And so I have endeavored to record the leading events of an era in maritime history long ago departed; and however much the remarkable development of steam navigation may have contributed to the welfare of mankind, I think that the memory of the clipper ships and the men who built and commanded them, will always find a welcome in the hearts of those who know and love the sea.

Appendix I
CALIFORNIA CLIPPER SHIPS BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 1850 TO 1857 INCLUSIVE

1850
SHIPTONSCAPTAINBUILDEROWNER & PORT
Celestial860GardnerWilliam H. Webb,Bucklin & Crane,
New YorkNew York.
Eclipse1223HamiltonJ. Williams & Son,T. Wardle & Co.,
Williamsburg, N. Y.New York.
Game-Cock1392HollisSamuel Hall,Daniel C. Bacon,
East BostonEast Boston.
Governor Morton1318BurgessJames M. Hood,Handy & Everett,
SomersetNew York.
John Bertram1080LandholmR. E. Jackson,Glidden & Williams,
East BostonBoston.
Mandarin776StoddardSmith & Dimon,Goodhue & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Race Horse512KingSamuel Hall,Goddard & Co.,
East BostonBoston.
Seaman546MyrickBell & Co.,Funch & Meincke,
BaltimoreBaltimore.
Sea Serpent1337HowlandGeorge Raynes,Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
Portsmouth, N. H.New York.
Stag-Hound1535RichardsonDonald McKay,George B. Upton and Sampson
East Boston& Tappan, Boston.
Surprise1361DumaresqSamuel Hall,A. A. Low & Brother,
East BostonNew York.
White Squall1118LockwoodJacob Bell,W. Platt & Son,
New YorkPhiladelphia.
Witchcraft1310RogersPaul Curtis,S. Rogers & W. D. Pickman,
Chelsea, Mass.Salem.
1851
Alert764Bursley Crocker & Warren,
Damariscotta, Me.New York.
Challenge2006WatermanWilliam H. Webb,N. L. & G. Griswold,
New YorkNew York.
Comet1836GardnerWilliam H. Webb,Bucklin & Crane,
New YorkNew York.
Courser1026BerryPaul Curtis,Richardson & Co.,
East BostonBoston.
Eagle1340FarranPerrin, Patterson & Stack,Harbeck & Co.,
Williamsburg, N. Y.New York.
Eureka1050CanfieldJacob A. Westervelt & Son,
New York
Flying Cloud1793CreesyDonald McKay,Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
East BostonNew York.
Flying Fish1505NickelsDonald McKay,Sampson & Tappan,
East BostonBoston.
Gazelle1244HendersonWilliam H. WebbChamberlain & Heyser,
New YorkNew York.
Golden Gate1347Barstow Taylor & Merrill,
New YorkNew York.
Hornet1426LawrenceJacob A. Westervelt & Son,Chamberlain & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Hurricane1607VerySmith & Co.,C. W. & H. Thomas,
Hoboken, N. J.New York.
Invincible1767JohnsonWilliam H. Webb,J. W. Phillips,
New YorkNew York.
Ino895PlummerPerrin, Patterson & Stack,Sifkin & Ironside,
Williamsburg, N. Y.New York.
John Wade639Willis Augustine Heard & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Monsoon773WinsorTrufant & Drummond,G. Hussey,
Bath, Me.New Bedford.
Northern Light1021HatchBriggs Brothers,James Huckins & Sons,
South BostonBoston.
N. B. Palmer1490LowJacob A. Westervelt,A. A. Low & Brother,
New YorkNew York.
Queen of the East1275BartlettMetcalf & Co.,Crocker & Warren,
Damariscotta, Me.New York.
Raven715HenryHood & Co.,Crocker & Warren,
SomersetNew York.
Shooting Star903BakerJ. O. Curtis,S. G. Reed & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Snow Squall742Bursley Charles R. Green & Co.,
Portland, Me.New York.
Southern Cross950StevensBriggs Brothers,Baker & Morrell,
BostonBoston.
