“City of Agra” and “Sam Mendel.”
These two early iron ships were both exceedingly fast and made many a good passage to the Colonies. City of Agra once landed her passengers in Melbourne when only 65 days out from the Tuskar; on another occasion she passed Port Phillip Heads on her way to Queensland, when 63 days out; and she made the run out to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in 71 days.
In 1881, when commanded by Captain Young, she left Gravesend on 25th May, took her departure from the Lizard on the 29th, and crossed the equator on 17th June in 27° W., 19 days from soundings. Between the N.E. and S.E. trades, she had very squally variables and lost her fore topgallant mast. She crossed the meridian of the Cape on 11th July and ran her easting down in 39° and 40° S., making a very steady average, as her best run was only 270 miles, and she crossed the Leeuwin meridian on 30th July, signalled the Otway on 5th August and arrived in Hobson’s Bay the following day, only 69 days out from the Lizard.
“DARLING DOWNS.”
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“ANTIOPE.”
Photo by Captain Schutze, Sydney.
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Sam Mendel is known for her 68-day run from London to Port Chalmers in 1876. On another occasion, whilst racing one of the “Cities” to New Zealand, she lost her foremast, and I have a photograph of her as she appeared under jury rig.
Both ships lived to a ripe old age.
The City of Agra was wrecked on Cape Sable on the 31st March, 1907, when on a passage from New York to Bridgewater. The Sam Mendel, after being twice sold and twice renamed, the first time Charlonus and secondly Hannah, was at last condemned and broken up in June, 1909. Thus it will be seen that City of Agra was afloat 47 years and Sam Mendel 48 years, which speaks volumes for the good workmanship of their builders.