Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-20
THE OLD CLIPPER SERVICE


BIZ GEOk0E E WALSH.
It Is with unconcealed regret that
many lovers Of the sea witness the
gradual decadence Of the old clipper
service, which must soon result 10 the
final disappearance Of class Of sail
Ing vessels that cannot be replaced by
any Of our modern craft The clipper
service was an institution that served
its purpose In life nobly, and Its doom
must be accepted as one Of the inevi-
table steps In the progress Of civiliza.
ton.
In those early days when China,
Japan and the orient were not closely
connected with the western world by
lines Of fast steamships, the feet clip
pers were essential factors in trade.
An intense rivalry developed between
the owners Of the various fast-sailing
craft, and everything that Yankee In
genuity could do was brought into
service to make types Of vessels that
would ontstrip anything sailing on the
sea- A great incentive to fine ship
building was given by the clipper serv.
Ice, and the wonder is even to-day that
such fine lines were drawn for many Of
the large sailing craft.
In short time heavy bets were made
upon the various clippers. and the win.
ner would realize more money from
the wapers than profit from his cargo.
Usually two stanch clippers left China
a. tho same time. loaded down with n
cargo Of tea and steering direct for
Cane Horn thew would make a long
tireless race for the Atlantic seaboard.
The cargo Of tea was so light that 1t
served merely "a necessary ballast.
and in no wav iuterfered with the
sailing Of the clinpers Every sail was
at and tho c,;nner. were driven along
bv q cloud ~ canvas that would shame
MANY n our modern Measure Yachts
Noth,nc hut a tr.mandous storm would
.var ,nduca tba canta,n 70 taLa IN tha
aaila
No statelier clipper ever sailed the
blus seas than the Alice. Of New York.
Early In the ,forties she had out.
chased and outsailed every shin Of her
si.e She had made thousands of dol.
lara for her owners winning in nearly
every race. and finally earning the
proud name OF "NIistress Of the Sea-
p,t thoro uos zoo mrch r,volrv IN
+b. ..rv,ca N ,et ono c,,nnar ariov this
Sistinct,on without n dssnarats EFFORT
heirc ma. - ,y,r Il fror, hor Cor.
..crsnt,v wh.r tho F,rar ~ pos,on
~ ,srrohsa o,,sr ror.h. ~ aro
wor,, m hsr sr,.rd;d hul, a was nm.
a.r.tood that shs was built ostens,blv
70 beat the Alice. EVERYTHING was done
Ia make her staunch swift and grace.
ful.
She made her first race acainst the
Alics a wear later and n most mem.
orabls struggle for the supremacy took
Mace. The owners Of the two vessels
staked over hundred thousand dol.
lara IN Tho result ~ Tho contest and
several nrivate Arms made smaller
waoers.
II was early in ,princ--one beautiful
NAV morninr-when the two clippers
started on their long tourney around
Can. Horn. and AZ thew olldsd awav
toward the omen ocean before a gentle
breeze thew looked like two chostlv
apparitions, Enormous water sails
came down to the yerv waters edge.
and swelling topsails and balloon sails
caught every Whit Of wind that passed
over their heads. Such long race as
the two clippers were entering upon
would test the captains abilities, the
staviug qualities Of the vessels, and
their speed in all sorts Of weather and
sea. None Of our modern international
races could give such a thorough test.
The flrst night scparated the two
clippers, and in the morning it was evil
dent that the captains had chosen DIFF
ferent courses to make the run to the
cape. Capt, Singleton, Of the Alice,
had selected the route which had so
often brought him success, and as he
knew the coast and weather that pre-,
vailed at The various points. he felt