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Home , Andrew Jackson (clipper), Chains (nautical), Clipper, Comet (clipper), Donald McKay, Donald McKay (clipper)

-vC %g Lifeon Board A.merican byCharles R. Schultz PublishedbyTexas AbM UniversitySea Grant College Program Co~ght@ 1983 by TexasA&M UnioersitySea Grant CollegeProgram

TAMU-SG-83-40? 3M January1983 NA81AA-D00092 ET/C-31

Additionalcopies available from: Marine InformationService SeaGrant CollegeProgram TexasA&M University CollegeStation, Texas 77843-4115 $1.00 Dr. CharlesR, Schuitz,whose interest in has been the impetusfor consider- able researchin thisfi eld, urn Keeperof kfanuscripts and Librarian at hfysticSeaport in Con- necticut for eightyears before he was appointed UniversityArchivist at TexasASM Universityin 1971. Virtually Irom the beginning of shipbuilding in Ameri- to be referredto as"Baltimore ," ca,American builders have been able to construct Bythe mid 19thCentury a numberof thingshad hap- fastsailing vessels, American craftsmen have consistently penedthat made the famous American clipper ships pos- demonstratedthe abilityto learnfrom eachother, as well sible. When the Black Ball Line wis established in 1818 astheir foreigncounterparts. They have done remarkably and set a regularschedule for packet ships be- well in choosingonly the bestdesign attributes of those tween New York and Europe, it quickly took over the from whom theyhave copied. The developmentof the profitable passengertrafFic and much of the most lucra- famousclipper ships during the 1850's exemplifies the tive lreightbusiness on the NorthAtlantic, It quicklybe- apexof suchdevelopments. cameclear that the fastestships would attractthe most Duringthe colonialperiod of U.S.history, American passengersas weil asthe freightwhich paidthe highest merchantsand their shipswere legallybarred Irom most rates.This created a demandfor shipswhich could of thelucrative trades. The only way they could operate fasterthan those which had been built in previous in somegeographical areas or tradein sometypes of decades. commoditieswas to engagein illegalsmuggling. To be a In 1848the Britishgovernment abrogated the remain- successfulsmuggler, one had to haveships that could ing provisionsof the NavigationActs, which hadoriginal- outsailthose of anyother nation. No one knows exactly ly beenpassed during the colonialperiod of American howmuch smuggling was done by colonialAmericans, history.This action by GreatBritain opened the way for but it is certainlysafe to saythat they did a lotof it. Bal- Americanships to carrycommodities, especially tea, from timore,Maryland, was one of theleading smuggling Chinadirectly to Englandin competitionwith British ports in . It was also in Baltimore that some of ships.The earliest tea brought to Englandeach year theearliest fast sailing vessels were built. Early in the commandedhigher prices than that delivered later. 19thCentury fast sailing vessels built in Baltimorebegan Hence,fast ships were very important in this tradeand Americanbuilders were able to supply them to American vention, discovery or development.Examples are the shipowners. Wright Brothers and airplanes,louis Pasteurand the ster- The discoveryof gold in California in 1849and some- ilization or pasteurizationof milk, and Dr. Michael De- what later in created additional demands for fast Bakeywith human organ transplants.This is not true sailingships to carrysupplies from the EastCoast to the with clipper ships. No one person has ever been given gold fields. Shipsthat proved to sail very fast could, and credit for inventing or developing them, Rather, did, command higher freight ratesthan their slower sis- hundreds of shipbuilders up and down the New England ters. Higher freight rates usually meant greaterprofits to coast learned from each other. These builders seem to the owners. have been able to look at a seriesof models or complete ships and selectthe best featuresof eachone to incorpo- A ship's speedwas determined by three factors: rate into the newest ship they were building for a New design, squarefootage of sail, and the captain and crew, York or Boston merchantwho wanted a ship which The shapeof the hull, particularlythe shapeof the , would out sail any other ships in the oceans. and the ratio of length to breadth of the hull had a defi- 2 nite bearing on sailing speed.It also had some bearing While no single person can be identified as the inven- on carrying capacity.A ship with taller mastsand longer tor or developer of clipper ships, some individual yardarmscould carry more squarefeet of sail than could builders did achieve considerable fame because of the