,

away a nd s he was s o o n lyi ng b e calm e d whilst he r ,

c re w had t he chag ri n o f watching S erica s i nk s ail

a fte r s ail o v e r th e h o riz o n Th e n fo r a c o upl e o f
.

days sh e lay in sight o f J ava H e ad in a cl o ck calm ,

a v e ry unusual e xpe ri e n c e at that s e as o n o f t he ye ar .

But t he c o ns e q ue nc e s o f thi s was t e o f o pp o rtunity

a nd e xc e ss o f cauti o n w e nt s till furth e r t ha n thi s fo r ,

S erica ro und e d th e C ap e b e fo re a s e ri e s o f we s t e rly

gale s s e t in which k e p t B lack P rince d o dgi ng und e r
,

re e fe d t o p sail s fo r a w e e k .

A c uri o us accid e nt happ e ne d t o B lack P rince o n

t h e run fro m A nj e r t o t h e C a p e S h e was s t ruck
.

by a s w o rdfis h . A tt e nt i o n wa s fi rs t d raw n t o the

fact by th e app e a ranc e o f wha t s e e m e d to b e a bo lt
p roj e cti ng fro m the sid e o f the s hip j ust ab re ast o f
t h e fo re mas t a nd 8 i nch e s b e l o w t he wat e r lin e .

This p ro v e d t o b e th e b o ny s wo rd which had pi e rc e d

,

t h ro ugh t h e c o pp e r s h e a t hi ng and te ak planki ng and

o nly b e e n s t o pp e d by th e i ro n fram e The fish had .

 TH E C H INA CL IPPE RS 269

actually l e ft 8 inch e s o f its swo rd sticking in the

sid e o f the Bla ck P rince .

We will no w l e av e Black P ri nce and re turn to the

le ade rs wh o m we had fo llo we d as far as A nj e r
, .

I n the run fro m A nj e r to the Cape A riel still

mai ntai ne d a slight l e ad o f the o the rs c ro s si ng the
t rad e s sh e did the fo llo wing fine p e rfo rmanc e
J une 2 8 , 330 m iles
1; 29 . 3 15 n

3 14

H er
’
w e e k s run was j us t und e r 2 00 0 mil e s .

S h e pass e d Mauriti us o n the 4th o f J uly 1 2 days ,

fro m A nj e r and o n the 1 9 th o f J uly ro un de d t he

,

C ap e in t e rribl e w e athe r .

O n th e 1 7 th o f J uly t he wi n d ro s e t o a gal e a nd ,

o n t h e a ft e rn o o n o f t h e 1 8 th bl e w a h urrica ne fro m

S W with a te rrific c ro s s se a which was mad e all

. .
,

th e w o rs e by th e A gulhas c urre nt Th o ugh buri e d

.

and swe pt fo re and a ft by e ve ry sea the gallant littl e ,

ship be have d n o bly shaki ng h e rs e l f cl e ar o f the

,

cataracts o f wat e r lik e a duck .

A t 8 p m o n 1 8 th J uly t h e gal e l ull e d right away

. .

to a calm o nly to b re ak o ut again an h o ur late r m o re

,

furi o us than e v e r I t caught A riel und e r fo re and

.

mize n staysails fo re and main upp er t o psails a nd

,

re e fe d fo re sail .

N o twithstanding th e e ffo rts o f all hands th e fo re ,

sail co uld no t b e mad e fas t and the main uppe r ,

to psail als o co uld o nly b e haul e d up as cl o se as

, ,

p o ssibl e with the spilli ng lin e s and re e f tackl e s -

,
27 0 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE RS
whilst the sto ut st o rm s taysail o n the miz e n stay
split fro m h e ad to fo o t and had to b e s e cure d .

I nd e e d it was o nly a ft e r a battl e o f h o urs that the

gas k e ts we re at las t put upo n th e fo re upp e r t o psail .

A ll thi s tim e t he s hip wa s running t o t he N W . .

wi th the wi nd a po i nt o r t wo abaft the b e am The .

A riel st e e re d b e aut i fully a nd o nly o ne ma n was

,

n e e d e d a t t h e h e lm t h o ugh a le e wh e e l was k e pt
,

handy in case th e h e lm s man s h o uld b e o v e rp o w e re d

o r s w e p t fro m his p o st by t h e cascadi ng s e as S o me
.

ide a o f th e am o unt o f wat e r o n d e ck may b e o btai ne d

by no tici ng th e damag e d o ne The bi nnacl e light
.

was wa s h e d o ut ; th e l o ng b o at s t o v e ; sid e o f mid

s hip h o use burs t in s pa re Spa rs se t ad ri ft ; a la nya rd

in t he fo re riggi ng c ut t h ro ugh by the fo re tack ;

- -

h e n c o o ps a nd fo wl s wash e d o v e rb o a rd t o ge the r with

g rati ng s a nd all ki nds o f g e ar ; bre ak o f m o nke y
o o a nd b ulwa rk s s to v e a nd o ne o f t h e p o rt s g o n e
p p ,

no t t o s pe ak o f mi no r ca s ualti e s t o o num e ro us

t o m e nt i o n
.

O n t he l gth t h e s t re ngth o f th e wi nd b e ga n sl o wly

t o abat e b ut t h e s e a g re w s till m o re m o untain o us
,

a nd c o nfus e d . H o we v e r by d usk th e gal e had tak e n

,

o ff s uf fi ci e nt ly t o all o w C aptai n K e ay t o make s ail .

Whilst A riel was fighti ng fo r he r li fe Taep ing , ,

cl o s e as te rn o f h e r b ut no t in s ight was also

, ,

battli ng with the e l e m e nts bo th ships ro undi ng the

,

Cap e th e s am e day .

Spin drift als o wa s cl o s e o n A rie l s h e e l s a nd

’

,
27 2 THE C H N A I I
C L PP E RS

had Taeping s l o we r yards d o wn he r lee

’
A riel run on

quarte r was o ut o f sight to windward

b ut L alzloo .

A t 7 a m Ta efi ing b o re S W
. . S fro m A riel he r . . .
,

mai n t o psail ya rd dipping b ut 4 h o urs lat e r the ,

wind A riel was h o lding s udd e nly b ro k e o ff to we s t ,

a nd Taep in ca r ryi ng t h e t rue wind n e a re d he r

g , ,

rival by 2 o r 3 mil e s O n the 1 7 th at 6 a m . . .

'
Taep ing was still to b e s e e n clinging t o A riel s ,

ski rts hull do wn fro m the mize n cro sst re e s b ut by

, ,

1 1 und e r the
, influe nce o f a fine E N E bree ze . . .
,

A riel at last ma nage d t o si n k h e r o ld antago n i s t

be l o w t he ho ri zo n .

A riel th e l e ad e r mad e a fine run o f 7 days fro m

, ,

Cape V e rd to the We s t e rn I s l e s which s he pas s e d ,

o n z l s t A ugust o ne day ah e ad o f Sp indri

, ft At .

4 a m o n g1 s t A ug us t th e L izard l ights we re
. .
,

s ight e d fro m A riel s t o p s ail ya rd Sh e had a v e ry

’
.

ligh t we st e rly wi nd fo r t he run up Channe l ,

b ut manage d to ge t he r pil o t at D unge n e ss at

.

1 1 30
.
p m o n I st S e pte mb e r 9 6 days fro m pil o t t o
. .
,

pil o t and d o cke d n e xt day at 1 p m 9 7 days o ut

, . . .

Fo r th e s e c o nd tim e Capta i n K e ay had b ro ught his -

ship in fi rst with the ne w s e as o n s t e as ’

.

But th o ugh th e re was no cl o s e raci ng up Chann e l

t his y e a r t h e fi n i sh was as cl o s e as e v e r fo r b o t h
, ,

Sp indrift and S ir L ancelot d o ck e d the tid e aft e r

A riel g e tti ng th ro ugh the do ck gat e s j ust b e fo re
,

midnight o n zud S e pte mbe r A s Sp indrift had .

sail e d 2 3 ho urs afte r A riel she was c o nsid e re d the ,

T H E R M O P Y LA E I
RA C N G WITH “
CU TT Y SA RK
.

I D R I FT
SP N .
27 4 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
Th e B lack P rince a rriv e d o ff th e N e s s o n 2 9 t h
S e pte mb e r a nd h o v e t o all n ight fo r a pil o t
,
- It .

was bl o wi ng hard a nd o n t h e fo ll o wing day s he

again b ro ught up fo r 4 o r 5 h o urs in Margat e
R o ad s n e arly l o s ing a n a nch o r in t h e o p e rati o n
,
.

A nd whilst t h e B lack P rince was ge tti ng und e r ~

w e igh agai n the Fiery Cross to we d th ro ugh having

, ,

be ate n h e r in the run fro m Fo o ch o w by t wo days .

Th e rmo p ylae .

W ec o m e t o the gre at Tli errnopylae the

no w ,

p rid e o f th e B riti s h M e rchant S e rvic e a nd j us tly

c o ns id e re d by m o s t s e am e n to hav e b e e n the faste s t
s aili ng s hip e v e r launch e d .

She was a m o re po w e rful ship tha n the dai nty

S t e e l e clipp e rs a nd had a go o d d e al t h e b e s t o f
e v e n A riel S ir L a ncelot o r Tita n ia in runni ng t he
,

c a s t ing d o w n ; a t t h e s am e tim e s h e was v e ry fas t

in light ai rs I nd e e d sh e h as be e n k no w n to hav e
.

go ne al o ng 7 k no ts a n h o ur wh e n a ma n c o uld have
walk e d ro und th e d e cks wi th a lighte d candl e I n .

fact und e r e v e ry c o nditi o n o f wi nd s he was a

,

wo nd e r I n ste ady qua rt e ri ng b re e z e s wh e n all

.
,

s ail was s e t s h e wo uld

, go 1 2 5 t o 1 3 k no ts c o m fo rt
ably he r h e lm amid ships a nd a Small b o y st ee ring
,

a nd th e re was ne v e r a ny ne c e s sity t o tak e in he r

ro yal s o r s mall s taysail s until sh e was run n i ng we ll

o v e r 1 3 k no ts .

S h e w e nt t o wi ndward like a witch and was

e qually g o o d o ff t he wi nd Wi th the wi nd right aft
.
27 6 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
s ta rti ng und e r him Tli errnopy lae wa s fo rtunat e fo r ,

M e s srs Tho mps o n co uld no t hav e pick e d a k e e n e r

.

o r m o re e n t e rp risi ng s kipp e r .

Tli e rrn opy la e al ways call e d up admi rati o n fro m

e v e ry sail o r wh o s aw h e r A s mall i ns tan c e o f thi s .

will suffice O n o n e o ccas i o n sh e cl e are d Po rt

.

Phillip H e ads in c o mpany wi t h H M S Cnary édis . . . .

B o th v e s se l s c ro wd e d sail o n t h e s am e co urs e b ut ,

a s s o o n as Tlze rrn opyla e had h e r canvas s e t sh e

be ga n to d raw rapidly away fro m the wars hip in ,

s pit e o f all t h e la t t e r s e ffo rts t o s tay with he r At

’
.

last whe n Tli errnofiylae had co ncl us ive ly p ro v e d he r

,

supe ri o rity t h e captai n o f th e Clza ryodis co uld no t

,

re st rai n h is admi ra t i o n a nd h o ist e d t h e fo ll o wi ng ,

s ignal in t h e M e rca nt il e C o d e a s h e rapidly d ro pp e d

as t e rn G o o d b ye
°

Yo u a re t o o m uch fo r us . .

Y o u a re the fi ne st m o d e l o f a s hip I e v e r s a w It .

d o e s my h e a rt g o o d to l o o k at yo u .

Tli errnopy lae was launch e d o n l gth A ugus t 1 8 6 8 , ,

a nd s ail e d fo r M e lb o urne fro m G rav e s e nd o n 7 th

N o ve mb e r H e r fi rs t v o yage in which she b ro k e

.
,

t h e re c o rd o n e ach pas s age h as o ft e n b e e n re c o rd e d ,

in p ri nt I giv e he r abs t ract lo g in t h e appe ndix

. .

O n he r fi rs t pas sag e it will b e no te d that she

L ft G v d 5 m 7 th N v mb
e ra e sen a . . o e er

Passe d th L i d 8 th N v mb
e za r o e er 1 day o ut
Cr d th li n 2 8 h N v mb r
o sse e e t o e e 21 dy
a s o ut

C d m idi n f G nwi h 3th D

rosse er a o re e c 1 ece m bre 36
S igh t d C p O t w y N k W 12 m il
e a e a , . . es , 7 th J nu y
a ar 61
A n h o d in P t Phillip 9 th J nu y
c re or a ar 63

Fro m pil o t to pilo t he r p ass ag e was on ly 60 days ,

 27 8 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
The Wind/ covera g o o d who l e s o m e s hip v e ry
wa s ,

like th e Forwa rd H o S he p ro v e d t o b e faste st o ff

.

t h e wind th o ugh v e ry g o o d all ro und b e ing o ne o f

, ,

tho s e v e s se l s which did e xc e e dingly we ll in a ny

w e ath e r with o ut be i ng anythi ng spe cially re markabl e .

Ka isow the S te e l e clipp e r o f t he y e a r had all the

, ,

gh o sti ng qualiti e s o f he r p re d e c e ss o rs a nd th us ,

e xc e ll e d in t h e light w e a t h e r o f t he C hi na S e a s b ut ,

sh e was a full e r lin e d v e s s e l tha n m o s t o f S t e e l e s

’

ships a nd s o was no t quit e in the fi rs t flight wh e n

h o m e ward bo und with t e a .

Th e Te a R ac e of 1869 .

Fro m .

june 30
J uly 1 J uly 27

J uly 27

Zioa 12
Sir L ancelot I7 A ug .
7
18 7, 23
'

ma
20

22
25

n 27
A ug 7
7 , 25
A p il r 2
Jun e 10
16 July 15

n 21
J uly 16
21 A ug . 23
A ug . 12

In pite o f th e o p e n i ng o f the S ue z C anal fre ights

‘

w e re up t o 5 agai n in 1 8 6 9 , a nd Fo o ch o w was
 TH E CH I N A C LI P PE R S 27 9

still the fav o urite po rt th o ugh al re ady the re we re

,

signs o f it b e ing supplante d by S hanghai and

H ank o w .

A riel s e v e re ly fe lt t h e l o ss o f K e ay s cl e v e r ’

handling b ut it was o nly natural that he r ne w

,

maste r sho uld no t have unde rsto o d he r e v e ry m o o d

as Captain K e ay had d o ne H o we v e r o nc e agai n .
,

t h e shipp e rs fav o ure d h e r a nd s he was t h e fi rst ship

,

o f the s e as o n t o
ge t away fro m Fo o ch o w .

This y e ar s raci ng sh o w e d b e tte r re s ults than a ny

’

o th e r no l e ss than t h re e ship s b re aking the re c o rd

,

fo r t h e h o m e ward run d uri ng th e S W m o ns o o n . .

,

n am e ly , S ir L ancelot a nd Tlzerrnopylae fro m

F o o ch o w and Titan ia fro m S hanghai The racing .

also was w o nd e rfully cl o s e b e t we e n the o th e r ships .

Th e first th re e sta rte rs fro m Fo o cho w A riel , ,

L ea nder and L alt loo saili ng within 7 2 h o urs o f

, ,

e ach o th e r all a rriv e d h o m e

, o n t he sam e day .

L ea nder ho w e v e r was s e v e re ly handicapp e d by

, ,

having to o m uch ballast S he was so sharp that

.

s h e l oa d e d right d o wn t o h e r ma rks b e fo re s he was

full o f t e a a m o st unp re c e d e nt e d ci rcumstanc e and

, ,

it was said that she had t o hav e s o m e o f he r ballast

take n o ut .

Tli errnopylae caught and pass e d he r c ro ssing

’
fro m A nj e r n e v e rth e l e s s L ea nder ke pt with H o lt s
,

steam e r the A cnilles fro m A nj e r to Mauriti us

, ,
.

But th e chie f inte re s t in th e Fo o cho w race lay in

t he wo nd e rful pe rfo rma nc e s o f Tlzermo pylae and
28 0 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
S ir L a ncelot . A co mpari s o n of t h e i r passag e s
give s th e fo ll o wi ng
18
Points Passed . Th ermop ylae .
33? S ir Lancelot .

Sa il d f m th P g d A n h
e ro e a o a c o rge 4 a . m. J uly 3 7 a.m . J uly 1 7
Whi t D g N N E 1 5 mil
e o s . . . es J uly 1 8
Passe d Anj er 6 a. m . J uly 28 A ug .
7
M u i ti u a r s A ug 9 .

O ff th Buff l R iver
e a o 28
C p A g ulh
a e as 21 Se t p . 1
P s ed St H l n
a s . e e a ( On W ) . 29 1x
A n i n sc e s o Se pt . I
Eq u t r a o H
C p V rd a e e
A zo re s
Li d zar

Dung ness e
(r ilwind)
a

G v nd ra e se ct .

D ck d
o e

C ap t ai n Ke m b all o n ge tti ng o utsid e t h e M in ,

R iv e r s hap e d a c o urs e t o go e ast ab o ut a s it was

“
,

call e d— in o th e r wo rd s th ro ugh th e O m b a y Passage

i ns te ad o f by S unda—b ut fi ndi ng fre s h wi nd s in
°
1 26 E h e turne d back i nt o t h e Chi na S e a a nd
.
,

to o k th e usual ro ute via A nj e r Wh e n s ix days o n .

t h e o th e r s id e o f A nj e r h e o v e rhaul e d a nd signall e d ,

L e a nder which h e s p o k e o n t he 3 rd A ugust a nd

,

l o s t s ight o f as t e rn o n th e 6 th A ugus t .

Th e o nly o th e r v e s s e l which Th ermopy la e e n

c o unt e re d o u t h e pa ss age wa s t h e auxilia ry A c/i illes ,

which s aili ng fro m Fo o ch o w o n 1 8 th J uly passe d

, ,

t h e Tlze rmopy la e in th e baffli ng w e ath e r o f S unda

S t rai t o nly t o b e caught a nd d ro pp e d as t e rn o n

,

1 7 th A ugus t Tne rrn opy la e wa s v e ry l ucky in o nly

.

e xp e ri e nc i ng t wo day s o f wi nd wi th o ut e as t in it

all th e way fro m A nj e r to th e Cap e .

28 2 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
days lat e r tha n h is o wn fly e r d e t e rmin e d to t ry and
,

k e e p his id e ntity s e c re t and th us signall e d the

numb e r o f th e City of D unedin i nst e ad o f h is o wn .

I nne s was co mpl e t e ly t ricke d fo r o n his a rrival he

,

re p o rt e d s p e aking t h e City of D unedin o ff th e Cap e .

S ir L a ncelot s re c o rd w o uld hav e b e e n e v e n

’

be tt e r if she had no t m e t with light baffling wi nds

in t he Channe l s o that s he to o k fo ur days fro m
,

th e L iza rd t o d o ck c o mpa re d with Tli errn opylae s

’

t wo day s .

A ft e r m e e ti ng h e r unk no w n a ntago nist o n 3 1 5 t

A ugus t Sp in drift did no t all o w h e r t o ge t v e ry
,

far ah e ad a nd e v e ntually a rriv e d fo ur days o nly

be hi nd h e r .

The o th e r ne w c racks Win dnover a nd Ka is o w

, ,

we re no t e qual t o rivalli ng Tnerrn opyla e s wo nde rful ’

re c o rd
, a nd th e i r p e rfo rma nc e s in t h e rac e h o me
we re di s ti nctly disapp o i nti ng .

The ra c e fro m S ha nghai gav e Tita nia he r fi rs t

chanc e o f s ho wi ng wh at she c o uld do Thi s .

v o yage Captain D e as had re ti re d and be e n

s ucc e e d e d by Captai n B urg o yn e a fa r m o re e nt e r ,

p ri s i ng a nd e ne rge tic s kippe r who s o o n sh o we d,

that hi th e rto Titan ia had no t had j us tic e d o ne to

he r. Maki ng all o wanc e fo r the e xtra di s tanc e he r ,

9 8 days fro m S hanghai was v e ry n e a rly a s g o o d as

Tlzerrnopylae s 9 1 fro m Fo o ch o w A nd he r 2 6 days
’ ’
.

run b e twe e n S ha nghai a nd A nj e r was as go o d as

S ir L a ncelot s 2 1 fro m Fo o ch o w
’
I say 2 6 days as
.
,
 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S 28 3

sh e was h e ld up ne ar the S addl e s until 20 th J une ,

and A nj e r L ighth o us e bo re N E 6 mil e s o n . .

1 5 th J uly .

“
Cutty S ark ”
.

Whilst Tlzermopylae S ir L ancelot and Titania

,

we re b re aking re co rds a v e ry no tabl e ve sse l was

,

b e ing b uilt at D umba rto n This was the wo rld

.

fam o us Cutty S a rk the o nly ve sse l which co uld

,

s e ri o usly disput e Tnerrnopyla e s co nt e nti o n that she ’

was the faste st ship in the wo rld .

I n he r de sign the Cutty S a ri: is o ne o f the m o s t

i nte re sti ng ships no w afl o at fo r in he r m o de l the,

pa st is li n k e d up with the p re s e nt th e days o f the ,

N apo l e o n ic wa rs with the days o f wi re l e s s and the

flying machin e .

J ust as the Bal t im o re clippe rs o w ed t h e i r m o d e l

t o th e cl e v e r d raughtsma n ship o f s o m e d e ad and

go n e F re nch naval archit e ct who se wo rk s e e n in the

, ,

beauti ful line s o f s o m e o ld R e publican private e r ,

was thus p e rpe tuate d by the k no wing A m e ricans ,

s o o n t he o pp o sit e sid e o f t h e w o rld in B o mbay

H arbo ur the hulk o f a Fre nch frigat e re no wn e d in

, ,

he r tim e fo r spe e d gav e he r fo rm to o ne o f th e

,

faste st clipp e rs t h e w o rld has e v e r s ee n and add e d ,

a furthe r te stim o n ial to th e skill o f the o ld Fre nch

d e sign e rs . I nd e e d o ne may sa fe ly affirm with o ut
,

fea r o f co n t radicti o n that in the g radual e v o l uti o n o f

,

d e sign a nd i mpro v e m e nt in build the sailing ship ,

o w e s as m uch if no t m o re t o th e Fre nch d raught s

, ,
28 4 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
ma n s cl e v e rne ss t ha n to that o f e ith e r the B ritish
’

o r A m e rican .

The li nk in t h e chai n b e twe e n th e o ld Fre n ch

frigat e a nd th e Cutty S a r é was C aptai n J o h n /

Willis s fam o us clippe r s hip the Tweed who s e

’
,

histo ry is wo rth re c o rding .

I n t h e y e a r 1 8 5 7 th e Pa rs e e s b uilt a paddl e wh e e l -

frigat e in B o mbay D o ckya rd fo r t he East

I ndia Ma ri ne .

Thi s was t h e P unja ué o ne o f t he m o s t co stly ,

v e s s e l s e ve r c o ns t ruct e d o f wo o d as s he was built ,

e n ti re ly o f t h e fi ne s t Malaba r t e ak H e r m o ulds .

we re mad e fro m the d rawi ngs o f O live r L ang who , ,

in t urn d re w h is i nspi rati o n fro m th e a fo re said

,

Fre nch frigate .

This P unjaub a fte r di s ti ngui s hi ng h e rs e l f in the

,

Pe rs ia n Wa r a nd I ndia n M ut i ny was s e n t h o m e in ,

th e spri ng o f 1 8 6 2 t o b e s o ld C l e v e r o ld J o hn .

Willi s bo ught h e r co nv e rte d h e r i nto a saili ng ship

, ,

a nd , placi ng h e r und e r o ne o f his m o st t ruste d

captai ns W S t ua rt lat e o f th e L a rn rnerrnuir s e nt
, .
, ,

h e r o ut t o s e e what s h e c o uld do as a p e ac e ful

t rad e r aft e r h e r s ti rri ng ye a rs o f warfare .

Th e Tweed m e asure d , wh e n c o n v e rt e d
1 7 4 5 to ns re gi t s er 3 9 fee t 6 nci h b es ea m
2 85 fee t l ng th v
e ll
o er a 2 5 fe et d ph
e t

250 fee t l ng th r gist

e de e re

wi th a po o p 6 6 fe e t l o ng a nd a fo c s l e o f 5 7 fe e t ,
’ ’

O n he r fi rst v o yage as a s ailing s hip th e Tweed

to o k o ut a nd h e lpe d to lay th e te l e graph cabl e in
 TH E CH INA C LI P PE RS 28 5

th e Pe rsian G ul f b e ing t he large st sailing ship e ve r

,

handl e d in the Pe rs ian G ul f at that dat e and o ne o f ,

the v e ry fe w wi ndj amm e rs e v e r e mpl o y e d in cabl e

layi ng S he did the passag e o ut to B o mbay with

.

the cabl e o n b o a rd in 7 7 day s th e n spe nt many

,

ro as t i ng m o nth s in t h e G ul f laying it d o wn a nd ,

wh e n sh e finally re ache d Bo m b ay he r ard uo us task , ,

acco mplish e d hal f h e r c re w we re laid up wi th fe ve r

, .

I n B o mbay D o ckyard s h e und e rw e nt a t h o ro ugh

o ve rh a ul h e r cabi n s e sp e cially b e i ng e nlarge d a nd
,

re furn ish e d s o as t o p ro vid e acco mm o dat io n fo r

.

o ffic e rs wh e n sh e was t ake n u

p by t h e G o v e rn m e nt
t o ca rry t ro o ps a s e rvic e fo r which sh e p ro v e d to
,

b e v e ry w e ll fitt e d Fro m B o mbay s he w e n t t o

.

V ingo rla t o o k t h e S e afo rth H ighland e rs o n b o a rd

, ,

a n d mad e t he run h o m e in 7 8 day s H e r re p uta t i o n

.

as a n e xc e pti o nally s p e e dy s hip was no w mad e a nd ,

fo r so m e ye a rs a ft e r th e S ue z C anal had b e e n
o p e ne d t he G o v e rn m e nt e mpl o ye d h e r to carry
i nvalid e d t r0 0 ps h o m e ro und th e Cape in which ,

s e rvic e s h e mad e s o m e w o nd e rful run s .

I n th e gre at I ndia n famin e o f t he s e v e nti e s sh e

was cha rt e re d t o carry ric e b e t we e n R a ngo o n a nd
Mad ras a nd he re again h e r wo nd e rful dashe s
,

ac ro ss th e G ul f o f B e ngal w o rthily uph e ld

he r re putati o n .

Th e n wh e n s he cam e to the Co l o nial e migrant

trad e he r re c o rd s w e re e qually g o o d the b e st ,

be ing —Lo ndo n t o Po rt Chalm e rs 6 9 days S ydn e y ,

 28 6 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
to Lo nd o n 6 9
days Whils t o n the China Co ast
. ,

M r J o se ph Co n rad re lat e s that

. I n the middl e
sixti e s sh e had b e at e n by a day and a hal f the st e am
mail b o at fro m H o ng K o ng to S ingapo re and that ,

o ffic e rs o f me n o f war use d t o c o m e o n b o a rd t o

- -

take the e xact dim e nsio ns o f h e r sail plan and n o te

t h e placin
g o f h e r mas ts .

I t m ust b e co n fe s s e d h o we ve r that sh e o we d a
, ,

gre at d e al to Captain S tuart This man was as .

re ma rkabl e as his s hip a nd if t h e o ld Tweed was a ,

marve l in light wi nds he r captain was a marve l in ,

”
th e ro a ring fo rti e s
“
H o w h e d ro v e h e r ! But
.

sh e b o re d riving lik e t h e th o ro ughb re d that sh e was .

M r J o s eph Co n rad who sail e d with Captain S tua rt

.
,

in th e Tweed s s ucc e s s o r a n i ro n G lasgo w clippe r

’

, ,

giv e s a d e lightful ske t ch o f t he da re d e vil S co tsman -

in his M irror of tne S ea .

He
s e e m e d c o nstituti o nally incapable o f o rde ri ng
o ne o f his o ffic e rs t o s h o rte n s ail says M r Co n rad ,
”
. .

I f I had the watch fro m e ight till mi dnight he

“
,

wo uld l e av e the d e ck ab o ut ni ne with the wo rds ,

D o n t tak e any sail o ff h e r Th e n o n the p o int o f

’ ’
.

di sappe aring d o wn the c o m pani o nway h e wo uld add

’ ”
c urtly D o n t carry a nything away
, .
I

M r Co n rad thus d e s c rib e s th e Tweed s c o mmand e r

.
’

in a l e tt e r t o m e
“
Captain S tua rt was al re ady v e ry g re y in my
time b ut the re we re no o the r s igns o f age ab o ut
,

him H e re s e mbl e d striki ng ly th e po rtraits o f the

.
28 8 I
TH E C H N A C LIPPE R S
Ca ptain B ice and t o o k the c o mmand o f th e L ock
E t io e . A nd st range to s a y th e Tweed re fus e d to
,

s ail fo r he r ne w ma s t e r wh o had b e e n mate in he r

,

fo r ye a rs Th o ugh a fine s ea man and sma rt o ffi c e r

.
,

as any man train e d und e r S tua rt was b o u nd t o b e ,

t h e Tweed s ne w captai n utt e rly fail e d to mak e th e

’

o ld ship sh o w he r fo rm e r ph e n o m e nal sp e e d and ,

t h e w o rry o f it b ro k e his h e a rt and b e fo re the ,

v o yage was o ut he di e d at se a fro m she e r v e xati o n

o f s pi rit .

A fte r t e n y e a rs in t he A ust ralian and C alcutta

t rad e the Tweed ran i nto a gal e o ff A lgo a Bay wh e n
bo und fro m Co chin t o N e w Yo rk with ge ne ral
cargo and o n the 1 8 th o f J uly 1 8 8 8 s h e l o s t all
, , ,

he r s pa rs o v e rb o a rd e xc e pt the fo re and miz e n

l o we r mas t s She was pick e d up by the
. V en ice
and to we d into A lgo a B ay b ut pro ve d to b e no t
,

wo rth h e r salvage and wa s e v e ntually bro ke n up .

The Tweed was o ld Willis s favo urite ship and ’

was c e rtai nly o ne o f the m o s t re markabl e ships o f

h e r tim e . I t is th e re fo re no t s urp rising that Willis
, ,

ho pe d t o l o we r Tnerrnopy la e s co l o urs with a v e ss e l

’

d e sig ne d o n the sam e li ne s and so c o mmiss i o n e d

,

H e rcul e s L in to n to tak e th e m o ff and use th e m in

t h e d es ign o f his ne w te a clippe r Cutt S a ré wh o s e
y , ,

nam e I ne e d hardly m e nti o n was ta ke n o ut o f

, ,

Burns s m o st fam o us p o e m Tam o S ha nte r s

’
’ ’
.

b e auti ful witch N anni e with he r l o ng hai r and

, ,

cutty s ark flo wing in th e wi nd fo rm e d the figure head

,
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS 28 9

o f the ne w
clippe r and at the sam e tim e dance d as
, ,

a do g— van e at he r mai n t ruck a nd still danc e s th e re

, ,

in spite o f o v e r 40 y e ars b uffe ti ng by wi nd sco rch

’

ing by s un and d re nchi ng by rai n

, A s a w o rk o f .

art thi s o riginal fi ure h e ad rivall e d t h e sple ndid

g
L e o nidas o f Tlzerrnopy lae a nd the a rm e d k n ight o f
S ir L a ncelot .

Cutty S a rk had rath e r an unlucky s tart to he r

lo ng a nd victo ri o us care e r M e s s rs S co tt 8: L into n
. .
,

who re c e iv e d th e c o nt ract t o b uild h e r fail e d b e fo re ,

s he was c o mpl e t e d a nd s h e wa s
, fi nish e d o ff by
D e nny B ro s This naturally o ccasi o n e d s o m e
.
, ,

d e lay wi th th e re sult that in the h urry to ge t he r

,

re ady in t im e t o re ach C hina fo r th e firs t s e a s o n s

’

t e as s o m e o f the wo rk was rath e r scampe d a nd a ,

go o d de al o f h e r i ro n wo rk al o ft s uch as the trus s e s ,

and sli ngs o f the ya rds gav e way o n he r fi rs t ,

vo yage and had t o b e re ne we d A nd thi s hurrie d .

co mple ti o n may have had s o m e thi ng t o do wi th the

l o si ng o f he r rudd e r d uri ng h e r gre at rac e with
Tnerrnopyla e in 1872 .

In appe a ranc e Cutty S a rk was a t ho ro ughbre d

fro m t ruck t o k e e l ye t s he cann o t b e said to hav e
,

bo rne any particular re s e mblance to e ith e r the

fam o us S t e e l e clipp e rs o r Tne rrnopylae She was a .

m o re po w e rful v e sse l in e v e ry way than the dai nty

S t ee l e c re ati o ns and m o re p o w e rful in my o pini o n
, , ,

than e ve n Tli e rrnopylae fo r no clippe r o f he r size

,

has e ve r rivall e d he r pe rfo rmanc e s in c ast ing w e ath e r .

U
29 0 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
She was sp e cially b uilt t o be at Tnerm opylae .

Th e fo ll o wi ng m e as ure m e nts tak e n fro m L l o yd s ,

R e gi s t e r p ro v e that Cutty S a rk th o ugh p ractically

, ,

o f t h e s am e s iz e as T/t e rr
n op la e ye t wa s a s ha rp e r
y ,

e nd e d s hip .

Cutty S ark .

Ch a rac ter 16 y ears A I

L gth
en 2 12 fe e t 5 in h c es

Beam 3 6 feet
D pth
e 2 1 fe e t

To nnage (un er d d k) ec 8 9 2 t o ns
g g
To nna e ( ro ss ) 96 3 to ns

g
To nna e ( net ) 9 2 1 to ns
Ra i d qu t r d k
se ar e -
ec 4 6 fe et o nl g

Th o ugh 5 i nch e s l o nge r a nd 3 i nch e s d e e p e r than

Tnermopyla e Cutty S a ré ye t m e as ure d
,
2 7 t o ns l e s s

t han Tne rrn opy lae U n fo rtunat e ly t he pla ns o f

.

Cutty S a ré hav e l o ng s i nc e di s app e a re d b ut the ,

d e d ucti o n that s he was th e sha rp e r ship o f th e t wo

is o bvi o us I nd e e d Cutty S a ré had th e l o ng k ni fe
.
,

lik e e ntran c e o f a m o d e rn li ne r .

I n h e r s ail pla n s h e re s e mbl e d t h e S t e e l e clippe rs

a nd c ro s s e d th e dai nty s ky s ail yard at the mai n .

S he was o f c o urs e a d o ubl e to psail ya rd ship a nd

, ,

h e r s ail a re a was t re m e nd o us .

