The “Crusader.”
The Crusader was a very handsome little ship, as is well shown in her photograph, and she was considered by many to be the fastest ship in Shaw, Savill’s fleet. She was built by Connell, of Glasgow, and launched in March, 1865, her registered measurements being:—Net tonnage 1058; gross tonnage 1058; length 210.7 ft.; breadth 35.1 ft., depth 21.4 ft.
In 1877, when commanded by Captain Renaut, she ran from Lyttelton, N.Z., to the Lizard in 69 days, and on her next outward passage in 1878 she went from London to Port Chalmers in 65 days, a performance which has never been beaten. She was eventually sold to the Norwegians for £2950 and was still washing about the seas, rigged as a barque, at the outbreak of the Great War.