another one of equal size and hull shape.The more sail, number of fast ships they built, Donald McKayof Boston the morearea there was to catch~nd anddrive the ship, was among the best known builders. He built inany fast The captainand crew also played an importantrole in sailing clippers, including the ,which re- ship speed.Some captains were known as "drivers," that corded two of the three fastestvoyages between New is theyused more sail in heavyweather than did some York and SanFrancisco, and the GreatRepublic, whose lessadventurous ship masters.Such driving captains 4,555tons made her the largestclipper ever built. tended to select junior ofhcers and crew memberswith William H. Webbalso built a numberof clipperships at similar tracesof daring. his shipyard in New York Otherswere built in small cit- In many instancesa single individual can be identified iesand towns all overthe NewEngland coast. The asthe principalperson responsible for an importantin- , which recorded one of the three fastest voyagesbetween New York and SanFrancisco, was built in Mystic, , by Irons and Grinnell. Charles Malloryand George Greenman and Company both built clippersin Mystic,at or nearwhat is now MysticSeaport, the maritime museum known around the world. The eraof the clipperships was one of veryshort du- ration. Economic conditions played a major role in end- ing the erajust as they did in startingit. The tremendous ship building activitiesin the early1850's created an overabundanceof ships.This caused freight rates to de- clinedrastically. In 1850the charge was $60 a tonto ship materialsto California,By 1857tQe rate had fallen to only $10per ton. A majoreconomic slump in 1857depressed businessthroughout the world and hit Americanship- buildingespecially hard. Not only were the freight rates pushedeven lower, but also there was less freight to be carriedby theoverabundant number of ships. TheCivil War, 1861 to 1865,interrupted commercial shipbuildingdue to theheavy demand for militaryves- sels.At thissame time, there were rapid shifts from sail to steamas a methodof propulsionand from woodto iron for constructionmaterial. All of thesefactors caused theclipper ship era to endabout 1860 as quicldy as it hadbegun only a decadeearlier. 11 ~A'~ tf ie '' @~A3~ A3A~.3 + 17A",A @ 1 sAfifrfà gfPA74dt, +@ 4~~4 2e 1'A~ 17>, '@+ngg'i+.rs +tf'~- 17 " Af13 4 173 7 4 fit@177 aPAf At A 4igfttrfag~ g st'y, 173:e A7 E *~~A*~ @4* %At'A' 3 tf At As @3 '@A"@ > Asfn>@ Ate@ at +faiAs 18 z @War +g~~~ 33+flY' r' eArfrt Ara7%AI

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e SA %1A A:~pire '. 1 fili till ll-nl' R@.+ 17ts 26 7 32 Y g A y% ' ~A.re' 3' Aftft A Sr+'e7+ 7 A7A7+e@ L %7 3 A,. 2 'll ff 7... g33arW+Af Al@@@ 3 f7 Q + A .t@ O'A 3 A a'e. 13 e Af+ Af 71Af37 S3@a+A,~Ae le+ '3 a,A~ @17AA@, fA3' a ~'~+A A' f 3 + A'17t@. A ted carried 5. Fore-topmaststaysail 12. Fore- 19. Main 26. Port fore-royal by clipper ship 6. Main-royal 13. Fore-topgallantsail 20. ,or main 27. Port fore-topgallantstudding sail 7. Main-topgallantstaysail 14. Fore.topsail 21. Mizzenskysail 28. Port I'ore-topmaststudding sail 1. Flying 8. Main-topmaststaysail 15. ,or forecourse 22. Mizzen royal 29. Port fore-lowerstudding sail 2, Jib topsail 9. Spencer brailed! 16. Main 23. Mizzen-topgaHantsail 30. Port main-royal studding sail 3. Outer jib 10. 17. Main royal 24. Mizzen topsail 31. Port main-topgallantstudding sail 4. Inner jib 11. Fore.skysail 18. Main. 25. Crossjack furled!, or mizzencourse 32. Port main-topmaststudding sail Without doubt, the most romanticized aspectof Amer- ble hardshipswhich somehowwere more icanmaritime history has been that brief periodof the pleasantthan otherwise.We dreamedof sail- mid-19th Century known as the clipper ship era.Writers ing triumphantly through terrific gales,in of the past havedevoted numerous books and articles to which we were alwayswarm and comfort- the beautyof the shipsthemselves as they glided swiftly able, or performed, in fancy,remarkable feats overthe oceansat incrediblespeed, to building the ships of strengthand courage in ship wrecks,with and to biographiesof the shipsas welil as their builders none of the inconveniencesof reality. andcaptains.' Generally, the activitiesand living condi- All ships attracted,and every comer of the tionsof the menwho sailedthe shipshave been ignored world ineditedus, but no shipshad quite the exceptfor an occasionalarticle dealing with the unsavory appealof the clippersand no landsquite the crimpswho preyedupon sailorsin port andsome of the lure of the east.' harshestcaptains who drove their men and their ships mercilesslyin al'lkinds of weather.Consequently infor- Others