Staffordshire1817RichardsonDonald McKay,Enoch Train & Co.,
East BostonBoston.
Sword-Fish1036BabcockWilliam H. Webb,Barclay & Livingston,
New YorkNew York.
Syren1064SilsbeeIsaac Taylor,G. Z. Silsbee & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Tornado1801MumfordJ. Williams,W. T. Frost & Co.,
Williamsburg, N. Y.New York.
Trade-Wind2030OsgoodJacob Bell,W. Platt & Son,
New YorkPhiladelphia.
Typhoon1610SalterFernald & Pettigrew,D. & A. Kingsland,
Portsmouth, N. H.New York.
Wild Pigeon996PutnamGeorge Raynes,Olyphant & Co.,
Portsmouth, N. H.New York.
Witch of the Wave1500MillettGeorge Raynes,Glidden & Williams,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
1852
Antelope1187ColeJ. Williams & Son,Harbeck & Co.,
Williamsburg, N. Y.New York.
Ariel1340DelanoPatten & Co.,Patten & Co.,
Bath, Me.Bath, Me.
Bald Eagle1790DumaresqDonald McKay,George B. Upton,
East BostonBoston.
Celestial Empire1399PierceJ. Stetson,C. H. Parsons & Co.,
East BostonNew York.
Cleopatra1562ThayerPaul Curtis,
East Boston
Climax1051 HowesHowes & Crowell,
Boston.
Contest1150BrewsterJacob A. Westervelt,A. A. Low & Brother,
New YorkNew York.
Dauntless791Miller
Fleetwood666DaleGeorge Raynes,Captain and others,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
Flying Childers1125CunninghamSamuel Hall,Cunningham & Sons,
East BostonBoston.
Flying Dutchman1257HubbardWilliam H. Webb,
New York
Golden City810CanfieldJacob A. Westervelt,H. A. Pierce & Co.,
New YorkBoston.
Golden Eagle1120FabensHayden & Co.,William Lincoln & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Golden Light1141WinsorBriggs Brothers,James Huckins & Sons,
South BostonBoston.
Golden State1363BarstowJacob A. Westervelt,A. A. Low & Brother,
New YorkNew York.
Golden West1443KerwinPaul Curtis,Glidden & Williams,
BostonBoston.
Highflyer1092WatermanCurrier & Townsend,David Ogden,
NewburyportNew York.
Jacob Bell1382KilhamJacob Bell,A. A. Low & Brother,
New YorkNew York.
John Gilpin1089DoaneSamuel Hall,Pierce & Hunnewell,
East BostonBoston.
Messenger1350CorningJacob Bell,Slade & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Meteor1063PikeBriggs Brothers,Curtis & Peabody,
South BostonBoston.
Phantom1177PatersonJ. O. Curtis,Henry P. Sturgis,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Polynesia1068WatsonSamuel Hall,Hunnewell, Pierce & Co.,
BostonBoston.
Queen of the Seas1400KnightPaul Curtis,Glidden & Williams,
East BostonBoston.
Radiant1300HalletPaul Curtis,Baker & Morrell,
East BostonBoston.
Red Rover1021PutnamFernald & Pettigrew,R. C. Taylor,
Portsmouth, N. H.New York.
Simoon1436SmithJabez Williams,B. A. Mumford & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Sovereign of the Seas2421McKayDonald McKay,Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
East BostonNew York.
Storm (barque)545Roberts Chamberlain & Heyser,
Sag Harbor New York.
Westward Ho1600HusseyDonald McKay,Sampson & Tappan,
East BostonBoston.
Whirlwind962BurgessJ. O. Curtis,W. & F. H. Whitmore,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Winged Racer1760EsterbrookR. E. Jackson,R. L. Taylor,
East BostonNew York.
Wizard1600WoodsideSamuel Hall,Slade & Co.,
BostonNew York.
1853
Amphitrite1687 Samuel Hall,
East Boston
Archer1098BursleyHood & Co.,Crocker & Warren,
SomersetNew York.