L ik e Tnerrn opylae s h e c o nti nue d t o carry h e r full

,

s uit o f ra c i ng s ail s a nd spa rs fo r y e a rs a ft e r the

o ld e r fav o urit e s had b e e n c ut d o w n a nd in ma ny

cas e s co nve rte d i nt o barque s But in 1 8 8 1 he r .

s pa rs w e re re d uc e d 9 fe e t 6 i nch e s b e i ng c ut o ff
,

h e r l o ng l o w e r masts a nd 7 fe e t o ff he r l o we r yard s ,

th e o th e r s pars b e i ng sh o rt e n e d in p ro p o rt i o n Ye t .
29 2 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE RS
co mplai nt all the way d o w n has b e e n want o f wi nd
’
wi th th re e days e xc e pti o n .

V e ry uns e ttl e d with unste ady winds the ,

”
st ra nge st t rad e winds I hav e se e n fo r s o m e tim e .

S ails clashing again s t t he masts

“
I f th e y do .

no t ge t w o rn o ne way th e y will an o th e r D uring

,
.

this v o yage fo r o ne day that th e y hav e be e n full

, ,

”
th e y hav e b ee n two clashing abo ut .

The o ld m usic again sails clashing against the

“
,

mast s V e ry pl e asant fo r p eo pl e who a re no t in

.

a h urry .

Cutty S a rk mus ic agai n v iz sails clash i ng , .

,

”
agains t the masts .

S t ro ng gal e fro m N N W Whe n the wind . . .

co m e s it is a he ad gal e .

I ca nn o t rightl y d e s c ribe the w e ath e r b ut it is

“

th e st rang e st I have e v e r s e e n in this part o f

th e o c e an Cl o uds passi ng t o and fro fro m o ne

.

quarte r th e n fro m ano th e r s o m e tim e s a squall , ,

s o m e tim e s rain o nly a nd the sw e ll that ro se

,

ye ste rday afte rn o o n fro m W N W has go n e ro und . . .

to no rth and is no w c o mi ng flying up fro m

N E s o m e tim e s n e a rly b re aking
. .
, Wi nd fai nt .
,

variable ai rs fro m no rth s o uth e ast and we s t , ,

b ut ne ve r e no ugh to give t h e ship ste e rage way .

Th e ship is s o m e tim e s re aring n e arly o v e r e nd

with t his N W s we ll . . .
”

A ll th e s e e nt rie s a re take n fro m Cutty S a rk s

’

fi rst passage h o m e and he r e xaspe rate d skippe r

,
 TH E CH INA C LI P PE R S 29 3

finally w rite s sarcastically wh e n still nin e days ,

fro m po rt
We will have to say We e l d o n e Cutty S ark ,
‘
,

fo r this is c e rtainly spl e ndid w o rk 1 00 days fro m ,

S hanghai I sinc e re ly h o p e o ur n e ighb o urs will

.

”
hav e th e wi nds we hav e had .

On h e r thi rd vo yage Cutty S ark was b e tt e r se rv e d

with wind b ut j ust wh e n s h e s e e m e d ass ure d o f a
,

spl e ndid pas s ag e and a victo ry o v e r Tlzerrnopyla e

h e r chanc e s w e re sp o ilt by th e l o ss o f h e r rudd e r .

Captai n M o o di e l e ft h e r at th e e nd o f this vo yage ,

and the captai ns wh o succe e d e d him we re no t

racing captai ns in th e st rict s e ns e o f the w o rd
and did no t carry sail hard H o we ve r in the .
,

A ust ralian t rad e sh e was l ucky in b e ing und e r

o ne o f t he hard o ld b re e d o f s e a d o gs in C aptain

Wo o dget who ne ve r lo st a mil e fo r want o f sail

, .

I n actual s pe e d th ro ugh the wat e r C aptai n ,

M o o di e m e as ure d h e r b o th by th e co mm o n and
pat e nt log and fo und h e r go ing as m uch as 1 7 5
kn o ts an ho ur .

’
H e giv e s he r b e st 2 4 h o urs run und e r him as

3 6 3 kn o ts which is the bigg e st run e v e r mad e

,

by a te a clipp e r .

A l e tt e r appe a re d in Fa irp lay s o m e y e a rs back ,

which ra n as fo ll o ws
Sir, —I n y o ur l ast i sus d br king f
e are so me remar s k on th e re co r ea o

C ptain Willis f m us Cutty S rk P rmit m t o give my qu t f vid nce

’
a s a o a . e e o a o e e

thi s hip e xtra rdin ry p rf rm n At a e rli r p ri d o f h r

’
as t o s s o a e o a ces. a e e o e

career sh m d 362 nd 363 k n ts in 24 h urs o n t w c n cut iv d ys

e a e a o o o o se e a .

I m sir y ours e tc O N E WH O K N O WS
”
a , , ,
.
,
.
29 4 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
late as 1 8 9 2 s he did a day s w o rk o f 3 5 3 kno ts
’

As
wh e n running the c a s ting d o w n a nd c o v e re d 2 1 80
mile s in the w e e k I n 1 8 9 0 she ran 3 7 3 7 mil e s in
.

1 3 c o ns e c utive days b e tw e e n the Cap e o f G o o d

H o pe and the L e e uwin I n 1 8 8 9 she w e nt fro m .

G re e n Cap e to S ydn e y a distanc e o f 2 2 0 mil e s in, ,

1 7 h o urs ,
and o n ano the r o cc as io n sail e d 7 6 7 8
mil e s in 30 days .

A ll the s e runs w e re mad e a ft e r s he was cut d o wn ,

so that t h e 3 6 3 mil e s und e r h e r full s a il plan s e e ms

in no way an impo s sibl e fe at .

C ro ssing the S E t rad es fro m A nj e r whe n

. . ,

ho m e ward bo und with t e a s he ge ne rally manage d

to mak e s o m e big runs Th e fo ll o wing table sh o w
.

ing th re e co ns e cut iv e days wo rk cro ssing fro m ’

Dat e . R emark s .

A riel, 1 8 68
June 28 ws :
a nd S E E by g
s tro n
mn
. . .
,
29 g h
fres an d s tro n g gusts
30 ws i
. m o re m o erate d
Tfiermopy lae, 18 69
we r f
A u ustg 1 e o E
Q, 2 nm E
Cutty S ara, 1 87 2
July 27 wn E g . . stro n g and squally
28 e n E m ore
c .o . m d erate
29 nng E mo e rate
. . d

A nj e r fro m Cutty ho m e ward run

S a ré s
’
l 187 2 ,

Tnerrnopylae s re c o rd run in 1 8 6 9 and A riel s be st

’ ’

in 1 8 6 8 is o r i nt e re s t to sh o w Cutty S ark s
,
’

sup e ri o rity in hard who l e sail b re e ze s We may .

safe ly assume that all th re e ships we re d riv e n to the

29 6 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
fam o us B riti s h clippe r Cutty S a ré o ne o f the fast e st ,

ships afl o at S he pas s e d us go ing 2 fe e t to o ur 1 . ,

”
a nd in a s h o rt tim e was h ull d o w n ah e ad o f us .

Cutty S a r/é was l aunch e d in N o v e mb e r 1 8 6 9 a nd , ,

t he fo ll o wi ng is an e pit o m e o f h e r maid e n passag e :

Feb ruary 1 5 , 1 8 70—Made sail fro m the D o wns about mid night .

February 1 6, 1 8 70 —Too k d e parture fro m th e Start t 1 1 p m a . .

H ad stro n g so ut h ly wind
er s a nd g les a to th e N E . . tra d e s. H ad v rye

ligh t N . E tra . des .

March 1 3, 1 8 70 —Cro ssed th e lin e ; 25 dy a s o ut. H ad v y ligh t

er

S E tra
. d. es.

A p il 6 1 8 7 0 — Cro
r d th m idi n f G enwich ; 49 d y ut
, sse e er a o re a s o .

H r b t w k w rk ru nning ting d w n w b t w n 1 3th nd l gth

’
e es ee s o cas o as e ee a

A p il r nd t t ll d 20 6 1 mil s
, a o a e e .

A p il 3 1 8 7 0 —44 1 8 S D i t n 2 98 Wind N N E ° ° ’
38 4 8 E
’
r 1 , . . s a ce . . . .

a nd n th t ng
or , s ro .

A p il 14 — '
8 7 0 44 8 S 4 7 8 E
r , D i t n 360 Wind n rth f e h
1
°
1 .
,
° ’
. s a ce . o , r s .

P M m d
. . t, o e ra e .

A p il 1 5 1 8 7 0 —44 2 5 S
r 53 ,E D i t n 2 69 Wind n th ° ’
. ,
°
22
’
. s a ce . or ,

str ng o W N W ( D i t n by c mm n nd p t nt l g nd d d r k ni ng
. . . . s a ce o o a a e o a ea ec o

3 43 m il A dv u
es nt ) e rse c rre

—
. .

A pril 16 1 8 7 0 44 9 S 60 22 E
'
, Di t n 304 Wind W N W nd ° ’
.
,
°
. s a ce . . . . a

N N W tr ng t
. gl , s o o a a e.

A p il 17 1 8 7 0 —4 3
. .

r 3 S 66 2 1 E , Di t n 66 Wi nd n rth ; light
°
2
’
.
,
° ’
. s a ce 2 . o

wind nd h vy a P M fe h g l eap d hip teering t

sea r s a e, asse a s s e as

A p il 1 8 18 7 0 —4 2 1 7 S
. . .
, .

r
'
73 5 1
'
E, D i t n 336 Wind N N E °
.
,
°
. s a ce . . . .
,

f h g l
re s N n S S W
a e. M id nigh t S E tr ng oo , . . .
, . . s o .

A pril 19 1 8 7 —40 D i t n 2 2 8 Wi nd S E ° ’ °
7 S 7 8 14 E
’
, 0 2 .
, . s a ce . . .
,

t ng g l
s ro a e

M y 3 18 7 0 —M d J v H d 7 6 d ys ut
.

a , a e a a ea a o .

In t he S t rai ts of S unda Cutty S a ré o v e rhaul e d

th e A b e rd e e n clipp e r Tliya tira Donne Whit e S ta r ,

Cas tle ( o ne o f S ki nn e r s ) ylo ( the ne w S te e l e

’

,
W
c lippe r
) a nd t h e v e t e ran Fiery Cross With light
, .

variabl e ai rs a nd calm s th e s e ships h ung o n t o he r ,

l o nge r than th e y w o uld hav e d o ne o th e rwis e .

li/y la p ro v e d th e m o s t di fficult to shake o ff] b ut

afte r b e ing e igh t day s in c o mpany s he als o at last
 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S 29 7

d ro ppe d o ut o f sight aste rn Cutty S amb ad light .

ai rs and calms all the way up the co ast with the

e xc e pti o n o f th re e days o f the N E m o nso o n . .

bl o wing a gal e fro m right ah e ad .

A t 5 a m o n 3 rs t May s h e picke d up h e r
. .

S hanghai pil o t o ff th e lightship having in spite o f , ,

an un usual am ount o f light winds a nd calms mad e ,

the passage pil o t t o pil o t in 1 0 4 days .

The fo ll o wing list o f o utward passage s made ,

abo ut the sam e tim e s h o w that Cutty S a rk s run

,
’

was a ve ry go o d o ne .

O utward Pas s age s to China 1869-7 0 .

From . Arri vd e .

L d
on o n De c .
4 Sh ngh i
a a

Black Prim e -0
a

r0 H ng Ko ng
o
18 Sh angh i a
20

Jan . 21
Feb . 1

“
No rman C o urt .

N e xt to Cutty S a né th e m o st impo rtant clippe r

launch e d in 1 8 6 9 was the N orman Court D e sign e d .

by Re nni e ,
b o re a stro ng family lik e n e ss to
s he

Fiery Cross and B lack P rince and was a v e ry ,

be auti ful ship in e v e ry way She sho uld have be e n

.

Re nni e s maste rpi e c e b ut the build e rs mad e so m e

’
,

slight de viati o n fro m h is d e sign in the mo ulding o f

the i ro n fram es which th o ugh it did no t int e rfe re
, ,
29 8 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
v e ry much with h e r s p e e d mad e he r m o re te nde r ,

than s he sh ould o th e rwi s e hav e b e e n Th e s e littl e .

mistak e s we re no unco mm o n o cc urre nce wh e n ships

w e re built fro m o utsid e plans a nd it was ge n e rally ,

fo und that a b uild e r was m o re s ucc e ss ful with v e ss e ls

built t o his o wn d e sign than with th o se he built
fro m the plans o f a n o ut s id e a rchit e ct .

H o we ve r with the e xc e pti o n o f this e rro r which

,

affe ct e d he r stability N o rman Co urt had b e auti fully

,

fai r lin e s and sh e was m o st p e rfe ctly b uilt and

,

finish e d U nlike Cutty S a ras h e r i ro n w o rk was

.
’

spe cially go o d I n fact a L o ndo n blacksmith who

.
, ,

was e mpl o ye d re pai ri ng o ne o f he r t russe s s o me

y e ars late r was so l o st in admi rati o n o f he r i ro n
wo rk that he de clare d it m ust hav e b ee n made by
a watchmak e r .

A s t o h e r d e ck fitti ngs he r b ulwa rks we re ,

pa n e ll e d in t e ak with a s o lid b rass rail o n to p all

,

'
ro und A nd e v e n h e r fo c s l e l o ck e rs w e re pan e ll e d
’
.

b e tte r than tho se o f many a ship s cabin ’

.

N orma n Court i nd e e d rivall e d t he S t e e l e clippe rs

, ,

in l o o ks and b e auty a nd was co nsid e re d at o ne ti me

,

to b e th e p re tti e st rigge d ve ss e l s ailing o ut o f Lo nd o n .

S he was v e ry h e avily s parre d and e xt re m e ly l o fty ,

so l o fty ind e e d that o ne 4 th o f J uly wh e n she was

, , ,

lying in S hanghai with s e v e ral o th e r cli ppe rs ,

i ncluding Tlzermopylae the A m e rican s up e rinte nd e nt

,

o f th e H ank o w Wharf cam e o ff with a star

spangl e d bann e r a nd as k e d Captai n S h e wa n to
 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S 299

fly it at his main t ruck re marking that it w o uld b e

,

se e n furth e r fro m th e re than fro m any o th e r po int

withi n l e ague s o f S ha nghai Captain S he wan was
.

also aske d wh e th e r he gav e an appre ntice a bisc uit

b e fo re he s e nt him up to furl th e skysail I nd e e d .
,

if the Baring clipp e r had b e e n as s q ua re as

Tli ermopylae with h e r o wn l o fti ne ss she w o uld h ave
be e n ve ry much o v e rhatt e d b ut luckily fo r he r
, ,

sta bility sh e had a narro w s ail plan

, .

L ik e m o st o f t he t e a clippe rs h e r ma s ts w e re ,

rak e d w e ll a ft in fact th e y had m o re rak e than was

, ,

us ual a nd thi s
, , Captain S h e wa n th o ught rath e r ,

s p o ilt h e r saili ng in light wi nds Th e chi e f re aso n

.

fo r thi s rake was that it k e pt a wo o d e n ship fro m

diving to o m uch i nto a h e ad sea .

I n he r pace s N o rma n Court was a bona fi de t e a

clipp e r in e ve ry way— fast in light ai rs at he r b e s t ,

with fre s h wh o l e s ail b e am wi nds b ut no t the e qual,

o f Cuti S a ré wh e n t h e ro yal s w e re fa st and

y ,

p e rhaps a go o d 1; k no t s l o we r than the Willis crack

wh en o ff the wi nd fo r N orma n Court s b e s t po i n t
,
’

was to wi ndward— i nd e e d s he was o ne o f the mo s t

,

weath e rly o f all the te a clippe rs Owing to th e way

.

in which he r bilge was ca rri e d right away t o he r

ste m ( th o ugh th e re was no thing abo ve the wate r
lin e to s t0p he r) s h e We nt i nto a se a lik e a rubb e r
ball and v e ry rare ly b uri e d h e rs e l f like s o me o f the
,

A be rd e e n ships . S he re qui re d ca re ful watching ,

h o we v e r and if caught by the wi nd fre e i ng t wo o r

,
.
3 00 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE R S
th re e poi nts in a s quall wh n g ing cl s haul e d e o o e-

und e r a p re ss o f s ail sh e w o uld go o v e r till th e le e

bunk s o f the m idsh ipho us e w e re und e r wate r .

With re gard to t rim she s ail e d b e st e spe cially , ,

runni ng wh e n w e ll do wn by th e st e rn
,
O n o ne .

o ccasi o n wh e n s h e l e ft L o nd o n fo r S yd n e y with a
,

light l o ad li ne C aptain S h e wan k e pt he r o n an

-
,

e v e n k e e l b ut fo und that sh e did n o t do as we ll as

,

us ual runn i ng t h e e a s ti ng d o w n O n the o the r .

hand in 1 8 7 1 wh e n s he mad e th e fas t run o f 6 7

, ,

days to th e S o uth C ap e Ta s ma nia s h e was v e ry , ,

d e e p with Manch e s t e r bal e s a nd ne arly a fo o t by the

s t e rn Thi s trim gav e h e r s o m e s pl e ndid runs in
.

”
th e ro a ri ng fo rti e s b ut s h e al s o t o o k a t re m e nd o us
“
,

lo t o f h e avy wat e r o v e r a ft in maki ng t h e m O nc e .

s h e l e ft Maca o in h e avy w e a t h e r wi t h n o chanc e

t o ge t h e r p ro p e r t rim Thi s passage she sail e d .

fi rs t rat e o n a wi nd tho ugh v e ry we t fo rward , ,

and o n he r a rrival she wa s fo und t o b e 6 i nch e s

"

by th e h e ad .

N o rman Court was call e d a ft e r t he H amp shi re

s e at o f he r o w ne r Tho mas Bari ng a nd h e r figure
, ,

h e ad was a s pl e ndidly carve d lik e ne ss o f o ne o f the

-

family b e auti e s C aptai n A nd re w S h e wa n s e n i o r

.
, ,

had h e r fo r he r fi rs t t wo v o yag e s a nd th e n his s o n ,

had he r fo r the re s t o f h e r ra ci ng care e r

-
.

S h e was la unch e d fro m I nglis s ya rd in J uly a nd

’

s ail e d fo r H o ng K o ng in O ct o b e r making the v e ry ,

go o d pass age o ut o f 9 8 days .

3 02 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
which co uld b e l o w e re d o v e rb o ard o n e ach sid e o f
th e v e s s e l and w e re e xp e ct e d t o d riv e t he s hip al o ng
,

kn t s in a calm C a li /t als o had a c o nd e ns e r

2
% o f .

capabl e o f distilli ng 5 0 gall o ns o f wat e r in 1 2 h o urs .

S he was c o mmand e d by the s o n o f a ship

chandl e r o r ro pe mak e r who had s o m e s hare s in ,

h e r a ma n with o ut m uch e xp e ri e nc e and thi s fact may

, ,

have had so m e thi ng to do with h e r disappe arance .

Wylo ” “
, Amb a s s ado r, ” “
Eme , ”
a nd
“
O s aka ”
.

th e r clipp e rs launch e d in 1 8 69
Of the o ,

M ro m S t l s ya rd was a sist e r s hip o f

’
b f ,e e e ,

Ka zsow A mbassador Lund s fi rs t v e nture in the

'
’

.
,

t e a t rade was v e ry c ranky and o v e rmast e d t h o ugh

, ,

a fast ship E me a v e ry p re tty v e ss e l was a

.
, ,

light wi nd flye r -
S h e was h o w e v e r v e ry un
.
, ,

fo rt unate in h e r fi rst rac e h o m e a nd t o o k 1 3 5 days

t o Lo nd o n S he we nt by the lo ng e ast e rn ro ute
.

and go t badly b e calm e d H o we v e r th ough it was .

,

m o re th e mi s fo rtun e tha n the fault o f h e r s kippe r ,

o ld C aptain Wad e o f R o b e rts o n Co h e r o wn e rs

, .
, ,

me t the s hip o n arrival a n d sack e d the w re tch ed

man the re and th e n with s uch a fl o w o f language ,

as mad e the ne ighb o uri ng barge e s gap e with

admi rati o n To b e unl uck y in t h e t e a t rad e was a
.

v e ry bad o ffe nce a nd no amo unt o f go o d s e amanship

,

c o uld make up fo r it in th e e ye s o f th e o wn e rs .

The Osa ka was a small clippe r b a rq ue b uilt by ,

P il e o f S und e rland fo r C aptain Killick o f Cha t/er ”

, g
fam e t h e o wn e r o f l to a nd Ka zso w
'

, .
 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S 3 03

“
O b e ro n .

B e fo re turnin g to the t e a rac e o f 1 8 7 0 I ,

must say a fe w w o rds abo ut Obero n t he ship which ,

Captain K e ay l e ft A riel t o tak e c o mmand o f .

Obe ron was a n e xp e rim e nt o f Maxto n s o ne o f

’

tho se failure s as auxiliary ste am e rs which wh e n ,

the i r scre ws w e re re mo ve d pro v e d ve ry fine s aili ng

,

ve sse ls . I t is curi o us that thi s was by no m e ans

unc o mm o n with e a rly full rigge d s t e am e rs The
-
.

me nti o n o f th e fo ll o wi ng nam e s the Tweed Oberon , , ,

Da rling Downs L aa y f orelyn a nd L a ncin

,
’
g will ,

s h o w h o w s ucc e ss ful t h e ste am s hip d e sign h as b e e n

und e r sail .

Oberon was h e avily rigge d with th re e skysail

yards and wh e n un d e r sail alo ne pro v e d a ve ry fast
, ,

handy v e ss e l a nd a s pl e ndid s e a b o at But h e r b e st .

s p e e d und e r s te am at a c o al c o ns umpti o n o f
, 7 t o ns
a day wa s o nly 7 k no ts a n h o ur a nd s h e p ro ve d t o
, ,

b e q uit e unabl e t o s t e m a st ro ng h e ad wi nd a nd s e a .

S h e co s t to b uild a nd thus was a v e ry ,

c o stly e xpe rim e n t .

H e r black sq uad c o nsi s te d o f t wo e ngi ne e rs and

th re e fi re m e n Th e s e p o o r wre tch e s had a ve ry bad
.

tim e in th e t ro pics as in th o se days th e ve ntilati o n

,

o f e ngi ne ro o m a nd sto k e h o l e was m o st p rimitiv e .

Capta i n K e ay afte r a v e ry w o rryi ng v o yage

, ,

manage d to ge t h e r h o m e fro m H ank o w via the

Cap e in 1 1 5 days H e th e n l e ft h e r fo r a no th e r
.

t ro ubl e so m e ste am ke ttl e .

30 4 TH E I
CH N A C LIPPE R S
Oberon s s e c o nd vo yag e wi th a l e s s e xpe ri e nce d
’

captain was a n e v e n g re ate r disapp o i ntm e nt than

,

he r fi rst .S he s tart e d w e ll by maki ng Po rt

S aid und e r s ail al o n e in 1 8 days fro m Plym o uth .

The sails we re t h e n put in th e gask e ts a nd st e am

rais e d fo r th e passag e o f t he C anal a nd R e d S ea .

A ll w e nt we ll until sh e was n e a ri ng th e s o uth e rn

e nd o f th e R e d S e a wh e n a st ro ng s o uth e rly wind
,

abs o lute ly s to ppe d h e r h e ad way H o pi ng that this .

wo uld s o o n tak e o ff the captai n anch o re d o ff M o cha

,
.

But e ight days passe d a nd still th e s o uth e rly wind

bl e w as s t ro ng as e v e r so Oberon was at last ,

co mp e ll e d to b e at th ro ugh L aage S t rai t und e r bo th

s te am a nd ca nvas Thi s s o o n c o ns um e d he r limi te d
.

s upply o f c o al a nd s he was o blig e d t o

, p ut i nto
A d e n t o re fill h e r bunk e rs Co ali ng was agai n a .

n e c e s s ity at Labua n .

H e r ne xt t ro ubl e was go i ng up t he Ya ngtz e to

H anko w . With gre at di fficulty sh e manage d to
s te m the 7 kno t c urre nt a s fa r as t he O rphan Ro ck
-
,

b ut h e re th e curre n t b e cam e s o fi e rc e that he r

h eadway was co mpl e te ly s to pp e d Th e re up o n he r .

e ngi nee r did what many a no th e r e ngi ne e r was

co mpe ll e d to do in th o s e e arly days o f the ste am
e ngi ne h e jamm e d d o w n t h e s a fe ty valv e a nd rai s e d
,

th e wo rki ng p re s sure fro m 3 0 t o 4 5 lb s This .

de spe rate e xp e di e nt j us t go t he r past th e O rpha n

R o ck in s afe ty .

O n the h o m e ward run s he to o k 1 3 4 days fro m

3 06 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
days was t ran s fe rre d into h e r fro m th e Wznalzo uer
'
’
, ,

and with s uch a q uick turn ro und d e cid e d to take

his wi fe with him d o wn Chann e l The pil o t als o .

had o nly j ust re turn e d fro m taking a ship o ut and ,

had had no tim e fo r any re st .

With a fine n o rth e rly wind and a cl e ar night

'

s na
’
rzfl w as makin g spl e n did tim e a nd in o rd e r ,

t o sav e mil e ag e was hugging th e K e nt sh o re .

Captai n N utsfo rd was asl e e p in th e cabi n and the

pil o t was d o zi ng in the charth o us e wh e n th e s e c o nd,

mate who was in charge o f the d e ck ro us e d the

, ,

pilo t with the n e ws that th e co urs e h e had s e t was

taki ng he r t o o cl o se in s h o re A ppare ntly the pilo t
.

”
call e d o ut sl e e pily Luff! Luff! wh ich was at
,
“

o nc e o b e y e d by th e h e lm s man with t h e re s ult that

,

Sp indrift slid right up o n th e b e ach with t he

lighth ous e o n he r le e b o w A nd she had so much
.

way o n that it was fo und impo ssibl e to re flo at he r ,

and thus th e b e auti ful ship b e cam e a to tal l o ss .

I n the i nqui ry which fo ll o we d b o th th e pil o t and

captain e s cape d ce nsure th o ugh it was pro ve d that
,

the re was a n unt ri e d l e adsman in the chains and

that the pil o t had mistak e n a star fo r the D unge
n e ss L ight .

Th e b e s t rac e this y e a r fro m Fo o ch o w was that

be twee n Tlzermopylae S tr L ancelot a nd N orman
,
'

Court O n l ath N o v e mb e r S zr L a ncelot passe d

.

th ro ugh th e D o wns as Tb ermopy lae was d o cking ,

and at th e sam e tim e N orman Court was repo rte d

 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE R S 3 07

o ff th e S tart Wi th
a littl e l uck the latt e r w o uld
.

hav e d o ne the b e st passag e o f the th re e b ut no ,

s o o n e r had t he o th e r t wo d o ck e d than N E winds . .

s e t in and d e lay e d he r in th e Chann e l .

Th e fi rst starte rs fro m S hanghai we re Oberon ,

Tita nia ( b o th o f which had l o ad e d up at H ank o w)

a nd Cutty S a rk .

Taki ng into c o nside rati o n the abn o rmally light

wi nd s bo th in th e Chi na S e as and in the A tlantic ,

t h e tim e s o f Titania a nd Cutt

y S aré w e re v e ry
go o d Oberon was rath e r unl ucky st riki ng such
.

we ath e r and had to ste am th e who l e way fro m the

N E t rad e s t o s o undi ngs a nd was o blige d t o c o al
. .
,

b o th at Cape V e rd a nd Falm o uth .

Captain M o o di e d ro ve Cutty S arb unm e rci fully

in h is e ffo rts to make a no tabl e passage in spi te o f
a c o nstant s ucce ssi o n o f light h e ad winds b ut h e ,

was no t a daring navigat o r o f the K e ay typ e and

was spe cially cautio us in the China S e as .

Th e fo ll o wing is an abst ract fro m Cutty S a rk s lo g

’

]u 5— 5pm p
ne 2 d th ligh t hip M id night n h d in 7 f th m
. .
, asse e s .
, a c o re a o s

s tro n g t id e and no wind

Jun 26—4 u m go t underw igh ligh t so utherly b reeze s A mh er t Ro k
.

e . .
, e , . s c s

bearing N by E f E 3 miles
July 1—Tacked 6 miles o ff T m u H rb ur ( Formosa)
. . . .

a s a a o

July z—A t 10 m Turnabo ut I sl nd N by W 8 miles Wind S S W

.

a. .
, a , . . . . . .
,

str ng nd sh o rt h ead sea

o a ( From this po int Cutty S ark beat d ggedly d wn
. o o

th ntre o f the Chi na Sea to th e N r

e ce unas agai nst ligh t so uth w te ly i a -
es r a rs

and str n g curre nt

a o .

July z3 —A t 8 a m tacke d ff s uth east nd of Great N atun ( C pt i n

. .
, o o -
e a. a a

M di th ough f vourably pla d f g i ng th rough th e A pi Pas age nd

oo e, a ce or o s a

w ki ng th e la nd breezes o ff th e B rne C ast preferre d to go b tw n

or o o o ,
e ee

the N atunas .
)
July 24 -
l w a hard gal e fro m w
Be e st fo r two or t ree h h ou rs and Cutty
So rt had to b e sh ortene d d o wn t l w o o er to ps il s and foresail
a .
3 08 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
July 2 5—7 p m passed D i ti n I l nd .
p m o v h ul e d nd
.
, re c o s a . . .
, er a a

p d t amer (C ptai n M di
a sse a s e ific d th r d ay g i ng r und by the
. a oo e sac r e ee s o o

K m t P
a ra ge i nstead of cutti ng th r ugh G p r S tr i t )
a a assa o as a a .

A ugu t 1—N o rth W tch e r W by S 6 m il es

s a . . .

A ugust 2 —9 a m a b oat f m A nj m bo ard—sent l tte s t b e

. .
, ro er ca e a e r o

p st d N n St N ich l P int b S by E 8 miles ( During the

o e . oo , . o as o o re . . .

pas g d w n the Chin Se Cutty S rk had had to co nt nd again t 7 2 8 mil s

sa e o a a a e s e

of n th e t ly current )
or -
as er

A ugu t 7 to ro —
.

D ily runs w 303 3 1 1 320 nd 3 14 mil

s Cutty
a e re , , a es.

S kh d
ar rri d
a w y so m ny tun il b ms th t from the 7 th sh h d to
ca e a a a s sa s oo a e a

g f o me d ys wi th out stun il
o r so a sa s.

A ugust 1 6— Passe d M uri ti u

A ugu t 8—
a s.

Ro und ed the C p f G d H p in a stro ng g l f m N N W

S p t mb e r 8 —
s 2 a e o oo o e a e ro . . .

e At e m w S t H l n bearing N N W a. sa a

S p t mb r 8 16—
. . e e . . .

e V ry ligh t S E t d
e e e ra

S p t mb r 1 2 —
-
. . e s.

e 10 p m
e pa s d As nsi n 4 miles 0 5
e s e ce o

S pt mbe r 16—Cr sse d th e q u t r

. . .
,

e e o

S p t mb r 16 24—
e a o .

e eDo ldrum w th
e -
ea e r.

S p t mb r 2 4—To o k N E t d in 1 4 50 'N 2 6 1 2 ' W

° °
e e e . . ra es . , .

S p t mb r 2 8 Lo st N E t d
e e e -
ra e s.

S p t mb r 2 9 t O tobe r s—
. .

C lm nd ligh t i r to 35 N 33 W
° '
e e e o

O t b r 9—45 28 N 18 35 'W Wi nd w st to N W M tly t ng

c a s a a s .

' ' ° “
c o e . s e . . os s ro

b ut v y un t dy b th in f r e nd di r ti n
er s ea Ship is so me tim
o g i ng v r o c a ec o . es o o e

14 k n t t o th r bar ly 10 k n t
o s, a All p o rt studdi ng sail s
e s t nd t h e o s. - se a e

b k n m t nd y rds st nd p e tty tilf t it

ro e as s a a a r s
’
o
”

O t b r 10 —Str ng w est rly g l wi th ugly s a ; ship taking w t t

.

c o e o e a e e a er a

b th nd t n
o e R un 2 90 mil
s a o ce .

O t b r l z—A t 9 30 p m B chy H d N N E 10 miles Bl wi ng h rd

e s.

c o e . . .
, ea ea . . . . o a

fro m W
O t be 13—A t
.

c o m n h
r d in a. .
, a c o re th e Do wns , as it was bl wing o to o
h d t b bl t t w
ar o e a e o o .

Ti m b tw n di ffer nt Po i nt
es e ee e s

S h ngh ai t A nj r a o e
38 dy a s

A nj er to Maurit i u s I4 n

M uri tius to the C p a a e 12

Th C p t S t H l n e a e o . e e a 11
St H lena t A s n i n . e o ce s o 4
As en i n t the Eq u t r c s o o a o
4
E q u to r to C pe V e d a a r
9
C p V rd to Weste n I l a e e r s es 11
W stern I sl s to Gr v nd e e a ese
7

1 10 days fr m Sh ngh i o a a ,

7 2 from A nj r e .

will b e n o tice d that the b e st passage s o f the

we re mad e by the late starte rs who had ,
 3 10 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
O f th e s e pe rhaps the w o rst a re the ma nkille rs
,
“
,

ships which with out e v e r running int o t ro ubl e

,

th e ms e lv e s ne v e r arriv e at the e nd o f a passage

,

with o ut having l o st me n in s o m e way o r o th e r ,

s o m e tim e s by b e i ng wash e d o v e rb o ard at o th e rs by ,

falli ng fro m al o ft o r e v e n b y th e wh o l e sal e s c o urge

o f s o m e s t ra ng e dis e as e unk no w n t o t he m e dical

p ro fe s s i o n.

O th e r s hips gai n a bad nam e fo r e xpe ri

e nc in
g e v e rlas t i ng h e ad wind s gal e s o r calms ; fo r ,

c o lli s i o ns s tra ndings fi re s o r running fo ul o f ic e ;

, , ,

fo r a c ro o ke d di s p o siti o n o f s o m e s o rt o r o th e r such ,

a s b re aki ng th e i r sh e e r a nd l o s i ng a n ch o rs re fusi ng ,

t o ma noe uv re o r s t e e r o n o cca s i o ns as if th e y had

s udd e n fi ts o f th e s ulk s o r ca rryi ng away spa rs a nd

,

l o s i ng s ails wi th o ut a n appa re nt re as o n But .

o ccas i o nally o n e c o m e s ac ro s s a ship which is

unl ucky in all th e s e va ri o us way s a nd th e n o ne ma
y
t ruly spe ak o f h e r a s
Bu til i ’
th
’
ec lip igg d wi th
se a nd r e c urses d rka .

A nd pe rhaps no s hip e v e r d e s e rv e d thi s d e sc ripti o n

m o re than the te a clipp e r B la ck A dde r .

S o pl e as e d was C a ptai n jo h n Willi s with h is

wo nd e rful Tweed that h e was no t c o nte nt to build
th e Cutty S a ré o n h e r li ne s b ut also m us t ne e ds ,

o rd e r t wo i ro n si s t e r clipp e rs t o b e b uilt with the

sam e und e r wate r b o dy as h is favo urite

-
.