becameromantic over the beautiesof nature they mation on routine daily tasks,frustrations of loneliness, saw,especially sunrises. One sailor describeda sunrise tediumof endlessoceans, monotony of the lousyfood thusly: andthe vexingprobletns faced by sailorshas never been This morning the sunrisewas magnificant, systematicallyaccumulated. Even the seafarersof the 19th Long before the sun rose, the easternhorizon Centurywere caught up in theromanticisrn of clipper was tinged with a red, almost blood red sky, ships. One of them recalled late in his life while the sky abovewas a delicatepink, Soon Aswe grew in years,the seabecame more theseshades began to giveway to a purple andmore a vastfairy world of adventure.We dazzling to look at, which as day dawned the boysimagined ourselves undergoing incredi- gaveway to a delicateblue. One solitary

FrotnTbeSeaSerpentjournal:HughltfcCu Gregory's loch VoyageAroundthe WorldinA Clipper Ship 185455, editedbyRobertH. Burgess, ReprintedwiS permission of The3iariner'sirluseum, Neuportivews, Virginia star alone shone,Venus, large and , so In someinstances, the captainmade a briefspeech to large indeed that one could but compare it, the crew after the watches had been chosen, One sailor in his mind,with the starthe shepherdsso reported that his captain told them welcomed at Bethlehem. When the sun final- Now, my men, you have shipped on a good ly rose, his orb looked like a ball of fire, red, tight ship. You're to havewatch and watch, andthen the effectwas magnificent. Every- good grub and good treatment as long asyou thing seemedbathed in a flood of red and behaveyourselves, Answer promptly when purple.' you are spoken to and jump quickly when you receive an order. If you don't behaveand The excitement of sailing day comes out very strongly don't jump quickly when ordered, and growl in the words of one young sailor who wrote "Hurrah & at your food this ship will be a merry hell and awaywe go.... Loosedthe & as they swung I' ll be the devil. That'sall. Now you can about our Ship is bound awayto New York Bay. It sent go forward to your proper forecastlefor ten the blood tingling through my veins fasterthan usual." minutes to shift your dunnage,after which The hectic activity was noted by another sailor who the starboard watch will take the while wrote "There is not rest for anyone on sailing day.We the port watch goes below.' worked! ike beaversuntil late afternoon." Among the duties to be carried out were stowing awaythe gangways, For the greenhandon his first voyagethere em a spe- hawsers,fenders, mooring chains and any other gear cial educationalresponsibility that had to be completed used only in port; coiling down the ; hoisting the as quickly aspossible. He had to leam the location and anchorson board and lashing them to the ; function of about 130different ,clewlines, bunt- plugging up the hawse-pipesto keep out heavyseas; and lines, and braceslocated along the bulwarks and at the washing the deck This was followed by choosing the . He hadto be ableto haul on or let go anyone watchesby the first and second matestaking turns select- during daylight or darkness,in fair weather or foul, to ing men to serve under thein, The captain and second carry out a given order instantly.To selectthe wrong one mate had chargeof the starboardwatch while the first could causeserious problems,' and third mateshad the port or larboard.' Holdersof certainpositions had special responsibili- ties while some taskswere assignedto specific sailors. foot-ropes,beckets and life-lines of eachyard." He then For example,the carpenterhad to soundthe pumpsdai- determined what particular work needed to be done and ly to seeif anywater had leakedinto the ship.In addi- made the necessaryassignments," tion, he had to check the caskscontaining fresh water, Besidesany repairsthe mate might have noted during pork,beef and otherprovisions; keep care of the paint; his inspections,there were routine preventivetasks make, or supervisethe making of, repairsto the ship; which occupied the sailors' time and kept the ship in and in general "Know all about the Condition of the condition. Two particularly onorous ones were slushing masts,Spars, Iron work, in factEverything Essential for the mastsand mring the rigging, Slush,refuse grease the Preservationof the Ship." Most ships carried some from the ,was applied regularly to the maststo livestock for fresh meat.The person chargedwith feed- make the yards hoist easilyand to the lines to keep them ing and care of the livestockwas dubbed "Jimmy Ducks." pliant. One sailor reported slush was "truly a vile com- One sailor reported that he did not relish