Belle of the West936Howes Glidden & Williams,
DennisBoston.
Black Warrior1878MurphyAustin & Co.,W. Wilson & Sons,
Damariscotta, Me.Baltimore.
Bonita1127Windsor Hallett & Co.,
BostonBoston.
Boston Light1164CrowellBriggs Brothers,James Huckins & Sons,
BostonBoston.
Challenger1334HillR. E. Jackson,Whitmore & Son,
East BostonBoston.
Cyclone1109OsgoodBriggs Brothers,Curtis & Peabody,
BostonBoston.
Dashing Wave1239YoungFernald & Pettigrew,S. Tilton,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
David Brown1715BrewsterRoosevelt & Joyce,A. A. Low & Brother,
New YorkNew York.
David Crockett1679SpicerGreenman & Co.,Handy & Everett,
Mystic, Conn.New York.
Don Quixote1470Nott John E. Lodge,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Eagle Wing1174LinnellJ. O. Curtis,Chase & Tappan,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Edwin Forrest1200 D. D. Kelly,
East Boston
Empress of the Seas2200PutnamDonald McKay,W. Wilson & Son,
East BostonBaltimore.
Fearless1183MansonA. & G. T. Sampson, W. F. Weld & Co.,
East BostonBoston.
Flora Temple1915 MyersJ. Abraham,Abraham & Oshcroft,
BaltimoreBaltimore.
Flying Dragon1140BakerTrufant & Drummond, S. G. Reed & Co.,
Bath, Me.Boston.
Gauntlet1860BorlandT. J. Southard,Stephenson & Thurston,
Richmond, Me.New York.
Great Republic3357LimeburnerDonald McKay,A. A. Low & Brother,
East BostonNew York.
Guiding Star899HaleJ. Currier,C. Hill & Co.,
Newburyport, Mass.Newburyport, Mass.
John Land1061HowesBriggs Brothers,Baker & Morrell,
South BostonBoston.
Kate Hooper1507JohnsonHunt & Wagner,J. Hooper,
BaltimoreBaltimore.
Kathay1460StoddardJacob A. Westervelt,
New York
Kingfisher1300CrosbyWilliam Lincoln & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Lightfoot1996Jackson & Ewell,
East Boston
Live Yankee1637ThorndikeFoster & Nickerson,
Rockland, Me.New York.
Matchless1033PotterN. S. Goddard,
Chelsea, Mass.Boston.
Morning Light1713KnightToby & Littlefield,Glidden & Williams,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
Mystery1200Samuel Hall,
East Boston
Neptune’s Car1616PattenFoster & Nickerson,
Portsmouth, Va.New York.
North Wind1041GoreJacob Bell,Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Oriental1654FletcherSamuel Hall,D. G. & W. B. Bacon.
East BostonBoston.
Pamparo1376CogginsCharles Mallory,J. Bishop & Co.,
Mystic, Conn.New York.
Panama1349CaveThomas Collyer,N. L. & G. Griswold,
New YorkNew York.
Queen of Clippers2360ZeregaJackson & Ewell,Zerega & Co.,
East BostonNew York.
Red Gauntlet1038AndrewsJ. W. Cox,F. Boyd & Co.,
Robbinston, Me.Boston.
Reporter1474HowesPaul Curtis,E. Snow,
East BostonBoston.
Ringleader1156MatthewsHowes & Crowell,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Romance of the Seas1782DumaresqDonald McKay,George B. Upton,
East BostonBoston.
Skylark1209HenryHood & Co.,Crocker & Warren,
SomersetNew York.
Snapdragon (barque)619BrownWilliam H. Webb,
New York
Spirit of the Times1206KleinCooper & Slicer,Aymer & Co.,
BaltimoreNew York.
Spitfire1550AreyManning & Stanwood,
Frankfort, Me.Boston.
Storm King1408CallahanIsaac Taylor,John E. Lodge,
Chelsea, Mass.Boston.
Sweepstakes1735LaneJacob A. Westervelt,Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
New YorkNew York.
