“RED JACKET.”

From an old lithograph.

[Larger image] (195 kB)

Donald Mackay’s ships were chiefly distinguished for their powerful workmanlike appearance rather than for delicate beauty—they showed strength rugged and unmistakable, but the Red Jacket’s strength was more disguised under graceful curves; for instance, she had the graceful arched stem and clipper bow of a China ship, whereas Lightning’s stem was almost straight, with only a very slight curve in it.

Red Jacket was not named after Tommy Atkins, but after a great Indian chief, and her figure-head was a beautiful representation of this warrior in all the magnificence of feather head-dress and beaded buckskins.

Race across the Atlantic between “Lightning” and “Red Jacket.”

The Lightning loaded at Constitution Wharf, Boston, and sailed for Liverpool on 18th February, 1854, whilst the Red Jacket sailed from New York on the following day, and great interest was shown in shipping circles as to which should make the best passage across the Atlantic.

In the end these two magnificent clippers arrived in Liverpool on the same day, 4th March, their exact times being:—

Red Jacket—Sandy Hook to Rock Light 13 days 1 hour.