Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-02-27
shipbuiIding Program Renews
interest in the Performances
of 0Id-Time Vessels.
PROUD OF OUR FAST SHIPS
c,opers That outsaiied Steamers
showed Us How to Gain Mastery
Of the sea--Some Remark
able Voyages.

washington. - Much interest has
been shown by the public In the United
States shipping boards program Of
buidlng many fast vessels for carry
Inc supplies to France during the war,
and TO transport freights, mail and
passengers as the vanguard of the
creat merchant marine that is to be
maintained when peace returns.
National pride. say shipping experts
here has always found strong express
sion over the ability of the United
States to produce fast ships. 1t is
therefore nothing new for Americans
10 watch the products of their ship
Yards with swelling breasts.
Half a century and more ago the
whole country took pride In the rec
ords of American clipper sailing ships.
which led the merchant fleets of the
world.
American shlpyards then produced
vessels which made long voyages at an
average speed equal to that of the
steamships of their time. The sailing
records they established were never
equaled by the ships of other nations.
These vessels were the direct prod
net Of daring experiments by Yankee
builders, who were never content to
rest on their Iaurels, which were many.
Each year they exeelled their previ-
Gus efforts, turning out flyers that
challenged the attention of the mari
time world.
The Flying Cloud.
One of the most notable American
vessels in the heyday of the clipper
ships was the Flying Cloud OF Boston,
which In 1851 made the run from New
York to San Francisco, around Cape
Horn, in 50 days, Il hours, establish
Ing record that has stood since. On
its voyage the ship sailed 374 miles
in single day, which exceeded by AZ
miles the best days run made by a
steamship up to that time.
In % consecutive days, on this voy-
age, the Flying Cloud sailed 5912
miles, an average of 227 miles day. or
9A miles an hour. For four days. when
she made her best speed, she averaged
314 miles day. or 1914 knots an hour,
The ships exploit was celebrated in
San Francisco with rejoicing, and the
news of 1t gave pleasure to every
American who heard of 1t.
The next year the ship Sovereign of
the Seas-from the yard of the same
builder. Donald Mckay of East Bos-
ton-in the course of a voyage from
Honolulu to New York excelled some
Of the daily runs Of the Flying Cloud.
In four days In the South Pacific she
logged 1,47S miles, an average of 37S
miles day, or 15is miles an hour. In
II days between March 10 and 81. she
logged 1862 miles, daily average of
$50 miles, and an hourly average of
l34 miles. At times she sailed at
speed Of 10 miles an hour. which few
freight-carrying steamers today can at
tain. Her best days run was 424
miles, and showed an average speed of
IL % miles an hour for "a hours.
The Sovereign OF the Seas also had
the distinction OF having beaten
steamer on FIVE continuous days Of
sailing, while on the passage from
New York to Liverpool in 1853, and
also of making the unique run of
seven days from land TO land. having
sighted Cape Race. Newfoundland, at
a. m. June "a and Cape Clear, Ire
land, at 6 a. m. June 80.
Her best days run was 344 miles on
June q. In five days. June $3.50, the
snip outsailed the Cunard liner Can
ada, which was making the eastward
passage from Boston to Liverpool, a
Total Of 1926 miles. The best days run
OF the Canada was 306 miles.
Greatest r~y's Run.
The greatest days run ever made by
a vessel under sail was accomplished
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