The “James Baines” Overdue!
In the autumn of 1856 there was tremendous sensation in Liverpool, when the famous James Baines, considered by many to be the fastest ship in the world, was posted as overdue when homeward bound. All sorts of rumours spread like wildfire, and as the weeks went by and no definite information was obtained from incoming ships, something like consternation began to reign in shipping circles.
The James Baines sailed from Melbourne at 1 p.m. on 7th August, 1856, passing through the Heads the following morning. On the 9th she made her best run, 356 miles, royals and skysails being set part of the time, the wind fair but squally. She made one more good run, of 340 miles, and then was held up by light airs and calms all the way to the Horn; here she encountered heavy gales, snowstorms and high cross seas. She was 36 days to the pitch of the Horn; then from 26th September to 8th November another spell of light and baffling winds delayed her passage, and she was 65 days from Port Phillip to the line.
On the 30th October, her great rival the Lightning, which had sailed from Melbourne just three weeks behind her, hove in sight, and the two ships were in company for a week. The meeting of the two Black Ballers is joyfully recorded in the Lightning Gazette, as follows:—
Thursday, 30th October.—Lat. 29° 03′N., Long 33° 14′W. Distance 131 miles. Wind more easterly; 7 a.m. tacked ship to N.N.W. A large ship in sight went about at same time, ahead of us. During forenoon Captain Enright expressed himself confident that she was the James Baines. Great excitement and numerous conjectures, bets, etc. One thing certain, that she sailed almost as fast as ourselves, and her rigging and sails were similar to those of the Baines. By sunset we had both weathered and gained on our companion.
Friday, 31st October.—Lat. 30° 31′ N., Long. 35° 15′ W. Distance 137 miles. All night light airs, and early dawn showed us our friend much nearer. At 8 a.m., she at last responded to our signals by hoisting the “Black Ball” at the mizen! and a burgee at the gaff, with her name—James Baines! Great excitement spread throughout the ship, and the conversation was divided between sympathy for all on board our unfortunate predecessor and conjectures as to the cause of her detainment. All day we were watching her every movement; now she gains, now we near her; now she “comes up” and now “falls off.” About 2 p.m., we were evidently nearer than in the morning. A conversation a la Marryat. The Baines informed us that her passengers were all well, asked for our longitude, if any news, etc. Captain Enright invited Captain McDonald to dine, but he did not respond. At 5 a.m., still light airs, James Baines distant 1½ miles.
Saturday, 1st November.—Lat. 31° 12′ N., Long. 36° W. Distance 56 miles. During Friday evening, about 8 o’clock, the wind being still very light, we passed to windward of the unfortunate James Baines; so closely that we could hear the people on board cheering, and most vociferously did some of our passengers reply, with the addition of a profuse supply of chaff: such as amiable offers to take them in tow, a most commendable solicitude as to their stock of “lime juice,” very considerate promises to “say they were coming” on arrival at Liverpool, etc. All night the wind was light and baffling. At 2 a.m. it suddenly chopped round to the N.W., and the ship was put on the port tack. At 4, she was put about again. At 6.30, tacked ship to eastward, light airs and variable. The James Baines about 6 miles to leeward, a little brig on lee bow—which had been in company all Friday, and a barque on lee quarter. At 9, the brig, having put about, stood up towards us, and passing close to leeward, showed the Hambro ensign with private number 350. We once more tacked ship and stood to the northward and westward, the others following our example, and the breeze freshening, we all started on a race. The barque hoisted her ensign and number and proved to be the Cid, which we passed on the 29th ultimo. The brig soon after bore away to his “chum” to leeward, and they had a quiet little race to themselves, in which the barque appeared to be the victor.
The clipper sisters were now once more pitted against each other: the far famed Lightning, with concave lines and breadth of bilge, in our opinion the worthy Donald’s brightest idea, and the champion—the ship of 21 knots’ notoriety—the James Baines.
In light winds or airs we had crept by him, now, as the breeze freshens, as the white crest appears on the short toppling sea, as we lift and dive to the heavy northerly roll and all favours the long powerful ship. What do we behold? The little brig and barque going astern, of course. Aye, but what else do we see? Oh, ye Liverpool owners! et tu, Donald, who thought to improve on the Lightning; tell it not “on ’Change,” publish it not in the streets of Liverpool. What do we see? Hull down, courses and topsails below the horizon at 2 p.m., five hours from the start, the James Baines just discernible from the deck: at the very lowest computation we have beaten her at the rate of 1½ knots per hour. At sundown she is barely visible from the mizen topgallant crosstrees. It was generally supposed on board that her copper must have been much worn and rough or we never could have beaten so rapidly a ship of such noble appearance and well-known sailing qualities.
Sunday, 2nd November.—Lat. 32° 57′ N., Long. 37° 37′ W. Distance 134 miles. Another day of light winds, heading us off to N.N.W. still. Evening, a little more wind, ship going about 7 knots.
Monday, 3rd November.—Lat. 34° 41′ N., Long. 38° 28′ W. Distance 113 miles. In the middle watch wind backed to the N.E. and fell light again. At 8, improvement again and by noon we lay N.E. by N., the best we have done for some days, but only going from 4½ to 5 knots. A ship coming up astern, supposed to be the James Baines, bringing up a fair wind.
Tuesday, 4th November.—Lat. 35° 47′ N., Long. 38° 28′ W. Distance 66 miles. Commences with very light airs from the north, our ship on the port tack. Our friend James Baines again in sight astern.
And this was the last the Lightning saw of the James Baines though the two ships arrived in the Mersey within 24 hours of each other, the Lightning leading. Both anchored in the river on 20th November, the Lightning being 84 days out, and the James Baines 105 days.
