The Republican journal., 1915-11-04
TIE oLD-TIME CLIPPER SHIPS.
"reminiscences of Capt. George L. Nor
ton, Editor of the Marine Journal.

"reminiscences of Capt. George L. Nor
ton, Editor of the Marine journal.
In looking back over ones life there
are found many incidental occurrences
which have changed its course very ma
terially, although some of them, appar-
emily of little consequence, have turned
out to be of the greatest eventually. On
Christmas night ir 1858, a tiny spark
borne by high wind from burning
| dwelling lodged in the main topgallant
sail of the famous sailing ship Great Re-
public, then lying at the foot Of Dover
street. this port. with full cargo, about
ready to sail for San Francisco. This
spark set the sail on fire, and extending
to the rigging and spars, which soon be-
gan to fall, ended in burning the ship
nearly to the waters edge. While the
fire was yet aloft Donald Mckay, her
builder, appeared on the scene and offer
ed 81, 900 to any man who would go aloft
and cut away the burning rigging. spars
and sails. No one volunteered to take
the risk.
While this fire was burning its fiercest
there stood a silent, fearful witness in
the crowd on South street, who was as
sincere mourner for the partial loss of
the big ship as her eminent builder. This
lad of fifteen had the day before shipped
as skysail boy on the four masted ship.
Then and there his fonlness for the sea
and ships forsook him, and he is oday
one of New York's influential and
wealthy citizens, and never happier than
when telling his friends how tiny spark
caused him to abandon the life of a mari
ner, which profession when boy he had
fully made up his mind to adopt
The Great Republic at the time re-
ferred to was the largest sailing ship
af1oat and the only four master Her
after mast was called the Mckay mast
in honor of her builder. She was after
ward rebuilt and did valuable service
abroad during the Crimean war The
construction of the Great Republic was
great triumph in the art of naval archi-
lecture, and one cannot wonder at Mr..
Mckay's grea sorrow as he saw spar
after spar fall upon her snow white deck.
1t was weird, sad midnight scene wit
messed by those who realized the months
of hard labor that had been diligently
applied in constructing this beautiful
vessel, which was intended to circum-
navigate the globe wherever a paying
cargo could be obtained
The late Donald Mckay also built at
MO oiu III Last DoStOll lue IOlIOW1ng
named clipper ships, all os which made
quick passages between this port and
San Francisco: The Flying Cloud, 80
days; the Flying Fish, 80 days; Sover-
elgn of the Seas notwithstanding being
dismasted), 103 days; the Bald Eagle,
lO7 days; the Empress of the Seas, 118
days; the Stag Hound, 112 days: West
ward Ho, 1G7 days, and the Staffordshire,
lOl days. 1t is doubtful if any other
builder in the world could show such
record of speed in the same number of
ships constructed.
The Sovereign of the Seas referred to
above had famous record to her credit
In 1851, when she reached San Francisco
from New York in 102 days, after having
been partially dismasted off Valparaiso,
and making little Roadway for ID days
while being re-rigged. This same vessel,
after discharging at Frisco, sailed for
for Honolulu, anu came home from that
port in 80 days. For 10000 miles she
sailed without tacking or wearing once.
and in ten consecutive days made $500
miles. From New York she sailed for
Liverpool, became becalmed off the banks
OF Newfoundland, and when a breeze
sprang up made the rest of the voyage
from there to the Mersey in 5 IL days;
the entire trip, including the delay from
want OF wind occupying only 10 days
and - hours. Next year, returning from
San Francisco, she covered 6,245 miles in
~ days. being an average per day of
1885 miles. Her best time from noon of
one day to noon of the other, was 4l9
miles, which was going some for a sailer.