Undaunted1371FreemanSnow & Hall,W. H. Foster & Co.,
Bath, Me.Boston.
Viking1449WindsorTrufant & Drummond,G. Hussey,
Bath, Me.New Bedford.
Whistler820BrownGeorge W. Jackman,Bush & Wildes,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
Wild Wave1547KnowlesG. H. Ferrin,Benjamin Bangs,
Richmond, Me.Boston.
Young America1961BabcockWilliam H. Webb,George Daniels,
New YorkNew York.
1854
Adelaide1831WakemanJacob Bell,Williams & Guion,
New YorkNew York.
Canvas Back735ClarkeS. Lurman,
BaltimoreBaltimore.
Black Prince1050BrownGeorge W. Jackman,Bush & Wildes,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
Electric1271GatesC. Adams,
Mystic, Conn.New York.
Fleetwing912HowesHayden & Cudworth,Crowell, Brooks,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Grace Darling1240DoaneBriggs Brothers,C. B. Fessenden,
South BostonBoston.
Harvey Birch1488NelsonIrons & Grinnell,J. H. Brower & Co.,
Mystic, Conn.New York.
Midnight1000HatchFernald & Pettigrew,Henry Hastings,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
Nabob1254BaxterJ. Taylor,William Appleton,
Chelsea, Mass.Boston.
Nonpareil1431Dunham & Co.,T. Richardson & Co.,
Frankfort, Me.New York.
Nor’wester1267GregoryS. Lapham,Coolidge & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Ocean Telegraph1492WillisJ. O. Curtis,S. G. Reed & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Rattler794ForrestForster & Borze,D. Stewart,
BaltimoreBaltimore.
Robin Hood1185SearsHayden & Cudworth,Howe & Crowell,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Sancho Panza850FriendJohn E. Lodge,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Saracen1266BarryBriggs Brothers,Curtis & Peabody,
South BostonBoston.
Sierra Nevada1942PenhallowToby & Littlefield,Glidden & Williams,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
Starlight1150MatthewsBriggs Brothers,Baker & Morrell,
South Boston,Boston.
Starr King1170TurnerGeorge W. Jackman,Bates & Thaxter,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
Swallow1435TuckerRobert E. Jackson,W. T. Dugan,
East Boston.New York.
1855
Andrew Jackson1676WilliamsIrons & Grinnell,J. H. Brower & Co.,
Mystic, Conn.New York.
Beacon Light1320BarwellJ. A. Stetson,
Chelsea, Mass.Boston.
Carrier Dove1694ConnerJ. Abraham,Montell & Co.,
Baltimore.Baltimore.
Charmer1060LucasGeorge W. Jackman,Burt & Wildes,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
Courier1025SmithFoster & Elliott,
Newburyport, Mass.New York.
Daring1097SimonsonGeorge W. Jackman,Bush & Comstock,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
Electric Spark1215HowesThacher & Magoun,Magoun & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Golden Fleece1538MansonPaul Curtis,Weld & Baker,
East Boston.Boston.
Herald of the Morning 1300BakerThacher & Magoun,Magoun & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Mary Whitridge978CheesebroughHunt & Wagner,T. Whitridge,
Baltimore.Baltimore.
Noonday1177GerryFernald & Pettigrew,Henry Hastings,
Portsmouth, N. H.Boston.
Ocean Express1699CunninghamJ. O. Curtis,Reed & Wade,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
War Hawk1067SimmonsGeorge W. Jackman,Captain and others,
Newburyport, Mass.Boston.
1856
Alarm1184MatthewsBriggs Brothers,Baker & Morrell,
South Boston.Boston.
Euterpe1984AveryH. Merriman,Foster & Nickerson,
Rockland, Me.New York.
Florence1310DumaresqSamuel Hall, Jr.,R. B. & John M. Forbes,
East Boston,Boston.
Flying Mist1150FennellJ. O. Curtis,T. Chase & Co.,
Medford, Mass.Boston.