Th e s e w e re th e B lack A dde r a nd H a llowe en the ’

lat t e r o f which s t ra nge ly e no ugh was as l ucky as

, ,
 TH E C H N A C I LIPPE RS 3 11

the fo rm e r was unl ucky th o ugh th e two ships we re

,

b uilt sid e by sid e o n the Lo nd o n R iv e r by M e ss rs .

Maudsl e y S o ns
, Fi e ld fro m li ne s take n o ff t he
,

Tweed by M e ss rs R ithe rdo n and Th o mpso n the

.
,

surv e yo rs t o the E ast I ndia Co uncil .

I n appe ara nce ab o v e t h e wat e rli ne th e y bo re

v e ry littl e re s e mblance t o Cutty S ark a nd had the ,

usual i ro n ship s t o pgalla n t fo c s l e a nd sh o rt turtl e

’ ’ ’

backe d p o o p .

The fo ll o wi ng c o mpari s o n o f th e i r m e asure m e nts

will th e re fo re b e o f i nt e re s t
U nde r
N e t.
To ns
G ross
To ns
D
ec k Length . Depth .

To nnage
. .
.

92 1 963 892 2 12 3

9 17 9 70 87 a 2 16 6
9 20 873 2 16 6

U n fo rt unat e ly Mauds l e y
, Co at that t im e .

had had m o re e xp e ri e nc e in mari ne e ngi ne e ri ng

than in actual s hipb uilding and this fact had ,

und o ubt e dly a g o o d d e al t o do with B lack A dder s

’

e arly mis fo rt un e s Th e co n tract fo r th e buildi ng o f

.

B lack A dder was sign e d at th e e nd of J une 1 8 6 9 , ,

a nd s he was launch e d in Ma rch 1 8 7 0 having b e e n , ,

'
b uilt to t he highe st re q ui re m e nts at Ll o yd s fo r i ro n
ships, with all scantli ngs and mate rial s o f t he
be st and a co mpl e t e East I ndia o utfit fo r a full
ri g e d ship
g .

The fi rs t e vil o m e n in B lack A dde r s li fe was th e

’

s mall i nsignificant fact that h e r s e c o nd mat e on ,

3 12 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
l e aving h is h o m e in L im e h o us e t o j o i n the ship
aft e r h e r launch fo und that h e had l e ft his purs e
,

b e hi nd a nd turne d back t o ge t it A nd h e was .

’
g re e t e d at th e d o o r by h is m o th e r a s ailo r s ,

daughte r a nd s ail o r s wi fe with th e s e w o rds Yo u “

’

s h o uld ne v e r hav e t urn e d back That s hip will .

"
ne v e r b e l ucky . N o p ro ph e cy e v e r pro ve d
m o re t rue .

Th e y b e gan t o l o ad th e B lack A dder b e fo re the

mas ts w e re in h e r o r e v e n a mate appo i nt e d s o thi s ,

sam e s e co nd mate a b o y o nly j ust o ut o f his time

, ,

had to ke e p o ne e ye o n th e ca rgo tallyi ng and the

o th e r o n t h e rigg e rs Th e to pmas ts w e re ha rdly o n
.

e nd a nd th e ba c k s tay s s e t u b e fo re o ld jo h n Willi s
p
cam e al o ng a nd no t ice d that th e back s tay s we re
s lack ,upo n which h e imm e diat e ly ca m e t o t he

c o nclus i o n that th e y c o uld no t hav e b e e n pro pe rly

se t u
p a nd l e t ti ng l o o s e s o m e o f t he la ng uage fo r
,

which h e was c e l e b rat e d h e o rd e re d the s e co nd

,

mat e to s e e that t h e rigge rs se t th e m up taut The .

yo ung o ffic e r re pli e d with e q ual h e at that as he

was tallyi ng at t wo hatch e s a t o nc e h e c o uld ha rdly
b e re s po ns ibl e fo r t he rigg e rs w o rk U p o n which
’
.

Willi s thund e re d tha t h e was no us e as an o ffice r

unl e s s h e c o uld s upe ri nte nd th re e o r fo ur th i ngs at

o nc e . Thi s p ut th e s e c o nd mate s back up and ’

c lappi ng o n a l uff t ac kl e h e s o o n had th o s e back

,

s tay s a s t a ut as h a rp st rin s
g .

O n th e fo ll o wi ng m o rn i ng Captai n jo h n again
3 14 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
fe e t l o ng and h e r o th e r yard s in p ro po rti o n up to a
mai n s kys ail a nd thi s m e a nt a h e avy s trai n o n the
,

d e fe ctiv e w o rk Captai n Campb e ll the rigge r was

.
, ,

e vid e ntly v e ry dist rus t ful o f th e make shi ft as he ,

cauti o ne d the t wo m at e s with t he s e wo rds Yo u ,

“

a re b o th y o ung m e n b e v e ry ca re ful
, .

The unl ucky B la ck A dder was no t t o ge t away

fro m L o nd o n with o ut furth e r t ro ubl e ; i nd e e d she ,

had a narro w e s cape o f b e i ng s unk in d o ck Wh e n .

s h e wa s ne a rly l o ad e d th e s e c o nd mate happ e ne d to

b e go ing ro und t he aft e r h o ld wh e n h e no tic ed

daylight co mi ng in ro und th e flang e o f a pip e which
wa s o nly 6 i n ch e s ab o v e t he wat e r O n e xami na .

ti o n it was fo und that t h e re was ne arly 3; inch cl ear

s pac e ro un d t h e fla ng e a nd s h e had t o b e t ripp e d
,

by th e h e ad b e fo re this c o uld b e put right .

A t las t t h e s hip s ail e d a nd sh e was no s o o ne r at

,

s e a than s h e k e p t h e r c re w c o ns ta ntly b us y s e t ti ng

up h e r to pma s t a nd to pgallant backs t ays until , ,

wh e n th e y w e re l o s i ng t he S E t rad e s wi th the . .

”
ro a ri ng fo rti e s cl o s e ah e ad th e y to o k t he pre
“
,

cauti o n o f putt i ng th e s t re am chai n und e r th e he e l

o f t h e mai n t o p m as t which was t he w o rs t o f the
,

t h re e an d o v e r th e h e ad o f t h e l o w e r m a s t
, But in .

s pit e o f t hi s t h e fi rs t bit o f a bl o w s h o w e d that the

,

t ro ubl e al o ft was v e ry s e ri o us .

H o w e v e r B lack A dder was as unl ucky in he r

,

cap ta i n as in e v e rythi ng e ls e fo r t ho ugh th e riv e ts

,

th ro ugh the ch e e ks o n th e mai n we re all slack e ning

 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS 3 15

up he wo uld do n o thi ng e xce pt s e nd the skysail yard

d o wn o n d e ck The ca rpe nt e r wante d to b o re a
.

h o l e th ro ugh the ch e e ks and put th e wi nch handl e

th ro ugh it b ut this the s e ns e l e s s s kippe r wo uld no t
,

h e ar o f The mai n to pgallant mas t sho uld al so

.

hav e b e e n s e nt d o wn .

B lack A dder s fi rst bl o w was no t v e ry s e v e re b ut

’

it ne c e ssitate d e xtra chain lashi ngs al o ft A nd t he n .

a s e ve re gal e o v e rt o o k h e r a nd s he had to b e laid ,

to th e wi n d und e r a mai n l o w e r to psail .

That n ight in th e fi rst watch th e ste e ri ng ge a r

, ,

w e nt w ro ng and had t o b e re m e di e d Th e n j us t .

b e fo re e ight b e lls ( mid night) t he fo o l h e ad e d s kippe r

,
-

cam e o n d e ck and fo und that the wi nd had fa ll e n

away a nd s hi fte d a fe w po i nts up o n which he ,

o rd e re d t he j ib to b e s e t a nd all hand s t o b e call e d

fo r w e a ri ng ship Thi s c o nsid e ri ng t he s tat e o f

.
,

thi ngs alo ft wa s a m o st fo o lish a nd ri s ky m a nm uv re

, ,

and it s h o uld hav e b e e n e vid e nt to the m o s t

i ne xpe ri e nc e d that wi th no sail o n he r to s te ady
he r sh e was go ing t o ro ll badly as s o o n as sh e go t
be fo re the s e a H o w e ve r t he o ld man was in such
.
,

a h urry to fall o ut o f t he fryi ng pan i nto the fire that

he o rd e re d the h e lm t o b e put up be fo re t he watch
be lo w re ach e d the d e ck I n sq uari ng t he mai nyard
.

the y o ung s e c o nd mat e wh o s e watch it was a nd

, ,

who fully re alis e d t he da ng e r was ca re ful t o s lac k ,

away inch by i nch s o as no t to give the ya rd any

,

lay in spite o f t he fact that his captai n wa s g ro wl

“

p ,
3 16 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
ing at th e s l o wne s s wi th which th e y we re s q ua ring
t h e ya rd Th e s e co nd mat e h o we v e r paid no h ee d
.
, ,

t o his captain b ut k e pt his e y e s gl ue d o n th e B lack

,

A dder s mai nt o p Th e n a s the wi nd cam e aft the

’
.

e xp e c t e d happ e n e d Th e re was a flash o f fire al o ft

. .

Th e chai ns had part e d ! I n a m o m e nt the ch e e ks

fe ll ad ri ft fro m th e mas t an d d o wn fe ll t h e l o we r
,

riggi ng in a bight Witho ut its s uppo rt the

.

mai nmas t b e gan to h e e l at a gre at e r angl e o n e v e ry

o mi n o us w o rd
"
ro ll a nd t h e S t and cl e ar a nd
“
,
s
”
L o o k o ut fo r y o urs e lv e s ra n al o ng t h e lin e o f
“

me n at the b rac e s .

A t thi s m o m e nt t he m a t e app e a re d o n d e ck a nd , ,

t aki ng in th e s i t ua t i o n at a gla nc e s a ng o ut ,

G e t a n a xe a nd n ick t h e m as t .

”
I t s n ick e d ri ght e no ugh
’
co o lly re pli e d t he ,

s e c o nd mat e A nd s ure e no ugh it was N o t be i ng

. .

w e dge d in th e part ne rs at th e mai n d e ck the mas t ,

wa s b uckli ng b e l o w in t h e t w e e n d e ck s ; a nd as it
’

h e e l e d furth e r a nd furth e r it b urs t up t he mai n d e ck ,

a nd s mas h e d so me cas e s o f glass which we re ,

s to we d ro un d it wi th a t re m e nd o us c ra shi ng
, Thi s .

c o nt i nue d fo r a fe w m i nut e s with the s hip ro lli ng ,

h e avily in th e tro ugh o f t he s e a Th e n the mas t .

,

hangi ng a t a n angl e o f 4 5 d e g re es o v e r h e r po rt
s id e s e e m e d t o
, s te ady h e r a li t t l e a nd t h e c re w ,

v e nt ure d t o ge t ax e s to c ut away t he lanyard s ;

b ut b e fo re th e y c o uld us e t h e m a n e x t ra big ro ll e r
c am e al o ng a nd s e nt t he mas t right o v e r he r
3 18 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
be att e nd e d to the part o f the miz e n l o w e r mast ,

which lay ac ro ss th e po o p had t o b e go t rid o f and

, ,

a t t h e s am e t im e t he fo re ma s t— which havi ng all ,

s ail furl e d and b e i ng re li e v e d o f t h e w e ight o f the

mai n b rac e s upp e r s tays e tc was saggi ng fo rward

, , .
,

wi th its sh ro ud s all s lack— had to b e sav e d fro m

fo ll o wi ng aft e r t h e mai n a nd miz e n ma s ts The .

mate and his watch at o nc e s e t abo ut swi fti ng in the

fo re riggi ng whil s t t h e s ta rb o a rd c ro wd und e rto o k
,

th e dang e ro us w o rk o f c utting t h e miz e n ad ri ft and ,

th e ca rp e nt e r go t up s o m e s ail s a nd s p re ad th e m

o v e r t h e h o l e mad e wh e n t h e d e ck was b urst u

p .

A ll thi s tim e th e s e as w e re p o uri ng o v e r all a nd

d o wn i nt o th e h o ld a nd thi s so unn e rv e d the o ld
,
“

ma n t hat h e di s app e a re d b e l o w and was no t s e e n

agai n until late ne xt day H o we v e r t he mate
.
,

s ucce e d e d in s avi ng th e fo re mas t a nd the s e co nd ,

mate in c l e a ri ng away th e w re ck o f the miz e n ,

t h o ugh t h e m as t t h re at e ne d t o ro ll o v e r t h e s e c o nd

mate a nd a hand wh o had th e cutti ng away o f the

,

s tarb o a rd la nya rd s t h e t wo j us t m anagi ng t o vault

,

c l e a r as it w e n t o v e r t h e s id e .

Th e B la ck A dde r was th e n put b e fo re th e wi nd ,

wh il s t t he two mate s re ti re d fo r a s m o k e to di s cuss

th e i r ne xt pro c e e di ngs B o th th e fo re t o ps ail yards
.

had b e e n b ro k e n at the t ie by t he w e ight o f the

mai n b rac e s wh e n th e mainmast w e nt and the fo re ,

t o pgallant a nd ro yal ya rds w e re all ad ri ft H o we ve r .

,

it was imp o ssibl e t o do any w o rk al o ft until daylight .

 TH E CH I N A C LIPPE RS 3 19

I t was als o fo und that th e w re ck o f th e miz e n had

k no ck e d a big h o l e und e r he r q ua rt e r .

A s so o n as it was light e no ugh to s ee th e s e c o nd ,

’ ’
mate and bo s n with fo ur ha nds clambe re d al o ft ,

th e s e co nd mat e atte n di ng t o th e t o psail ya rds and

t he b o s n t o t h e t o pgalla nt Thi s was a m o st

’ ’
.

t icklish and di ffic ult b usin e ss fo r th e me n had all ,

t h e y k ne w t o hang o n fo r t h e ma s t was s o i ns e c ure ly

,

staye d that o n o ne ro ll the rigging fe ll in bights to

l e e ward o nly t o taute n o n the re turn ro ll with a j e rk
,

like that o f a gigantic catapult which did its be st to ,

sho o t the me n o ff i nto th e s e a A ma s t ro pe was .

o t al ft a nd ro v e b ut th e y w e re a fraid t o h o i s t th e
g o ,

l o w e r yards cl e ar o f the stays fo r fe ar o f b ri nging

t h e wh o l e mast d o wn so in o rd e r t o l o we r t he,

b ro ke n ya rdarm s to th e d e ck the y had to c ut

th ro ugh th e i ro n jackstays a nd the s ails th e mse lve s .

A t last at 2 p m t he t o psail yard s a n d t o pgallan t

, . .
,

yard w e re s afe ly lan d e d o n d e ck afte r a m o s t

a rd uo us a nd dange ro us m o rnin
g s w o rk
’
.

Two m e n w e re n e xt s e nt up t o s e nd d o wn t he
ro yal ya rd a ve ry nasty jo b which o ne o f t he m
, , ,

A nd e rs e n a S w e d e was v e ry l o ath t o tackl e ; b ut

, ,

the o th e r a na t iv e o f D e al nam e d S t e v e ns call e d

, , ,

o ut h e a rtily Co m e al o ng mat e and up the y

“
, , ,

we nt U nfo rtunat e ly th e y fo rg o t to put a guy o n

.
,

th e yard b e fo re unpare lling and as s o o n as the ya rd ,

was fre e d it fl e w away fro m th e mas th e ad at a g re at

angl e Be l o w th e re was a ge n e ral c ry o f S tand
.
“
3 20 TH E C H INA C LI PPE R S
fro m d
un e r ! M e anwhil e o f th e two me n alo ft, ,

A nd e rs e n wa s cl e a r b ut S t e v e ns was still at the

,

t o pgallan t masth e ad a nd h e o nly j ust had tim e to

,

s lid e d o w n t h e ma s t a nd
ge t o n t h e t o pmas t cap
wh e n t he mast b ro k e 2 fe e t ab o v e him and by a
mi racl e cl e a re d him .

The B lack A dder was no w fai rly dismantl e d ,

havi ng no thi ng l e ft al o ft b ut the fo re yard She .

was 2 0 0 0 m il e s fro m th e Cap e a nd 1 5 0 0 fro m Rio ,

s o a s t h e wi nd was s o uth e rly a nd s h e had a big h o l e

in h e r q ua rt e r he r h e ad was turn e d t o wa rds Rio .

Two j ury mas ts w e re rigg e d a nd a to pmast ,

s tuns ail a nd a s tay s ail s e t o n e ach Th e n the fo re .

t o pgallant ya rd was lash e d t o the fo re t o pmast and ,

t h e s ky s ail ya rd which had l uckily b e e n s e nt d o wn

,

o n d e ck b e fo re t h e di s ma s ti ng was lash e d t o the ,

s tump o f the to pgalla nt mast A nd wi th the se .

th re e s ails fo rward the y we re abl e to s e t a to pmas t

a nd l o w e r s tuns ail .

But by the tim e the j ury rig was in w o rki ng

o rd e r— t h re e day s t o b e e xac t — t h e wi nd shi ft e d
,

a nd c a m e o ut o f t h e w e st s o it was d e cid e d t o run

,

fo r S i m o n s Bay
’
A t this the c re w re fus e d d uty
.
,

s ayi ng t hat t h e s hip wa s n o t in a fit c o nditi o n t o

go
n e a r t h e C ap e H o w e v e r a ft e r 1 2 h o urs re s t the y ’
.
,

t h o ught b e tt e r o f it a nd t urne d t o agai n .

O n he r way t o t he Cap e t h e B lack A dde r fe ll in

wi th th e S t M a ng o o f G l as go w at daybre ak o ne
.

m o rni ng . The B lack A dder had th e wi nd abe am ,

3 22 TH E C H N A I C LI PPE RS
wi th tap sc re ws i ns t e ad o f riv e ts and the unde r ,
~

w ri t e rs wo n the day Wh e re upo n jo h n Willis

.

w e n t fo r th e b uild e rs a nd lawsuits o ve r th e unl ucky

,

s hip d ragged o n fo r 1 8 m o nth s .

B lack A dder s inc o mp e t e nt captai n was at o nce

’

discharg e d o n he r arrival ho m e a nd re place d by

Captai n M o o re a v e ry e xp e ri e nc e d ma n in the
,

Chi na t rad e . H e t o o k h e r o ut t o S hanghai a nd ,

b ro ught h e r h o m e fro m Fo o ch o w in 1 2 3 days ; it

was a l ucky v o yage fo r t he b e witch e d s hip as she ,

o nly had o ne c o lli s i o n in which s h e l o s t h e r miz e n

to pgallant mas t .

Mo o re the n l e ft h e r t o take o ve r th e Cutty S tark

a nd was s uc c e e d e d by S a m B i s s e t wh o had b e e n ,

mat e o f h e r o n h e r fi rs t v o yage H e to o k he r o ut .

t o S yd ne y a nd t h e n l o ad e d c o al fo r Shanghai
, In .

c ro ss i ng the Pacific B lack A dder ra n i nt o a

,

t yph o o n a nd wa s t h ro w n o n h e r b e am e n d s Bi ss e t .

c ut away th e m a i n a nd miz e n m a s t s b ut s h e w o uld ,

no t right h e rs e l f a nd it was t h e n fo und that t h e c o al

had s hi ft e d H o w e ve r aft e r gre at e x e rt i o ns the

.
, ,

c o al was t ri m m e d o v e r a nd s h e man ag e d t o s t ruggl e

i nto S hanghai A ft e r he r l o s t m asts a nd s pars had
.

a gai n b e e n re plac e d with s m all e r o n e s s h e we nt to ,

l l o il o a nd l o ad e d fo r B o s to n .

B lack A dde r l e ft l l o il o o n 2 2 nd O ct o b e r 1 8 7 3 , ,

'
in c o mp a ny wi th th e A léy rz s I sle a ba rque which ,

was b o un d t o M e lb o urne Wi th the N E m o nso on

. . .

a ppa re n tly fi rmly s e t in t h e t wo v e s s e ls s te e re d t o

,
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 3 23

t the Chi na S e a by th e B alabac S t rait Two

e n er .

days o ut h o we v e r wh e n o ff th e S t M ich e l s
, , .
’

I sland the wi nd shi fte d t o th e w e s twa rd and th e y

, ,

had t o wo rk t o ward s B alabac agai nst a s tro ng S E . .

curre nt in light ai rs calms and s udd e n squalls , .

Th e y did no t re ach Ba ngue y I s la nd until 2 nd

N o ve mb e r wh e n bo th v e ss e l s anch o re d fo r th e
,

night Th e y go t und e rwe igh agai n at daylight o n

.

th e 3 rd b ut c o uld mak e ve ry littl e h e adway agai n st

,

th e st ro ng e ast e rly c urre nt Th e wi nd cam e in .

s qualls fro m S W with t o rre n ts o f rai n and thick

. .

c l o udy w e ath e r .

A b o ut 4 p m B lack A dder s t uck o n a n unchart e d

. .

re e f— wh e re t h e re s h o uld hav e b e e n
3 0 fath o ms o f
wat e r— and b e gan to po und h e avily o n the ro cky
b o tto m C aptai n B i s s e t at o nc e be ga n th ro wing
.

c a rgo o v e rb o a rd in o rd e r t o light e n t h e v e ss e l b ut ,

finding this with o ut avail at l e ngth t rans fe rre d his

c re w to t he A lbyn s I s le which had run d o wn to b e
’

o f as s ista nc e But no s o o ne r w e re B lack A dder s

’
.

c re w ab o a rd t h e ba rq ue b e fo re a s q uall o ff t he la nd
,

t o o k fh e st rand e d ship full aback and back e d h e r ,

o ff t he re e f a nd away s h e w e nt as if st e e re d by
,

s o m e d em o n I t t o o k th e A llyn s I s le 4 h o urs t o
’
.

c atch he r in o rd e r t o ut C aptai n B i s s e t a nd his

p
c re w ab o a rd L uc kily o wing t o th e e xt ra st re ngth
.

o f h e r i ro n plat e s B lack A dder s us t ain e d no inj ury

fro m h e r p o unding b ut he r b o t to m was v e ry fo ul

,

a nd sh e mad e a t e rribly l o ng passag e t o B o sto n .

3 24 TH E C H I N A C LIP PE R S

On he r fo urth vo yage a Captain White t ri e d his ,

hand a t he r a nd s o o n fo und what he was in fo r as ,

she b ro ke he r Wi ndlass wh e n anch o re d o ff the

N o rth Fo re land and n e a rly kill e d he r ne w maste r
b e sid e s l o sing he r anch o r and chain .

A nd so she we n t o n always j ust esc aping ,

d e structi o n in s pite o f num e ro us mishaps Afte r .

he r fatal vo yage s in the Chi n a trad e Willis put he r ,

into the S ydne y trade whe re s he was we ll kno wn ,

fo r many ye a rs Finally in the nin e ti e s wh en

.
,

Willis s fl ee t we re s o ld she w e nt to the N o rwegians

’

and o nly disapp e are d fro m the re giste r about

e i ht y e ars a o
g g .

”
Hallo we ’
e n.

Whilst
J o h n Willi s dispute d in the Law
Co urts with und e rwrit e rs a nd build e rs Black ,

A dder s sist e r ship H a llowe en lay finish ed b ut no t

’ ’

, , ,
’

de live re d fo r it wa s no t un til t he final laws uit had

,

b e e n s e ttl e d that she wa s hand e d o ve r The n .

,

having l o ade d fo r S yd ne y she se t sail in charge o f ,

Captain Watt o f Pe te rh e ad ; b ut to e ve ryo ne s

’
,

surpris e she put back fro m the Chapman it be ing

, ,

all ege d that she was l e aki ng badly and that the
pilo t D addy D ain e s had re fus e d to pro c e e d in
, ,

spite o f all th e impo rtuniti e s o f th e furi o us captain ,

who sc o ffe d at t he v e ry id e a o f putti ng back fo r a

littl e wate r in the w e ll .

H allowe en was re d o ck e d and the ca rgo take n

’
-

o ut ,wh e n it was fo und that whil e s he had lain

3 26 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
and miz e n rak e d a ft Th is gav e m o re spre ad
th e .

to h e r v e ry big s ail pla n and k e pt h e r sail s fro m

,

blank e ti ng e ach o th e r which is o ne o f the d raw

,

backs wh e n all th re e mas t s a re rak e d alik e .

H a llowe en tho ugh s he so cl o s e ly re se mbl e d

’

Cutty S ark in he r und e rwat e r b o dy n e v e r was ,

abl e to mak e such big 2 4 h o ur runs as the -

co mpo site clipp e r t ho ugh sh e was an e xce e dingly

,

fast s hip all ro und in a nythi ng up t o a fre sh b re e ze .

S h e was al s o a v e ry dry s hip and a go o d se a

bo at a nd und e r Captai n Watt made passage s bo th
,

in th e A ustralian and China runs which have

ne v e r b e e n e xc e ll e d .

“ ”
Lo th air .

Th e last o ut - a nd- o ut
c o mp o sit e te a clippe r
'

o f t he typ e o f A rzel to b e b uilt was th e b e auti ful

littl e L otha ir S he h o we ve r k e pt mo stly to the

.
, ,

J apan and Man ila trad e and as a rul e we nt to N e w

,

Yo rk i ns t e ad o f L o nd o n s o that c o mi ng o n the,

sce n e s o late in t he day a nd rare ly j o i ni ng in wi th

the c rack s hips which go t the fi rst L o nd o n t e as s he ,

has b e e n rath e r o v e rl o o ke d wh e n the re co rds o f the

t e a clipp e rs hav e b e e n sp o k e n ab o ut .

H o we ve r with re gard to he r s p e e d he re is the

, ,

te stim o ny o f a n A m e rican skippe r who was o nce ,

a w e ll k no wn pas sage make r in the A m e rican

-

Cap e H o rn t rad e
Th e fas te st ship I think that e ve r l e ft the ways
, ,

was the L oth air I ll t e ll yo u what happ e ne d to

.
’
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 3 27

me nc e : I was s e c o nd mat e o f a N e wbury Po rt

o

s hip and we we re runni ng o ur e a s ti ng d o wn b o und

o ut t o C ant o n and w e re s o m e wh e re ne ar Tristan

,

’
d Ac unha wh e n we s ight e d a v e ss e l aste rn
, I t was .

blo wi ng hard fro m the n o r we st a nd the ne x t tim e ’

I l o o ke d a c o upl e o f h o urs lat e r th e re was t h e s hip ,

cl o s e o n o ur q uart e r and we d o i ng 1 2 k no ts , .

‘
H o ly jigge rs says I t o the mate th e re s the
,
’

,
‘ ’

Fly ing D nte/mzan

’
.

'
‘
No , it s th e Tke rm opylae
’
s ay s he But ‘
.
’

wh e n sh e was ab e am a li t tl e lat e r s he h o i s t e d he r ,

'

nam e the L ollza zr a nd it s b e e n my o pi ni o n e ve r

, ,
’

si nc e that s h e was maki ng cl o s e t o 1 7 kno ts .

'

L ik e H a llowe en h o w e v e r L otlza zr was re ally at

’

, ,

he r b e st in light winds wh e n e v e n Taep ing o r ,

A riel w o uld hav e fo und he r a to ugh nut t o c rack ,

b ut in h e avy w e ath e r sh e wa s no t large o r p o w e rful

e n o ugh t o e q ual t h e re c o rds o f Cutty S a rk .

S he was v e ry h e avily s pa rre d c ro ss i ng a main ,

skysail and und e r s uch hard d riv e rs as Cap tains

,

O rchard and To m B o ult o n s he mad e s o m e spl e ndid

passag e s in th e N e w Y o rk t rad e .

O utward P a ssage s in 187 0-4 1 .

tward passag e to China in the

The b e s t ou

winte r o f 1 8 7 0 7 1 wa s mad e by th e Cutty S a rk

-
,

the fo ll o wi ng b e ing an abst ract fro m h e r lo g

v mb r 10—
No e 3 m e p s e d th r ugh th
a. D w ns 2 p m
.
,
ign ll d S t
a s o e o . . .
, s a e .

Cath iner 9 p m
e s.
’
S t rt P i nt n rth 8 mil s wi nd n rt h m d er t
a o o e o o a e.

N v mbe r zg—
.
,

qu t r in 2 5 W 19 d y ut
.

C r ss d th
'
e e e a o a s o

D ecember l 7 —Cr sse d m ridi n f Gr nwich in 4 1 42 S ; 37 d ys o ut

o e o . .

° ’
o e a o ee . a .
3 28 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
D c mb r l g R un 3 20 Str ng n rth ly b
e e e - . o o er re e ze .

D mb z r—C se d m ridi n f th C p in 43 50 S ; 4 ! d ys ut
e ce er ro s e a o e a e
° ’
. a o .

D mb r 2 3 —
e ce R un 3 1 8 St ng S W br z
e . ro . . ee e .

D mb 3 I R un 326 Str ng n th erly b ee e

ece er -
o or r z

J nu ry 20—5 m igh t d S nd lw d I l nd
. .

a. s e a a oo s a

J nu y 2 4—I n O mb y P g in mp ny with Tit ni nd Td ping

a a .
,
.

a ar a assa e co a a a a e .

( Tit n i l ft L nd n 2 7 th Oc t b r nd T ping 17 th O c t b r )
a a e o o o e a ae o e .

J nu ry 128 —A m d r t br
a a igh t d wn the M nip S tr i t At 4 m
o e a e e e ze r o a a a . a . .

a h vy thund r qu ll wh n just in th n r w st p rt f th Str i t N ight

ea e s a e e a ro e a o e a .

pit hy d k nd with th d k n s nd lightni ng it w i mp ibl t

c ar a e ny ar es a as oss e o see a

thi ng H ve t until d yligh t

. o At 6
-
o m T p ing in igh t nd A m i n a . a . . ae s a e r ca

c lipp S u pri N w Y rk t Sh ngh i 9 5 d y

er r se, eN n Tit ni m o o a a a s . oo , a a ca e

th ugh th S tr i t wi th
ro f i wi nd whil t Cutty S rk l y b
e a l m d ut ide
a a r s a a ec a e o s .

J nu y 2 9—B ffiing i r nd l m Tit n i nd T pi g in mp ny t

a ar a a s a ca s. a a a ae n co a o

ea stw d S u p i ut f sigh t t n
ar . r r se o o as e r .

J nu y 30 Tit ni nd T ping in mp ny l t h nd
’

a ar a ( Ju t ft
a a ae co a c ose a a . s a er

n on C pt i n M
o di w nt n b d Tit n i nd turn d t
a a oo e p m with e o o ar a a a re e a . .

C pt i n D wdy wh
a a tu n d t h i hip t 3 30 p m )
o , o re r e o s s a . . .

J nu ry 3 l —F int i r nd lm Tit ni nd T p ing f w mil ff

a a a a s a ca s. a a a ae a e es o .

F b u ry I —N t
e r a br th f wi nd up t n n Tit ni T p i g nd
o a ea o o oo . a a, ae n a

Su p i in
r r se mp ny P M br co f m N W a Tit n i nd T ping
. . . ee ze ro . . a a a ae

d pp d ut f igh t
ro e t rn
o o s as e .

F b u y 2 —F i nt i r
e r ar Su p i till in i gh t a a s. r r se s s .

F b ru ry 4 —10
e m a n f n tiv m ff fr m N rth I l nd t
a . . , ca o es o a es ca e o o o s a o

t dra n ut nd m ll h ll f
e co c o a ld i n
s a s a s e s or o ro .

F b u y 5 —Fi t f N E m n
e r ar n U n ttl d nd q u lly
rs o . . o so o . se e a s a .

F bru y x3 —Squ lly

e ar F t p il ti b k whi h brk a
p n . o re o sa e ro e, c o e ca o

l w m th d
o er as ea

F b u y l 4—
.

e S t ng g l
r ar nd h d S plit m i n t pm st t y il nd
ro a e a ea se a . a o a s a sa a

br k m i n t p il ti Bl wi ng h d with n w t ti m
o e a o sa e . o ar s o a es.

F b u ry 1 6—4 p m g t
e r a pil t ; p m p d th light ss l ;
. .
, o a o . .
, a sse e ve e

p m. n h r d in th
. , a iv
c o e e r e r.

98 d y ut fro m L o nd n t Sh ngh i
a s o o o a a .

g re at rival Tnermopylae al s o did a

Cutty S a ré s
’

, ,

wo nd e rful pas s ag e o ut afte r a g re at race with ,

N o rma n Court Tne rmopy la e b e i ng b o und t o ,

M e lb o urne a nd N o rman Court to S hanghai .

I t was bitte rly co ld we athe r wh e n N orman Court

t o w e d d o w n th e Tham e s a nd o n 2 rd D e ce mb e r
3 ,

s h e ra n i nt o t h e D o w ns in a sn o w blizza rd havin
g ,

carri e d away he r mai n to pgallant yard a nd narro wly

330 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
o ut , arriv e d o ff S ulph ur I sl and ne ar the S addl e ,

G ro up 1 0 3 day s fro m th e D o w ns
,
H e re the .

w e ath e r gre w s o thick that Captai n S h e wan was

o blig e d t o h e av e t o But ab o ut 4 p m t he fo g
. . .

li ft e d and sh o w e d a ship c o mi ng up fro m the

s o uthard wi th s tunsails al o w and al o ft Thi s pro v ed .

to b e t he S ir L ance lo t which had s ail e d fro m,

L o nd o n a fo rt n ight b e fo re N o rma n Court The .

t wo s hips w e re s o o n cl o s e e no ugh to e xchange

s ig nal s b ut with n ight fall th e fo g cl o s e d d o wn again

, ,

a nd th e y w e re o blig e d t o s tand o ff s h o re to ge th e r .

N orma n Court h o w e v e r tack e d at mid night and

, , , ,

c rawli ng in with the l e ad pick e d up a pil o t and so , ,

go t i nt o S ha nghai a day ah e ad o f S ir L ancelot ,

which pe rfo rmanc e was c o ns id e re d a great fe athe r

in S h e wa n s c ap a nd mad e him th e h e ro o f the
’

h o ur a m o ngs t S ha nghai s hippi ng p e o pl e .

Te a P a ssa ge s of 187 1 .

O wi ng th e
sl ump in te a rate s and the
to ,

i nc re as i ng co mp e titi o n o f s t e am e rs us i ng th e S ue z
Ca nal th e clipp e r fl e e t was v e ry m uch s catte re d in
,

1 8 7 1 o nly thre e ship s o f a n

, y raci ng re no w n l o adi ng
a t Fo o ch o w whil s t the ve te rans Fiery Cross and
,

Fly ing Sp ur d e s e rte d t he L o nd o n t rad e fo r that o f

N e w Yo rk a nd l o ad e d in Y o ko hama S ir L a ncelot .
,

al s o and E me t o o k S hanghai te a to A m e rica ; a nd

,

B elted PVill which had b e e n faith ful to Whampo a

,

fo r s o l o ng w e nt to Man ila fo r a cargo

, Th e n .

