The Republican journal., 1882-02-23
The "David Crockett"

ONE OF THE LAST OF A LINE OF FAST AMERI-
CAN CLIPPERs-HER INTERESTING RECORD.
The days Of clipper built ships are num-
verdict. Notwithstanding that it is still
some satisfaction for those who have com
passed the globe in them, and who, under
shelter of their sturdy oak planks, have
ridden out many gale that would have
made a steamer ''touCh bottom" to know
that there have been many clippers, and
there still rest a few who could, under
favorable circumstances, have shown a
clean stern to the fastest ''coal- burner"
ever launched. Among such is the David
Crockett, still bravely holding her own
against steam and steel, as she has done
for nearly the last score and a half of
years.
Probably no vessel ever built has per-
mitted underwriters to make so many
entries to the credit side of their profit
and loss account as has the David Crock
EFT. To them she has proved all profit
and no loss To her owners her record
has been much the same. A gentleman
OF this city, familiar with her history, and
in earlier times one who event down in
ships into the deep waters" said that the
Crockett had, since her launching, clear
ed for her owners over 500 600, and had
never cost the underwriters cent. She
was built in 1853 at Mystic, Conn, by
Greenman for Lawrence Giles & Co.. of
New York, and from whom she never
parted until last year, when she became
the property of John Rosenfeld of this city.
Named after the noted member of Con-
gress from Tennessee, she has been the
means Of adding to the fame OF a remark
able career. Greenman designed her for
speed on the true clipper model. On her
completion the owners put Eer in the
Liverpool trade, but she was in a few
years withdrawn and placed in the San
Francisco trade, where, with few inter
ruptions, she has remained ever since.
Her average time between New York and
san Francisco is about ll5 days Her
quickest trip this way was l03 days, but
to New York she has made several with
in the hundred. The regularity and
even average Of her trips soon attracted
attention. Fair wind or foul, the Crock
EFT was always "on time" puuctual as a
clerk on pay day. She was built of white
oak a; hackmatack, the Indian name
for the tamarack tree. She made one or
two odd trips to this port after which she
came regularly consigned to the firm OF
George HoWes & Co., and 50 on, year af-
ter year, until purchased, on July p OF
last year, BY John Rosenfcld.
Capt. Colby of this city, who for many
Years commanded the ship Cutwater,
mentioned a circumstance that shows
what an extraordinary capacity the Crock
EFT has for standing up before almost any
thing that blows. The Cutwater and
the Crockett left this port on the same
day-tue former for Boston, the Crockett
for New York. They kept as they af-
terWardS knew by comparing logs-pret-
ty close together all the way to the horn
| There they encountered some bad wealth
er, which obliged the Cutwater to heave-
to under close-reeted topsails. so heavy
was the sea running that Captain Potter
and the Second Officer were both lost,
being washed overheard. The Crockett
only few leagues off, was encountering
the some bOiSterOus weather, but ap-
parently only enjoyed it, for away she
scampered with full topgallant sails set
nor did the Captain think it necessary tt
take them in once through stress Of wealth
er during that entire trip Of some seven
teen thousand miles.
But the secret which makes her. as
stated by Jabez Howes, the representa-
tive member Of the firm in this city tc
which the ship was for so many years
consigned, so uniform in the time of hel
voyages is that she is fast with light
winds. The David Crockett and the
Young American the latter built by W
H. Webb of New Nork-are said to be
two of the prettiest models of the fast
sailing clipper ever launched Ships OF
that model and class are no longer built
Steam has dsjointed the shpbuilding
ideas of thirty years ago; ''but let then
build as they like" growled a skipper OF
the old oak -hackmatack school, "wth al
their new tangled notions, they'll never
put between sailors life and Davy's
locker surer bit Of stuff than was il
those old clippers"
The most unfortunate accident that
ever bctel the Crockett was in 1874 wheI
Captain Burgess, commanding her, was
lost, being washed overheard off the
River La Platte, in the South Atlantic
lie mac commanded her, for tOHrteel
years, and looked upon her with all the
pride and affection OF 4 fond father upor
a worthy child. A peculiar circum-
stance in connection with his death, one
spoken of and published at the time, was
that prior 10 his leaNln port he remarked
| to some friends that it was the last triI
he intended to make at sea- 50 it was, al
| thOupht at that moment he hardly look eC
forward to his wishes being realized in sc
sudden and fatal manner The present
commander, Captain Anderson, was ther
mate Of the ''Crockett." On his arriva
in port he qualified rs Master, and as
such has remained on board of her ever
since. The Masters Of the old ship have
been scarcely more numerous than have
her owners. San Francisco Bulletin.