The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-27

THE CLIPPER SHIP HoRSET-THE OLD AND NEW
HORNET.

Il
| This last addition to the splendid clipper fleet.
that have already sailed and preparing to sail
from port, will be down town to her berth.
| in few days, when those interested in viewing
first rate specimens Of marine architecture will have am
opportunity Of inspecting Of the finest clipper ships
that left ship yard indeed in the estimation Of
many nautical men, she is considered the finest model
and build Of any vessel constructed in this o
any other country.
The Hornet tons carpenters' measurement.
Her length FOG feet deck, 40 feet beam and % feet
depth Of hold She has 30 inches RISE asd carrying
her floor well forward and aft and terminating q. each
end, In an extreme sharp forming straight lines and
making on the whole, of the symine trcal and
| rakish ships the eye beheld
She has two decks the upper one being entire flush
fore and aft showing much room as a line Of battle
ship with clear decks; and in regard to her strength
in wood and fastenings it appears impossibty to
have vessel constructed scientific principles
She has square stern ornamented with gilt carving OF
the Lawrence coat Of arms representing two boys
sitting topmast yard supporting shield with foul
anchor.
Her frame consists Of white oak live oak and locust
her topsdes and ends being entirely of the She
has three nelson's, main and two side nelson's at
tached, forming immenfe back bone capable of
tanning thrice the burden of the ship Some of her
breasworks six feet in the throat hanging
knees average % inches with IL to Is inch face. Her
forecaste and cabin below deck the latter finished
the most superb style and in point of taste and beauty
though small cannot very easily be excelled
Her spars in perfect proportion and though i'm
mense appear adapted to carry all sa long spars
and rigging will stand. Her manmast is IS Inches i'm
diameter, main yard so feet and from main truck
lo1 feet tower above the head The rest of the spars
n accordance.
This ship il owned by Messrs Chamberlain aud Phelps
and is int nded for the China trade is COM
manded by the well known and geptlemsnly Can't Wm
W. Lawrence under whose superintendent she has
built He has been well known of our driving
slip mast,rs out Of this port for the last f cen
tla Ia nA
Hecoe
predict for this ship one of the shortest passages
ever ade to San Francisco, she is pronounced b,
those who competent judges to have all the requisite
qualities Of very fast sailing vessel.
The Of this vessel and that captain will no
doubt bring to the mind Of many of the
memory Of the American sloop Of war Hornet and
Penguin during the last war and this clipper
named by who took active part in that achieve
ment Capt W skiddy, probably the following graphic
description of the action the journal OF Capt g.
then midshipman in the Hornet, will not be thought
March Is 1878 arrived of the island of Tristan
dAcurca in lat 81 deg. south, and IL deg long
Our first lieutenant, David Conner had just landed when
the signal made for him to return in consequences
OF strange sail hcaving in sight and standing down
before the wind for We hove to- and took din
ner ut duff day. while she running down The
duff hardly swallowed when the drum beat to quar-
ter-in few minutes all ready for action every eye
watching the stranger lie uifcd our weather
quarter starboard) about pistol shot off hostcd the
Britih flag and gave us gun This did not notice
waiting for him to shoot ahead more lie then gave
US the first broadside The moment his guns flashed,
ours were in operation; and strange to say in five mi
nutes perceived the blood running from his scupper,
when they almost stopped firing Our little Captain
dered us 70 firing; when the enemy, thinking
we're disabled renewed his fire. and Of
convinced him Of his mistake lie them as last alter
native. ran his bowsprt bet veen main and mizen-
mast with the intention of carrying us by boarding
stationed with the First Lieutenant in the Third
division the quarter deck, hree after guns each
side) and was soon in command of this diyison-the
First Lieutenant, Mr. Conner having been severely
wounded at the commencement OF the action. This
brave oficer was standing near my right arm ! was
he nj gupfr matt mi
after taking aim, he inquired of me how the enemy
looked, and Just answering that from appearanceshs
time had nearly expired when shot struck him in the
groin watched the effect Of the wound, and OBJ
served him whten from loss of blood. attempted to
abreast the mizm mast, asked him IL should send him
beow-puttng his hand the wound, he said. mo,
mast-the Captain observing ths despatched his ail,
Midshpman Sam Phelps, to help him below, and
tinued in charge Of the Third Division.
The jib-halyards being shot away the fore tack
hauled down to yser the ship. The enemy
foul Of us. and all hands called to repel boardcrs
we Immediately mounted the hammock cloths and the
enemys bons the shout Of board and cheers from
boys thnned OF the crowd their orccase deck,
and required all the cxertons Of captain and Of
hcrs TO prevent our from boarding. had they done
so the enemy would have suffered much many Of them
were now lodging below and left their First Lieu
tenant (McDonald) standing alone the forecastle.
Many muskets leveled at him but prevented
BY cur officers from firing brave q He then
enquired Of our leader Second Lieutenant Newton the
name Of the ship, and answered the United states
soop Hornet he then waved his sword and walked aft
Our snip In shooting ahead carried away his bowsprt
tore away oil our mzxen rigging and the enemy swung
across our stem Our captain was standing AFT the
ann chest speaking them. when their fore mast fell
along the lee waist The marines in the fore top chung
with their muskets to the rigging. the mast fell
deck and then jumped forward, fired and wounded
captain They made an attempt also, at this time, to
was standing in the arboard stern port in front OF
their two bow gums, only about twelve feet from
their boarding certainly expected to see many of our
party fall at that fire Had these been well direct
Cd many Of US must have been killed but fortunately at
mrs ste uaudfh
shot went under the counter into the Our ship
now came round on the other tack Qarboard), and
played my division into them raking them fore and
afr they again cried quarters and wounded captain
came and ordered to cease firing. Our antagonist
dickinson, Zone Of Lord Nelson's favortes) who was
killed during the action by ball through the heart
pound carronsdes, two long mines, and one twelve
FOUNDER on the forccaste They reported fifteen men
Der Il from the Midway seventy -four and was sent
expressly from the Cape Of Good Hope for the
naie out, by the rolls on board of her twenty.hye
killed. Several Of the wounded died
lne Hornet was the same length ono foot loss beam
guns o. the same caibre more In number than the
Penguin The Hornet bad, before the s.ton $50 mon;
,hs fsngaiS had do les men including volunteers
fad one man killed aud eleven wounded, and this all
IN The sfer third division The poor fellow that was
khltd was six foot marine. named Town. from YER
mont he vas firing over my head and suddenly per-
eeiyed his brains on my shoes, and, turning OBJ
serv'dthe top Of his skull had been taken OF by ball
a. lac was now much In the way, showed him through
che q the ports overheard After the eight ca the
most painful and heart siekening sight Of poor fellows
who only few minutes since, we'll and joyful now
All manged by balls aud spiintersgrosn. were heard
frt m all quarters We employed getting the
prisoners board, unbendng and bending sails re-
pairing rigging, and replacing possible all
damages This called from the dying grosns OF the
wounded. The surgeons all employ ed amputatiug
limbs and dressing wounds.
The prize taken in tow, and night yelled the dis
NAL scene. The next morning the Penguin was scu.-
tied and sunk Capt. Dickinson buried with the
honors 81 war his own officers and marines being allowed
to perfsrm the ceremony.
This action last, twenty-five minutes Capt Hiddls
consented to below 10 dress and examine his wound
after the action, the assuring him tina.
the men had been first attended to- II then
ceianet that the ball had passed through his neck and
out through his coat collar.
OrTicrRs- Captain James Biddie. dead sFirst Lieut.
David Conner. now Commodore second Lieut. J T.