Ka isow w e nt t o A m s te rdam fro m Batavia A nd .

 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S 33 1

oth e r c e l e b rate d ships such as L ea nder I/Vylo

, , ,

M ud/t owe r Taop ing and S e rica w e re all mis s ing

, , ,

fro m th e raci ng fl e e t o f which the chi e f

,

s ta rte rs w e re

Cap tain . Left . Arri vd e

Thermopy lae
Forwa rd H o

Tita n ia
M a it land
N orm an Court
L a h loo
Cutty S ark
A rie l

Tita nia wa s ,
co urs e the he ro i ne o f the ye a r
of , ,

a nd act ually pass e d Thermopylae be twe e n A nj e r

a nd th e Cha nn e l a p e rfo rman c e that Captain
,

D o wdy had a j us t right to b e pro ud o f .

Cut ty S a rk was again rath e r unl ucky with he r

wi nds and e xp e ri e nce d ve ry bad we ath e r ro undi ng
,

A gulhas . H o we v e r s h e mad e up tim e o n the las t

,

lap by running fro m the We s te rn I sle s to th e S tart

in 7 days o n o ne o f which 1 8 th S e pt e mb e r she
, , ,

made 3 2 3 mil e s in the 2 4 ho urs b e fo re a s tro ng

S W wind and h e avy se a
. . .

I t was the b e aut i ful A riel s last race as she was

’

p o ste d as missing wh e n o utward bo und in 1 8 7 2 the ,

ge n e ral b e li e f b e ing that she was badly po o pe d a nd

b ro ach e d t o wh e n run ning he r cas ting d o w n S he .

was always a ticklish v e ss e l to handl e e spe cially ,

wh e n runni ng h e avy o wing to he r fi ne n e ss a ft

, ,
 332 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
and that she b ro ach e d to and fo und e re d with all
hands s e e ms to b e the m o s t lik e ly e xpla nati o n
o f he r di s app e a ra nc e .

Th e China Tra de in 1872 .

Th e y e a r 1 8 7 2 was fatal to th re e o th e r
w e ll kn o w n clipp e rs
-
The o ld E llen R odg er was
.

w re ck e d in the J ava S e as Ya ngtze disapp ea re d ,

fro m th e re gist e r and L atiloo th ro ugh t he fault o f

, ,

h e r s e c o nd mat e was pil e d up o n S a ndalwo o d

,

I s la nd o n 3 o th J uly The ye ar h o w e ve r o p e ned

.
, ,

w e ll fo r th e Chi na clipp e rs Fre ights o n t he .

c o as t we re b o o mi ng a nd the rat e s fo r ric e fro m

,

S hanghai t o S wat o w a nd Whamp o a w e re alto ge th e r

ph e no m e nal in the e arly m o nth s o f t he y e ar I n .

t h e p re vi o us y e a r t h e clippe rs had b e e n carryi ng

ric e b e tw e e n t h e Chi ne s e p o rts at 1 2 c e nts a pical ,

b ut in J a nua ry a nd Fe b ruary 1 8 7 2 8 0 and 9 0 ce nts , ,

we re fre e ly paid .

Tita n ia a rrivi ng in Fe b ruary a fte r a quic k

,

pass ag e o ut did s o we ll that she was abl e to l e av e

,

fo r h o m e o n 2 sth May .

(I ncline h o w e v e r was th e l ucky ship o f the ye ar

, , .

S h e s e c ure d t h e re co rd rat e o f 1 0 2 c e nts a pical

fro m S ha nghai t o S wato w a nd th e n g e tti ng o n the, ,

be rth e arly l o ad e d te a at £4 I O S a nd o n the who l e

, .
,

v o yage all b ut cl e a re d h e r o wn val ue in p ro fit .

N o rma n Court arriving j ust at t he e nd o f the

,

high rate s succe e d e d in ge tti ng 40 c e nts a pical o r

,

3 2 s 6 d a to n fo r rice fro m S hanghai t o S wato w

. .

,
3 34 TH E C H I N A C LI PPE RS

C/zina ma n S ha nghai fo r N e w Y o rk ; a nd Flying

Sp ur and B lack P rin ce l e ft Fo o ch o w fo r N e w Y o rk .

N o rman Court di sti nguish e d h e rs e l f thi s y e ar no t ,

o nly by making th e b e st passag e h o m e b ut by ,

w e ath e ri ng o ut a ve ry s e v e re typh o o n in t he
Chi n a S e as .

”
“
N o rman C o urt in a Typ h o o n .

As al s h e t o o k h e r last 2 5 0 t o ns o f
us u ,

t e a ab o a rd a t Macao aft e r l o adi ng th e re s t at

,

Whampo a and o n 1 4th S e pte mbe r the last lighte r

,

cam e o ff b ut the wi nd was bl o wi ng so hard fro m

,

th e N E . and the s e a wa s s o ro ugh that it was

.

unabl e t o lie al o ngsid e H o we ve r it was bro ught.

,

un d e r th e N orman Co urt s le e a nd th e ch e sts ’

t o s s e d ab o a rd a nd ca ught by hand .

By 3 p m th e we ath e r had gro wn wo rse with

. .

h e avy squalls a nd the ag e nt who had c o m e abo ard

, ,

t o s ay g o o dby e a nd ge t th e bills o f ladi ng s igne d ,

had th e gre at e s t di fficulty in re gai n i ng the j unk .

which t o o k five h o urs putti ng him asho re and a

.

v e ry p e ril o us fiv e ho urs it wa s .

M e anwhil e th e N orman Co urt was fi ndi ng it no

,

e asy
jo b t o ge t h e r a ncho r wi th s uch a s tro ng
H o we ve r by 6 p m she had
’
n o r e a s t e r bl o wi ng
-
.
, . .

catte d it a nd s e tt i ng all s ail t o he r mai n ro yal sp ed

, , ,

a way d e ad b e fo re t h e wi nd at a t re m e nd o us pac e .

Th o ugh th e w e ath e r l o o k e d wild t he glas s had

n o t b e gun t o fall a nd no o ne a nticipat e d what was
,

c o mi ng But as s o o n a s she cl e are d t h e isla nds t h e

.
 TH E I
CH N A I
C L P PE R S 335

N or man Court nc o unte re d a nasty se a ro lli ng up

e

o n he r p o rt b e am O ld C aptain S h e wan wh o was

.
,

no t at all w e ll still
put his faith in th e glas s and
, , ,

l e avi ng t he ship in charge o f his so n we nt be l o w to ,

rest with t he usual re que st t o b e call e d if t h e re was

,

a ny change .

Y o ung S he wan l o st no tim e in pre paring fo r bad

we ath e r which in spit e o f the glass he b e li e v e d to
, , ,

b e c o mi ng The b o ats w e re go t in o ff th e s kids

.

a nd las h e d o n ch o cks t o t h e d e ck Ext ra lashi ngs .

we re put o n th e spare spars a nd e xt ra gaske ts al o ft .

The main ro yal so o n had t o co m e in A nd by .

midnight the w e ath e r was l o o king wilde r than e v e r ,

and a still m o re o mi n o us s ign t h e ba ro m e t e r had

, ,

begun t o fall .

A t e ight b e lls th e o ld man was call e d a nd aft e r , ,

o ne l o o k ro und h e t urn e d t o t h e mat e a nd s aid

,

“
We re in fo r it G e t th e sail o ff he r as quick
’
.

”
as yo u can .

Yo ung S h e wan b e gan with th e fo re s ail (th e

mai ns ail had n e v e r b ee n l o o s e d ) b ut by th e t im e ,

that was fast the upp e r to psails we re bl o wing

t o ribb o ns .

By fo ur be lls sail had b e e n re d uc e d t o a mai n

lo w e r to psail b ut the wi nd had incre as e d t o such an
,

e xte nt that t he mai n sail and o th e r sails in spite o

f ,

e xt ra g ask e ts we re bl o wing ad ri ft
,
U ntil 3 a m . . .

t he wi n d h e ld in th e n o rth e ast b ut it th e n b e gan

- t o ,

back v e ry rapidly to n o rth and no r we st S h e wan

’
- .
3 36 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
was o blige d to k e e p his ship d e ad b e fo re it and , ,

with the e aste rly se a N orman Court be gan ts ,

plunge into it v e ry he avily and wash e d two me n ,

und e r the spare spars h urting th e m s e ve rely ,

.

C aptain S h e wan th e n t o ld his s o n t o ge t th e main

l o we r to psail—the o nly rag se t—o ff he r Ye t .
,

th o ugh all hands we re s e nt to the b race s the yards ,

brac e d by and the cl e w li ne we ll mann e d as so on

, ,

as th e sh e e t was starte d th e lo w e r to psail gave o ne

s hak e and was go n e .

By daylight th e N o rma n Court was running due

e ast und e r bare p o l e s with t wo me n at th e wh e e l ;

s h e was go in
g like a mad thi ng and pl unging t o the
fo re mast b ut shipp e d no wat e r a ft
, The s e a wa s .

lik e a bo iling cauld ro n l e aping high up o n b o th ,

s id e s o f h e r and falli n g o v e r b o th rails at o nc e .

The wi nd was like a t h o us an d furi e s and the rain

fe ll in s o lid sh e e ts .

A wh o l e s uit o f sails wa s bl o wn o ut o f the

gaske ts th e fo rward b race a nd o th e r bl o cks b e i ng
,

j amm e d with l umps o f t o rn canvas and th e s e rvice ,

o f th e b ackstays e t c , was whit e wi t h the th re ad s o f

.
,

canvas bl o wn o n t o and t igh t ly wo und ro und th e m .

I t was with the utm o s t di fficulty that the me n

re mai ne d at th e wh e e l a nd in o rd e r t o t ft t o se e
ge
, a

th e c o urs e st e e re d th e captain and mate s we re

,

co mpe lle d t o lie d o wn a nd c rawl alo ng th e d e ck .

A fte r o ne o f th e s e j o urn e ys th e mat e as h e rai s e d , ,

him s e lf was pick e d up by th e wi nd lik e a fe ath e r

,
3 38 TH E CH INA C LI PPE RS
The typh o o n th o ugh it did last l o ng t ri e d the
,
no t ,

s hip t o he r utm o st b ut s h e ra n b e a uti fully a nd ,

b e hav e d to the admi rati o n o f he r c re w e me rging ,

fro m he r b uffe ti ng in the m o st t ri umphant man ne r ,

fo r b e y o nd the l o s s o f h e r s ails which w e re bl o wn

o ut o f th e d o ubl e gask e ts sh e did no t st rand ,

a ro pe yarn .

H e r c re w h o w e v e r did no t e scap e so e asily

, , ,

many o f the me n b e ing badly k no ck e d ab o ut whilst ,

th e two mate s we re s o h o a rs e fro m sh o uting

c o mma nds in the sc re ami ng wi nd that the y co uld
no t sp e ak ab o v e a whi s p e r fo r days a ft e rwa rd s .

H aving s urviv e d this s t re nuo us o p e ni ng to he r

passage N o rma n Court no w pro c ee d e d to make a
,

spl e ndid run h o m e as the fo ll o wi ng abstract ,

will sh o w
N orma n Court , Macao to L o nd o n , 18 7 2 .

p
Se t x4 .
—Le ft M cao 6 p m a

2 1—
. .

S e pt . O lf Pul Camb ii Co chin Chi n

o a 7 d ys out
a

2 6—
,

Se pt . Great N tun S e nd W by N 20 mil e

a a, s 12

2—
. . .

Oc t. Gasp r I l nd W by S 10 m il es
a s a 18

s—P ssed A nj e r 4 p m
, . .

O ct a 21

2 4—P sse d me ridi n f C pe St M ry M d ag

. . .

Oc t. a a o a a a a sc ar 40
5—R o und ed C p e A gulh s
.
,

N ov . a a
52
N ov . ( r
r —S igh te d St H e len . a 61
N ov 19 igh t d A c n i n
-
S e s e s o 66
2 3—
.

N ov Cr d th lin 10 p m
osse e e
70
— ed l ti tud f S A nt ni
. . .

Dec 3 P ass a e o o o 80
1 1—Fl
. .

De c e S by E 5 E C rv
o r s, E as t 88
l7 —
. . . . o o

Dec . M d th Li d
a e e zar
94
Dec 1 8—A n h d in th D wn
c o re e o s
.
95

A nd t he
Bari ng clipp e r had a magn ifice nt run
up Chann e l Fro m the L izard t o D unge n e ss
.

s he wa s o nly 1 9 h o urs At p m o n 1 7 th .
. .
 m a c a n“ cu m ms 339

D e ce mb e r sh e was o ff t h e L i zard and at 11

pm
. .

ne xt day she pick e d up a pil o t at th e N e ss .

A lto ge th e r N o rman Court had had a ve ry s uc

c e ss ful and p ro fitabl e v o yag e and so pl e as e d w e re ,

Bari ng B ro s with th e i r v e ss e l that th e y c o m

.

missio n e d D utto n to e xe c ute a picture o f he r at a

c o st o f £ 1 00 H e ch o se th e m o m e n t at which s he
.

picke d up he r pil o t o ff the N e ss a nd the ill ustrati o n ,

g iv e n h e re is fro m a li th o o f this picture .

N orman Court s typho o n re minds m e o f th e o ne

’

which c aught Titauia a nd L ora M acaulay i ns id e ’

the Paracels .Captain C a re o f th e L o rd M aca ulay

ho ve to with a sp e cially mad e sail lashe d t o the
mize n rigging a nd she lay s o far o ve r that a man
,
'

co uld have walke d o n he r sid e .

Titania ran it o ut like N orman Court and with ,

a b o w wav e to we ring ab o ve h e r rail cam e fo aming

by t he L ord M aca ulay lik e a whal e b o at in to w o f a -

a whal e ; ind e e d s he wa s s o cl o s e t o t he latt e r that

,

she wash e d he r fo re and a ft with the white b o n e she

had in he r te e th B o th ships l o st th e i r ro yal masts

.
,

a nd wh e n t he t wo captai ns me t agai n in L o nd o n ,

C apta in Ca re ha rdly kn e w his b ro th e r skipp e r fo r ,

the latte r s hai r which wh e n h e l e ft C hina had be e n

’

, ,

c o al black was s no w white

,
.

The R ace Be tw e e n “
C utty S ark a nd

Th e rmo pylae
“ ”

A gre at d ue l was a rrange d in 1 8 7 2 b e twe e n

Cutty S ark and Thermopylae . B o th ve ss els l e ft
3 40 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
S ha nghai sam e day and within an ho ur o r
o n t he

t wo o f e ach o th e r Th e y w e re h o w e v e r s o m e tim e
. , ,

in ge tting cl e a r away o wing t o fre sh gal e s and thic k

fo gs in which it was imp o s sibl e to p ro c e e d and ,

Cutty S aré did no t d ro p h e r pil o t until a 1 s t J un e .

Th e y w e re th e n h e ld up by calms and n s unti l .

2 a m o n the 2 3 rd wh e n th e N E m o ns o o n b e ga n
. .
,
. . .

t o bl o w st ro ng and s o o n fre sh e n e d t o a gal e which , .

s plit th e Cutt rk s fo re t o pgalla n t sail t o pi e c e s

’

y S a .

The m o ns o o n h e ld until the 2 6 th wh e n at 1 p m . .

,

' °
in lat 2 0 2 7 N l o ng 1 1 4 4 3 E t he t wo rac e rs
’ °
.
. .
,

we re in sight o f e ach o th e r Cutty S ark be ing ,

in th e l e ad .

O n th e a8 th J un e th e y w e re agai n t o ge th e r thi s ,

tim e with TIt ermopy la e 6 mil e s to Windwa rd o f he r

o ppo ne nt t he wi nd b e i ng fre sh fro m th e S W with
, . .

h e avy s qualls b ut th e y did no t m e e t agai n until

, .

a pp ro achi ng G aspar S t rait s Th e we ath e r co n .

t inue d b o i s t e ro us until th e I s t J uly up to W hich ,

dat e Cutty S a rk had Only had o ne o bse rvati o n since

l e avi ng po rt .

O n t he Co chi n Chi na C o ast th e us ual land a nd

sea b re e z e s we re wo rk e d b ut c ro ssing to the ,

N atunas fre s h gal e s a nd s q uall s and split sail s we re

th e e xp e ri e nc e o f b o th clipp e rs .

O n 1 sth J uly in 1 0 8 1 8 E o n th e e q uato r

°
’
.
,

TIzermopy la e sighte d Cutty S ark ab o ut 8 mil es

ah e ad b ut gradually fe ll aste rn a nd o n the fo ll o wi ng
, ,

m o rni ng Cutty S ark co uld o nly j us t b e s e e n fro m

3 42 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS
quo tati o ns fro m C aptain M o o d ie s p rivat e lo g will
sh o w the bad luck which atte nd e d Cutty S a ré in
‘

l o sing h e r rudd e r .

g
Au us t 1 3, Lat 34 3 S , o n -
.
’ '
l g
. 7 E Distance 83 m il es
. S tr ng 28
° '
. . o

l
ga e fro m N E A t 5 u m th e n . . . . wi d h ul d t w t Re t f d y bl wing a e o es . s o a o a

v y h vy g l
er ea a e Fore and ma n o . i l w r t psai l w nt to pieces e o s e .

—
A ugust 14 Lat 34 6
'
.
’
S l g
.n ,
2 8
'
7 E H eavy g l e fr m W with
o .
°
. a o .

s v
e e re s qu ll nd tremend ous s
a s a ea.

A ugu t 1 5 —L t 34 2 6 S l ng 2 8 1 E e m h vy s
° ° ’
s a At
.
’
. o . . . . a ea ea

stru k th
c udd er and carri d it
e r w y f m th e trunk do wnw ds N n e a a ro ar . oo ,

wind m r m d r te tri ed a sp r v the t rn b ut w o uld not steer th hip

o e o e a , a o er s e e s .

Th r up n b eg n constructi n of j ury rudd r with a sp re spar 70 f t l ng

“
e e o a o a e a ee o .

—
A ug u t 1 6 3 4 1 3 S 2 8 2 4 E
s
'
Ligh t winds fr m s uth P M tr ng
°
.
,
° ’
. o o . . .
, s o

b r f m E N E Constru ting j u y rudd r nd ste rnp t f t p i bl

eeze ro . . . c r e a os as as as oss e.

A ugu t 1 7 34 43 S
'
S tr ng wi nds fro m e t t E S E
° °
28 2 5 E
’
s -
. . o as o . . .

C n tru t ing j u y rudd r nd st np st

o s c r e a er o

A ugu t 1 8 —
.

S tr ng winds fro m E N E
' ° °
8 ’
34 5
s 8 S 2 1 1 E C n tru t
. . o . . . o s c

ing j ury rudd and ternpost

—
er s .

g S tr ng wi nds fro m N E C n tru ti ng

' “ °
Au u t 9 34 5 S
1 s 1 2 7 5 E8 ’
. . o . . o s c

j ury rudd r nd t rnpost e a s e

—
.

A ugu t 20 34 38 S s
'
27 3 6 E Ligh t wind fro m w tw rd N n
°
.
,
° ’
. es a . oo ,

str ng wo t ly breez e s er nd c l e r A b ut 2 p m shipped j u y udd r nd

e a a . o . . r r e a

C pt i n Moo die s de c ipt i n f h i j u y rudd r — The m king f th e “

’
a a s r o o s r e . a o

rudd r w e h w v r o nlyth e im pl p rt f it th e conn cting it t th p t

as , o e e , s e a o , e o e os
a nd sec u ing it t th e sh p so th t it w uld w rk and b e o f s um i nt tr ngth
r o i a o o c e s e
f use wh n pl d was the m t diffi ult p rt of the ob Th nnecti n °

or e ac e os c a . e co o
w m d by putti ng eye b l t in b th udd r post an rudd
as a e nd pl i ng
-
o s o r e er, a ac
th m so th t th e o ne w uld j u t l r th
e a th ; l ge b lt ( n wning
o s c ea e o er a ar o a a

st n hi n ) w
a c o th en passed th ugh th m nd c l n h d n b th nd ; in thi
as ro e a e c e o o e s s
w y w h d fi e eye b ol ts in
a e a h l k d wi h two strong b l t whi h w uld
v -
eac , oc e t o s c o
hear n id r bl e w igh t
a co s Th e a u in g f th e wh o l to th e ship was
e f th e
. e se c r o e o
n x t i mp t n
e nd it w
or a s n pp nt th t this co uld n t b d n in the
ce , a as oo a are a o e o e

w y u u lly r ommende d vi by pl ing ch ins long the hip b tt m '

a s a ec , z. , ac a a s s o o

a nd l ding into the h wse pip ; in th fi t place th e Cutty S i i t

ea a es e rs , ar : s oo

s h p f h in to lie along th k l nd in the next pl c th l ngth f th

ar or c a e ee , a a e e e o e
s hip i t gre t it would b e di ffi ult t bi d th post tigh tly t th v s l
s oo a , c o n e o e e se
o wi ng t th g t l ngth f ch in I th f re n lud d t t k b th the
o e re a e o a . e re o co c e o a e o
guy i nt th lt er mooring pip fitt ing th l wer n with b idl und t he
s o e a e, e o o e a r e er

k l 16 f t from the h ee l f th hip

ee , ee t h t fr m th ost to t h b ridl th e o e s , so a o e e e er
w as a littl do wn pull whi h p v nt d p t nd rud er fr m i ing Th
e -
c re e e os a o rs . e
n xt thing t b e d ne was to g t th
e o t rin g g r secure to t b rudd
o f th e e e s ee ea e e r, or
trunk w t sm ll to dmi t nything b ut th f lse ste rn
as oo a t whi h
a m b ut a e a , c ca e a o
2 5 f t b v th de k
ee a o nd b ing w dg d r und f rm
e e c g d upp t Th
, a e e e o o a oo s or . e
t
s eer ing g h d th r f r t b ea r a u d t th e bac k f th rudd
e e o e nd l d t o e s ec re o o e er a e o
a s p pl d cr ss th e ship b ut 1 5 f t bef r the taffrail whi h l d th
ar ac e a o , a o ee o e , c e e
t
s ee r ing h ins lear f t he unt
c a cnd th n inb oard t o t h
o wh l Of co er, a e e ee .

co u ll he gear was att h d t b th udd r nd post b f

rse , a t th y w e ac e o o r e a e o re e er

p ut v o th erte m H aving
e s m ll m d l r th e ship I to ok ll t h m
. u a s a o e o a e e as re
m nt f
e s t he ch ai ns by th t whi ch
or n bled me to pl ac th m p r tty a , e a e e e
t h e t uth
’
n ear r .
CU TTY S A R KS
’ ”
J U RY R U DDE R .

[To lace P age

3 44 TH E I
CH NA C LI PPE R S
1 sth Cutty S a r/é c ro ss e d th e lin e H e r b e st runs
.

be tw e e n I s t S e pte mb e r and t his date w e re 2 1 0 2 1 1 , ,

2 1 4 2 2 6 2 2 7 2 2 1 a nd 2 0 7 p re tty go o d w o rk fo r a
, , , ,

ship which wa s no t all o we d to do m o re than 8 kn o ts .

A ll thi s t im e h o we v e r th e j ury rudd e r was

, ,

g radually b re aking its fast e ni ngs a nd o n 2 0 th

S e pt e mb e r the last o f t h e e ye bo lts h o lding the
-

rudd e r t o t h e p o s t gav e way and th e wh o l e co n

t riv a nce had t o b e h o i s t e d up fo r re pai rs Captai n .

M o o di e was no w s o sh o rt o f mat e rial that he had to

shap e flat pi e c e s o f i ro n s o that th e y w o uld wo rk o n
th e i ro n s tanc h i o ns i ns t e ad o f t h e e ye b o lts The -
.

re pai rs w e re s ma rtly d o ne a nd o n th e fo ll o wi ng day

t h e j ury rudd e r was o n c e m o re re ady fo r l o w e ri ng .

O n t he fi rs t o ccas i o n a k e dge an ch o r o f 5 % cwt .

had b e e n us e d t o s i nk it i nt o plac e b ut o wi ng to the

,

bad sea runni ng t hi s had b e e n l o s t O n z xs t .

S e pt e mb e r Captai n M o o di e d e t e rmi ne d to fix the

p o s t a nd rudd e r in place witho ut usi ng a ny we ight
t o s i nk it . Wh e n all was re ady the s ails we re fill e d
a nd t h e ship giv e n a li t tl e h e adway t h e rud d e r a nd
,

po st we re t he n l o we re d a nd st re am e d right aste rn ,

th e rudd e r was th e n haul e d cl o s e t o th e t runk and

th e s ail s l a id aback A s t he ship l o st h e ad way the

.

we igh t o f th e chai ns partially sa nk t h e rudd e r th e n ,

as the s hip s l o wly gath e re d s te rnway and th e s lack

o f th e guy s wa s ha ul e d in t he h e e l o f th e rudd e r
,

s a nk a nd all o w e d t he h e ad t o b e e asily haul e d u

p
th ro ugh the t runk This o pe rati o n is v e ry e as y to
.
 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S 3 45

write ab o ut b ut in its p ro p e r e xe cuti o n it re qui re d

,

s uch s e amanship as is ha rdly kn o wn n o wadays .

Cutty S a rk had fine stro ng N E trad e s to within . .

a day o f t he We st e rn I sl e s b ut un fo rt unate l had

, y , ,

to b e k e pt d o wn t o a spe e d o f 2 00 mil e s a day as ,

b eyo n d that h e r j ury rudd e r c ould no t c o nt ro l h e r .

On th e last lap o f t he pas sage she un fo rtunate ly

me t wi th stro ng wi nds a nd gal e s fro m th e no r ra rd ’

a nd e astward and o n 1 2 th Oct o b e r the day that

, ,

Thermapy lae a rrive d in th e D o wns she was ,

'
battling against a fre sh N N E gal e in 4 5 3 7 N
'
. . .
°
.
,

13 26 W
'
This gal e laste d until Cutty S ark als o
°
.

re ach e d th e D o wns o n 1 8 th Oct o b e r l e ss than a ,

we e k b ehind he r rival fo r which fine p e rfo rmanc e

,

C aptain Mo o di e re c e iv e d gre at p rais e in s hippi ng

c i rcl e s . I nd e e d th o ugh Tfiere dae a rrive d fi rst
, ,

a ll the h o n o urs o f th e rac e b e l o nge d to Cutt

y S a rk
fo r she was h o v e t o fo r m o re t han 6 days whil s t the

j u ry r udd e r was b e i ng mad e A n d b e twe e n th e

.

day o n which sh e l o st h e r rudd e r and that o f h e r

a rrival , sh e waste d 1 1 days makin g 1 3 9 mil e s ,

a dd e d t o which wh e n s he had a chanc e to go

,

a h ea d h e r sp e e d had t o b e re d uc e d t o 8 kn o ts o r
,

hal f what she was capabl e o f d o ing I t th e re fo re .

s ee m e d p re tty c e rtain that b ut fo r h e r accid e nt

, ,

Cutty S a rk m ust hav e b e at e n Taermopy la e by

s e ve ral days This rac e b e tw e e n Cutty S a rk and
.

Thermopylae was the b e gi nning o f a li fe l o ng -

rival ry in which it is di ffi c ult t o say w h ich cam e o ut

3 46 TH E C H I N A C LIPPE R S
on t o p,as whilst duri ng th e s e v e nti e s Tuermopylaa
mad e the b e st pas s age s d uring th e e ighti e s Cutty ,

S ar é e th e fast e s t v o yage s o f t h e two

/
m ad .

U n fo rtunate ly fo r Willis s clippe r Captain M o o di e

’

l e ft h e r o n h e r arrival in 1 8 7 2 fro m which da te until ,

1 8 8 5 he r skipp e rs did no t b e a r th e re p utati o n o f

”
b e ing sail carri e rs
“
I n 1 8 8 5 h o we ve r she was
.
, ,

'
tak e n o ve r by an o ld s e a do g o f th e B ully F o rbe s
typ e and imm e diate ly s he be gan t o mak e wo nde rful
,

re c o rds in t h e A us t ralia n t rad e Captain M o o di e was .

succ e e de d by Captain M o o re late o f th e Wéite A aaor ,

’ ’
,

a we ll kn o wn Lo nd o n man wh o h a d b e e n mate o f the

-
,

L ammermuir in h e r fam o us rac e with Cairngorm .

I n N o v e mb e r 1 8 7 2 Cutty S a ri: fo r th e fi rst time

, ,

was laid o n t he b e rth t o l o ad fo r the Co l o ni e s ; in

fact sh e l o ad e d fo r M e lb o urne alm o st al o ngsid e he r
,

rival Tfiermofiy lao U n fo rtunat e ly sh e was not

.
,

quite re ady in tim e t o ge t away with Tlzermopylae ,

n e ve rth e l e ss th e t wo s hips mad e a v e ry cl o s e rac e

o f it th e i r tim e s b e i ng
,

fl wpyl
ern l ft L d n N v mb 4 ; d pp d pil t ff D tm uth
ae e on o o e er 1 ro e o o ar o

No vembe r 17 iv d M lb u n J nu ry 7 18 73 —7 1 d ys fr m pil t
arr e e o r e a a 2 , a o o .

Cutty S rk l ft L nd n N v mb d pp d pil t f! D tm uth ”

a e 25 ;
o o o e er ro e o o ar o

N o vember 2 8 ; a riv d M lb urne F bru y 1 1 1 8 7 3 —

r e e 7 5 d ys fro m pilot
o e ar , a .

Te a Trade of 187 3.
The y e armay b e s aid t o hav e b e e n
187 2

the last y e a r in which t h e re was any re al racing

am o ngst the clipp e rs H e n c e fo rwa rd tho ugh the .

,

captains still did th e i r b e s t t o mak e fast passage s ,

th e y no l o nge r had a ny chance o f b ringi ng t he fi rst

3 48 TH E C H I N A C LI PPE RS
E v e ry o bstacl e wa s o f co urs e put in the path o f
, ,

th e s e s traight go i ng s kippe rs
-
A cas e in p o int was
, .

that o f Captai n B ro wn o f I/Vylo a white man ,

and a ge ntl e man b e l o ve d by his c re ws O n his

,
.

stubbo rnly re fusi ng t o pay o ff h is m e n th e res ult o f ,

h is h o ne sty was s o o n appare nt Wh e n his ship was .

lo ad e d and re ady to sail h e fo und that h e c o uld no t

ge t his cl e a ra nc e I n vai n he appe al e d t o t he

.

B ritis h Co nsul that re p re se ntativ e o f the B ri tish

,

Empi re was h e lpl e s s a nd afte r be i ng d e tain e d fo r

,

10 days Captai n B ro wn was at last o blig e d to

,

le av e unsati s fi e d .

O n h is arrival in L o nd o n h e w ro te an indigna nt
le tte r to th e S /i ifip ing Gazelle s tating in bitte r ,

la ng uag e that the B ri t ish flag was o f no use to

B riti sh e rs in N e w Yo rk Th e sam e s o rt o f
.

e xp e ri e nc e happ e n e d t o C aptai n S h e wan s e ni o r , ,

a nd o th e rs .

B e s id e s A m e rica A ustralia was b e co ming a

,

ro wi ng c o ns um e r o f t e a a nd th ro ugh th e s e v e nti e s
g ,

s o me fine lit t l e clipp e r barq ue s w o rthily uph e ld

t h e racing t radi t i o ns o f t h e t rad e by th e i r s ma rt

pa ss age s fro m th e t e a po rts to M e lb o urne a nd

S yd ne y . Pe rhap s th e b e st k no w n o f th e s e clipp e r
ba rque s w e re th e Willia m M a nson built by D uthi e ,

o f A b e rd e e n in 1 8 7 2 fo r Fraz e r o f S ydn e y a nd the

,

M a ry B la ir b uilt by D uthi e in 1 8 7 0 fo r H o b art

o w ne rs. Th e William M a ns on o nly re gi s te re d 3 6 6
t o ns and th e M a ry B la ir 3 1 1 to ns b ut th ese ,
 TH E CH INA L PPE R S
C I 3 49

ve sse ls c ro ss e d t wo s kys ail ya rds and we re sail e d

fo r all th e y we re w o rth O ne o f th e i r skipp e rs was
.

an e spe cially w e ll kn o wn characte r he was a littl e

-
,

man o f the typ e o f C aptai n K e ttl e O n o ne .

o ccasi o n he h ung o n t o his s ky s ails s o l o ng that

his me n re fuse d t o go al o ft a nd furl th e m fe aring ,

t hat t he mast s might

go a ny m o m e nt Th e re up o n .

he w e nt up hims e l f and
p ut t h e gask e ts o n t h e sails ,

and o n his re turn to the d e ck admi nist e re d a s e ve re

th rashing to the m e n who had re fuse d to tackl e the
jo b as a po inte r to the stat e m e nt that he gave no
,

man a task which he fe are d to do hims e l f .

This y e a r t he famo us Ta ep ing cam e t o an e nd o f

he r care e r b e ing w re ck e d o n th e d re ad e d Parac e ls ;
,

The fo ll o wing w e re the chi e f passage s mad e

.

in 18 73

Sh ip . Cap tain . Port Le ft . A rrivd e

It will b e n o tic e d tha t Cutty S a rk and T/i ermopy lae

again man age d to lo ad t o ge th e r b ut in th e rac e ,

do wn th e Chi na S e a Captain Ke mb a ll made the

go o d time o f 2 8 days to A nj e r wh e re as Captain ,

M o o re mad e the ve ry bad o ne o f 4 2 days .

3 50 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S
I t is this part o f th e passag e that th e e l e m e n t
on

o f l uck c o m e s in b e sid e s which th e tim e t o A nj e r

,

d e p e nd e d m o re o n the captai n than th e clippe r he r

s e l f Fro m A nj e r ho m e b o th ships mad e v e ry fai r
.

pass age s Tli ermopy lae j ust having the b e st o f it

,

by t wo days .

S ir L a ncelot with o ut he r raci ng ballast was no t

, ,

d riv e n as in Ro bin s o n s day a nd s o he r tim e was

’

p o o r But Tilania was the unl ucky s hip o f the

.

ye ar be i ng no l e s s than 4 6 days to A nj e r and 5 0

,

days be twe e n S t H e l e na a nd th e D o wns

. The .

abstrac t lo g o f H a llowe en s mag nific e nt pas sage’ ’

will b e fo und in t he appe ndix S he had co me .

ac ro s s fro m S yd ne y t o S ha nghai in 3 1 days which ,

'
was alm o s t as go o d as Taermopylae s re co rd o f 2 8
days fro m N e wcastl e N S W , . . .