Intrepid1173GardnerWilliam H. Webb,Bucklin & Crane,
New York.New York.
Mary L. Sutton1450RowlandCharles Mallory,Charles Mallory,
Mystic, Conn.Mystic, Conn.
Norseman820HaskellR. E. Jackson,Cunningham Brothers,
East Boston.Boston.
Witch of the Wave 1200ToddTitcomb & Co.,
Portsmouth, N. H.Newburyport, Mass.
1857
Black Hawk1108BowersWilliam H. Webb,Bucklin & Crane,
New York.New York.
Black Hawk970ShoofJ. Currier,M. Devenport & Co.,
Newburyport, Mass. Newburyport, Mass.
Hotspur862PorterRoosevelt & Joyce, Wisner, McCready & Co.,
New York.New York.
Twilight1482GatesCharles Mallory,G. Gates & Co.,
Mystic, Conn.Mystic, Conn.

Appendix II
RECORD PASSAGES OF THE CALIFORNIA CLIPPER SHIPS MADE IN 110 DAYS OR LESS FROM 1850 TO 1860, INCLUSIVE

1850
SHIPPORT OF
DEPARTURE
ARRIVAL AT
SAN FRANCISCO
DAYS
CelestialNew YorkNovember 1104
Race HorseBostonNovember 24109
Samuel RussellNew YorkMay 1109
Sea WitchNew YorkJuly 2497
1851
ChallengeNew YorkOctober 29108
Flying CloudNew YorkAugust 3189
N. B. PalmerNew YorkAugust 21106
RavenBostonNovember 19105
Sea WitchNew YorkNovember 20110
SeamanNew YorkMarch 11107
Stag-HoundNew YorkMay 26107
SurpriseNew YorkMarch 1996
TyphoonNew YorkNovember 18106
WitchcraftNew YorkAugust 11103
1852
CelestialNew YorkFebruary 17106
CometNew YorkJanuary 13103
CourserBostonApril 28108
EclipseNew YorkApril 22104
Northern LightBostonMarch 8109
Sea WitchNew YorkDecember 8108
StaffordshireBostonAugust 13101
Sword-FishNew YorkFebruary 1090
Flying FishBostonFebruary 1798
John BertramBostonMarch 26105
Shooting StarBostonAugust 17105
White SquallNew YorkJuly 29110
Wild PigeonNew YorkJanuary 28104
Sovereign of the SeasNew YorkNovember 15103
1853
Bald EagleNew YorkApril 11107
ContestNew YorkFebruary 24108
ContestNew YorkOctober 2497
Flying CloudNew YorkAugust 12105
Flying DutchmanNew YorkJanuary 27104
Flying DutchmanNew YorkOctober 7106
Flying FishNew YorkFebruary 192
Golden Age (barque)BostonMay 31103
Golden GateNew YorkMarch 20102
HornetNew YorkAugust 12105
InvincibleNew YorkSeptember 9110
John GilpinNew YorkFebruary 293
MeteorBostonMarch 10110
OrientalNew YorkMay 7100
PhantomBostonApril 21104
Rebekah (barque)BaltimoreMay 10106
Sea SerpentNew YorkJune 1107
Sword-FishNew YorkMay 30105
Storm (barque)New YorkApril 10109
TornadoNew YorkMay 2109
Trade-WindNew YorkFebruary 24102
Westward HoBostonFebruary 1103
WitchcraftNew YorkJuly 8110
Winged RacerNew YorkMarch 30105
Young AmericaNew YorkAugust 29110
1854
ArcherNew YorkApril 29106
ChallengerBostonJune 9110
CourierBostonApril 28108
David BrownNew YorkMarch 2398
EagleNew YorkFebruary 16103
Eagle WingBostonApril 5106
Flying CloudNew YorkApril 2089
Golden CityNew YorkFebruary 8105
Herald of the MorningBostonMay 7106
HurricaneNew YorkSeptember 499
MatchlessBostonFebruary 8109
PamparoNew YorkJanuary 25105
PolynesiaNew YorkApril 10104
RingleaderBostonFebruary 8109
Romance of the SeasBostonMarch 2396
Samuel RussellNew YorkJanuary 20106
San FranciscoNew YorkFebruary 8105
Stag-HoundNew YorkAugust 14110
Westward HoNew YorkFebruary 28106
WitchcraftNew YorkAugust 1597
Young AmericaNew YorkOctober 20110
1855
Boston LightBostonApril 11102
CleopatraNew YorkMarch 4107
Don QuixoteBostonMarch 29108
ElectricNew YorkMarch 4109