The following comparison between the two passages is interesting, as it shows that the two ships took the same number of days from the equator to Liverpool, viz., 40 days:—
| Points Between | James Baines | Lightning | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | Date Passed | Days | Date Passed | |
Melbourne to Cape Horn | 36 | Sept. 12 | 24 | Sept. 1 |
Cape Horn to equator | 29 | Oct. 11 | 20 | Oct. 9 |
Equator to Western Isles | 28 | Nov. 8 | 29 | Nov. 7 |
Western Isles to Liverpool | 12 | Nov. 20 | 11 | Nov. 20 |
| Best 24-hours’ run | 356 miles | 377 miles. | ||
The James Baines was simply unlucky in having a very light weather passage. Donald Mackay’s ships were never light weather flyers, in spite of setting every kind of light weather kite, from tiny “bulldog,” as they called the moonsail on the main, down to the lowest watersail, that barely cleared the wave crests.
Whilst we are comparing the speeds of James Baines and Lightning, it is only fair to do so in heavy weather as well as light. I therefore give below the logs of their best week’s work on their respective outward passages in 1856. Here it will be seen the James Baines just has the best of it. I have taken the remarks for Lightning’s run from the Lightning Gazette, not the ship’s log.
Best Week’s Run by James Baines, Liverpool to Melbourne, May, 1856.
25th May.—Lat. 37° 40′ S., Long. 3° 28′ E. Distance 328 miles. Winds, S.S.W., S.W. This day begins with heavy gale and heavy squalls. I have never before experienced such a heavy gale with so high a barometer. At 4 p.m. double-reefed main topsail and crossjack. Midnight, similar wind and weather, heavy sea, ship labouring very heavily and shipping great quantities of water. Noon, very heavy sea; sun obscured.
26th May.—Lat. 38° 38′ S., Long. 10° 0′ E. Distance 320 miles. Winds, S.W., W.S.W. P.M., begins with strong gale and heavy sea, squalls and showers of rain, dark, gloomy weather. Midnight, gale decreasing, reefs out of courses, and set staysails. At 4 a.m., still moderating, out all reefs, set royals and skysail; 8 a.m., set all starboard studding sails. Noon, gentle breeze, fine clear weather; wind westering all the time and sea going down.
27th May.—Lat. 40° 2′ S., Long. 17° 41′ E. Distance 384 miles, winds, W.S.W., S.W. Fine gentle breeze and fine clear weather, all sail set. Midnight, same wind and weather. A.M., breeze freshening and heavy black clouds driving up from S.W. Noon, same wind and weather.
28th May.—Lat. 42° 44′ S., Long. 25° 48′ E. Distance 404 miles. Winds, W.S.W., west. P.M., begins with brisk gale and occasional heavy squalls accompanied with heavy rain. At 4 p.m., handed small sails and double-reefed fore and mizen courses. Midnight, still increasing. Noon, as previously.
29th May.—Lat. 44° 15′ S., Long. 30° 51′ E. Distance 240 miles. Winds west. First part strong gales and fine clear weather, heavy sea, ship rolling. Midnight, less wind, sea going down, set all small sails. At 4 a.m., set all starboard studding sails. Noon, light breeze, dark gloomy weather.
30th May.—Lat. 46° 16′ S., Long. 36° 56′ E. Distance 300 miles. Winds, W.N.W., W.S.W., S.S.W. First part light breezes and dark gloomy weather. 8 p.m., sky clearing and breeze increasing, barometer falling. Midnight, fresh gales, took in royal and skysail studding sails; 8 a.m. heavy snow squall; took in topgallant studding sails. Noon fresh gales and clear weather with snow showers and squalls.
31st May.—Lat. 46° 52′ S., Long. 43° 54′ E. Distance 300 miles. Winds, W.N.W., W.S.W., S.S.W. First part fresh breeze and squalls. 10 p.m., ran through between Petit and Grande, Prince Edward Islands. Midnight, dark with snow squalls. Noon, as at midnight.
Best Week’s Run by Lightning, Liverpool to Melbourne, June-July, 1856.
28th June.—Lat. 44° 25′ S., Long. 42° 58′ E. Distance 232 miles. Winds westerly. P.M., snow squalls, wind increasing. Preparations were made for shortening sail by taking in the lighter canvas. This was not accomplished before the mizen royal and mizen topmast staysail were torn to pieces. Between 5 and 6 p.m. the conflict raged most furiously. Reefs were taken in the topsails and these with the exception of the foresail were all the canvas set.
29th June.—Lat. 43° 36′ S., Long. 50° 07′ E. Distance 312 miles. Winds westerly. The gale of yesterday abated the intensity of its fury about midnight, we have set more sail though the wind blows stiff.
30th June.—Lat. 44° 02′ S., Long. 56° 35′ E. Distance 281 miles. Winds westerly. The weather has been excessively cold, dark and cloudy. The heavy sea running caused the ship to roll heavily.
1st July.—Lat. 44° 39′ S., Long. 63° 27′ E. Distance 298 miles. Wind westerly. Fine at first, then cloudy with showers of snow.
2nd July.—Lat. 45° 07′ S., Long. 70° 55′ E. Distance 319 miles. Wind westerly. Wind still fresh and fair.
3rd July.—Lat. 45° 07′ S., Long. 79° 55′ E. Distance 382 miles. Wind westerly. Her run to-day has been only once surpassed since she floated. She indeed seemed to fly through the water like a seabird on the wing, causing one of our passengers, who knows something of navigation, to remark that it was skating, not sailing.
4th July.—Lat. 45° 07′ S., Long. 88° 30′ E. Distance 364 miles. Wind westerly. Still favoured with the propitious breeze. Our week’s run is the best we have done yet and the best the Lightning has ever accomplished.
It will be seen from the above log extracts that the James Baines ran 2276 and the Lightning 2188 miles in the week.