L e avi ng S yd ne y o n oth A ugust H a llowe en

’

c ro s se d t he li ne o n the z t s t o nly 1 2 days o ut ; ,

o n 6 th S e pt e mb e r sh e m ad e a run o f 3 1 2 mil e s wi th

t h e wind fre sh at e ast a nd all s ails s e t a nd at ,

no o n o n t h e 9 th S e p te mb e r s h e to o k h e r pil o t o ff

L e aco nna I n thi s passage s h e sh o w e d e xt ra

.

o rdi na ry all ro und s p e e d in light winds I n t he .

pas s age h o m e she wa s lucky in h e r winds and

,

had ve ry fe w days with the yards o n the backstays ,

b ut ne v e rth e l e ss h e r p e rfo rmanc e was n o fl uke as

, , ,

sh e re p e at e d it within a day o r t wo in h e r ne xt

t wo v o yag e s .
352 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
kn o wn ship to th e e nd o f he r days so I shall no w ,

atte mpt to t rac e the afte r li fe o f the s e b e auti ful tea

clippe rs b e fo re b ri nging my pe n to a halt .

Th e Afte r-Life th e Te a Clip p e rs

of .

Th e Falcon d e s e rte d th e t e atrad e l o ng

b e fo re th e e clipse a nd spe nt s o m e y e ars swe lte ring
,

o n t h e We s t C o a s t o f S o uth A m e rica und e r cha rte r

t o th e Chil e a n G o v e rn m e n t ; a nd wh e n sh e cam e

ho m e to b e re c lass e d in 1 8 7 3 it was fo und that he r

,

s t ay o n that c o ast had d o ne he r no go o d H er .

ke e l s o n p ro v e d to b e as s o ft as a cabbage and the ,

dry ro t had to b e li t e rally dug o ut o f h e r h o ld It .

was s o o n s e e n that th e day o f th e fam o us o ld flye r

wa s o ve r and with clipp e d wing s and no ya rd s o n
,

h e r miz e n sh e s l o wly sank i nt o o bscurity .

I n 1 8 8 7 h o w e v e r s he was still afl o at o w ne d by
, , ,

th e A us t ria ns a nd disguis e d und e r t he name o f

Th e g re at Fiezy s o ld to the N o rw e gians

Cross was
ab o ut t he e nd o f th e s e ve nti e s a nd was still aflo at
until c o mpa rativ e ly re c e nt y e a rs .

Flying Sp a r a ft e r havi ng h e r s pa rs re duc e d

, ,

d ri fte d asho re o n t he Ma rti n V az R o ck s in the e arly

e i hti e s
g . F o rwa rd H o was w re ck e d in 1 8 8 1 whilst ,

C/i in ama n wa s run d o wn and sunk by a st e am e r in

t h e Yangtz e R iv e r in 1 8 8 0
, S erica was l o s t in the
.

Chi na S e a ab o ut th e s am e dat e a nd Ta its ing was ,

w re ck e d o n th e Za nziba r C o ast in 1 8 8 3 .

M in wa s s o ld t o the H awaiia ns and sail e d in the ,

 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S 353

i sland trad e many y e ars und e r the nam e o f W B

fo r . .

Goafrey . B lack P rince was l o st in the J ava S e a

s o o n afte r B ari ng B ro s s o ld h e r . .

S ir L ancelot surviv e d h e r siste r s hip A riel by

many ye ars H e r spars w e re c ut d o w n in 1 8 7 4
.
,

8 fe e t b e i ng tak e n o ff he r l o w e r masts N e v e rthe .

l e ss she mad e he r ne xt vo yag e o ut to China back to ,

N e w Y o rk a nd h o m e in ni ne m o nth s a nd t wo days .

But in J anua ry 1 8 7 7 s h e had th e furth e r i ndig nit y

, ,

put upo n he r o f havi ng t he spars s t ripp e d o ff h e r

mize n mas t Y e t e v e n thi s co uld no t st o p h e r a nd
.
,

o n 2 8 th D e c e mb e r 1 8 7 7 s h e l e ft S ha nghai und e r
, ,

Captai n A nd re w H e pb urn pass e d A nj e r o n 1 sth ,

January 1 8 7 8 and arriv e d at N e w Y o rk o n e nd

, ,

A pril o nly 9 5 day s o ut

, .

O n he r ne xt v o yage sh e w e nt o ut t o J apan c o m ,

mande d by C aptain Bro c ke ns h aw a nd it wa s o n th e ,

pas sage o ut to Y o ko hama that s h e pick e d up th e

s urviv o rs o f th e V ict o ria n Exp e diti o n t o N e w
G ui ne a .

I n 1 8 7 9 und e r th e s am e co mmand e r sh e l o ade d

, ,

to N e w Ze ala nd th e n c ro ss e d t o Chi na a nd l o ad e d
,

ho m e fro m Fo o ch o w arriving in the Tham e s o n ,

2 7 th Fe b rua ry 1 8 80 1 2 8 days o ut
,
Thi s was he r
,
.

las t te a pass ag e .

I n 1 8 8 1 2 C aptai n S h o rtla nds t o o k h e r o ut to

-

H o n o l ulu th e n ac ro s s t o A sto ria a nd h o m e ro und

, ,

the H o rn .

The n e xt fe w y e a rs fro m 1 8 8 2 to 1 8 8 5 C aptai n , ,

z
354 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE RS
M urdo ch Macd o nald had h e r and k ept he r o n
charte r in the I ndian c o asti ng t rade F inally in .
,

1 88 6 M e ss rs M a c Cun n s o ld h e r t o V is ra m I b rahim
,
.

o f B o mbay .

H e nce fo rwa rd sh e carri e d a co l o ure d c re w and

”
b e came a co unt ry t rad e r running chi e fly b e twe en ,

B o mbay Calcutta and Mauritius

, , S he was ho w .
,

e ve r l ucky in b e ing c o mma nd e d by C aptain B re bn e r

, ,

who se handbo o k fo r the I ndian Oce an is we ll kno wn

to s e am e n t radi ng t o th e E as t H e k e pt h e r in s uch .

b eaut i ful co nditi o n that s h e was kn o wn fo r ye ars as

”
th e
“
Yacht o f th e I ndia n O c e an and d uring the ,

last phas e o f h e r care e r sh e re c e iv e d as much

admi rati o n as she had e ve r had in her gl o ri o us
past . A m o ngs t he r g re at e s t admi re rs w e re the
A dmi ral in c o mmand o f th e Ea s t I ndian S q uadro n

( who co uld n e v e r pass h e r with o ut p raising her

b eauty and grace ful ne s s ) L o rd H arris the G o ve r, ,

no r o f B o mbay a nd t h e G o v e rno r o f Mauritius

, ,

e ach o f wh o m paid h e r t h e h o no ur o f a visit o f

cere m o ny with full s taff .

H e r passage s und e r C aptain B re bn e r we re

always v ery go o d and as late a s the nin e tie s she
,

we ath e re d o ut no l e s s t han fo ur fi e rc e cycl o n es

with o ut sustaining a ny mat e rial damage which ,

sp eaks v o lum e s b o th fo r Captai n B re bn e r s s e aman ’

ship and the o ld clipp e r s s e awo rthi ne ss

’
.

The fi rst o f th e s e cycl o ne s b e ga n on 6 th J un e ,

‘ °
1 8 9 2 in 7
, N 9 2 E t he wi nd go i ng ro und to the
.
, .
,
356 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S
matchwo o d skylight sto v e in a nd cabin fl o o d e d
,
.

The sq ualls w e re te rrific A t 1 0 p m it sh o we d

. . .

signs o f abating . By midnight the sto rm had

pass e d and the wind s hi ft e d t o N W wh e n sto rm . .
,

"
s ails w e re s e t t o k e ep th e v e ss e l h e ad o n t o th e s e a .

Captain B re bne r s acc o unt o f S ir L ancelot s

’

fourth cycl o n e is e q ually i n t e re sti ng

“
S ir L ancelot l e ft Calc utta o n 2 0 th D e c e mbe r ,

1 8 94 fo r Mauriti us
, . O n th e 1 2 t h J anua ry 1 8 9 5 , ,

whilst run ni ng with fre sh S E t rad e and app ro ach . .

ing Ro d rigue z to sight it th e s un and m o o n ,

we re surro und e d by hal o s a nd this ph e n o m e n o n

,

c o ntin ue d till the n ight o f the 1 3 th the po sitio n ,

th e n b e ing 5 0 mil e s no rth o f Ro d rigue z I t grew .

squally with h e avy rai n a ft e r mid night On the .

m o rning o f th e 1 4 th Mauri t i us was W by S 1 80 . .

,

mil e s the w e ath e r the n b e cam e v e ry thick I knew

, .

t hat a cycl o n e lay in t h e l o cality Running to .

ancho r at the B e ll B uo y a da nge ro us ancho rage

,

which n e ce ssitate d p utting t o s e a sh o uld the cycl o ne

st rike th e island wa s no t co ns ide re d advisable I
, .

th e re fo re d e cide d t o lay to s e t my cycl o n e co mpass

,

and watch the wi nd a nd baro m e te r I t co ntinue d .

to rain th ro ugh o ut t h e day a nd ni ht the wind

g ,

be i ng st e ady fro m S E m o d e rat e in fo rc e and

. .
, ,

baro m e te r ste ady . O n the m o rning o f the 1 sth

co nditi o ns we re the s am e A t 1 1 o cl o ck t he sun
.
’

sh o ne o ut b rightly a nd co nti nue d so fo r hal f an -

ho ur I the n anticipate d s o m e imp ro v e m e nt b ut

.
 TH E C H IN A C LIPPE RS 357

wo uld no t act until th e ba ro m e t e r i ndicat e d a

change fo r g o o d o r bad A t no o n thi ngs w e re .

anythi ng b ut pro misi ng .

I t no w b e cam e e vid e nt that I was in fro nt o f an

advanci ng re vo lving s to rm Th e ba ro m e te r be gan .

to fall rapidly m o untai no us s e as ro lli ng up fro m

,

abo ut N E with i nc re asi ng S E wi nd I th e n se t

. . . . .

the va ri o us pa rt s o f my cycl o n e c o mpass a nd sa w

that I was o n th e s o uth w e s t margi n o f th e sto rm -

and als o in th e dang e ro us q uad ran t .

I co nside re d it was no w tim e t o act quickly and

s e ri ously H avi ng a fas t ship I d e cid e d to tak e
.
,

my chanc e and run ac ro s s th e fro nt o f th e adva nc

ing sto rm i nt o t h e navigati ng q uad ra nt The t wo .

l o we r to psails we re th e n s e t a nd the ship h e ad e d

N W S ir L ancelot maki ng 9 kn o ts by pate nt lo g
. .
,

and pe rhaps 1 1 o v e r t h e gro und B e fo re th e h e lm .

was put up t wo o il bags w e re plac e d o v e r e ach b o w

and the sam e o v e r e ach qua rt e r a nd she ra n
co m fo rtably alth o ugh th e s e a was d re ad ful t o
,

b eho ld A t 4 p m t h e wi nd sh o w e d signs o f
. . .

shi fti ng and t h e ba ro m e t e r was s till g o i ng d o w n .

A t s uns e t it v e e re d fro m S E t o a lit t l e w e st o f

,
. .

south S ir L a ncelot was s hippi ng m uch wate r amid

.

ships b ut no damag e was d o ne th e o il bags w o rki ng

, ,

faith f ully and b e ing re pl e n ish e d wh e n n e ce s s a ry I .

to o k in t he fo re l o w e r t o ps ail b e fo re it b e cam e dark

and mad e up my mind t o s ac rifice the mai n o ne .

A t 8 o cl o ck th e wi nd was
’
at 1 0 o cl o ck ‘
35 8 TH E CH INA C LIP PE RS
S W th e
. .
mai
,
n t o psail th e n bl e w t o ribb o ns S ir .

L ancelot ra n und e r ba re p o l e s until midnight ,

wh e n th e wi nd ve e re d to we st A t 2 a m o n the . . .

1 oth it wa s wh e n the baro m e te r sto pped

falli ng b e i ng at 2 9
,
.

B e twe e n 2 and 5 a m it bl e w a t e rri fic gal e and

. . ,

S ir L ancelot t o o k la rge q uantiti e s o f wat e r o v e r the

ste rn as s he was th e n o n the w ro ng tack fo r b o wing
th e s e a To av o id s ustaining a ny damage and to
.

as s is t th e fo ur o il bags I place d an o th e r la rge r o il

,

bag in a rattan ballast baske t attache d the d e e p s e a ,

l e ad li ne to it a nd ra n it o ut th e full l e ngth The

- .

baske t which st re am e d away to wi ndward s e rved

, ,

t he purpo s e as th e s e a b ro k e lightly a fte rwa rd s

,
.

A t 6 o cl o ck the wind v e e re d t o N W the ba ro

’
. .
,

m e te r ro se wind and se a we nt d o wn and th e we athe r

, ,

b e cam e fi ne r Th e S ir L a ncelot e s cap e d with a go o d

.

shaki ng u
p and th e l o ss o f the mai n t o p sail o nly .

The gam e littl e clipp e r a ft e r havi ng th us d e fie d ,

fo ur cycl o n e s wa s d e sti ne d t o b e c o nq ue re d by he r
,

fifth . U nd e r C aptai n B re b ne r s he wo uld no d o ub t

have again va nq uish e d the e l e m e nts b ut unfo rtun , ,

ate ly thi s t im e she was no t in such capabl e hands

, .

I n A pril 1 8 9 5 sh e was s o ld to Pe rs ian o wn e rs

, , ,

a nd l e ft M uscat in S e pte mb e r o f t he sam e ye a r

,

c o mmand e d by an A rab a nd d e e p l o ad e d with s alt

fo r Calc utta A s s he n e v e r a rriv e d at he r d e sti na

.

ti o n he r fate w o uld h a v e no d o ubt re mai ned a

,

myste ry b ut fo r the fo ll o wi ng l e tt e r
3 60 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE R S
familiar o bj ect in th e p o rts of Mars e ill e s and S o uth

A m e rica .

H er d e b ut und e r the I talian fl ag was rath er

un fo rtunat e .S h e was s o ld in A ust ralia and o n ,

h e r way h o m e c o llid e d with t h e Conrowarra o ff

G ree n Cap e o n 1 5 th A p ril 1 8 9 4 he r s e c o nd o ffice r
, ,

b e ing fo und to blame A fte r which fo r the n e xt 1 5

.

ye ars sh e was to b e s e e n in N apl e s Mars e ill e s o r , ,

Rio l o o king as s pick a nd s pan as e v e r t he o nly

, ,

change visible to th o s e who had k no wn he r in he r

prim e be ing th e re duce d spars S he was finally .

b ro k e n up at Mars e ill e s in Ma rch 1 9 1 0 , .

O f o th e r n o tabl e s hips in t he t ea fl e e t L eander ,

was still und e r the B riti sh flag in the nin e ti e s b e i ng ,

o wn e d by R A nd e rso n o f L o nd o n
. She also traded .

o ut East a nd a ft e r b e ing damage d by t wo cycl o n e s

, ,

in March and A pril o f 1 8 9 2 s he was s o ld to M uscat

,

A rabs and was l o st ab o ut th e sam e tim e and in the

,

sam e way as S ir L ancelot fo und e ring with he r ,

A rab c re w in a cycl o n e whe n b o und fro m M uscat

t o Calcut ta with salt .

Undine had a t e rribl e e xpe ri e nc e in 1 8 8 2 She .

was swe pt bare by a n ab no rmal wav e which t o o k ,

t h e s e c o nd mat e a nd h is wh o l e watch
o v e rb o a rd

Captai n B risto w wh o had b e e n in he r fro m his

,

appre ntic e ship b e i ng fo und d e ad und e r he r spare

,

spars o n the fo ll o wi ng m o rni ng .

S h o rtly aft e r thi s t rage dy Undine was b o ught by

M I ve tta o f Ragus a a nd s o disapp ea re d into
.
,
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 361

oblivi o n Wind/cover re mai ne d und e r the B ritish

.

flag t o th e e nd t radi ng m o stly t o A ustralia O n

, .

1 sth O cto b e r 1 8 8 7 sh e a rriv e d in S a n Francisc o 4 4

, ,

days fro m N e wcastl e N , a pas s age which was

within 4 days o f th e re co rd a nd this in spit e o f
,

re duc e d ca nvas a nd no ya rd s o n h e r miz e n mas t .

S h o rtly a ft e r t his p e rfo rma n c e h o w e v e r sh e was, ,

wre cke d o n th e A us t ralian C o ast .

Kaisow also re main e d und e r th e B riti sh flag to

the e nd . O n t h e 1 4 th N o v e mb e r 1 8 9 0 sh e l e ft , ,

V alparais o barque rigg e d a nd l o ad e d wi th mangan

-

ese o re fo r th e U n it e d Ki ngd o m A t 2 a m o n th e
. . .

1 sth sh e was run n i ng und e r t o p s ail s a nd fo re s ail ,

whe n sh e was st ruck by a h e avy s e a which h o ve h e r

o n he r b e am e n d s a nd caus e d h e r ca rg o t o s hi ft .

She was th e n 6 0 mil e s W S W o f V alparai s o

. . . Sh e .

o nly j ust gav e h e r c re w t im e t o ge t cl e a r in o ne o f

he r li fe bo ats b e fo re sh e fill e d and s a nk th e li fe b o at ,

safe ly making th e land o n th e fo ll o wing day a fe w

mil e s s o uth o f th e R iv e r L amari .

N orman Court c o nti n ue d in t h e t e a t rad e unt il

1 880 th o ugh re d uc e d and c o nv e rt e d i nt o a b a rq ue
,

in 1 8 7 8.

A t th e e nd o f 1 8 7 3 a ft e r a passage o f 1 1 6 day s
,

fro m Fo o ch o w C aptai n A nd re w S h e wan gav e up

,

the c o mma nd o f N o rma n Court o wi ng t o ill h e alth -

,

and h is s o n t o o k o v e r th e B a ri ng clipp e r O n the .

passage o ut to A ustralia in 1 8 7 4 yo ung S h e wan ,

was abl e t o t ry h is ship against that fly e r in light

3 62 TH E CH IN A C LI P PE R S
ai rs Ka isow Th e t wo v e ss e l s me t o ff B e achy
,
.

H e ad o n the 6 th J anuary a nd w e re co nstantly in ,

c o mpany right d o w n to th e ro a ri ng fo rti e s wh e n ,

th e y w e re parte d by thick w e ath e r in 40 S 2 W

° °
.
,

and did no t m e e t again .

O n his fi rst passag e h o m e in c o mma nd fat e gav e ,

yo ung S h e wan a still gre ate r antago nist nam e ly S ir ,

L a ncelot The latt e r s ail e d fro m S hanghai o n 1 8 th

.

J uly and N orman Conrt fro m Fo o ch o w o n 2 7 th

,

J uly O n 2 9 1h J uly the t wo s hips me t in the

.

Fo rmo sa Chann e l a nd we re in c o mpany until 7 th

,

A ugust wh e n th e y w e re part e d by t h e tail e nd o f a

,

t yph o o n O n 2 5 th A ug us t th e y agai n me t o ff the

.

B o rn e o Co ast and agai n l o s t sigh t o f e ach o th e r .

N orma n Co nrt pass e d A nj e r at 8 p m o n t he . .

3 o th a nd S ir L a ncelot e a rly o n t he 3 1 5 t
,
I t had .

b e e n the us ual we ari s o m e wo rk o f squall s and calms

in th e Chi na S e a b ut b o th v e ss e ls mad e up fo r l o st
,

t im e in t h e I ndia n O ce a n N o rman Court s run

’

ac ro s s th e t rad e s b e i ng e spe cially go o d the fo llo w ,

ing b e i ng h e r b e st w e e k s w o rk ’

Date . Co urse . Dist . Winds .

g q ll
30 8 Stro n tra e s , s ua s a nd s hwd o er
g d
S tro n tra es, S E t o . .

30 3 i l l ll
o c c as o na u s

{
3 19 St ng t d
ro he vy b mra es , a ea sea
A M d li ni ng P M fr h
ec es

{
2 89
.
, . . .
,
.

H vy S E w ll
ea . . s e
Fr h v i bl tr d
es S S E to
ar a e a e s,
2 83
. . .

S E by E
. H e vy
. in . a ra
A M
. l e ring P M fre h
.
, c a . . .
, s
tr d
27 1
a es
A M b ri k
. . P M d r sing
, s . . .
, ec ea
273
t d ra es
3 64 TH E CH NA I C LI PPE R S
v e ry h e avy se a S hippi ng s o m e v e ry h e avy l umps
.
.

8 pm .
gal
. e,
i n c re a s i ng a n d was g o ing
,
t o tak e in

fo re a nd miz e n t o psail s wh e n s h e t o o k a pl unge and

b ro k e th e j ibb o o m K e pt h e r away to cl e ar the
.

w re ck a nd le t h e r run unde r l o w e r t o ps ail s Wi nd

,
.

N W and w e ste ri ng M id n ight wh o l e gal e with rain

. . . ,
.

Tre m e nd o us no rth e rly s e a wi nd N W by W ,

. . .

A t 1 p m o n 1 6 th N o v e mb e r N orma n Court
. . ,

mad e the L izard in a fre sh no rth w e st e rly gal e ; a nd -

s h e t o o k h e r pil o t o ff D unge n e ss j ust 2 4 h o urs late r .

Tha t night s he a nch o re d in th e D o wns 1 1 3 days ,

fro m Fo o ch o w S ir L an celot a rriv e d in the D o wns

.

o n t he fo ll o wi ng day 1 8 th N o v e mb e r so tha t
, ,

N o rma n Co urt b e at h e r h o m e by o ne day fro m th e

Fo rm o s a Cha nne l N e ith e r v e s s e l was fav o ure d
.

by the w e ath e r e ith e r in the Chi na S e a o ff the

, ,

Cap e o r in t he N o rth A tla ntic o r th e i r t im e s w o uld ,

hav e b e e n much b e tte r .

I n 1 8 7 5 N orma n Court cam e h o m e fro m S hanghai

in 1 2 0 days l e a ving 2 md S e pt e m b e r a nd o n h e r
, ,

n e xt v o yag e did th e s am e t rip in 1 0 6 days with the

fav o ura bl e m o ns o o n Th e n in 1 8 7 7 t h e d e p re s si o n
.

in fre igh t s le d h e r o w ne rs t o tak e th e us ual s t e p s ,

a nd whil s t s h e was o n t h e Chi na C o a s t o rd e rs cam e

, ,

o ut fo r t h e ya rd s t o b e s t ripp e d o ff h e r miz e n mast

a nd h e r c re w t o b e re d uc e d H ardly was this d o ne

.
,

h o we v e r b e fo re sh e was charte re d t o l o ad te a at
,

H o ng K o ng fo r Po rt Elizab e th S o uth A frica— the ,

t e a be i ng s e nt d o w n t o H o ng K o ng by ste am A nd .
 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE RS 365

he r cha rt e r c o ntain e d a claus e which state d that sh e

was to ge t 5 / a t o n e xt ra if she a rriv e d in Po rt
Elizabe th be fo re a G e rman clipp e r barque s imilarly
lo ade d.

The G e rman go t away 1 0 days ah e ad b ut in spit e ,

o f a sl o w passag e to A nj e r in t h e m o nth o f A ugust ,

N orman Court arriv e d at Po rt Elizab e th o n 2 8 th

Se pte mb e r 6 1 days o ut a nd 2 0 days b e fo re the
,

Ge rman .

Sh e t h e n l o ad e d wo o l at th e Cap e fo r L o nd o n ,

and o n l gth J an ua ry 1 8 7 9 mad e the S cilli e s 43

, , ,

days o ut fro m Tabl e Bay I t was that t e rribl e

.

January wh e n the Tham e s was fro z e n o v e r a nd ,

o ld s e am e n will als o re m e mb e r it fo r th e ha rd t im e

the y had in the Chan ne l battling against the chilly

blast o f the N E gal e which s e e m e d as if it wo uld
. .
,

ne v e r e n d .

N orman Court cam e in fo r the full brunt o f it ,

and spe nt th re e day s o ff t h e Wo l f Ro ck b e ati ng

und e r l o w e r t o psails ; unlik e m o st o f the h o m e ward

bo unde rs she did no t run i n to Falm o uth as s o o n as

,

she was ro und t h e L iza rd b ut batt e re d he r way up ,

Chann e l tack and tack

,
I n the cabi n C aptai n
.

S h e wan and his pass e nge rs st ro v e t o k e e p warm

with C ape brandy p unch and se a pi e s which had to ,

b e bro ught aft in the sauc e pan and e ate n o n th e

cabin s e tte e so h e avily was the N orman Court
,

pitching into it .

The c ro wd fo rwa rd h o we ver with no s uch , ,

 3 66 TH E C H INA C LIPPE RS
l uxuri e s had 1 2 days o f icy sp ray we t cl o thing
, , ,

”
a nd mai nto psail haul and at last wh e n a tug
“
, , ,

b o re d o wn o n the hard use d ship o ff B e achy -

H e ad th e y li s t e ne d t o the bargaini ng with the

,

g re at e st anxi e ty .

The wi nd had m o d e rate d by t hi s tim e th o ugh ,

s till a de ad muzzl e r a nd N orma n Court had all

“
,

s ail s e t The tugb o at ma n wa nte d a big s um t o to w

.

t he cl ipp e r t o L o nd o n Captain S h e wa n o ffe re d him

.

t which t h t u s h e e re d o ff and Captain

5 0 , a e g ,

S he wa n imm e diat e ly w e n t ab o ut a nd s t o o d o ut to
se a again .

A gai n th e tug cam e al o ng s id e 6 0 he ro a re d .

, .

But C aptai n S h e wan w o uld no t giv e in and o nce ,

m o re t h e t ug d ro pp e d a s t e rn O nc e m o re the .

N o rma n Court was fill e d away h e r c re w lit e rally ,

g ro ani ng as th e y haul e d a ft the mai n s h e e t The .

s ail was ha rdly s e t h o w e v e r b e fo re t he s te amb o at

, ,

cam e pant i ng up again a nd t he w e lc o m e c ry rang

,

o ut ac ro s s th e sh o rt Chan ne l s e a H aul that mai n

s ail u
p a nd giv e us y o ur ro p e .

With a s te nto ria n ch e e r th e N o rman Court s cre w ’

fl e w t o the b untli ne s a nd cl e w garne ts and t he ship

was s t ripp e d o f h e r canva s in re c o rd tim e .

The N o rma n Co urt was t h e o n ly s hip t o b e at up

Channe l in that m o nth o f fre e zing e as t e rly gal e s ,

with the e xce pti o n o f t he b e aut i ful w o o l clippe r

M erme rus o ne o f th e fin e s t a nd faste s t i ro n ships
,

e v e r b uil t B o th ships h o w e v e r might hav e sav e d

.
, ,
 368 TH E C H N A C I LI P PE R S
I giv e th e lo g pas sage in the
of he r 1873

appe ndix Th o s e o f 1 8 7 4 a nd 1 8 7 5 sh o w the sam e

. .

uni fo rmly go o d t im e s b e tw e e n t h e va ri o us p o ints .

I n 1 8 7 5 s h e wa s d e lay e d two days by having to

s t o p at S t H e l e na in o rd e r t o la nd C aptai n Watt
. ,

who was s o ill that h e di e d alm o st b e fo re his ship

was o ut o f s ight o f the i s land .

'
H is chi e f o ffic e r Fo wl e r b ro ught the H a llo we en
, ,

h o m e a nd had c o mmand o f he r fo r th e n e xt fe w
y e ars H e r o utward pas sage s w e re us ually mad e to
.

S yd ne y a nd th o ugh s he ne v e r e q uall e d he r maid e n

,

passag e sh e was c o ns id e re d the o nly v e ss e l which

c o uld s e ri o usly rival Tnerm ofiy lae a nd Cutty S a rk
in s p e e d .

O n 1 9 th A ug ust 1 8 8 6 s he l e ft Fo o ch o w fo r
, ,

L o nd o n with what was t o b e h e r las t cargo o f t e a ,

fo r at p m o n 1 7 th J a nua ry
. . 188 7 s h e ra n , ,

asho re ne ar S alc o mb e a nd b e cam e a t o tal w re ck .

L otna ir the las t o f t he t e a clipp e rs ( I do no t

,

co unt th e i ro n S erafi is which was no t launch e d ,

until 1 8 7 5 a nd s a w v e ry littl e o f th e t e a t rad e was

)
c o nv e rte d to a barque in th e e a rly e ighti e s a nd fo r ,

ano th e r t e n ye ars s he s t ill fl e w th e R e d E ns ign

Th e n s he wa s s o ld t o G e no e s e o wne rs wh o agai n so ld
h e r t o t h e Pe ruvians ab o ut 1 90 6 o r 1 9 0 a nd s he did
7 ,

n o t di s app e a r fro m t h e re giste r until 1 1 1

9 ; i nd e e d
it is q uite p o s s ibl e tha t she is still k no cki ng ab o ut
‘

th e S o uth Pacific with Callao a s h e r h o m e p o rt

We no w co m e to the gre at Tnermopylae She

.

.
 TH E C H INA C L IPPE RS 3 69

re main e d in the s e rvice o f he r o riginal o wn e rs the ,

famo us A be rd e e n White S tar L in e until 1 8 90 and , ,

the tim e s o f h e r o utwa rd and h o m e wa rd pas s age s

whils t und e r th e i r h o us e flag (which are giv e n in the

appe ndix) sh o w th e w o nd e rful co nsiste ncy o f h e r
wo rk in spite o f th e fact that he r sail a nd spar plan
,

was twic e reduc ed Th e av e rage o f he r b e st t e n

. .

passage s o ut to M e lbo urn e fro m pilo t to pil o t give , ,

the asto ni s hing tim e of 67 days and Captain ,

J e nkins he r last co mma nd e r unde r Th o mps o n s flag

,
’
,

de clared that o n the 3 rst D e ce mbe r 1 8 8 8 o nly t wo , ,

years be fo re sh e was s o ld sh e mad e 3 5 8 mil e s in ,

the 2 4 h o urs whil s t run n ing he r c as t ing d o w n in

,

44 S 6 8 E b o und o ut t o S yd ne y
°
.
.
, .
,

H e r o nly bad passage o ut t o t he C o l o ni e s was

the o ne to S yd ne y in th e winte r o f 1 8 8 2 3 But -
.

the fo ll o wing abstract fro m h e r lo g will e a s ily

explain t he rea s o n o f this

Light t ly wi d p m
e as er n s 2
N W by W
. .

P tl nd b
or a o re

{
. . .

L d d M C bl y pil t
an e r. o e ,
o

Mo d S S E. wi nd H vy
. . . s. ea
1 15
h d ea sea
Fr h uth ly b eze and thi k
es so er re c
12 9
h vy c nfu d
ea o se se a

50 Str ng w esterly b
o ze re e

t ng westerly g l e
ro a .

95 squ lls H igh

a . se

und r l w er t p il s
e o o sa

tr ng g l e and h e vy sq u ll
o a a a s.

S o ut h 52 Shifting fr m N W t w t o . . o es .

H d re ch ing n b th t k
ea a o o ac s

Str ng gal e fro m west H vy

W o . ea
N 53
squ ll s
. .

a
370 TH E CH N A I C LI PPE R S
Dat e . Co urse . R e m arks .

Ship l ying t with h vy a o ea

W S W g l nd in 10 a e a ra
m hi ft d t N W H vy
. . . .

Jan 29 45 5 8 I O 02 14 E . a. . s e o . . ea
s ea .Ship l b u i ng v ry a o r e

S tr ng N W g l
o nd h vy . . a es a ea
nfu d Ship l b u ing
lo 34 26 W .
co
h vy nd hippi ng mu h
ea
se
a
se a .

s
a o r

c
w t nd k a er o ec
V i l nt g l fr m S S W t
o e a e o o
N W v y h vy
. .

M in
.

. .
, er ea sea . a
l w t p il nd n w mi n
o er o sa a e ze
t y il bl w t pi
s a sa e o eces
V i l nt g l
o e hip l yi ng t und a e, s a o er
f t pm t t y il
o re o nd I as s a sa a ce
44 4 5 I O 02
l w f f t p il 8 p m
c e o o re o sa .

t p il bl w w y
. .
,
f o re o sa e a a
V i l nt g l v i g fr m
34 W
o e a es eer n o
.

WS W t N W o

S tr ng W N W g l
. . . . .

o nd h vy a e a ea
W
. . .

44 28 1 0 04 . 15 . nfu d
co N l w t p se sea . 0 o er o
il t S iling by th wind
sa se . a e
F h w t ly b
re s nd l es e r re eze a c ear.
1 1 26 65 W . B ndi ng l w t p i l ; wi nd
e o er o sa s
f h ni ng S ilingb yth wind
re s e . a e
St i ng by th wi nd t ng
ee r e s ro
12 2 6 84 W . S W br . Ship und
. ee ze . er
l w r t p il nd t y il
o e o sa s a s a sa s
St ng S S W g l
ro nd in a e a ra
W
. . .

M id nigh t l m N n t ng
.

12 51 66 ca oo s ro
S W g l
.
, .
,

hi p l ying t a e, s a o
Fi t p t t ng S W
. .

nd
45 W
rs ar s ro seco
p t t ng N W g l
. .
13 51 .

ar s ro a e
St ng N W b
. .

ro nd l re e ze a c ear
W
. .

4 2 46 14 42 23 up t mid nigh t th n t ng
o e s ro
WS W g l t n n
. .
,

a e o oo
St ng W S W g l f
. . .

ro 6 a e or 1
h u th n hift t N W
. . .

42 5 3 15 19 o rs, e s o
S hip h d hing
. .

ea reac
S tr ng W S W g l ; hip h d
o

{
a e s ea
46 E
. . .

42 I 42 22
hi ng nd l ying t
4 .

re ac a a o
H vy W S W g l nd r in
41 38 I4 45 10 W .
ea

l tt r p t tr ng g l
a e ar
. .

s
. a e a a ,

o a e
S t ng W S W b r
ro nd l eeze a c ear
W
. . . .

14 o r n
g R f d upp t p il
ee e er o sa s . ea r
ing hip s
S t ng g l f m W S W
.

13 38 n
g ro a e ro
S t ng g l f m W S W
. . .

ro a e ro
Fi t p t f h W S W br z
. . .

rs ar res . . . ee e
38 3 5 14 0 6 nd
a i n l tt p t light ir
ra , a er ar a s
nd
a lm ca s

08
L igh t uth lywi nd nd l
so er sa ca
37 15 I
H vy N W w ll
3
ea . . s e
36 5 3 16 06 C lm nd v i bl
a s a T ki ng ar a es. ac
36 1 8 15
59 L ight v i bl i ar a e a rs
372 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
no tably o ne o f 2 9 days be tw e e n S hanghai and
V icto ria B C
, .

H e r last passage und e r th e B ritish flag was mad e

b e twe e n Po rt Blak e ly and L e ith o v e r which she
,

t o o k 1 4 1 day s S he was th e n ( 1 8 9 5 ) s o ld to the

.

Po rtugue s e G o v e rnm e nt wh o t urn e d he r i nto a

,

tra ini ng ship a nd re nam e d h e r th e P edro N unes .

