Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-01

she sailed the rough66t seas without Loo
OF 30 much o. . spar, an accident 10 q
sailor or damage to cargo, and always to
the everlasting glory Of the American msr-
chant marine. Only the collapse Of
American shipping prevented her from
paying for herself over and over again. :.
| When the Shenandoah was built In 1871
Held Tor American importers and ex-
porters using American made and hand.
died ships still existed in the domestic
trade around Cape Horn and the foreign
trade to the Orient. The more cheaply
built foreign vessels, as we'll - the more
cheapiy living foreign seamen, were driv-
ing the American merchant marine Oh the
oceans, but the size and speed Of the Bath
quartet seemed to promise profitable re-
suits.
The Shenandoah's maiden voyage was
from New York to San Francisco, and,
when she entered the Golden Gate, she
was sensation. Nothing quite so won
derful in sailing ability had ever been
seen ON the Pacific. During the voyage
she had repeatedly passed other fast ships
- though they were standing still, and
her quick trip was the talk OF San Fran
cisco's water front for many q week.
So much talk there was that three other
| speedy vessels in port were put in shape
for race with Arthur Sewalls wonder
ship. These were the American ship, 8.
D. Carleton, one Of the best ever turned
out Of Yankee yard, and two Britishers,
the Strathorn and the Balkamah. All four
| were scheduled to voyage to Havre,
France. Their shippers propcAsd to make
contest out Of 1t. Capt. Murphy,
nothing loath, consented, and one day
with all Of San Francisco's old and youpg
salts lining the water front, the quartet
passed out to seq, the Shenandoah quickly
taking the lead. Before shutdown she was
out Of sight OF the others. And 105 days
later she discharged at her destination.
She had loaded again and departed before
her rivals put in an appearance.
AN ENGLISH CHALLENGE.
Not only this, but she was actually
under sail again in another trans-oceanic
race. Her victory having come to the at
tention OF the skipper Of the Swanhilda, q
remarkably speedy English ship, then at
the wharf in Havre, brought forth chal-
lenge from the Swanhildas owners. MUIR
ply at once accepted. The Swanhilda
sailed poor second. Out of Havre only
thirty-six days, part OF this interval tossed
about in hurricane, the American flyer
made New York four days ahead OF John
Bulls pride.
! The reputation of the Shenandoah was
now world wide. BY that wireless tele-
York to New Caledonia to know what is
going on, the news of the Shenandoah's
prowess spread, and 80 it was that when
few months later she put in at Manila
she was enthusiastically inspected by
every captain and sailor in that part OF the
Philippines.
Murphy was always looking for a con-
test with ssfurriner". If he picked up
Britisher or a German en- route he took
pains to get close enough to tempt the
other into a race, and then, with a few
sails set. away would 90 the Shenandoah,
responsive and birdlike as a knockabout.
She was such graceful craft that not even
q rivai,could refrain from admiring her.
She gave America reputation on the high
seas,
One impromptu contest that the Shen-
andoah had is related by her old skipper
with great gusto, for the opponent hap
pened to be an Englishman. 1t was al
ways particular pride with Murphy to
whip Britisher. He was a Yankee, born
in Bath. Me-. an heir to traditions of
American seamanship that went back to
the days OF the revolutionary privateers,
and 90 he got his greatest pleasure out of
showing the stern OF his ship to anything
from the country OF King George.
The tale in question deals with race of
Cape Horn. No less than sixty times
did Capt. Murphy sail around the Horn in
his career, but never with greater satisfac-
ton than when tine Shenandoah raced the
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