this job but pound,"and slushing was "the dirtiestjob we haveand noted that it did ofFerone "emolument... the privilege one most destructiveon clothes."" Tarring down, coating of hookingfresh water enough to washin, providingthe all parts of the rigging with tar or a mixture containing mate doesn't catchyou."" tar, was also a dirty job. It could take a full week to tar down the entire ship, The mixture helped preservethe Very soon after the ship departed lrom port, life on rigging by keeping out moisture." board developed into a regularroutine, Eachday began about 4:30 when the cook and steward started breakfast. As the ship approachedits destination on a long The watch ofFduty was servedfirst and then began the voyage,a whole new set of duties fell upon the crew. taskof washingdown the decksand wiping all the paint Seeminglyevery captainwanted his ship to appearin work.One sailorreported this practicewas followed perfect condition when it arrived in port. Thus the crew "even during a howling gale when heavyseas were spent much of the last three or four weeks cleaning, breakingover the ship'srail." Whilethe crewwas thus scraping,painting and varnishing all parts of the ship and engaged,the matemade a thoroughinspection of every holystoning the decks.The final bit of preparation in- part of the ship "examiningevery rope, , iron band, volved getting up the mooring chain, hawsersand what- bolt and sail,giving particular attention to the jack-, everOther gear was used in port.'4 With the wide variety of cannedand frozen foods and fresh and clean."" Note that there were no cocktailsbe- multitudes of prepared mealsthat need only to be heat- foredinner and no creamand sugar for the coffee and ed momentarily in a microwaveoven availabletoday, it tea.Only officers were permited to haveliquor with might be enlightening to look briefly at the food con- mealson sailingships. Sailors drank only ashore. Mo- sumedby seafarersof the clippership era. A sailorin the lasseswas the principalsweetner available to sailors. SeaSerpent recorded their weekly menu as follows: A youngseaman in the Mary Whitridgereported their Sunday scouse and duff, Monday mush and spuds, food"was very good and unlimited in quantity,"but ad- Tuesday scouse and beans,Wednesday scouse and mitted it "was very limited in variety." It consistedof salt rice, Thursday mush and duff, Friday scouse and rice, beef,salt pork, salt fish, beans, hard bread, potatoes, cof- Saturday scouseand CapeCod turkey. Bread and beef feeand tea, with beanor peasoup four days per week; were also servedevery day.The monotony itself is and"the greatsailor luxury, plum duff,on Sunday."They enough to turn most people againstit, but apparentlythe alsohad "fresh bread or gingerbreadnearly every day."" quality and even the quantity left a greatdeal to be de- From time to time, the monotony wasbroken by mak- sired. The sailor noted "the scouseis a libel on pig inguse of someof the rich resourcesof the sea,by kill- fodder, the mush is never cooked, the beans are awful ing someof the livestockcarried on board,or by pur- and the CapeCod turkey, or in plain English,codfish, is chasingprovisions during a brief visitin some distant the meanest mess of all. The coffee and tea, which we port.The carpenter of the Romanreported gleefully that have morning and night, is a muddy compound not fit "the chief mate caught a SplendedDolphin this after- for any civilized man to drink." Then he concluded in noon.... We ate some for supper. It tastedto me like typical sailor fashion, "however I am alwaysso hungry I Shad,"Sometimes they purchased or caughtlarge turtles can eat what is set before me without a second bid- to make soup and pot pie," Another seamanreported ding."" There came a point later in the voyagewhen he catching bonitos which they had fried for "a most agree- reported he was unable to eat the bread becauseof the ablechange."" The daughterof the captainof the Na- big worms in it. I Ie wondered "what they would say tionallEagle reported that the albatrosswhich the steward ashoreto see their bread alive." The next day he report- caught and roasted"was verypalatable a pleasant ed a new cask of bread was opened and that never be- change of diet."~ fore had he witnessed "such a rush... to see bread, The livestock carried on board was most often pigs