Fi nally o n the 1 3 th O ct o b e r 1 9 0 7 she was to we d

, ,

o ut o f t he Tag us by t wo Po rtugue s e me n o f wa r - -

and t o rpe d o e d S o m e pe o pl e stat e d that s h e was

.

simply us e d as a targ e t in a naval di splay o the rs ,

t hat th e Po rtug ue s e G o v e rnm e nt fi ndi ng that s he was

,

to o o ld a nd t o o small fo r t h e s e rvic e o n which s h e

was e ngage d d e cid e d t o giv e h e r a naval fun e ral

,

in h o n o ur o f h e r sple ndid achi e v e m e nts in t he pa s t ,

and th ere fo re c e re mo ni o usly to w e d he r o ut to s e a

and s unk he r with co lo urs flyi ng a nd ba nd s playi ng .

L e t us h o p e t hat it was this latt e r m o s t wo rth y

s e ntim e nt that i ns pi re d th e Po rtugue se .

I hav e l e ft the Cutty S a mé to t h e las t fo r t he

simpl e re as o n that s he is th e o nly ship o ut o f the
who l e t e a fl e e t which is s t ill a fl o at — a nd no t o nly

afl o at b ut s t ill e arni ng h e r livi ng o n the g re at wat e rs .

I n th e appe ndix I giv e a c o mpl e t e re c o rd o f he r

wo nd e rful w o rk in th e A ustralian t rad e whil s t und e r
t h e B ritish flag .A fe w no te s o n t he b e st o f her
pass age s will h o w e ve r b e o f inte re s t
, , .

I n th e wi nte r o f 1 8 7 7 8 she mad e he r b e s t

-

pas sage o ut t o S yd ne y aft e r v e ry ne arly e ndi ng he r

,
 TH E C H IN A C LIPPE RS 373

days on th e G o o dwi n S a nd s d uri ng o ne of th e

s e v ere s t gal e s o f th e c e n tury .

S h e had l e ft L o nd o n with a ge n e ral cargo fo r

S yd ne y o n 3 rd N o v e mb e r 1 8 7 7 But th e w e ath e r
, .

was so bad in th e Cha nn e l that afte r fighting vai nly

fo r fiv e days t o mak e h e adway agai nst t h e gal e s h e ,

put back t o the D o w ns and S unday t he 1 1 th o f

, ,

N o v e mb e r fo und he r riding o ut a furi o us S W gale

, . .

with 1 0 5 fath o ms o n h e r s tarb o ard a nd 6 0 fath o m s

o n h e r p o rt a nch o r whil s t a no t h e r 2 0 0
, fatho ms
we re ra nge d o n d e ck in cas e o f e m e rg e ncy .

The sto rm g re w ste adily w o rs e until at

p. m . b o th cabl e s pa rt e d t h e wind
, no w bl o wing

a hurricane .

B e fo re suffici e nt sail c o uld b e s e t to put the Cutty

S a rk un d e r c o nt ro l o f he r h e lm s h e ra n fo ul o f t wo
,

ships a nch o re d n e a r he r fi rst c rashi ng i nt o a b rig

,

o n he r p o rt a nd th e n a s hip o n h e r sta rb o a rd hand .

Luc kily h o w e v e r sh e d ri fte d cl e a r b e fo re a ny v e ry

, ,

s e rio us damage was d o ne .

A ve ry h e avy s e a was run ning and the night was

pitch dark C aptain Tip taft with a c re w o f 2 8 all
.

t o ld manage d t o se t a fo re to pmast s taysail re e fe d ,

fo re sail a nd mai n l o w e r t o p s ail a nd st e e re d a c o urs e

thro ugh the G ull S t re am th e n as s o o n as h e was to
,

the n o r a rd o f t h e G o o dwi n s a nd ab out 8 mil e s

’

n o rth o f th e N o rth Fo re land L ight he ho v e ,

he r t o o n th e sta rb o a rd tack with h e r h e ad to

the s o uthwa rd .
374 TH E C H INA C LIPPE R S
Cutfy S a rk wa s still h o w e v e r in v e ry grav e
, ,

dange r b o th by re a s o n o f th e furi o us gal e and the

damage sh e had al re ady s us tain ed S he had no .

a nch o r availabl e o r which c o uld b e go t o ve r the

b o ws in such a se a as was runni ng and o nly 4 5
fa th o m s o f chai n re mai n i ng .

The fo re s ail had bl o wn away al o ng with o th e r

sails t o rn o ut o f th e i r gask e ts th e l o we r t o psail had ,

s plit a nd o nly th e fo re t o pma s t staysail re mai ne d

i ntact. A t th e s am e tim e o wi ng t o th e two ,

c o lli s i o ns all he r p o rt fo re b rac e s w e re go ne so that

, ,

th e ya rd s co uld no t b e b race d up a nd lastly h e r , , ,

bulwark s had b e e n l e v e ll e d to the d e ck .

N o t k no wi ng what o th e r damag e might no t hav e

b e e n s us tai ne d a nd taki ng i nto c o nsid e rati o n t he
h e lpl e ss ne ss o f h is po siti o n Captai n Tip ta ft no w ,

d e cided t o s e nd up ro ck e ts and burn flare s fo r

as s i s tanc e A t ab o ut 4 3 0 p m th e s e att racte d the
. . . .

atte nti o n o f th e t ug M Gf ego r which was s o m e ‘ '

,

di s tance to th e S W o f the K e nti s h K no ck The

. . .

tug at o n c e s e t o ff at full s p e e d and wi t hi n a n h o ur

was al o ngs ide the di s t re s s e d v e s s e l which had by ,

thi s t im e d ri fte d cl o se to the S o uth K e nti sh

K no ck b uo y .

Wi th gre at di ffi culty the M G reg or manage d to ‘

pas s he r ro pe abo a rd b ut wh e n it cam e to to wi ng

, ,

it was fo und that wi th he r utm o s t p re ssure o f s te am ,

2 7 lb s.
, sh e c o uld o nly p ro g re s s at t h e rat e o f a mil e

a n h o ur a nd by 10 a m
, s h e had o nly t o w ed the
. .
 376 TH E I
CH N A C LI PPE R S
di sappe are d o v e rbo ard upo n which th e mate ,

d e cid e d to b ri ng th e s hip back to S i ngapo re and

s o l o s t a v e ry val uabl e cha rt e r .

I t was o n h e r arrival h o m e in th e ye a r 1 88 1 that

Ca lly S a ré had h e r s pa rs a nd s ail pla n re d uc e d .

S h e c o nti nue d to t rad e b e tw e e n th e Chi ne se p o rts

a nd N e w Y o rk until th e e nd o f 1 8 8 3 t h e n w e nt a ,

v o yag e o ut to N e wc astl e N a nd back , .

I n 1 8 8 2 a Cap t ai n B ruc e had he r th e n Captai n ,

M o o re t o o k co mmand o f he r fo r th re e vo yag e s I t .

was no t h o w e ve r until 1 8 8 5 wh e n Captai n M o o re

, ,

wa s succe e d e d by Captai n Wo o dge t that Ca lly

S a ré was o nc e m o re all o w e d t o s h o w h e r pace s .

O n h e r fi rst o utward passage und e r Captain

Wo o dge t she had a mo s t i nte re s ti ng ra ce to S yd ne y
a gai ns t t h e t wo i ro n w o o l c lipp e rs S a muel P limsoll ,

a nd S ir W a lter R a le igh a nd als o o ne o f S m ith s

’

'

fas t citi e s t he Czly of Yo rk

,
.

A ll t h re e ve ss e l s w e re no te d fo r t h e i r s p e e d a nd ,

t h e re s ul t was o f t h e m o s t l e v e l d e s c rip t i o n a s t he

fo ll o wi ng tim e s s h o w

Ofi th e Cro sse d
Passed P as sed
A rrived Days
S tart . t h e Li ne .
C ap e
Me ridian .
Cap e
O tw y
a ,
y
S dne ) . Out .

City f York
o A p il 2
r A p il 2 3
r M ay 2 6 Jun e 18 J un e 21 80
Cutty S aré 3 23 19 16 20 78
S a m uel PIzmsoll 78
‘

4 2 21 18 21
S ir W
a lter R a lei
gh 4 28 22 22 79

Cutty S e mé s
’
firs t th re e ho m e ward pas sage s fro m
S yd ne y und e r Captain Wo o dge t cam e ve ry ne r a
b e i ng a re o r c d .
 TH E CH INA C LI PPE R S 37 7

On th e fi rst sh e was o ff the L izard 6 7 days o ut .

O n th e s e co nd s h e l e ft S ydne y a6 th March 1 8 8 7 , .

Passe d C pe H
a o rn z xst A p ilr 26 dy a s o ut.

E qu t a o r 1 3 thM ay 48
Azo re s 2 sth M ay 60
To o k h r pil
e ot of
f D ung e ness 6 th June 72

O n he r thi rd s he was o ff B righto n a t 1 p m o n . .

8 th March 7 1 days o ut , .

But right up t o 1 8 9 5 sh e c o nti nue d to do go o d

wo rk U nlik e t h e A m e rican clippe rs which l o s t a
.
,

gre at d e al o f th e i r s p e e d in o ld age th ro ugh b e

co mi ng wate r s o ake d Cutty S a ne wh e n o ve r twe nty
-
, ,

ye ars o ld s e e m e d t o b e a s fas t as e v e r
, I n 1 89 5 .

s he was s o ld t o th e L i s b o n firm o f Fe rre ira Co .

,

he r nam e b e i ng cha ng e d t o Fe rre ira ye t o nly a ,

fe w ye ars back I h e a rd t hat s he c o uld s till do he r 1 6

kno ts wi th o ut much fus s Fo r th e pas t fe w y e ars
.

s he ha s b e e n making o ne l e isure ly v o yage a y e a r

-

hal f the tim e be i ng s p e nt in p o rt h e r ro und b e i ng ,

usually L i s b o n t o R io de J a n e i ro th e n N e w O rl e a ns , ,

a nd fro m th e re back t o t h e Tagus Th o ugh o f .

,

c o urse th e Po rtug ue s e mak e no atte mpt t o d riv e

,

he r th e y hav e k e pt t h e yards o n the miz e n a nd she

,

make s ve ry go o d a nd re gular pas s age s .

A n o ffice r o f th e M e rcantil e Mari n e wh o saw he r ,

in N e w O rl e ans l as t May h as s e nt me the fo llo wing ,

inte re sting acc o unt o f th e o ld ship

S tro lling l e isure ly o ne day al o ng the wate r fro nt
at N e w O rl e ans I n o tice d s ta nding p ro mi ne nt ly o ut
,

behind an o ld she d the tall t ape ri ng spars o f a

378 TH E CH N A I C LIPPE RS
s aili ng s hip This cl a ss o f ca rg o carri e r b e i ng m o re
.

xc pti than h l at t h wha rv s o f the

t h e e e o n t e ru e e e

Cre s e nt city and taki ng as I do a k e e n i nt e re s t in

,

th e d o ings o f th e o ld cli pp e rs my c uri o sity te mpte d,

m e t o inv e stigat e s o re traci ng my ste ps I mad e the

,

b e s t o f my way th ro ugh a timb er yard and e v e ntu

ally e m e rg e d up o n the o ld a nd dilapidate d wharf
at which she lay The day o f clipp e r ship s
.

wa s past and go n e l o ng e re I c o mm e nc e d my
app re nt ice ship in a m o d e rn Clyd e fo ur po s te r b ut -
,

I ne e d e d no te lli ng that this was o ne o f t he

o ld tim e rs .

Th e s un high in th e h e av e ns sh o n e d o wn with a
, ,

d a zzli ng glare o n h e r we ath e r b eate n hull pai nfull y -

,

e mpha s ising e v e ry d e tail o f its shabby e xt e ri o r a nd

g e ne ral air o f n egl e ct b ut th o ugh sh o rn o f m uch

,

o f h e r fo rm e r gl o ry t h e unmi s takabl e stamp o f a n

ari s to crat o f the sea was i ne radicabl e I t s h o ne .

fo rt h d e s pit e h e r tatte re d ge ar and pitt e d bulwa rks .

L ik e th e o ld race r o ne s o m e tim e s s e e s re l e gat e d to

th e s ha fts th e b re e d was un mistakabl e
’
.
,

Fl o ating lazily al o ft wi th th e shi e ld and c ro w n o f

Braga nza s n o bl e h o use g rav e n up o n it was t he
’

e ns ign o f Po rtugal Wo nde ri ng vague ly what o ld

.

clippe r sh e might b e I s aunt e re d al o ng the wharf

,

admi ri ng h e r g rac e ful li ne s S he was ship rigge d.

-

wi th singl e t o pgallant s ail s and co mpo sit e built .

H e r c o pp e r sh e athing was visibl e appare ntly i ntact .

L o o ki ng at h e r fro m fo rwa rd h e r e nt ranc e was like

,
380 TH E C H I N A C LI P PE R S
s e ats as th e y we re o f a patt e rn m o re ge n erally
fo und in parks and gard e ns than o n b oard ship .

Two individ uals o ccupi e d this p o o p o ne w orked ,

a way stitchin n t h e g o re o f a t o psail th e o th e r

, g o ,

s l umb e re d p e ac e fully o n o ne o f t he ga rd e n s e ats .

The running ge ar all cam e d o wn t o the o uter o r

l o w e r po o p fro m which the mize n riggin g was s e t
,

up . Walking ro und this o ute r po o p I came to the

afte r e nd o f the upp e r o ne abaft which was the ,

s te e ring ge ar .

“
I e xamine d the wh e e l and ge ar with inte rest
.
,

a nd als o th e b rass h e ll b ut th o ugh b o th w e re o f an

,

o ld patt e rn I fail e d to find any trac e o f the

,

'
ship s o riginal nam e o n e i th e r A dvancing o n the .

i ndivid ual who was g o ri ng th e to psail and who by ,

th e way did no t s e e m in the l e ast dist urb e d at my

,

p re se nc e I addre ss e d him
,

Yo u sp e ak English ?
’

H e l o o k e d up a nd s h o o k his h e ad .

‘
A re yo u an o ffic e r I haza rde d .

”
‘
N o sab e , .

Wh ere is the captain ? I ask e d at last as a s o rt ’

o f fo rl o rn h o p e The re ply s o m e what asto nish ed me

. .

“ ‘
Me capitan he s aid a nd we nt o n with his
,
’

w o rk I th e n mad e vari o us ge st ure s to signify I

.

w o uld like to s ee d o wn be l o w H e n odd ed .

acqui e sce nce s o l e avi ng him t o his s t itchi ng and the

,

( fo r such I to o k him to b e ) to his

’
una pe l o ta
‘

s l umb e rs I d e sc e nd ed th e a ft e r c o m a ni o n
,
p .
 DE C K O F “
CU T TY S A RK IN 19 1 3 .

M a in m a s t an d M ids h ip h o u s e l ki n g
o o fo rw a rd .

Bre a k o f th e Po o p .

{
T o
fa ce P a ge
3 82 TH E I
CH N A C LI P PE R S
po rts (no w all pl ugge d up) sh o wing that at o ne time
sh e had carri e d h uman fre ight h e re e mig rants -
,

no d o ubt .

“
Co mi ng t o th e mai n hatchway I p e e re d cl o s ely ,

at it s pitt e d s urfac e e nd e avo uri ng t o d e ciph e r s o me

l e t t e rs a nd fig ure s c ut o n the aft e r c o aming b ut ,

o nly ma nag e d t o mak e o ut 6 3 5 5 6 and 9 2 1 to ns 1 00 .

C o nti nui ng fo rward th ro ugh th e fo re tw ee n

“ ’

d e cks which c o ntai ne d the us ual mi s c e llan e o us

c o ll e cti o n o f o ld j unk bl o cks a nd rusty wi re I
, ,

c am e t o t h e fo re hatch A nd as I l o o ke d d o wn
.

b e l o w at he r we dg e like e nt ranc e I t h o ught that ,

a s sure dly it ne e d e d clippe r fre ights to mak e the ship

pay O ne co uld hardly find ro o m to stand up o n
.

e ith e r s id e o f th e k e e l s o n so fine was s he

, The .

i ro n co llisi o n bulkh e ad cam e do wn t riangl e s hap ed -

,

t h e ap e x a t t h e k e e ls o n a nd I m e ntally c o mpa re d
,

it with th o s e o f s o m e m o d e rn wi ndjamm e rs and

t ramps which fo rm ne a rly a s q ua r
“
R e traci ng my st e ps a ft a nd climbi ng th ro ugh the
aft e r hatchway I re ach e d the d e ck agai n and
,

was no t so rry t o fe e l th e b right sunshi ne for ,

t h e o ld tw e e n d e ck had a chilly e e ri e atm o sph ere

’

ab o ut it .

G azi ng ro und I no w fo und ma ny things to

,

i nte re st me . H e r d e cks w e re badly rutt e d and

c rack e d a nd s o re ly ne e d e d o il H e r riggi ng fitte d
.
,

with wi re lanya rds ( a d o ubt ful b o o n) wo uld have

b e e n b e tte r fo r a littl e t ar and s e rvice A s the .
 TH E CH INA C LIPPE RS 383

Yanks wo uld say th e y w e re H e ll o n chai ns chain

, ,
’

s t ro ps b e i ng in ab undanc e A nd wh e re a backstay
.

had parte d o r a fo re and afte r g o n e in t he nip the ,

d efici e ncy was s uppli e d in thi s mann e r A ve ry .

handy d e vic e ca ught my e ye aba ft t h e mai n riggi ng ,

viz a s i ngl e winch ba rre l with do ubl e p urchas e

and handl e clamp e d t o th e to pgallant p in rail .

Appare ntly it c o uld b e us e d with e qual facility fo r

taki ng in a bit o n th e mai n sh e e t o r h o us ing do wn
the c ro ssjack tack in a s ti ff b re e z e I t did no t l o o k .
,

though as if it had had m uch use o f late

, .

“
The t e akwo o d s ta nchi o ns at t h e b re ak o f the
po o p o nc e a mass o f s hi ni ng b rass a nd gliste n
,

ing varnish w e re no w— ye go ds l—pai nt e d with

al umi nium paint . I t w o uld hav e mad e an o ld
de ep wat e r mate g ri nd h is te e th to se e s uch a
-

de se cratio n o f the tim e h o no ure d m e th o d s o f pre

-

s e rvi ng b right w o rk
‘
N e a r by a ro w o f t e ak
.
’

wo o d bucke ts sto o d in rack s Th e se w e re b ro wn .

paint e d a nd ad o rne d with silv e r bands — t o o m uch

t ro ubl e t o s c rub th e m I s uppo s e

,
.

A s I walk e d pas t I c o uld no t h e lp gla n cing in to

what had o n ce b e e n th e hal f d e ck The d o o r was -
.

o pen , so s e e i ng no o ne at ho m e I st e pp e d in .

A ro o my e n o ugh plac e it appare ntly o nc e p ro vid e d

,

a cc o mm o dati o n fo r q uit e a numb e r o f app re ntic e s .

I t was no w th e ab o de o f th e pe tty o ffic e rs ; its o ld

deal tabl e w e ll w o rn fl o o r a nd batt e re d b unks q uit e
,
-

re mind e d me o f o ld tim e s I n th e fo re part o f the

.
3 84 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE RS
a fte r h o use a d o nk e y ro o m was situate d c o ntaining
an e ngi ne and winch o f anci e nt patte rn O ve rhe ad .

we re t he b o at s kid s up o n which t wo launch e s and

t wo b o ats re ste d in ch o cks whil s t o n the d e ck ,

ab o v e th e o ld ha rn e s s casks we re s till in p o ss e ssi o n .

“
The mai n fife rail i nsid e o f which the o riginal -
,

o ld bilg e pumps st o o d was in pre tty bad shape , ,

tho ugh it must at o ne t im e have l o o k e d v e ry fine

with all its b rass a nd ca rvi ng Way up abo ve .
’

t h e rail I n o tice d t h e l o we r bl o ck o f th e to psail

halliards a chain pe n nant re ach e d fro m it to the

,

d e ck a ro p e saving d e vic e no d o ubt The fo rward

,
-
.

h o use a ne atly pa ne ll e d s tructure was ide ntical

, ,

with the hal f d e ck b ut so m e what large r S he was

-
.

w e ll pro vid e d with bo ats t wo m o re b e i ng o n the to p ,

of thi s h o use —a wi s e p re cauti o n a s s o m e day , ,

like th e o ne h o rs e s hay s he will go t o pi e ce s

‘
’
.

all at o n ce .

“
Making my way up th e ladd e r I re ach e d the ,

fo c s l e h e ad a p re tty ba re s p o t e ncl o se d by s und ry

’ ’
-
, ,

rust e at e n
-
s tanchi o ns wi th a ridge ro pe ro ve
t h ro ugh t h e m Two pai rs o f ha rdwo o d bo llards
.

we re place d o n e ach s id e o n o ne o f whi c h a ,

s o litary b ras s cap glis te ne d fo rl o rnly Th e o ld .

Whi s k e r bo o m s w e re s till in us e o ne o ut th e o th e r
-
, ,

in all as ke w Th e j ibb o o m was rigge d in a nd as

, .
,

I l o o k e d a t th e o ld s par t h e li ne s o f a d e e p wat e r -

S o ng c am e t o my mi nd .

T h e re was lk f h t ning il by him wh t d th p p

no ta o s or e sa o ro e oo ,

A nd h e r b m with th w igh t f migh ty jib b nt lik w d n h op

oo e e o a e e a oo e o .
’
 386 TH E CH NA I C LIP PE R S
hal f a c e ntury mark e d alike th e dark a nd the
sunny h o urs .

“
We ll tim e was flyi ng a nd I had a lo ng walk
, ,

b e fo re me so I mad e my way ash o re S tandi ng o n

,
.

t h e wha rf I s urv e y e d h e r o n c e m o re with a ke e n e r

i nt e re st The s e tti ng s un had alm o st re ache d the

.

h o riz o n I ts m e ll o w go ld e n light s hi ni ng o n he r
.
, ,

s pa rs a nd riggi ng se e med ,t o t ran s fo rm he r and

cl o th e h e r in s o m e o f he r anci e nt gl o ry H idde n .

w e re th e mark s o f d e cay a nd sh e o nc e m o re l o o k e d
,

t h e s hip o f s p e e d a nd b e auty .

I t is e vid e nt fro m thi s ac c o unt tha t the fam o us

o ld s hip has ne a rly run h e r tim e t h o ugh my fri e nd ,

says that he r co pp e r was in go o d c o nditi o n a nd that

he c o uld s e e no wate r in h e r h o ld I t is a c uri o us .

co i ncid e nce that the t wo g re at rival s Thermopylae

.
,

a nd Ca ll S a ra s h o uld hav e s p e nt t h e i r o ld age

y ,

und e r th e sam e flag a nd wi th t h e sam e h o m e p o rt .

I t has always b e e n a w o nd e r to m e that so m e rich

d e e p wate r yachtsma n did no t thi nk o f picki ng up
-

o ne o f th e s e b e aut i ful littl e t e a clipp e rs wh e n h e r

raci ng day s w e re o v e r a nd c o nv e rtin g he r into a

,

yacht S uch a v e ss e l a s Thermopylae Ca lly S a ra

.
, ,

'

S ir L a ncelol L olaa zr L ea nder o r Tzlam a c o uld

' '

.
, ,

hav e be e n had fo r a s o ng in the e arly ni ne t i e s— a nd

what a yacht sh e w o uld hav e mad e ' A ll that
w o uld hav e b e e n ne e d e d wo uld hav e b e e n a c o upl e
o f la unch e s o n t h e s kids a nd th e c o n v e rs i o n o f the

h o ld i nt o a s paci o us s uit e o f cabi ns S uch a yacht .

 TH E CH INA C LIPPE R S 387

would hav e b e e n a wo rthy flags hip fo r th e

bringing back m e m o ri e s o f L o rd Yarb o ro ugh s ’

famo us Fa lco n .

If we had no t b e e n a n ati o n o f sh o pk e e p e rs th e re
is littl e do ubt b ut that the TIrermopylae o r Ca lly
S a ra wo uld still b e flyi ng t h e B riti s h flag p re s e rv e d
,

by public s ub s c ripti o n fo r the impo rtant part th e y

lay e d in th e g re atn e ss o f o ur M e rca n til e Ma ri ne
p .

This bo o k h a s b e e n a s mall atte mpt t o p re s e rve

t he re co rd s o f th e s e b e aut i ful ships b e fo re th e i r

h ist o ry and achi e v e m e nt s a re fo re v e r fo rgo tt e n a nd

,

I b ring it t o a fi ni s h with th e sad th o ught that al o ng

with the C hi na clipp e r th e re has d e part e d no t o nly
that high a rt call e d s e amanship b ut al s o m uch o f
“

t he ro ma nc e cha rm and vi rility o f se a li fe

,
.
 SA IL PLA N t

Designed by joint
'

R ennie, Cl uef
 TH E CH N A I C LI P PE R S
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 TH E C H INA C L I PP E R S

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 APPE NDIX
A P P E N DI X B .

S a il P la n f Tea Clipp er
o S zr L am e/oi
’

Se ams,
Linings.
N ame of Soil .
Ba nds, r
Ya d: o f
Buntl , Sail rea A .

Tab li ng'l
.

Flying ] 1b
O ute r j
ib .

I nner jib .

lore t pm t st ys ilo a a
roy l a
t pg ll t il o a an sa
upp er t o ps il a
lo wer tops il a
F l
oresa1
M in to pm st st ys il
a a a a
st ys il a a
middl e st ys il a a .

to pg ll nt st ys il a a a a
roy l st ys il a a a
roy l a
skys il a
to pgallants ail
pper to ps il
u a
l o wer to ps il a
M insail
a
M iz e n stays il a

to pm st st ys il a a a
to pgall nt t ys il a s a a
Crossj ck a .

M i e n to psail
z

t pgalla ntsail o

roy l a

S p nk er
a

S tudding s ils a
M in lo wer a

to pmast
to pg lla nt a .

roy l a
Fore l o wer
to pm t as
t o pg ll n t a a
roy l a

R unning y r ds 3 fee t by 2 fee t a ,

S qu re fee t a

Extr s ils n o t include d

a a

J mie Green
a 14 2 y r ds ( b out )
a a .

G ff t o ps il
a a I O5
R ingt il a 1 63

J ib jib -
o
’
-
99
 TH E C H INA CL I PPE R S
A PPE N DI X C .

Spa r [Measurements ZVo rmcm Court

“
f
o .

OWS PRI T B .

J ibboom (ext rem e length ) 6 8 fee t 4 } inch e s , .

Boo m u 2 fee t 4 } inch e s

en .
Flyi g b oo m 12 fee t O uter b oo m 15 feet . n , . , .

Inner b m 1 7 feet H eel 2 fee t

oo , .
,
2 .

F O R E M A ST .

To pmast 43 fee t ( masth e d 7 fee t 6 inch e )

, a , s .

To pg ll nt mast 2 5 fee t
a a , .

R oy l m st 1 5 fee t
a a , .

L ower m st 5 8 feet deck to c p (m sth e d 1 3 feet 3 inch es)

a , a a a ,
.

Ext rem e length ( deck to truck ) 12 0 feet , .

Forey rd (extrem e) 7 1 fee t

a , .

L ower tops il y r d 6 ! feet a a , .

U pper t o ps il y rd 5 6 fee t
a a , .

To pgallant y r d 4 1 fee t a , .

Roy l y r d 32 fee t
a a , .

M A I N M A ST .

T p m st 46 feet 6 inch es ( m sthe d 7 feet 6 inch e s )

o a , a a , .

To pgall nt m st 2 6 fee t
a a , .

R oy l m st 1 6 fee t
a a , .

Sl y il mast 10 fee t
c sa , .

L ower m st 6 1 feet 6 inch es de ck to p ( m sthe d 1 3 feet 6 inches)

a , , ca a a , .

E xtreme l ength ( de ck to truck) 1 39 fee t , .

M in y rd 7 4 fee t
a a , .

Lo wer topsail y rd 65 feet a , .

U pper t o psail y rd 6 fee t a , 0 .

To pg ll nt y r d 44 fee t
a a a , .

R oy l y rd 3 2 fee t
a a , .

Skys il y rd 24 fee t
a a , .

M I ZE N M AS T .

T p m st 33 fee t
o a , .

To pg ll nt mast 1 8 f e t
a a , e .

R oy l m st 12 fee t
a a , .

L o wer mast 50 feet 6 inch es d eck to p ( m th e d 10 f e t)

, , ca as a , e .

Extr me length (deck to truck ) 9 8 f e t

e , e .

Cro ssj ck y rd 60 fee t 6 inch es

a a , .

L o wer to ps il y rd 5 feet a a , 0 .

U pper t o ps il y r d 4 4 feet
a a , .

To pg ll nt y rd 3 2 fee t 4 inch e s
a a a , .

R oy l y rd 2 4 fee t
a a , .

S p nker gaff (extreme) 3 1 feet g ff end 5 feet ; span 2 1 feet

a , a , , .

S p nker boo m 48 feet

a , .
V II! TH E C H I N A C L I PPE R S

I 8 69 —
—
”
l og f tlze T/zermopylaé 8 68 Co nt
‘

o , I .

LON DON To M nLBo u111m .

R ema k rs .

I
ortherly g le
, o

De c . 21 4 353 4 7 34 30 5 N a

43 4 5 5 4 18 2 90 N h ly g le
o rt er a

42 5 7 6 1 17 3 10 Northerly g le a
67 2 1 2 66 North erly stro g . n
42 5 7 74 26 3 12 N or th erly strong ,

43 2 2 80 28 2 65 N th ly fresh
or er ,

43 1 5 85 4 1 2 29 N orth erly fre sh ,

43 2 2 9 0 40 2 22 E sterly fre sh
a .

94 5 5 18 5 N E light
S W g le
.
.
,

43 n 10 2 1 1 3 20 a

N N W mo d r t
. .
,

106 43 2 00 . . . , e a e

Jan .
43 to 111 54 22 8 N N W m o der te
. . .
, a
1 1 7 14 2 48 fre sh
124 36 33° N th ly strong
or er ,

40 39 13 1 18 3 26 N th ly stro ng
or er ,

S u we sterly m o d
’
39 48 1 36 1 4 2 25 o -
,

38 4 1 2 02 S E Percy I sl nd a
C pe O tw y N 3 W
. .
,

a mile a , .
°
.
, 12 s
C lm a d light an

7 p m c me t . h in P or t Phillip H r b
. a o anc o r a .

N EWCASTLE , TO 5 11 c 11 4 1 .

Left th e harb our 7 30 a m , . .

E N E to S E c l m
.

6o . . . . .
, a

32 46 s . 15 6 3 152 N E nd E very unsteady

. . a .
,

32 I3 1 5 8 26 125 N E nd N p ss e d L or d H o we s I sland
. . a .
, a
’

28 30 1 60 $ 5 2 50 N st rong sq ually
.
, ,
23 32 162 16 3 00 N cl e r a
N W cl e r
. ,

19 47 16 1 5 8 2 30 . .
, a
1 5 36 162 1 1 25 1 N 5 E hea squally
.
°
.
,
13 3 1 163 24 1 45 N E thun er and lightning
. .
,

12 1 6 16 3 1 7 75 N h e vy r in a a
20 8 35 1 64 o 2 24 he vy r in nd thunder a a a
2! 4 16 16 5 2 4 2 62 nd E lightning
a .
,
1 6 6 48 1 80 N E h e vy squ lls a a
N W by W
. .
,

fl Pl e sant H ead go t
'
o a
1 66
. . . ,
50 75 ,

quantiiy f j ugs and c o c o n uts o a

1 14 N . I 65
s 1 30
16 2 25 20 0
1 59 58 25 o
10 2 8 I S5 35 2 97 N W by W fresh . .
,
13 2 8 15 2 4 298
15 54 14 8 2
5 25 6 N W by W sq u lly
. a
N W by W passed between F ralt n
. .
,

1 7 14 14 6 1 60 a a
. .
2
.
,
nd G ugu nl
a a s
6 N W by W i W “

2
19 14 2 35 255
W by W 5 W
. . . .

21 6 13 9 4 8 2 00
°

W by W light
. . . .

22 23 3 8 19 1

W by W l gh t nd v ri bl e
. . .
,
23 32 3 6 43 ”0 . . .
, l a a a

25 23 2 02 G ld n S ydney to o e ,
 APPE N DI X ix

L og f
o l em o py la e, 1 8 68 41 8 69 —Co nt .

N EWC A STLE , TO S HAN G HA I .

Dat e . Lo ng . Dis t . Re mark s .

'
2 6 57 12 62 6 2 39 p ss ed Fok Isl nd a a
2 9 30 12 6 1 1 23 W 0 .

W N W O ff Vid o G o t pil o t P s ge
. . . . . a sa
3 1 2° 12 4 0 2 0°
pil o t to pilot 8 d ys q uicke st on rec ord 2 a ,

Sh ngh i Th ick nd c lm a a . a a .

Fo o c n o w T O L ON DO N .

5 m pro c ee d e d d o wn in t w
a. .
, o
Pinn cl e I sl nd W by a a , .

3 p m p ss e d Ad m s Po int
’
. .
, a a

1 7 4 S u we st erly fre sh
’
2 3 6 N 126 32 E
. . o -
,

23 2 12 6 1 4 8 V r m o d er t e a .
, a

2 1 13 1 2 3 59 1 57 South eas terly squally -

,

19 1 3 1 20 8 2 33 So uth e st er ly fre sh
2 -
a ,

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,

18 1 6 1 16 2 14 8 So uth e st er ly fresh -
a ,

1 7 37 1 1 2 38 2 South erly fresh

00 ,

16 4 3 109 49 1 7 6 So uth er ly fre sh ,

15 43 10 9 5 6 3 South e st er ly light -
a ,

14 6 1 10 7 1 14 So uth we ster ly light -

,

12 3 7 1 9 29 0 96 South w e st erly light C pe V ll 6 mil e s a are a

-
.
,

1 1 47 109 3 0 5 South westerly light

0 -
,

8 16 109 49 2 12 Westerly stro ng nd sq u lly , a a

5 9 10 9 2 1 19 1 So uth we st erly st ro ng nd sq u lly -

, a a

4 16 109 1 7 5 3 So uth we st er ly m o der t e a

-
,

3 28 09 2 2
1 4 8 South we st er ly light ~
,

2 40 109 54 5 8 So uth we ster ly light

-
,

2 6 109 6 6 1 V ar light .
,

0 51 10 8 4 0 77 B ng I sl nd E by S oo ra 10 mil e s a , . .
,

0 45 S 10 8 34 9 6 So uth easter ly light

-
.
,

1 28 1 7 48 0 6 3 V r light a .
,

1 1 6 S po k e A /z ll r 1 d ys ut fro m Foo ch o w
‘

3 15 1 06 59 r z e , 0 a o

1 65 6 m Anj er Light a . 8 mil e s

.
, ,

7 54 10 1 5 6 2 2 3 So uth east er ly fre sh -

,

9 22 97 2 1 2 84 So uth e ter ly squ lly -

as , a

10 5 9 93 0 2 67 1 So uth e sterly fre sh -

a ,

1 2 42 8 8 43 2 90 strong
14 3 1 83 28 3 18 strong
16 5 7 9 44 2 3 6 So u th e t er ly m o d er t e S p o k e L nd -
as ,
a . ea er

1 7 30 6
7 33 2 3 S E m 0o d er t e L
.
d 1 . m les
,
a . ea n er 0 i

18 4 5 72 5 8 2 17 S E fresh L nde 14 m l e s . .
,
. ea r i

19 16 7 1 26 9 7 S E light
S W t o S E H e vy g l e nd w sh e d
. .
,

. . . a a , a sea a
68 2 8
.

