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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.

“Dharwar.”

The Dharwar, which was one of Harland & Wolff’s finest productions, originally belonged to the Indian “Iron Ship Company.” Though the company made money in the early sixties, a slump in freights brought it into the hands of the Receiver after a very short existence. The Dharwar sailed for England in 1868, and on her arrival was bought by John Willis, who always had an eagle eye for a good ship. He fitted her for emigrants and during the seventies she was usually carrying passengers outward; later she became a favourite Sydney trader, and when loading at Circular Quay was usually to be seen on the cross berth opposite the old Paragon Hotel. A beautifully built ship, with teakwood decks, the Dharwar was also a very consistent performer, and made a good name for herself under Captain Freebody. Before settling down in the Australian trade, Captain Freebody took her to Calcutta sometimes for a Dundee jute cargo, he also took her across the Pacific, and made a very fine passage from Frisco to Liverpool in 1872-3 of 97 days. As late as 1902 I find the old ship arriving at Fremantle on 24th May, 80 days out from Barry. Willis eventually sold her to the Swedes, who sent her to the ship-breakers in 1909, after 45 years of service.

The Strange Career of “Antiope.”

The Antiope was one of the earliest of Joseph Heap’s ships, and, like all his others, had a name which no sailor could possibly pronounce correctly. Indeed when she came out many an old salt shook his head over such a name. Who ever heard of a ship called the “Anti-hope” coming to any good? However she upset the predictions of the evil prophets by being one of the luckiest ships ever launched, and at the present day must be one of the oldest ships afloat.

She was Heap’s fourth ship, I believe; her sister ship, the Marpesia, having been launched from Reid’s yard four months before her. The first ship of Heap’s “Thames and Mersey Line” was the little Hippolyta, of 853 tons, built as far back as 1856. Then came the Eurynome, of 1347 tons, built at Whitehaven in 1862.