Lithograph, "Clipper ShipComet of /Veil York," by lv. Currier852! after a painting by CharlesParsons Courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum, inc,, Mystic, Connecticut, and chickens,but sheep,ducks, turkeys, geese, goats and quetes,Cockatoes, Java Sparrows, Doves. The pigeonswere sotnetimes also taken along to addvariety lower rigging is all full of fruits looking like a to the meals."While this freshmeat was primarily for the forest andJib Guys are all full of Bananas.It officers,the crewdid usuallyget a portion,especially of looks fine 8~ no mistake. I have some the largeranimals. The carpenterof the Romanreported Oranges,Mangusteers Rc. Our little room is that full. One birth ed. note berth! is stored full EverySaturday afternoon a Pig is Killed and of Coconuts.We will live High all the way after the Steward takes what he wishes for the Home," Cabin,the Remainsare made up by the cook Mealtime in clipper ships was unlike anything familiar into a Sortof Pot Pie or what they call a Sea to 20th Century landlubbers.Not only was there classse- Pie R to Crown all they are to Havea Duff K gregation,but the style of eating was much different than Saucefor Desert. The SauceConsists of Sug- what current etiquette books recommend.The officers ar and Water Boiled and makes a Sort of were served in shifts at the table in the cabin by the ste- Starch!.But Jack is Quite Happy with it al- ward.The stewardate in his pantry,the cook in his gal- though I think some Shorefolks would Stick ley.The crew ate on deckor in the forecastledepending up their nosesat Such a Dose. upon weather conditions. One sailor described mealtime He then went on to explain that "Their Plum Duff Con- thusly: sists of Flour mixed with Salt Water with Some Dried There Satthe Boys in our Room. Dick had his Apples thrown in it K so is Boiled in a Huge Bag tied up pan between his Kneesusing His claspKnife tight to Keep it from Swelling.After it is done, it make s! to carve with R a Small Bone for a Fork. Bob a verySolid food and Sticksto a man'sRibs like wax," had his sheathKnife S. his fingers for a fork For ships returning home from China,Angier was a fa- Charley used a Razorwith a Spoonfor his vorite place to stop for provisions, pets and souveniers. fork, Whilst I used a Smail Saw for a Knife K a Upon departing from Angier, one sailor noted piece of Bamboo for my fork SometimesI Our Ship looks like a farmyard: Chickens, used my fingers,but only in casesof Emer- geese,Ducks, monkeys,Goats, minoes, Para- gency. I formerly used a Chiselfor a fork.'4 Most 20th CenturyAmericans take for granted electric appearin the pitch of our deck seams."Then came the watercoolers, ice waterwith meds,and plenty of hot dishearteningannouncement that the water allowance and cold running water for daily baths and Irequent was to be cut to two pints per day. One of the sailors washing of hands as well as regular laundering of noted that it was clothes.This definitely was not the casein the clipper v,~thsad lacesand thirsty, parched throatswe ships. One sailor lamented "Many a time have I wished all lined up at the fife rail at water time and that I had but a swallow of water that I have thrown away sorrowfullysurrendered our treasuredquart at home becauseit wasn't cool enough. Sometimesour pickle bottles to the steward,each receiving water is almost lukewarm, and it alwayshas that peculiar in return a nice clean little pint bottle, Gra- tastewhich water will have that has stood for any length cious,how smallthe bottleslooked! A quart of time in a woolenreceptacle."' was little enough on which to pull through a No ship had water casksof sufhcient size to provide long hot day, but how were we ever to exist adequatewater for a lengthyvoyage. Thus, they had to upon a pint.... It was a ratherpathetic sight depend upon catching rain water to replenish their sup- each evening,to watch us all gather solemnly ply. Sometimes,as was the casewith the Continental,they around the pump, eachwith his little pickle did not havetime to catchany water. As a precaution,the bottle, waiting for the Old man to come captain ordered a ration of "three pints of water per day, throughthe cabindoor, pump in hand,and one pint of which was alloted to the cook for coffee and walk to the tank with statelytread. He so- tea."' Overthe next fewdays the crewof the Continen. lemnlywithdrew the keyfroin his pocket,un- ta/witnessedstorms all aroundthem and prepared « screwedthe capand attached the pump to catchwater, but unfortunatelythe storms all passedthem the suctionpump." by.The water shortage weighed heavily on everyone's minds,and the chief topic of everyconversation was After severalweeks of such short rations, the sailor noted "water, water and more water." The location and weather again "Our chief subject of conversationnow was,as us- conditionscompounded their problem. One of thesail- ual, water, water and more water." He then added a orsnoted that "the hot tropicalsun poured down upon