19 4 17°
w y h e d r il a a a a

2 1 11 63 53 2 49 S by E und er t o ps ils nd co ur s e s
. .
,
a a

23 4 59 o 295 S by E strong .
,

S
.

by l pl n s il
. 0

2 4 30 54 5 5 2 4 6 E l .
, a ai a

S
.

6 b E r l n l & p t st udd ng s ls a1 sa1 or i ai

26 9 5 1 2 3 2 1 y p .
, va .
,

o er e
.

27 25 8
4 3 0 1 8 5 m d t a

1g 1

3
1 2
2 45 24
” 1 WSW
0 . . var.

23 38 29 2 0 S st ro ng g l e w
0 a 1th squ lls a
30 ,
.
 TH E C H IN A C L I PP E RS
L og f
o Tfiermopylae, "
I 8 68 —
1 8 69 —C 0 nt .

Fo o c 1-1o w TO L ON DON .

Re ma rk s.

A ug 1 6
.

r stern lik e A / ull ;

a c
'
er sun~
inc re sing l e ving her
a , a o ut

mW by S
. resh strong c urrent to S W
. f .
, ,

c lin t noo n
. .

z E . .
, fo g and a a

“W S W i nc re s ng
.
ro und e d C p f a i , a e o

F H o pe he vy a sea.
m Glloopld in s il s e t
.

a a a
mm ll pl i n s il se t d studdi ng ils
.
V

a a a an sa
mn ll possibl e s il
,

a a
mm by S ll possibl e s il a a
z m nd b cking t o S E
.
,

a a
mm light
, . .

mm light
.
.

mm light
.
o

mp
.
t

mm
n

Sept. 1 light
o
w

mn light
ms l ight
mw s S l ight
,

mm e S light strong c urrent t o W

,

p m g
.
, , .

ww e S light
mwfi ft
.

c
ma z ery squally
wL e v r a .

z z e var sq ually .
,
z p trade winds
z m t r de winds , a
z a by E tr d e winds a
m cy N light
.
,

E by N light nd c lm
. .
, a a
E b y N light and airy
)
. . ,

0 l gh t 1
1
0 light
.
,

W li ht
0
$ ,

l gbt rai n 1
W ligh t breeze
.
,

S W squ lly r in
. ,

. .
, a , a
squ lly h e vy sea
, a , a
W light nd v ri bl e
S Wt o N W
, a a a

W b r falling r pidly
. . . .

.
, a . a
S W b ar f lling rap idly very lo w
. . . a
S W bar falling r pidly very l o w
. .
, . a
,

S by E n oo n Liza d N 8 miles
. .
, , r ,
,

,
B chy H ead E
ea 20 i n ile s at n oon , .

5 p D ungen ess go t pilo t

.

.
, .
xii TH E C HI N A C L I PPE R S

A éstra a‘ L og o f H a llo we’en —Co nt .

S HAN HA I TO LO N DO N G .

R em arks .

N W to N N W fre sh I I
shi ft to S W P M
. . . . . .

24 o s . 66 3o E . S .
71 W . a m . .
, . . . .
,
blo wing h r d a

62 16 S W 81
South erly stro ng nd sq u lly , a a .

. .

H e vy h e d a a sea

S to S E st rong ste dy bree e

73 W
a z
58
. . .

P M m o d er t e nd unst e dy
25 43 21 . .

. . a a a

E t rly t E N E Light winds

26 2 7 55 5 1 S 7 W . 2 .

nd fin e
as e
a
o . . .

27 13 S 69 W
E N E to N E Light winds
. . . . .

nd fin e
53 41 . .

a
28 2 4 49 4 9 S 7 W . 1 . N E sm rt b ree e
. . a z

N E m od m t o 1 1 light
29 2 1 46 5 0 S 7 W . 0 .
.
4
to c lm I m fre sh S S E
.

a .
.

I a.
a.

.
,
.
,

. . .

30 2 9 8 78 W
S S E to E S E strong nd
. . . . . . a
40 53 . .

squ lly n sty c ross s a , a ea

S 7 W E sterly fresh breeze nd sm

a

{
a
31 58 35 5 2 . 1 .

w ter a

32 54 S 7 W E sterly to N E by E M d
a . . . o .

32 32 . 1 .

bree e P M l ight nd fin e z a
N E to S W 4
. . .
,

33 24 S 79 W . m . hift f . . a. .
, s o
2 9 24 . .

wind light b ut h e vy h e d e , , a a s a
V so utherly nd w ester ly
ar. , a ,

26 S 65 W mo d nd unste dy 3 p m . a a .
,
30 . .

co mm enc e d t o bl o w 8 p m . . .
,

fre sh g l e

{
a
18 7 4

J
a n. 1 35 32 25 35 S 37 W
N or th westerly Blo wing h r d -
. a ,
. .

gusty he vy c onfus e d , a se a

34 56 24 2 4 N 58 W Nor th westerly Fre sh b ree e -

. z
nd h e vy c o n fus e d s
. .

a a ea
N W t o S E light m
34 5 4 N . 88 W .

incre sing he vy S W sea

.
7
.

a
. .
,

a
. a. .
,

, . .

S E m o d nd h zy h e vy
. .
, a a a
S W
.
,

35 I 7 19 48 . 82 . he d P M 8 12 stro ng
a se a . . .
-
,
b ree e z ,

S E to S tr ng ll s il nd
. . .
, s o , _a a a
ll studding s ils s e t
a a
South to m d sm o th o .
, o
w ter Go ing 13 14 kn ots
a .
-

So uth t o mo d nd fine a

E t S W Light
.

V r i bl e
a a , . o ~
. .

winds nd fin e a

light winds nd fine a .

P M mo der te . .
, a
S S E m od er te winds nd fin a a e
o 9W
. . .
,
.
E m oder te winds nd fine. a a
fin e ste dy tr de s a a
m o d e r t e t r d es a a .

p m sign ll e d S t H e l e na
. .
, a .

mo der te tr d e s a a
 APPE N D IX .

A és tract L og o f H a llo we en ’
—Co nt .

S HAN HA I T O LO N DO N
G .

R e ma k s r .

S E by S to S E mo d d fin e
1 73 . . . . . . an

551 m od er te d fin e a an

S E by S to S by E m od
. . . . .
, .

5 d fin e
1 2
an

66
S E b y .S t o S . by E m o d . . .
, .

d fin e
1
an
651 m o d er t e nd fine a a

651 m od nor th er ly swell .

851
S by E . d S S E F in e . an . . .

t dy b s e ezes

S utla t o s g u t dy H
o y .
, ns ea ea v
68
th ly sw e ll
1
or er
g li ht u t d} P M ns e a
light E
.
, .
,

d s ult r y
410
i rs an

63
E st er ly a n or th e st er ly light -
a ,

irs d c lms a an a

N N E t o N E mo d er t e
102 . . . . .
, a

N E by N to N E sm rt a

{
. .
. . .
,
99 I
ste dy bree e s a z

N E to N E by E . . F in e . . .

421
ste dy tr de s a a

N E t o N E by E . . Fin e . . .

220
ste dy tr d e s a a

N E to E N E . . nd . . . a
x9 8
light ste dy b ree ze a

V N by E to e st very
a r. . . a ,

66 1 uns e ttl e d winds in for c e d an

di re ctio n

{
E st erly Light v r i ble winds
122 a . a a

Feb I O4
E st er ly t
a o s o uth C lms d . a an
. I
light v r i bl e winds a a

[So uth er ly e st t o N E C lms , a . . a

d v r i bl e H e vy r in
66 a a
an a a .

N E to c lms d a an

light unste dy P M m o d
. .

100
a . . .
,
.

N to N N W d N . . . an .

unst e dy m od er t e
.

P M a a . . .
,
34 44 ,

fre sh d squ lly an a

N E by N fre sh
d h e vy N W
. .
. . ,

2 7 16 N 12 E P M light an a . .

32 2 .
.
,

swe ll
. .

E V e st to s outh light ir s
a r. a a .

N
,

3 : 44 .
39 .
P M inc re sing a

S W to
.
,

fin st e dy
.

e a

b ree e P M m o der te d
. .

N 14 E z a an

h e vy N W swe ll
.
. .
. .
,

a
d S W light
. .

N W t o w e st an . .
,

d unst e dy P M m od
. .

an a . . .
, .

S W to W S W .
Fresh bre e
. . . . ez

and thick
xiv TH E C H I N A C L I PPE RS

A bstract L og f
o
“
H Zwe m
a/ o
’
—Co nt .

S HAN HA I T O L ON DON
G .

Da t e. R ema ks r .

1 874

We sterly nd N W Fre sh a
W N
. .

Feb ro.
38 5 5 N . 26 19 . . 18 b ree ze nd squ lly P M a a . . .
,
st ro ng
N W w e st
. . A M bl o wi ng . .

trong nd q u lly P M
s a s a . . .
,
m o d er te a
W t to S W to N W M d
es . . . . o .

to fre sh inc re sing a

N W t o w e st
.

. . d W S W an . . .

Fre sh breezes d h y an az

W S W to W
. . . S t rong .

b ree e nd z ly a
W S W to S
. . . Fresh nd a

m go t th e pil ot o n .
,
m p sed a. .
, as
th rough th Do wns Noo n e .
,

fi th e N or th Fore l nd I 3
'
o a . . 0
in t o w n e r th e a
h t hip Bl o wing s
S W
.

p m . . 2 . .
,
wind west 8 p m bro ught . . .
,
up t th e Ch pm n
a a a
i d t G r ve s e nd Bl o wing
rr ve a a
h r d fro m S W nd thick
.

a . .
, a
r n
ai
xvi TH E C H I N A C L I PP E R S

A P P E N DI X G .

L ist of Cuff}!
’
S a rk s A ustra lia n P a ssages .

Yea r . Cap tain

.

Feb . I I
M 3 ar .

Feb 3 .

Feb 3 .

J 3 an. I
Feb 8 . 1
O ff Be chy H d M
a . ar . 20
N Sept 6 .

Londo n Fb 7 e . 2
Sydney Jun e 20
O ff th e Li r d De c
za 3 . 2
O HS C th r in s T un e 6
’ ’
. a

N Nov 5 . 1
m
Off Br ight o n
I
M5 8
. .

Sydn ey A ug 5 .

Londo n J an . 20
Sydney July 6 2
L o ndo n J 7 an. I
Sydney A ug 4 .

Lo ndo n M 7 a r. 1
Sydn ey July 4 I
Londo n J 8 an . 2
N tl
’
cas W N
e, N s .
9 . ov .

O lfS C th r n s A p il
’ ’ ’
. a i r I I
Sydney O ct 9 . 2
Hull M 8 a r. 2
Brisb n e
a Se pt I 5 .

London M 6 a r. 2
 APP EN D I X xv ii

A P P E N DI X H .

A bstract L og o f
“
A riel Cap ta in Keay Foot /tow , to London , 1 8 66 .

From Cap ta in M ay ’s pri vate jo urn a l .

Tue s day, 2 9 t h M ay l 8 66 —5 m ho ve up nd pro cee ded to wing , . a . .

, a ,

a l ong ide do wn th r iver 8 3 n e r ing S h r p R ock disch rged Chin pil ot

s e . . 0, a a a a .

9 tr i e d t o ge t st e m er h e d t o t o w b ut very s oo n sh e sh eere d wid e t o por t

, a a a ,

could not rec over c o mm nd f th h elm nd obliged u to nch or Ag in a o e a s a . a

tried to to w l ongside nd pro ceeded out ide th e wreck f Child b ut were

a a s o ers,

d m ging st e mer s spons o ns d u side s o much th t we h d to c t f nd

a a a
’
an o r a a as o a

pil ot would no t risk go ing o n ste mer could no t b e reli ed upon to get h e d as a a a

in time tid e lre dy h ving f llen th erefore nchored in hope s f ge tting o n

, a a a a , a o

to night Th Fi ry C to wed p t u nd went t o

-
. e e ll s fe d r wing l e s ross as s a sea a a a s

w ter We
a . n o w forw r d I S feet 8 inch es nd ft 18 feet 3 inches ut f
are a a a , o o

trim b ut hop e to h ve h er right s oon 8 to p m h d th e night b een cle r

a . 10 . .
, a a

would h ve gone to b ut sh o wery thick w e th er pil ot w ould n o t ve nture

a sea a , .

Wind N E mo der te . . a .

W dn d y 3 0th M y 18 6 6 5 m turn ed to nd b rought ft to

e es a , a , .
-
a. .
, a a

a breast mizen m t 30 f tho m f e ch bo wer ch in d th stre m ch in lso

as a o a a an e a a , a

gin ch in nd 12 c ks f s lt p rovisi o ns ; l s h e d
a s a l o ngside th e fter b o t ;
as o a a a a -
a s

st owed ll th e studding s il ge r b etween s id b o t in th e gr ting nd p ssed

a -
a a a as a s a a

the holystones ft ut f l ower fore c stle to tr im ship m ore by th e stern

a o o a .

8 30 m h ov e sh ort nd go t th e st e m er h e d t o wro p e s f t o n e fro m e ch

. a . .
, a a a a , as a

bow to his qu r ters 9 m weighe d nd proc ee ded under to w the T p i g

a . a . .
, a ae n

a nd S ric foll o wing u

e 0 3
a m were we ll out id e th e O ut er Kn o ll c st
s . 1 . 0 a . .
, s , a

o f th e tug nd h o v e t o f his b o t to fe tch w y u pil ot S midt They

a or a a a o r , .

lowered the bo t th e ste mer go ing h e d sh e fille d me n were s ved b ut th ey

a , a a a , ,
a

were s o l ong picking up th e me n nd b o t th t we sign lled f pil ot b o t a a a a or a a

to t k e w y u pilo t At
a a a m fill e d th e m iny r d nd st eere d S by
o r . I I . Io a . .
,
a a a .

E f E f Turn b out I sl nd M de s il d set fore to pm st nd lo wer

. . or a a . a a an - a a

stuns il nd skys il R in nd mo der te N E wind We l eft T p ng nd

a a a . a a a . . . ae z
’

S i er ca li ttle N oo n S E po int f Wh ite Dog E N E b out 6 miles

a .
, . . o s . . . a .

I p m W ning R o ck W by S 3 mil es 3 p m South Po int f Turn b out

. .
, ar s . . . . .
,
o a

Isl nd N W 2 mile s Set for to pg ll nt stuns il S m e wind nd we ther

a . . . e- a a a . a a a .

Th u da y S l t M y 1 8 6 6 —S m e wind nd we th er
rs , a Noon S E a , . a a a . , . .

o f Bro th er s b ore N W by N 6 mile s L t 3 7 N .

long 17 45 E . . . a . 2
°
2
’
.
,
. 1
° ’
.

Dist nce 190 mil es 3 p m w L m k I sl nds o n st rb oard qu rter

a . . .
, sa a oc a a a .

W tch putt ing o n ch fing ge r

a a a .
 v
x iii TH E C H I N A C L I PP E R S
Frida y, l et J un e , 18 6 6 Cl udy with sh o wer s nd mo derat e N E wind .
- o a . . .

. o e . e
A M , st w d 2 3 half ch sts and 16 ch ests f t a in after c bin in l o ck er heads -
o e a -
.

N oo n l t 2 1 I O N l ong 1 15 9 E D istance 195 mil es Exper ienc ed n o

, a .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. .

curre nt g inst us P M c r pent er secure d tea in cabin with stanchions etc

a a . . .
, a , .

Took th ree d oors o ff th e ir hinges t o f cilit te sto wing h ws er s and lin e s e tc a a a , .

,

in my c bin and in starb oard pa ssage t o get sh ip m ore in t r im

a pm . . .
,

a ltere d cour s e m ore south erly to b ring wind two po ints o n th e quart er f r speed o .

Sa t urd y 2nd Jun 1 8 6 6 —Wind m o d erat e fro m N E

a , nd cl e r e, . . . a a .

5 m wind fro m N N W ltere d c o urs e t o S W nd b rought wind o n p or t

a . .
, . . .
, a . . a

qu rter p rtly f r spee d and d eter min ed to go west of Paracels T p ing in

a , a o . ae

sight to S E by E Watch employe d putting 30 f th o ms of each c bl e b el o w

. . . a a

in s il c bin nd first c o iled th Euro pe h wsers in my c abin lso put nine

a a a e a , a

ca sks f pork in after store room nd lash e d se ven of b eef on main h tch only
o -
a a ,

l e ving two of b eef in lo wer fore castl e Ship see ms t o steer very easy nd is
a . a

probably lmost in trim N oon lat 1 7 5 1 N l ong 1 12 5 7 E D istance

a
' '
.
, .
°
.
, .
’
.

240 mil e s P M wind ge tt in g v ery light and veer ing b e tw ee n N

. . N E .
, . .

and S E Setting and taking in stunsails nd trimming sails as requi red

. a .

S un d y 3 rd Jun 1 8 6 6 —Light i rs nd cal m sky o vercas t t times

a , e, . a a , a ,

steer ing al ong north of P racels Noon l t 1 7 14 N 1 1 1 3 2 E D ist nce

'
a .
, a .
’
.
,
° '
. a

8 3 mil e s 1 p m fro m al oft saw n orth sh o l o f Paracels b e ari ng s outh b out

. . .
, a a

8 mil e s distant app e ar ing in l ong p tch e s f b re k ers with black ro cks sh o wing a o a

a little b ove w ter very f int b ffl ing irs steered we st to get cl e r of th e

a a , a a a , a

sho l 4 p m still b ear ing b etwee n S W and S S E

a . . .
, . . . . .

M n da y 4 t h June 18 6 6 —
o W tch putting on chafing ge r d rying
, , . a a ,

a wnings to wing warps etc Vys e m king th e stunsail b onnets C r penter

, , . a . a

mak ing m in to pgallant m st ; fi t r t e spar b ought from R ob ert o n of

a a a rs -
a s

Pagod Anch or ge Found ship w fully 6 inch es by th e stern th erefore

a a . as ,

shifte d spar s for ward to th eir pro per pl c e t o make the de cks more cle r a a .

This s eem ed t o alter th e trim gain s o that ship is about 4 inch e s by a

th e stern viz 18 feet 5 inches alt nd 1 8 feet 1 inch for ward N oo n lat
, .
, a . .

16 55 N
°
l ong 1 10 2 1 E D istanc e 1 7 2 miles P M calm and baffling
’ '
.
, .
°
. . . .
,

airs 5 p m light wind fro m S E

. . .
, . .

Tue s d y 5 th June 18 6 6 —S m e wind nd cle r with much lightning on

a , , . a a a

western h ori on 9 e m Pulo C nton in sight W 5 S 15 miles H wsers

z . . .
, a .
°
. . a

aga in up t o d ry having b een th oroughly so ke d Sent do wn roy l stuns il , a . a a

b oo ms nd gear to b e sung aloft f r b e ting W tch lacing th e foo t f upper

a o a . a o

tops ils to th e j ckst ys f l o wer to ps il y r ds S cr ped and oiled th e b o wer

a a a o a a . a

a nchors nd chains outside the h ouse to less n r ust opene d th e qu r ter hatch
a e a -

to ventil t e th e h old b etter whil e w eath er is fine N oon lat 1 5 18 W

a .
, .
° ’
.
,

l ong 9 3 E D istanc e 1 17 miles P M light wind fro m S by E to

10 2 .
' °
. . . .
, . .

S S W t cking as necessary ; keeping insh ore in h o pe of land b reeze t

. . . a a

night M idnight fresh b ree ze c m e ff fro m S W tack e d t o S S E Land f

. , a o . .
, . . . o

C o chin C hina b out 4 mil e s dist nt a a .

W dn e day 6t h Jun e 1 8 6 6 —Light southerly winds lmost c lm

e s , , .
, a a

o c ion lly Painted th e rails o ver b r ss work to save polishing o n th e

cas a . a

p ss ge ; ls o p inted o utside wh ere b re with ch afe of fenders and c rgo

a a a a a a
 TH E C H I N A C L I PP E R .
schoon er o n starb oard b o w 4 p m b e m 5 p m c lm and f int airs . . .
, a a . . .
, a a

fro m N E cle r w r m we ther C rpenter m king b ox f 3 inch d e ls

. . a a a . a a a o -
a

12 fee t by 3 by 2 t o h o ld sp re k e dg e s nch or sto cks y r d h oo ps e tc and a a a -

, , , .
,

fill it up with c oal fro m c oal lo ck er in forep e k t o lighten her th ere as ship is a ,

only 2 inch es by th e ste rn since th e Spars were put in th eir places g in a a .

Pres ent dr ft 18 feet 3 inch e s ft nd 1 8 fee t 1 inch for ward Wll use said
a a a . i

b o x ls o t o t rim t o windwar d
a .

W dn e da y 13 t h Jun e 18 6 6 —Calms and b afi ing i rs W tch

e s , , . a . a

trimming yards se tting and taking in stunsails etc N oo n 3 9 N

' °
l t , , . , a . .

l ong 1 1 1 6 E D istance 2 3 mil es P M s am e sch ooner in c ompany

.
° ’
. . . .
,
.

Light v ri bl e S W and W winds b cking to S W nd b ec oming squally

a a . . . a . . a

to w rds midnight M idnight t cke d to N W

a .
, a . .

Th ur d y 14 t h Jun e 1 8 6 6 —Wind veer ing with very th re t e ning sky

s a , , . a ,

squ lls lightning and r in All small s ils in and fore and mi en topgall nt
a , a . a ,
z a

s ils lso m in for short time To w r ds d ylight mor e settl ed wind S W

a , a a a . a a . .

with sh ower s nd squalls Set fore nd mi en to pgallant sails M ain royal

a . a z .

a n d flying jib s e t and ta k e n in n ec e ss ry N oon lat 2 16 N long (by as a .

, .
° ’
.
, .

ac c ount) 1 10 42' E D istance 66 mil es P M clear ing gradu lly Po

°
. . . .
, a .

Point nd T nj ong Sipang on por t b e m nd Cape Datu b out S W by W

a a a a a . . .

M o der t e nd wind hauling t o S S W nd S o ff th e land Se t all sm ll sails

a a . . . a . . a

a nd fore t opm ast and t opgallant stuns ils

-
M idnight C p e D tu b ore s outh a .
, a a

a b out 5 miles distant Light bree e fro m E suddenly f il e d ; we th er cl e r . z . a a a .

Frid y 1 5 t h Jun a 18 6 6 — 1
, m f int air fro m w e stw r d Got e, . a . .
, a a .

trimmed o n th e p or t ta ck nd steer ing b out 2 m 3 m n e r ly c lm a a a. . a. .

, a a .

m f int ir fro m S S E
a. . S S E irs c lms nd baffling till 2 p m
, a a . . . . . . a , a a . .

Noon l t 2 4 N long 109 2 ' E D i t nc e 8 0 mile s P M cl e r

, a .
° '
.
°
2 . s a . . .
, a

w e th er sm oo th se light breeze sp ringing up from W S W 4 p m ta ck ed

a , a, . . . . .
,

to southw rd Marundum b e r ing west 5 or 6 mil es 6 p m ta k e d t o

a . a . . .
, c

W N W 9 p m tac k ed to S S E 1 p m caught aback with moder te

. . . . .
, . . . 1 . .
, a

S E wind b raced round on port tack M idnight all sail s et ; heading S W

. .
, .
, . .

by S cl e r we th er. a a .

S t urd y 1 6 th J un e I S 6 6 —
a a S m e we th er Watch e mploye d b out
, , . a a . a

th e rigging C rpenter making gr ting f r fore par t of g lley door H d

. a a a o a . a

the b x finished nd sto we d sm ll nch ors etc in it nd o ver 1 to n f co l

o a a a , .
, a o a

l she d nd ch o ck ed b efore th e qu rter h tch N oon T mb elan in sight we st

a a a a .
, a

t cke d t o E by S wind
a mo der te nd clear L t 1 1 N
. .
, a a . a .
° '
.
,

l ong 108 1 E D istance 102 miles P M B rang Islands in sight to S E

.
° ’
. . . .
, oe . .

H d life b uoys c o vere d with duck nd twe lv e b rass h oo pe d buck e ts als o f n cy

a -
a a

pl te on h ndles and kno ts and W ted h ndl es nd inside of buck ets outs ide
,

a a , a a ,

k e pt b right 7 ta ck ed off sh ore 9 ta ck ed in sh ore 1 1 got wind f? th e

.
,
-
.
,
-
. o

l nd very light ta cked to southward

a , , .

S un d y 17 t h Jun e 18 6 6 —F ine cle r w e th er and s outh east er ly wind

a , , . a a -
,

m od er te nd light 9 a m D tu I sland N E f N b out 20 mil es N oon

a a . . .
, a . . . a .
,

l
a t . 2 8
'
0S l ong 108 1 5 E D ist nc e 1 1 miles 6 p m t ck ed to
°
.
, .
° ’
. a 0 . . .
, a

e stw rd 1 1 p m t cked to
a a . W . .
, a .

M o n d y 1 8 11) Jun 18 6 6 —S m e wind and we th er

a , 9 m e, . a a . a. .
,
 APPE N D I X xxi

Billiter I sl nd in sight h e d 11 a m
a b reas t of N W I sl nd 1} mil es a a . . .
, a . . a

distant Dutch ship Will ) in c o mp ny b ound to B t vi pro mised to

. a : a , a a a,

repo rt us t Ll oyd s Pass e d her 2 mile s to h er 1 N oon l t 2 37' S

a
’
.
.
, a .
°
.
,

long 10 7 29 E D istance 1 33 miles Fro m

.
° ’

p m to 7 p m
.
be t . . . . .
, a

through e st f n or th nd T bl e I sl nd the n steered to south westw r d b etwee n

a o a a a ,
-
a

V nsittart S h o l nd Embe lton I sl nd nd sho ls 10 1 5 p m h d passed to

a a a a a a . . . .
, a

leew rd f F ir lee R o ck probably 6 miles distant H uled up S by W

a o a , . a . .
,

wind moder te fro m s outh eastw r d a -

a .

Tu day 19 t h Jun es 18 6 6 — S m e wind nd fin e cl e r we th er

, e, . a a a a .

N umber s f ships s ee n th es e th ree d ys p st

o 1 1 30 m p sse d cl os e to a a . . a . .
, a

westw r d of Nor th W tch er I sl nd nd wind fell very light N oon

a a a a .
,

5 S l ong 10 6 36 E D ist nce 164 miles P M faint irs fro m

' ° ° ’
lt 5
a . 1 .
, . . a . . .
, a

eastw rd W tch still t work stripping nd reserving l o wer nd to pmast

a . a a a a

rigging M idnight light wind fro m E to S E nd cle r

.
, . . . a a .

W dne sd y 20111 Jun 18 6 6 —1 m ppro ching C pe S t Nich o las

e a , e, . a. .
, a a a . .

10 mil e s dist nt b earing south 1 30 m light S by E wind ta ck e d t o

a . . a. .
, . .
,

e stw rd Curre nt since n oon f 19th has b een setting b out 1} kn ots t o
a a . o a

N . N W nd we stw r d
, .
3 . m light air again fro m
a ta cke d to a . a. .
,

south w rd ; fresh ened little nd we th ere d th e Butto n by b out mil e

a a a a a a .

About m all staysa ils and for t o pmast nd t o pgall nt stuns ils se t
a . .
, e a a a

a nd J mi e G ree n Y rds sh r p up wind free ing littl e

a . we n e red Anj er a a a as a .

At 7 m ho isted ur numb er etc ls o sent ur report 2 1 d ys fro m

a . .
, o , .
, a o , a

Foochow ashore and l etter f r o wn ers ( n do ll r f r po stage to master

, o o e a o

a ttend nt) b ought fruit fo wls etc F int b ffl ing air s fro m nor th eastw r d
a , , , . a a -
a

nd calms Curre nt s e tting t o S S W b out 2 kn o ts Noon lat 6 8 S ° ’

a . . . . a .
, . .
,

long (by be r ings ) 106 46 E P M light b reeze fro m N N E nd cle r

. a
° ’
. . .
, . . . a a .

6 p m light bree e fro m N E hauling t o e stw r d

. .
, All po sibl e sail set
z . . a a . s .

11 p m West Po int f Princ es I sl nd b e ring south b out 1 2 miles cle r

. .
, o a a a , a

moonlight ; still passing vess els b ound n orthwar d twenty t le st in th S t it ,

a a e ra .

Th ur d y 2 l t Jun l 8 6 6 —F in e st e dy m o der t e b re e e nd cl e r
s a , s e, . a a z a a

fro m E S E Empl oye d as formerly nd m king ringt il f N o 4 extr 7 6

. . . a a a a o . a,

y rds f c nv
a Noon lat 7 50 S lo ng 10 3 1 1 E
o a as .
, .
° '
.
, .
’ ’
.

Friday 22 n d Jun 18 6 6 —So m e wind veering fro m E t o S E

,
nd e, .
. . . a

b k to E Altered th e c ourse more south er ly to p ss s outh f Keeling I sl nd

ac . a o a

a nd ge t m ore wind if p o ssibl e Empl oyed as b o ve nd scr ped pitch fl . a a a o

deck l ong th e se ms etc N oo n lat 10 5 S lo ng 100 1 6 E D ist nce

a a , .
, .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. a

2 1 5 mil e s P M h o lyst o n e d th e t o pg ll nt fore c stl e h e d nd th oroughly a a a a a

w hed th decks ready f r varnishing to m orro w—we th er per mitting

. . .
,

as e o - a .

Midnight ste dy E S E wind and cl e r , a . . . a .

S t urd y 2 3 rd Jun
a 1 8 6 6 —S m e we th er
a ,
V rnished th e d eck e, . a a . a .

Carp enter finishing th gangw y l dder s rope c rving long th e e dge Noon e a a ,
a a .
,

l t 12 5 7 S
a . l ong 9 6 48 E D ist nce 2 90 mil es P M till 3 very
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. a . . .
,

unse ttl e d with rain Ab out 3 30 p m fre sh S E tr de wind g in c me w y a

. . a a a a a .
.
. . .
,

Watch setting up to pm st r igging a .

S un d y 24t h J un e 1a8 6 6 — S,
t ro ng sq u lls fro m S S E nd v ery
, .
a . . . a

confused S W se S hip pitching nd surging t o l eew rd consider bly I n

. . a. a a a .
xxii C H IN A C L I PPE RS TH E

all sm ll s ils and stunsa

a ils 8
a m l h ro pe f main t o pgallant sail gave . u. .
, eec o

w y nd split th e sail
a a I n m ain ro yal nd shifted m in t o pg ll nt sail . a a a a .

10 3 . m s e t th e m gain and fore t o pm st stunsail

0 a . .
,
N oo n h d s e t fore a -
a . , a

N oon l t 14 9 S l o ng 9 1 5 1
'
and mi e n roy ls and t o pg ll ant stays ils
° ’ °
z a a a .
, a . .
,
.

E D istanc e 280 miles P M nd midnight fresh b ree ze nd high

. . . . a ,
a

s outh erly sea.

M n d a y 2 5 t h June 18 6 6 —Fre sh st eady S E by S trad es nd high

o , . . . . . a

south er ly ; l e ss squally ; se t t o pg ll nt stunsails

s ea nd main t o pmas t nd a a a a

lo wer stunsails ; sea less fro m ah ead W tch b out th e r igging form rly . a a as e .

Car penter putting o n th e iron b nd gain round rudder and ste rnpost head ; a a

hav e t o e s e th e w oo d at afterpart t o l e t th e h oo p d o wn and t o w ork more

a

free ly S ailmak er making ringt il N oon l t 14 5 7 S long 86 30 E

.
'
a a .
, a .
° ’
.
,
.
°
.

D ist nce 3 17 mil es P M s m e we ther S hipping w ter o ver ll these

a a a a a

two d ys p st—hiefly at th e ends

. . . .
,

a a c .

Tu d y 2 6 t h June 1 8 6 6 —
es a S me we th er less wind All possibl e sail
, , . a a , .

se t Employe d
. b ove C rpenter m king stuns il y rds ; having c rried
as a . a a a a a

a w y two to pm sts on e roy l nd o n e to pgallant stunsail y rd ( two latte r

a a , a a a

whe n in u f r J mie Green ) N oon l t 16 1 1 S l ong

se o 8 1
'
3 E a . , a .
° ’
.
,
.
°

Dist nce 330 mil es P M wind more aft

a . . .
, .

W dn sd y 27 th Jun 186 6 —Wind light from E and E by N Set

e e a , e, . . . .

starb o r d stunsails nd r ingtail and w t r il under it and lac ed mize n sta ysail
a a a e sa

to o ts ide f l o wer stuns il Noon l t 17 2 3 S l ong 76 2 8 E D istance

u o
'
a . a .
°
.
, .
° '
.

2 7 0 mil e s P M sam e weath er . . .

, .

Th ur d y 2 8 t h June 1 8 6 6 —
s a Fin e cl e r we th er nd light trade wind
, , . a a a

fro m E nd . hauling to s E All possible s il s et to b est dv ntage

a
,
. . a a a .

Employed as for merly reserving l o wer nd to pmast r igging Se t up to pm st a . a

and to pga llant rigging and re r ttl e d th e r igging no t par ticula r ly till ro und -
a -

th e C pe C rp enter mak ing grating f r fore scuttl e door w y Sailmaker

giving th e ringt il 4 feet more ro ch in th e foot—
a . a o - a .

6 } fee t in all
a A to pgall nt a . a

stuns il se t inste d of it meantim e Noon l t 18 30 S l ong 7 2 40 E

a
'
a
'
. , a .
°
.
,
.
°
.

Distance 230 miles P M again b ent th e spare flying jib f r jib t opsail set . . .
,
- o a

o n fore roy l st y well up

-
a a

Frid y 2 9 t h Jun 1 8 6 6 —
.

a , S m e we th er S imilarly e mployed Noon e, . a a . .

,

l t 1 9 5 1 S l o ng 68 1 8 E
a .
° '
D istance 2 5 5 miles The oth er evening th e
.
, .
° ’
. .

ste w rd in opening dr wer found b x of m tche s had ignited nd

a a a a o a a

bur ne d so m e paper near it Th e nd f th e b ox had be en nibbled by

r t nd n o d o ubt caused th e m tch e s t o ign it e—
. e o

a a a th e cl osen ess f th drawer a o e

prob bly smoth ere d the fire—b ut this sh o ws h o w fire m y origin te

a a a .

