The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
She Was Once a Warship
and Then a Merchant
man.
Commodore Vanderbilt Built Her
at a Cost OF a Mil.
lion.
When She Sailed Through the Golden
Gate She Was Known as tie
Three Brothers.

The old-time clipper Three Brothers
has come to her last notch. At one time
warship, then one Of the largest and
fastest clippers in the American mercan-
tile marine, she was finally sold to an
English firm and passed under the English
flag. Months ago she outgrew her useful
ness and is now serving as a coal hulk for
the English Government at Malta.
When the civil war was raging and the
Alabama was creating havoc among the
Federal merchantmen the big vessel was
built and equipped by Commodore Van
derbilt at an expenditure of 81. 100000
and turned over present to the Gov
eminent. AT that time she was side
wheeler and did good service When the
Merrimac was being built in the South
and the Monitor in the North a propose!
was made to the Secretary of the Navy to
send three warshlps South to make CON-
bined rush at the Merrimac and attem pt
to turn her over. One of the men-of-war
designated was the Vanderbilt, but be fore
the attempt could be made the Monitor
was built and ready to meet her rival.
After the war the Vanderbilt was sold
to George Howcs & Brothers OF this CITY
Tor $42 600. They took the machinery out
dhO SOlO IL lOT more IMAM tDey PAID Tor
the steamer, and taking off her paddles
made her into a three masted ship, nam
ing her the Three Brothers, after George,
Henry and Jabsz Howes. Her first trip
out of the Golden Gate was in October,
1873, and Captain Cummings was in COM
mand. Her cargo consisted of over 5000
tons of wheat, and every vessel in port
was decorated in honor of her departure.
w. A. Coulter, the marine artist, made
magnificent picture of the scene, and 1t
now decorates the walls of the Merchants
Exchange. Mr.. Coulter followed the
Three Brothers to sea on tug, and the
accompanying cut is from a sketch he
made just after the vessel got under way
The Three Brothers was in the Cali
folnia trade for quite time, and on every
trip she made the run in less than 100
days Then she was sold to an English
firm, and now she is rotting TO pieces as
coal hulk in the service of the English
navy.
Captain George Cummings. who COM
manded the Three Brothers all of the time
! that she carried the American flag, now
lives at East Oakland.
she was built by Comm odore Wander
bilt for yacht" said the veteran captain,
land then Vanderbilt attempted to secure
the carrying of the mail between New
York and Liverpool. In this he was de-
feated by the Collins line. He then set up
an opposition line to Havre.
w men the war DrOke OUT In 1861 V an
derbilt presented the Three Brothers to
the United States Government. She was
fitted out as privateer 10 capture the
Alabama, and how l wish she had caught
the latter. was then the captain of the
Young America and the Alabama over
hauled US in the Strait of Sunda. After
putting our crew to sea in small boats they
burned her. My wife and two-year-oId
son were with me on that trip.
AFTER the war the Three Brothers was
docked in New York, calked, overhauled,
metaled and sent around the Horn tc San
Francisco. She lay at Mare Island six
years, and the only work she had to do in
that time was to take Queen Emma to the
islands.
'In 1870 she was sold to George Howe
q Co., and fitted as sailing vessel at an
enormous expense. l was in Liverpool at
the time be purchased her, and left the
Young America TO come to San Francisco
and superintend the refitting of her.
"In October, 1873, we sailed for Havre
with cargo of wheat, Mr.. Howe accom-
panying us. The voyage was made in 10S
days. Mr.. Howe remained in Europe
when 1 returned to New York with the
vessel. On arriving there we invited Com
modore Vanderbilt to visit his old yacht.
but he was unable to do so. One of the
boys and her builder, with one or two
others, took lunch with Us. however.
1.-THE Three Brothers never made any
remarkably QUICK time nor DaQ any accl-
dents whatever. l owned one sixteenth
of her with Howe, but l am glad it was
no more for we lost on every voyage. We
were offered "a los and refused il in
Liverpool and afterward accepted f3 Is |
Law!or's Agency told US that he was
ready to offer "a 15s. but he knew it was
useless. She carried 10, 000 yards of sail
"In 1879 she was sold in Liverpool at
auction for a mere trifie. virtually given
away. She is now coal hulk at Gibral-
tar, the strongest old vessel ever built.
had a four master model of her made and
ratified it off for $1,000. a man named Mid
dleton, holding twenty-five chances, took
the prize. He sold it to Macdonough,
who in turn gave it to the Golden Gate
Park Museum. 1t will pay any one to
take look at it."
Captain Cummings has a large painting
OF the Three Brothers by Walters OF
Liverpool, for which he paid $3.50. hanging
in his residence. No visitor calls without
admiring the vessel as well as the work CT
art.