Appendix II Record Passages of the California Clipper Ships Made in 110 Days or Less from 1850 to 1860, Inclusive

1850

SHIP PORT OF
DEPARTURE ARRIVAL AT
SAN FRANCISCO DAYS

Celestial New York November 1 104

Race Horse Boston November 24 109

Samuel Russell New York May 1 109

Sea Witch New York July 24 97

1851

Challenge New York October 29 108

Flying Cloud New York August 31 89

N. B. Palmer New York August 21 106

Raven Boston November 19 105

Sea Witch New York November 20 110

Seaman New York March 11 107

Stag-Hound New York May 26 107

Surprise New York March 19 96

Typhoon New York November 18 106

Witchcraft New York August 11 103

1852

Celestial New York February 17 106

Comet New York January 13 103

Courser Boston April 28 108

Eclipse New York April 22 104

Northern Light Boston March 8 109

Sea Witch New York December 8 108

Staffordshire Boston August 13 101

Sword-Fish New York February 10 90

Flying Fish Boston February 17 98

John Bertram Boston March 26 105

Shooting Star Boston August 17 105

White Squall New York July 29 110

Wild Pigeon New York January 28 104

Sovereign of the Seas New York November 15 103

1853

Bald Eagle New York April 11 107

Contest New York February 24 108

Contest New York October 24 97

Flying Cloud New York August 12 105

Flying Dutchman New York January 27 104

Flying Dutchman New York October 7 106

Flying Fish New York February 1 92

Golden Age (barque) Boston May 31 103

Golden Gate New York March 20 102

Hornet New York August 12 105

Invincible New York September 9 110

John Gilpin New York February 2 93

Meteor Boston March 10 110

Oriental New York May 7 100

Phantom Boston April 21 104

Rebekah (barque) Baltimore May 10 106

Sea Serpent New York June 1 107

Sword-Fish New York May 30 105

Storm (barque) New York April 10 109

Tornado New York May 2 109

Trade-Wind New York February 24 102

Westward Ho Boston February 1 103

Witchcraft New York July 8 110

Winged Racer New York March 30 105

Young America New York August 29 110

1854

Archer New York April 29 106

Challenger Boston June 9 110

Courier Boston April 28 108

David Brown New York March 23 98

Eagle New York February 16 103

Eagle Wing Boston April 5 106

Flying Cloud New York April 20 89

Golden City New York February 8 105

Herald of the Morning Boston May 7 106

Hurricane New York September 4 99

Matchless Boston February 8 109

Pamparo New York January 25 105

Polynesia New York April 10 104

Ringleader Boston February 8 109

Romance of the Seas Boston March 23 96

Samuel Russell New York January 20 106

San Francisco New York February 8 105

Stag-Hound New York August 14 110

Westward Ho New York February 28 106

Witchcraft New York August 15 97

Young America New York October 20 110

1855

Boston Light Boston April 11 102

Cleopatra New York March 4 107

Don Quixote Boston March 29 108

Electric New York March 4 109

Flying Cloud New York June 6 108

Flying Fish Boston January 10 109

Flying Fish Boston December 27 105

Golden Eagle New York August 25 106

Governor Morton New York April 2 104

Greenfield (barque) New York May 6 110

Herald of the Morning New York May 16 99

Meteor Boston August 30 108

Neptune’s Car New York April 25 100

Red Rover New York June 13 107

Telegraph Boston April 9 109

Westward Ho Boston April 24 100

1856

Antelope New York March 15 97

David Brown New York April 28 103

Don Quixote Boston May 31 108

Electric Spark Boston April 9 106

Flyaway New York April 8 106

Mary L. Sutton New York July 20 110

North Wind Boston July 21 110

Phantom New York April 29 101

Red Rover New York April 7 110

Reporter New York March 27 107

Ringleader Boston February 3 106

Sweepstakes New York May 25 94

Tornado New York March 27 110

Wild Hunter Boston April 29 108

Young America New York October 14 107

1857

Andrew Jackson New York February 28 100

Flying Dragon New York April 10 97

Flying Dutchman New York September 10 102

Flying Fish Boston October 2 100

John Land New York July 30 104

Reporter New York April 17 110

Westward Ho New York March 26 100

1858

Andrew Jackson New York April 27 103

Dashing Wave New York August 18 107

Don Quixote New York March 4 108

Esther May Boston May 19 103

John Land New York July 24 108

Twilight New York April 16 100

1859

Andrew Jackson New York April 5 102

Robin Hood New York March 25 107

Sierra Nevada New York December 17 97

Young America New York July 24 105

1860

Andrew Jackson New York March 23 89

Archer New York March 18 106

Lookout New York February 20 108

Mary L. Sutton New York May 12 103

Ocean Telegraph New York March 13 109

White Swallow New York August 7 110

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-/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-/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.