S t urd y 3 0t h Jun e 1 8 6 6 —
a a S m e light trade wind fro m e tw rd nd
, , . a as a a

clear we th er S ge tting smooth er Empl oyed ab out th e rigging gre sed

a . ea . . a

m ts cl e n e d st eer ing scre w etc cl e n e d b r ss work o iled y rd trusses nd

as a a a a a

steering ge r e tc as usual o n S turd ys—weather permitting Noon

-
, , .
, ,

-
a , .
, a a .
,

lat 2 1 1 9 S l ong 6 3 5 1'E D ist nce 2 70 miles

° ’ °
. .
, . . a .

S un d y 1 t Jul y 18 6 6 —
a Wind lighter fro m E by N and smooth a
, s , . . . se .

N oo n l t 2 2 42 S long 60 30 E D istanc e 205 mile s P M me

° ’ ° ’
, a . .
, . . . . .
, sa

we th er sky very clear

a , .
 n iv TH E C H I N A C L I PP E R S
lat 30 5 2'S long 38' 5 8 E D istanc e I 5 7 miles P M drying stunsails
.
°
.
, .
’
. . . .
,

and ther work M idnigh t mo der ate south er ly wind ; all sail set
o .
, .

Tu sda y 10th July 18 6 6 —A littl squally ; in royal staysails when

e , , . e

n eedful Carpen ter fishing a fore topm t stunsail b oom h e l e t in a piec e of

.
-
as

t eak it will b e rounded with fine twelve th read stuff having n o h oo ps and h e
is fitting a ro pe strap t o answer f r yar d r m iro n—the sam e as fitte d for r ingtail
, , ,

o a

m Watch s e izing oil th e l o w er lanyar ds sn ug e tc and making s e nn et

"

b oo .
, .
, .

Noon lat 3 4 S long 34 5 8 E D istanc e 2 2 2 miles P M clear and

2 2
'
, .
°
.
, .
° ’
. . . .
,

fin e b reeze fro m S by W 4 p m passe d ship City qf Bomb y fro m Calcutta . . . .

, a

to London 47 days o ut Sh was 6 miles ahead at n oon Midnight . e .

,

l ess wind from S S E . . .

W dn sday 1 1t h July 18 6 6 —
e e Co ntinue d fin e we ath er nd light wind
, , . a ,

hauling t o S E and E N oo n l t 3 3 3 4 S l ong 30 54 E D ist nce 2 2 7

. . .
, a .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. a

mil es P M wind haulin g m ore to N E and N N E in after stunsails at

. . .
, . . . . .
-

1 0 p m Midnight fresh b ree ze and c l ear

. .
, .

Th ursda y 12t h July 18 6 6 — Wind freshe ning rapidly from 2 to 5 a m

, , . . .

I n royals and flying jib m much l e ss wind hauling t o N and N W . a. .

, , . . .

S t all sail o n a wind

e N oo n light W N W wind smooth water and cle ar .
, . . .
,

weath er N oon lat 34 46' S l ong 2 7 1 6' E D ista nc e 1 90 mil es

.
, .
°
.
, .
°
. .

2 p m .tack e d to N W ; light W by S wind Watch employe d making

.
, . . . . .

senne t tap er ing ends of lo wer lanyar d mats ready to go o n by and by

, .

S t o pp ere d th e l e ach ro p e f fore t o psail which was go n e at sta rb o a r d cl e w

-
o -

(halliar ds sh ould b e eas e d j ust b efore r ain or h e avy d e w if th ey have b een swe ated
tight up in d ry weather ) Carpenter b egan to r aise after g rati ng and binnacl e .
-

4 inch e s o ff th e de ck ; pre pa ring th e te ak and ca rving e tc M idnight very , .

,

light w sterly wind Tack e d to southward having go t s oundings in 75

e .

fath oms which agree s with re cko ning

,

Frid y 13 t h July 18 6 6 —To war ds 9 m wind fresh ening a littl e nd

.

a , , . a . .
, a

hauling to n orthwar d ; se t fore topm t and topgallant stunsails ( jib to psail on -

as

fore royal stay and Jami e Gree n s e t as usual )

-
N oo n lat 35 1 7 S .
, .
° ’
.
,

l ong 24 50 E D istanc e 13 1 miles Experi enc e d abo ut 36 mil es westerly

.
° ’
. .

current in th e 24 h our s 4 p m wind N W stunsails in A barque to . . .

, . . .

l ee wa d and ship to windwar d passing th e m fast oth er vessels s een from aloft
r , , .

M idnight fresh b reeze fro m W N W and c o nfus e d s e a

, . . . .

S t urda y 1 4t h J uly 18 6 6 —
a I . m ship almost unmanag eable in the , . a. .
,

strong c urre nt She came round against th e h elm nd gath ere d dangerous
.
, a

sternway ; brace d round and trimmed o n por t tack Till 5 m strong gusts . a. .
,

and confused sea ; to pgallant sails in m it sudd e nly m o d erat ed ; s et . a. .

,

all sail on a wind N oon lat 36 1 S lo ng 2 1 46'E D istanc e 159 miles

.
, .
° ’
.
, .
°
. .

Experienced 5 2 mil es of W S W current in th e 24 h ours P M wind very . . . . . .

light th en calm ; clear weath er Shifte d fore and main upper topsails ro pe .

gone at cl e ws 6 p m faint air fro m N E se t stunsails Midnight light

. . .
, . . .
,

bree ze clear and h eavy d e w

, , .

S un da y 15 t h J uly 18 66 —Cl ea r w eath er and light n orth erly wind

, , .
,

hauling to N W I n stunsails etc . th wind haul ed

.
S ignalise d B r itish , .
, as e .

ship T nt llon Castl fro m Calcutta to L ondon 45 days out ; we cam e up to

a a e ,
 A PP E N DIX
and passed h er easily N oo n lat 35 5 3 S l ong 20 12 'E D istanc e 8 2 .
, .
° '
.
, .
’
.

miles Current 8 mil es east P M faint N W and W N W winds

. . . .
, . . . . . .

4 p m ta ck e d t o n or thwa r d
. .
, 6 t o 7 p m n e r ly calm th e n faint ai r fro m . . .
, a ,

S E ship barely steering fre h e n e d t owa r ds 9 p m se t stunsails

. .
, M idnight , s . . .
,

b arome t er falling ; ge tting cl oudy and misty d e w falling c o nfuse d s e a In , , .

royal stunsails .

M n d y 1 6 t h July 18 6 6 —
o l
a m in to pgallant stunsails skysail
, , . a . .
, , ,

wind hauling to E N E and N E 3 30 m sky cl ear ing and steady . . . . . . a. .

,

mode rate wind ; s e t t o pgallant s tunsails and skysail again 7 m wind . a. .

,

hauling more n or ther ly I n after and lo wer stunsails Passing se veral vesse ls . .

going same way N oon lat 3 5 40 S lo ng 1 7 30 ' E D ist nc e 30 miles .

, .
° '
.
°
. a 1 .

14 mil es f curre nt E by S P M wind hauling more and fresh ening I n

o . . . .
, .

stunsails staysails Jami e Green skysail and fore and mize n royals 4 p m
, , , . . .
,

fresh b reez e fro m N N W ge tting cloudy Baro m eter which has been fro m . . . .

to 30 6 0 sinc e passing M aur itius no w 8 p m baro m e ter 2 9 9 8 . .

,
'
.

More wind and se a t opgallant sails and flying jib in , .

Tu da y 1 7 th Jul y 18 6 6 —W ind increasing Cro ssjack and spanker

es , , . .

furled to e as e h er in pitching M i e n staysail s et At daylight less wind . z .

, .

S t to pgallant sails nd spank er

e 10 30 m s e t main royal and flying jib a . . a. .
, .

m dark cl oud rising ah ead

a. U p mains il in c ro ssjack and miz e n
.
, . a ,

st ysail m in royal and flying jib Noon wind h eade d ff to S W and S

a , a .
, o . . .

Up foresail and w ore round with light w e st er ly wind and cl o udy w e ath er On .

port tack h e ding N Noo n lat 36 3 S long 14 2 3' E (by cc ount)

a .
, .
° ’
.
, .
°
. a .

Distance 160 mil es P M wind incre as ed to a m o derate bree ze and h ead se a . . .

,

falling S t all sail gradually and fore t o pm st st unsail

. e -
a .

W dn day 18 th July 18 6 6 —L ight we sterly and S W winds Watch

e es , , . . .

preparing th e mats ; repairing upper to psails etc N oo n lat 34 35 S , .

, .
° ’
.
,

long 12 2 1 E D istanc e 133 miles

.
° '
. .

Th ursda y 19t h July 1 8 6 6 — S am e wind and ge n er ally cl e ar w eath er

, , . .

Passing four ve ss e ls fa t 10 m wind hauling to s outh ; s e t starb o ar d s . a. .

,

stunsails Employed getting all c oal up ut f c o al h ole ; put 2 tons in th e

. o o

shifting box nd ab out 1 t on in galley lo ck er sh ee p pe n and pig h ou e (b oth

a ,
s

pigs having been killed ) on e ye sterday nd th e other te n days pre viously , a .

C rpent er making a grating c o ver f r sail c bin hatch

a I will c onde mn th e o a .

present h eavy te ak c o ver Also making a n e w fancy canvas c o ver f No .

o . 2

to go under th e pre sent canva c o ver to b e th oroughly water tight whe n s ,

secured do wn Noo n lat 3 2 5 4 S long 10 5 5 E D istanc e 1 3 3 miles

'
.
, .
° ’
.
, .
°
.

2 30 p m
. wind hauled to.
gyb e d spank er and shift e d ore and l o w er
.
,
f
stunsails over b ent and se t fore royal stun ails Drizzling sh o wers with -
s .

passing light squalls wind veer ing fro m S by E all p or t stunsails in . . .

Frida y 2oth July 1 8 6 6 —2 m in a slight sho wer which ro se on

, , . a . .
,

starboard quarter wind f r 2 or 3 minute s cam e from N E k e pt d W by

'

o . . c .
,

N . b ut it ba ck e d imm e diat e ly t o S E took in royal stunsails and jib . .

topsail skysail and royals and d o wn e d st ysails 2 1 5 a m set royals

,
a . . . .
, ,

skysail and staysails and t rimme d yar ds ; wind E S E D aylight set all ,
. . . ,

possible sail wind still veer ing fro m E by S to S E with passing clouds
,
. . . . .
x xvi TH E C H I N A C LI PP E R S
Empl oye d as yesterday Car pe nter finishe d hatch cover N oon lat 3 1
'
. .
, .

10 S lo ng 7 3 1 E
’
.
,
'
D istance 1 88 mile s P M took in set and t rimmed
.
°
. . . .
, ,

sail as n e ces sary .

S at urd y 2 13 1: J uly 18 6 6 —I nc reasing h ead s e a

a , Wind gradually , .

headed ship ff t o N N W and N W N oon light baffl ing N N W wind

o . . . . .
,
. . .

veering with every cloud L t 29 2 0 S l ong 2 4 5 E D istanc e 2 7 ! miles

'
. a .
° ’
.
, .
°
. .

P M calms and bath ing ai r s tacking e tc as n e c e ssary

. .
, , , .
, .

S un da y 22n d July ,18 6 6 —Wind all round th e c ompass cl o uds , ,

ge nerally m oving fro m n or thward sky partially l r N oon lat 9 7 S

c ea 2 2
'
,
.
, .
°
.
,

l ong 2 4 E D istance 40 mil es P M c lms and baffling

.
° ’
. . . .
, a .

M n da y 2 3 d July 18 6 6 —S ame w e ath er

o , rTacking and tr imming , .

yar ds etc S ent up o ne f th e Foo ch o w spare spar s for main to pmast stunsail o -

b oom—th e fish ed boo m having given w y B ent th e s econd fore and main upper
, .

a .

to psails ; put away th e b est N oon lat 2 8 5 6 S l ong 0 5 7 E

'
D istance . , .
°
.
, .
° ’
.

7 5 miles P M calms and baffling ai rs ; very cl ear and smooth se a

. . . .

Tu d y 24 th July 18 6 6 Faint air s fro m we stwar d S teer ing to

es a , , .
-
.

mak e n or thing to reach limits f S E trade s as soon as po sible Watch o . . s .

putting on l o wer lanyar d mats ; wift ring and sparing th e rigging ready f r s e o

rattling d o wn Carp enter mak ing e ight te k capsta n bar s f a fixe d rack o n a or

t f h ouse also mad e a pro per water funne l—l ead n o zzl e ; co pper
.

after p ar o ,

wante d M ain skysail very thin ; making an oth er of four cloths N o 3

. .

in middle wings f N o 5 taking th e b o nnet f fore sail as we have n o other

, o .
, o

light canvas Cl eane d th e c oal ho le thoroughly and gave a se cond c oat of

.

pin e o il o ver iro n also Noon lat 7 3 r S long 0 27 E D istance 85

2
'
.
, .
°
.
, .
° ’
.

mil es P M wind hauling to S W

. . .
, . .

W dn s d y 25 t h July 18 6 6 —Wind hauling to south and S E

e e a , , . . .
,

fresh ening a very littl e ; all po ssibl e sail se t ringtail wat er sa ils save ails , ,
-
,
-
,

mizen st ysa il wing to lower stunsail t

- a Found th e ship is again o n e ven , e c.

ke l e . U sing th water m ust lighte n h er ft as though we put th Manila

e a , , e

and E uro pe t o w ro p e s in th e l o wer fore castl e th e o th er day fro m my cabin ,

w e brought fully 2 to ns of co al fro m c oal h ol e to forep r t of quarter hatch in a -

th e shifting box therefore mo ved said box aft al ongside skylight starboar d side
,

to trim a little by th e ster n Noo n lat 2 6 S l o ng 0 1 2 W D istance .

, .
°
.
, .
° ’
.

7 6 mil es P M wind fre sh e ning t o mo de r at e b ree ze and cl o udy veer ing with
. . .
, ,

e very cloud fro m S S E to E Yards trimme d for S E wind and e dging o fl

. . . . . .

north required as .

Th ur d y 26t h July 18 66 —W ind falling light at time s Employed

s a , , .

rattling lo wer and to pmast rigging H itch ing th e s eparate str ands round th e .

shro uds and laying up again b etwee n th e sh rouds for snugn ess Carp enter at .

fancy capst n ba r s sailmak er at th e n e w skysail and o n e hand makin g th e

a , ,

fr inge f sail cabin c o ver Noon lat 24 2 2 S long 3 20 W D istance ° ’ ° ’

o .
, . .
, . .

2 2 0 mil e s Wat er whe n pumping ship in do g watch c o m es up very rusty with

.

th e k entledge and o n e scupper abreast is too small to discha ge what pumps r

th ro w ; a larger scupp er and h o e would k eep d e cks clean P M light s . . .

,

bath ing winds and clo udy

Frid y 27 th July 18 6 6 —Wind veer ing all round th e c ompass and
.

a , , .
,
xxviii TH E C H I N A C L I P P E R S
l ong b oat to oil th e de ck while the b oat is standing k ee l do wn Sc raped the
,
.

lignum vitae fai r leads and upper deadeye s and o ile d th em N oon lat 1 - . , .
°

28 S
'
l ong 19 54 W D istan c e 17 0 mil es P M a barque in c ompany
.
, .
° ’
. . . .
,

dro pping aster n fast .

S un d y 5 t h August 1 8 66 a S am e w eath er
, S teer ing r ight b efo re th e . .
- .

wind N oon lat 0 20 N long 2 2 1 W D istan ce 170 miles 6 7 d ys

.
'
, .
°
.
, .
° ’
. . a

to th e lin e fro m th e Foo ch ow River .

M n d y 6 th Augus t I S6 6 —S am e light st eady S S E winds and

o a , . . . . .

clear Empl oyed turning b oats do wn o n th e skids again ; sto wed th e small
.

t nks on a plank on th e skids within th e after b oats sto we d th e pigho use in

a ,

its plac e under th e large boat forward after pin e o iling th e de ck and anchors ,

un der said b o at Sc rape d all th e spo ts f pitch tar greas e etc . ff th e paint o , , , .
, o

work aloft and ab out th e b ulw rks r ails and water ways etc th e n c ommenced a , , .
,

scrubbing th e br ight w ork and paint work with sand Brea hed th e full tank . c

o f fre sh wat er ( 2 05 0 gall o ns ) t o day N oon lat 2 59 N l ong 24 3 1 W -

.
, .
° ’
.
, .
’ ’
.

D istance 2 20 miles 1 knot current in favo ur . .

Tu d y 7 t h Augu t 18 6 6 —Sam e weather Car penter re pair ing

es a , s , . .

bulwarks where stoveZ in por t sid e f fore r igging and pre par ing b ott o m b oar ds , o

o f t e ak f r th e sh ee p pen N oon l t 6 8 N l ong 26 12 W D ist nc e

o 1
'
.
, a .
°
. .
° '
. a

2 2 1 mil e s 1 kn o t o f curre nt t o n or thwar d

. P M sc r ape d rust blist er s t o . . .
,

th e b are iron f mizen and mainmast and rubb e d cl ean and smoo th with sand
o

sto n e also f w spo ts o n foremast and b o wspr it the n coate d with white zinc
, a e ,

which when d ry will b e smoothed along edge s of blist er marks with pumic e
stone b efore painting mast co lo ur M idnight n early calm sky over cas t .
, .

W dn d y 8 t h Augu t 18 6 6 Light wind hauling t o westward

e es a , s , .
-
.

5 m b r c e d n early shar p up o n p or t tack ; st unsails s et for war d

a . .
, a Employed .

scrubbing b right wor k and paint work wi th sand and pumice sto n e ; inside -

bulwarks etc Car penter put n e w teak bo tto m o n th e sh ee p pe n N o n

, . . o ,

lat 8 33 N long 26 5 8 W D istance 145 miles

.
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. .

Th ur d y 9 t h Augus t 18 6 6 — s aL ight and m o derat e winds fro m w e st

, , .

war d Sky gen erally cl ear Simil r ly employed and car penter taking ff th
. . a , o e

sh eathing f starb oard fore and port mize n chann els N oon lat 9 5 9 N
o .
, .
° ’
.
,

long 7 7 W D istance 8 5 miles M idnight wind mo derate from W N W

'
. 2
°
. .
, . . .

F id y l oth August 18 6 6 —Wind baffling Still sc rubbing with sand

r a , , . . .

S c raping sm oo th and pumic e st oning Car p ent er d o ing car ving o n handspik e - .

rack At 4 m wind died away t o a calm 5 m light misty air fro m

. a. .
, . e. .
,

N W hauling t o n or th
. . 6 am tacke d with light sho wery weath er and . . .
,

N N E wind which fresh ened promi ing to b e th e N E tr de Noon

. . .
, s . . a s .
,

lat 12 42'N l ong 2 8 2 8 W D istanc e 18 5 mil es Passed two ships

.
°
.
, .
‘ ‘
. .

running s uth P M wind rather unste ady o . . .

, .

S t urd y l l t h August l 8 6 6 —Wind veer ing fro m N by E to N E

a a , , . . . . .

fro m fre sh b ree z e t o a calm Finish e d scrubbing inside and scrubb d th e . e

bulwarks outsid e to a plank b el o w the co ver ing board Carpe nter t king f! . a o

all channe l sheathing on starb oar d side Will l eave por t fore and main till .

across N E trades to h e lp h er whe n side is do wn Noon lat 1 4 2 N

. . .
,
° ’

long 3 1°7 W D istanc e 184 miles P M washe d down th oroughly insid e

.
. .
,
’ '
. : . . .
,
 APPE N D IX n ix

and o ut . To -
day c o mm ence d burning woo d instead of c oal to kee p paint
work cl e n a .

S un d y 12t h Augu t 18 6 6 —Sam e w e ath er

a , N oo n lat 1 5 56 N
'
s , . . , .
°

long 33 . 12
'
W D istance 162 mil es P M a barque in co mpany dro pping
°
. . . .
,

aster n S light sh o wer s o ccasi o nally Sam e v eer ing light n or th e ast er ly winds
.
.
- .
,

M n d y 1 3 t h A ugust 18 6 6 —W ind ste adi er and cl e ar w e ath er

o a , , . .

Comm e nc e d t o il th e b r ight work and paint insid e ship fir st th e white pan e ls

o ,
.

Noon lat 17 30 N long 34 59 W D istanc e 1 54 mil es Carpenter on

, .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
.

small j obs in ord er n ot to make chips—l o wer ends f carved orname nts o n
.

house too fr agil e sh or te n ed th e m a littl e , .

Tu sda y 14 t h A ugust 18 6 6 —2 to 6 m sh o wery paint m ostly set

e , , . a. .
,

for tunat e ly Till 9 m sc r ubbing and scr aping gr atings ladd ers buck e t
. a. .
, , ,

racks e tc Sky cl earing with m od erat e E by N wind Wash ed do wn and

, . . . .

went o n painting gave b right work a sec o nd c o at of raw oil r ubbed o n thin
and pane ls etc a se co nd co at f white ( Mean to gi e everything two c oats
, .
, o . v

o f paint and b right w or k th ree c o ats f o il and after de cks e tc a re cl e an e d o , , .

, ,

copal varnish th e bright work ) Noon lat 20 1 3 N lo ng 36 2 W .

, .
° ’
.
, .
°
1
’
.

D istance 1 63 miles P M gave all th ree bo ats se cond coat f white outside . . .
, o ,

als o do ing sec o nd co at f white nd first f green inside the bulwarks o a o .

W dn sda y 1 5 t h Augu t 1 8 6 6 —Light steady N E tr ad e wind

e e , s , . . . .

O iling and pai nting Car pent er mad e c e me nt f fin e dry lim e and tar and . o

refilled over bo lt heads of covering bo ard Noo n lat 2 3 33 N l ong 37 -

.
, .
° ’
.
°

18 W D istance 2 10 mile s
’
. .

Th urs d y 1 6 t h Augu t 1 8 6 6 —V ery light easter ly wind and cl ear

a s

war m we ath er Carpe nter took ff remainder f channe l sh eathing—por t

, , . ,

. o o

side Watch painting and o iling Painted water way pl nk blue mixe d with
. . a

zinc G ave the masts and mastheads e tc first co at n e ar ly fle sh c o l our with

.
, .
,

p at e nt and whit e zinc mix e d N oo n lat 2 6 49 N l o ng 3 8 1 1

'
W .
, .
° ’
.
, .
°
.

Distance 2 02 miles .

Frid y 1 7 th August 18 6 6 —Finishe d painting and o iling insid e and

a , , .
,

most f masts ; sails flapping too m uch to finish all b eing n ear ly calm
o , .

Sc rap e d th e chann els and wash e d outsid e b e l o w c o ver ing b o ar d N oo n lat .

, .

°
28 7 N
’
long 3 8 39 W D istanc e 82 miles P M painte d back ro pes
.
, .
° ’
. . . .
, ,

inner part f guys l o wer brac e pe nnants le ad c o lour 9 p m t o midnight

o ,
-
. . .
,

fi lms and b flling ai r s H aule d yards round as n e ce ssary

a . .

S t urd y 1 8 t h A ugu t 18 6 6 —Badling and calm till

a a , m th en s , . a. .

clear and fresh ening air fro m S W and W S W S t stunsails Finishe d . . . . . e .

painting th e masts aloft b efore 8 m Wind hauling to we st and N W a . . . .

,

steering N E 5 N corre cted co mpass I n stunsails e tc wh en n ec essary

. . .
,
.
, .
, .

Employe d pain ting outside fro m r ail to two planks b e lo w channels all ro und .

Noon lat 2 8 5 8 N l o ng 3 8 40 W D istanc e 5 5 mile s 4 p m finish ed

, .
° ’
.
, .
° ’
. . . .
,

painting ; co mmenc ed to b reak sand f cle aning de cks Put th e n e wly or .

painted small sks (f r vine gar m o la se s e tc ) be lo w in l ower fore castle

ca o , s , . .

Put h o ld ladd er and stag e planks ac ro ss th e st er n again st o w e d th ere s o m e ,

ten days ago with b rok en b oo ms etc par tly re sting o n middle f taffrail
, ,
.
,
o ,

ends on two to pgallant stunsail b ooms lying on th e bumpkins and outer edge
xxx TH E C H I N A C L I P P E R S

ar ter ch o ps of tafirail B rok e up th e shifting c oal b o x and oth er wise

‘

of
’

qu .

prepared f r cleaning de cks put the c o al for war d into co al lo ck er Midnight

o ,
.
,

faint n or th w e st er ly ai r s and cl e a r w e ath er s e a sm ooth

-
,
.

S und y 19 t h A ugu st 18 6 6 — Calms and faint ai rs N oon lat 30 °

a , , .
.
, .

'
36 N lo ng 37 43 W D istanc e 108 mile s P M and midnight
.
, .
° ’
. . . .
,

sam e weath er .

M n d y 20th A ugu t 1 8 6 6 —Sam e we ath er Tack ed square d away

o a , s , . .
, ,

etc as n e c essar y
.
, Co mm e nc e d h olyst o ning d ecks Carp e nter re placing two
. .

large pie ces f carve d work washe d away whe n caught aback one night in
o

south latitude Cle an ed and painted inside of h ous e N oon lat 3 56 N

.
0
'
.
, .
°
.
,

long 37 2 6 W D istanc e 3 2 mil es

.
° ’
. .

Tu s d y l t Augu t 18 6 6 —Same weath er 2 m tack ed to

e a , s , . . a. .
,

light b reeze fro m N E Clear we ath er a littl e swe ll fro m N W . .

, . .

N oon lat 3 1 29 N l ong 37 2 1 W D istanc e 36 miles

, .
° ’
.
° ’
. .

W dn d y 22n d Augu t 18 6 6 —Sam e weath er Watch go ing o ver

e es a , s , . .

d e cks with large and small h olyston es th e s e co nd time Car penter fitting .

stands f sidelights abaft mi e n r igging with r ak e ut to sh o w lights r ight

o z o

ah ead clear of co urses and all ro pes N oon lat 32 40 N long 39 3 W . , .

° ’
.
, .
,
° ’
.

D istance 1 14 miles .

Th urs d y 2 3 d A ugu t 18 6 6 —L ight baffling winds and calms

a , r s , . .

M uch tim e e mpl oye d in tr imming sails o th er wise h o lysto ning d e cks sc rubbing , ,

gratings b right buck et r ack and b uck ets ( 1 in numb er ) gun carr iages etc
,
2 , .

Car p ent er pre par ing te ak t o put a n e w e dge b o tto m round mang er at fore par t
f main hatch th e p re s e nt o n e is t oo light and shatt ere d N oon lat 33 °
o ,
.
, .

9 N l ong 39 3 8 W D ist nce 44 miles

’ ° ’
.
, . . a .

F id y 24 th Augu t 18 6 6 Sam e weath er and sh o wers Washing

r a , s , .
-
.

do wn r ails bulwarks and de cks etc twic e o ver and ropes ends overboard
, , .
, ,
’
.

Noon lat 34 5 6 N long 39 1 7 W D istanc e 1 8 mile s 6 p m tacked

, .
° ’
.
° ’
. 0 . . .
,

again to nor th wind N E by E fresh en ed to a smar t breeze all staysails in

, . . .
, ,

and jib to psail To war ds midnight light breeze s e t jib topsail m inr y l.
, , a o a ,

and to pgallant and middle staysails as usual wh en o n a wind H ad th e decks .

,

etc all cl ean f r oiling

.
, o .

S t urd y 2 5 th August 1 8 6 6 —V ery light N E wind and fin e cl e ar

a a , , . . .

weather A M wa hed decks and swept and wipe d all th oroughly dry and
. . .
, s

lifte d e verything possible f? th e de ck 9 a m co mm ence d with China woo d o . . .

,

oil gave two good coats and third where it would tak e it th en went over
, a ,

all again a fourth tim e with dry rags r ubbing fore and aft Us ed 1 6 gallons , .

o f o il and o n e gall o n f r aw o il t o finish F inish e d all the de cks at o .

4 p m had a splendid day f it Car penter at sundry small j obs

. .
, o .

aloft Painte d rudder h ead tiller and part f steer in g gear g ree n and all
.
-
, o ,

und er th e m onke y p oo p b ro wn t e ak c o l our also painted on e water way plank ,

s ec ond c o at f blue and c o mmenced to tur pe ntine va nish th e bright work

o , r ,

viz after pa rt to pgallant forecastle fo e scuttle stanchions to p f c over ing

.
, .
,
r -
, o

b oard fif r ails fore and ft round masts etc N oon lat 36 20 N l ong
, e a , ,
.
, .
° ’
.
, .

40 1 W D istance 9 5 miles
° '
. .
 xxx ii TH E C H I N A C L I PP E R S

5 a . in fore and mizen topgallant sails

m, . a m in main topgallant sail . . .
, .

6 a. in c rossjack and spank er and eas ed upper to psail halliar ds 6 30 m

m, . . . e . .
,

rop e fore tack hauling par t d ragged th e capstan ut f th e b roken so cket ; o o

sec ured again with chain fore tacks to bitts Gusts very strong 7 m . . a. .
,

calle d all hands reefed th e mainsail and set it again Wind began to back again
, .

t o S S W and S W 9 m m ore m o der ate fro m west se t all plain sail

. . . . . a . .
, , ,

k ept reef in mainsail Noo n lat 48 58 ' N l ong 1 5 42 W D istanc e .

, .
°
.
, .
° ’
.

1 9 2 mile s P M se t all sta rb o a r d stunsails for wa r d and sta rb o ar d main

. . .
,

topgallant stunsail Watch go t anch ors o n th e b o ws and chains b ent ll clear

. a .

Baro meter at 9 m to 5 p m steady Sto ppe d falling b ut h as not

a. . . .
, .

rise n at all .

Tu s d y 4 t h S p t m b e r 1 8 6 6 —M o derate S W wind and rain

e a , e e , . . .
,

thinning ff at times All sail s et 7 t o 10 m very light wind ; again

o . . a. .
,

fre sh e n e d with sh o w er s Sun sh o wing at time s N oon lat 49 2 6 N ° ’

. .
, . .

( acc ount 49 long 10 20 W ( acc ount 10 D istance 2 12 miles

’ ° ’ °
. . .

To wa rds s und o wn m ore wind and r ain g usts fro m S W and thick , . .

gloomy weath er .

W dn sd y 5 t h S p t m b r 18 6 6 —Sam e we ather c o ntinuing Wind

e e a , e e e , . .

veer ing fro m S W by S to W S W and back with lightning in th west . . . . . .

, e .

Approaching Scilly I sles I n small staysails skysail and to pgallant stunsails .

, .

a m saw Bishop and St Agn es Lights

. . , m S t Agn es distant . . a. .
, .
,

ab out 10 mil es b ore north by c o mpass ship s h ead E by S f S , am ,

’
. . . . .
,

sky cl eared Set all possibl e sail B arom eter

. b egan to r is e . .

a. m L izar d L ights ab out W N W 1 1 mil es

.
,
Noon n earing Start Po int . . . .
, .

30 min p m th e lighth us e b ore n or th distant 3 mil es

. . .
, H oist ed u number o , . o r .

A ship since daylight has b een in co mpany on starb oard quart er Tap ing , r

probably p m Portland L ights n or th distant ab o ut 6 mil e s

. . H ave
.
, , .

been going 14 kn o ts royal st unsails and all flying kites set wind stro ng from ,

hazy b ut cl ear overhead B efore 6 p m got anchors o ver Jamie . . .

, ,

Gree n and jib to psail unb ent and oth erwis e all clear for ward 6 p m
-
, . . .
,

baro meter 2 9 rising very slo wly p m St Cath er in e s L ight n orth

“
. . .
, .
’

on e mil e In all small sails exce pt fore to pm st stunsail

.
p m O wers a . . .
,

L ight n or th 4 mil e s m B e achy H e ad Light nor th 5 mile s . a . .

, .

Th urs d y 6 t h S p t e m b 1 8 6 6 —30 min m gradually red uce d sail

a , e e r, . . a. .
,

as we n eared Dungeness 3 a m Dungen ess L ight N E 8 miles Up main . . .

, . . .

sail in main royal fore and mizen to pgallant sails flying jib and up foresail
, , , .

Sent up ro ck e ts and b ur n e d s e ver al bl ue lights 4 m in main t o pgallant . a. .

,

sail and hove to abreast f D unge n ess Light distant 1} mil es Continued to o , .

mak e signals f r a pilo t 5 m saw th e T ping r unning and als o signalling

o . a. .
, (ta .

B ore up lest th ey should run eastwar d f u and ge t pilo t fi rst Seeing u o s . s

k ee p away they h o ve to and we again h o ve to

, m saw two c utter s . a. .
,

c o ming ut f Dunge ness R o ads

o om k e pt away s o as t o ge t b etween . a . .
,

T p ing and th e cutter s

ae 5 5 5 m ro und e d t o cl os e t o th pil o t cutter and . . a . .
, e

got fir st pilo t and were saluted as fir st ship fro m China this s eason I
, .

re plied Y and what is that to th e westward ? We hav e n ot room to

,
“
es ,

boast yet Thank Go d w e are fir st up chann e l and h o ve t o f r pil o t an

.
o a

hour b efore him 6 m kept away f r South Foreland set all plain sail ; . a. .
, o
 A P PE N DI X xxxi ii
were immediately fo llo we d by T efi ng Th ey s et also to pmast t opgallant
a .
,

and l o wer stunsails o n e sid e ; wind slightly quarter ing We ke pt ah ead .

witho ut th e stunsails or would also have se t the m T p ing n eare d u a mil e

. ae s

or two b ut was a mil e astern wh en he had to tak e in his stunsails (h e had

shifted th em t o port side whe n hauling up thro ugh the Downs ) H o iste d ur . o

numb er ab reast o f Deal We were th en fully o n e mil e ah e ad f T“p ing and

. o

kept so till obliged to tak e in all sail and tak e steam er ah ead Taeping tug .
’
:

then proved much b etter than o urs and s oo n t o we d past u I th ought of s.

t king an oth er b oat b ut found th ere would b e n o n eed as f r as do cking was

a a

conc ern ed as we co uld reach Gr aves end two or three hours b efore it would b e
,

possibl e to go o n o n acc ount of tid e therefore I save d th e 10 or ( J12 ask ed

,

by b oats T ping reach e d Gravese nd 55 minutes b efore us We avoided

. ae .

anch or ing by ge tting a t ug al o ngsid e t o k ee p us ast er n Pro c ee d e d with fir st

.

tug ah e ad as th e fl o wing tid e gav e u uflici nt wat er t o fl o at th us re ach e d

s s e ,

Bl ckwall and East I ndia d ock entranc e at 9 p m Th ey c ould n ot o pen the

a . .

gates till tid e rose high er .

p m h o ve th e ship insid e th e do ck gat e s
. .
, .

T ping had pre c ed e d u up th e r iver b ut having fur th er t o g did n o t re ach

ae s , o,

th e e ntrance f L ond on docks till 10 p m and d rawing l ess water than us ;

o . .
,

also th e do ck having two gates they got her inside outer gate shut it and
, ,

allo wed th e lo ck to fill fro m th e dock th en o p en e d th e inn er gate sh e

docke d so m e 20 minutes b efore us—the pap ers have it half an ho ur for th e
, , so

sak e of pre cisio n—a stro ng we sterly gal e since 8 p m

- -

. .