Flying CloudNew YorkJune 6108
Flying FishBostonJanuary 10109
Flying FishBostonDecember 27105
Golden EagleNew YorkAugust 25106
Governor MortonNew YorkApril 2104
Greenfield (barque)New YorkMay 6110
Herald of the MorningNew YorkMay 1699
MeteorBostonAugust 30108
Neptune’s CarNew YorkApril 25100
Red RoverNew YorkJune 13107
TelegraphBostonApril 9109
Westward HoBostonApril 24100
1856
AntelopeNew YorkMarch 1597
David BrownNew YorkApril 28103
Don QuixoteBostonMay 31108
Electric SparkBostonApril 9106
FlyawayNew YorkApril 8106
Mary L. SuttonNew YorkJuly 20110
North WindBostonJuly 21110
PhantomNew YorkApril 29101
Red RoverNew YorkApril 7110
ReporterNew YorkMarch 27107
RingleaderBostonFebruary 3106
SweepstakesNew YorkMay 2594
TornadoNew YorkMarch 27110
Wild HunterBostonApril 29108
Young AmericaNew YorkOctober 14107
1857
Andrew JacksonNew YorkFebruary 28100
Flying DragonNew YorkApril 1097
Flying DutchmanNew YorkSeptember 10102
Flying FishBostonOctober 2100
John LandNew YorkJuly 30104
ReporterNew YorkApril 17110
Westward HoNew YorkMarch 26100
1858
Andrew JacksonNew YorkApril 27103
Dashing WaveNew YorkAugust 18107
Don QuixoteNew YorkMarch 4108
Esther MayBostonMay 19103
John LandNew YorkJuly 24108
TwilightNew YorkApril 16100
1859
Andrew JacksonNew YorkApril 5102
Robin HoodNew YorkMarch 25107
Sierra NevadaNew YorkDecember 1797
Young AmericaNew YorkJuly 24105
1860
Andrew JacksonNew YorkMarch 2389
ArcherNew YorkMarch 18106
LookoutNew YorkFebruary 20108
Mary L. SuttonNew YorkMay 12103
Ocean TelegraphNew YorkMarch 13109
White SwallowNew YorkAugust 7110

During the forty-five years that have elapsed since the close of the Civil War a large number of sailing ships have been built for the California trade, and it is a notable fact that only two of these vessels made the passage from an Atlantic port to San Francisco in less than one hundred days. The Seminole, built by Maxon & Fish at Mystic, Connecticut, in 1865, arrived at San Francisco from New York, March 10, 1866, in 96 days, and the Glory of the Seas, already mentioned as the last ship built by Donald McKay, made the same voyage, arriving at San Francisco, January 18, 1874, in 94 days.

The two most successful ships in after years were the David Crockett and Young America. Both were built in 1853, and both continued in the San Francisco trade until 1883, during which time the David Crockett made her best twelve passages from New York to San Francisco in an average of 109-7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1872. The Young America, during this period also made twelve passages in an average of 110-7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1880.

As these ships were by many years the oldest survivors of the California clippers, there was a good deal of rivalry between them, and their records show that they were very evenly matched. It should, however, be remembered that about the year 1860 their spars and canvas were considerably reduced and that they were fitted with double topsail yards, all of which hampered their speed in moderate weather. Indeed, they resembled two faded beauties who in their youth had been rival belles.

Appendix III
CHINA TEA CLIPPERS, 1859-1869