commentary upon his fellow sealarers, us,at timeswith suchintensity as to causeheat blisters to Everyman Jack aboard had time and again sworn a solemn oath that the first thing he becauseof his frequent order to the boys to get a snatch would do when he got his two feet firmly The sailorreported that planted on God's green earth once more at midnightthe S.B.shad a processionround would be to put his mouth under the first - the ship,carrying their namesakealoft and ter faucet he could find and fill his own water repeating an extempore poem which, tho' tank from his toes to the top of his head.But not written by Shakespeare,still answeredfor he would not do this; he would do exactlyas the occasion."0 ye S.B,slook ferocious,Were he had done from time immemorial He the last dying words of Theodosius,"after would plant his feet on the rail of the first sa- which Somnusengaged their attentionthe loon he could find and, anchoring his elbows remainder of the watch.~ on the bar, would proceed to fill his skin Shipsat seagenerally ignored 1ndependence Day al- from his toes to the top of his head with though keepersof journals and writers of recollections whiskey,whiskey, and more whiskey.~ frequently noted the day with statementssuch as "very Eventuallythe Continental arrived safelyin port and the diferent Fourth from any I ever spent before" or 'This is thirsty seamenwere able to "fill their tanks" with the liq- the 'Glorious Fourth,"'30 On the other hand, a crew in uid of their choice. port could have a grandcelebration such as that reported Lavishmeals on holidays such as New Year'sDay, by the carpenterof the Roman. Thanksgivingand Christmasand paradesand fireworks We had a sort of a spree.We decoratedthe on July 4th havebecome customarythroughout the na- Forcastlewith flags,We then made a tableof tion. Suchwas generally not the casefor men in clipper the Bread Bargeon which we placed some 18 ships although some celebrationswere held and some emIp] ty Bottles8 one full one.After the Per- special mealswere prepared.A seamanin the SeaSer- formances had commenced the third mate pent reported that "the old yearwas seen out and the kicked over our table R so spoilt all our fun. new year in by both watchesof boys in a most original We told him it was Liquer K made him Shell way." The two watches had formed clubs named Brass out for damages.We took up a Tarrpolin mus- Heads and Snatch Block Guards, the latter named for the ter k I was deputised to go ashoreS. procure third mate who was known as Theodosius Snatch Block refreshments..., I bought some Pineapples, mangoes,& otherfruits & thenstarted off to a dolphin, and had a fish chowder for supper, for which I seethe procession.Some 50 SailorsHeaded was thankful."" by an AmericanFlag & Bandconsisting of 2 In the 19thCentury, Christmas was not as much of a ChineseGongs, Accordian, Drum & Flute commercial celebration as it has become in the 20th. At PlayingYankee Doodle. They had just come sea,it was sometimesrecognized as a holiday with only from the Consulsresidence, He had given the necessarywork of steeringthe ship and tending the each a Bottle of Brandy & they was now sailsbeing done. On the otherhand, some ships worked drunk& makinga greatnoise. Hundreds of as usual on the day, Some had special mealsor at least Chinesewas following them Quite pleasedat special treatssuch as cake or pumpkin pie while others the antics of the sailors.But at night they all seemingly servedthe ordinary fair for the day of the fetched up in the Calaboosefor Tearingdown week" the BritishFlag, Rioting &c.... FinallyI went Practicingof religion and observingthe sabbathseems on Board.... We commencedby giving three to havevaried from ship to ship and to have depended cheersfor ourselves,3 forthe fiagand then upon the circumstancesat hand. GenerallySunday was went in." considered a dayoff from regular work. Thus sailors Thanksgivingmeant special food for the cabin but not oftenspent the greaterpart of the dayperfoming per- necessarilyfor the crew. The father of the captain of the sonaltasks such as washing and mendingclothes, shav- GoldenFleece reported their mealconsisted of oyster ing, getting haircuts,airing out bedding, reading and soup,boiled salmon,scalloped oysters, roast fowl, huck- bathing." The ship Golden Fleecemay well havebeen leberrypudding and apple pies. The daughterof the cap- unique in that they held weekly church servicesand tain of the NationalEagle noted their dinnerincluded bible classes,The captain'sfather, a ministerwho was roastduck, meat pie, boiledyarns, apple sauce, pickles, takingthe voyagefor his health,conducted the services Plumpudding, and minceand squash pies." A sailorin and taught the classes." theMary Whitri dge noted that it erasThanksgiving day As bad as inferior food in inadequatequantities, short- at home, but for me it is the sameas all the rest,with the agesof water, and being denied holidays and Sundaysoff sameship's work" He added"I did not find roastturkey were,they were minor comparedto someof the other andmince pie when I wentfor mydinner, but we caught problems facedby sailors.Homesickness was a cominon /ZO

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U P//TEE PE 7D t4s/rPP/IL/r4 AO.'~ee /2g EPAS A re-drawingof a uerkfchart by Car! C Cutlerthat shows the major routes of cltpperships and the averagedurati on of seavoyages. Cutler's chartwas used as end papers in hisbock Greyhou nds of theSea O'0 ZD 0 20 60 80 /00 /o0 /40 malady,especially for the youngerseamen and for mar- friend the Pet Mosquito awoke me this rnoming Early.I ried officers with children at home, The letters of one got up R foundmy few verysore. Upon examination I captainare filled with referencesto missing his Iamily found his friends had used them for a Promenade andwishing he could be with themor at leasthear !rom Ground."" SeamanFrederick Perrynoted that ratswere them.On one occasionhe reportedhaving been to a "the greatestsource of annoyance"on his voyagefrom "mesmericmeeting" during which a younggirl in a hyp- Valparaisoto Irelandwith guano.The fumesof the cargo notic stategave him informationabout his wife,On forced rats out of the holds into the living quarters.The another occasionhe reported his delight in receiving a crewtried poisonwith somesuccess, but the odor of letterwritten only thirteendays previously and noted that decayingcarcasses between the cabinpartitions forced it hadbeen a yearand three months since he hadlast themto abandonthis approach.'Ihey nextused a variety heard from horne. The length of time seamenwere occa- of trapswith sionallya~~ from hometended to magnifythe prob- little success, as the rats seemed to increase lem.Captain Moses R. Colman left Scituate,Massachu- in numbers and boldness every day,They ate setts,on September19, IS59, to takethe AsaEldridgeto holes over-night through the hardwood cabin San Francisco. I Ie did not return home until the rniddle partitions,stole socks out of our shoeswhile of October 1864,a few daystoo late to witness the mar- we slept, also balls of twine and beeswax riage of his daughterAmelia." used in sail-making,and draggedthem into Everyimaginable type of pestexisted to bothersailors. their nestsbetween the partitions where they Flies,mosquitoes, ants, roaches and rats were among the seemedto producea Ireshfamily over-night, worst.Captain Colman wrote his wife 'The flyesare eat- It was no trick at a!I when you tumed out in ing me up. I havekilled abouttwenty in my earssince I the morningto find one or two drownedin beganwriting you so you can see that I havesomething yourwater pitcher, and to be awakenedin to torment me."" CarpenterStanley of the Roman wrote the night by their runningover your face,But "Mosquitoesare very thick. One old ChapI havein the climaxcame one nightwhen they Charge.I amlearning him Oh! Susanahdont You Cry..., attackedthe captain'sbaby, who wassleeping Oftenwhile he is practicinghe wakesme up to repeat with her mother. the first word for him Oh!" A few days later he noted "My Afterthey arrived in port anddischarged the cargo,the officers hired a professionalrat catcherto "clear out" the by the factthat sailors passed from oneextreme to ship, In a week,he caught624 rats.40 anotherin a matterof daysas they sailed from the tropics The father of the captain of the Golden Fleeceasked towardCape Hom and from the Capeto the tropics ''What shall I say of the cockroaches,red ants,trantulas again.Only two weeks after complaining of "bitter cold" and mice?" His reply was a seamanin the Mary lVhitridge reported it was so hot One thing can be said in favor of all of them, "the pitch hasbeen melting in the deck seams.."' Car- Theywere not mosquitoes.This was a nightly penter Stanley of the Roman noted several times that it consolation;but it wasthe only goodthing was too hot to write his journal or that it was so hot that which could be said of them all. The ants even writing made him sweat.One day he wrote "Horri- would coverevery vessel in which theycould ble! no air,not a breathhardly....never in my life haveI find anything to drink. Freshwater seemedto felt sucha hotday. It is perfectlyawful." Another time he be their chief delight.... But at seawe found reported "Horrible calm 8 we [arej nearly all Dead from the cockroaches most destructive. It is not the effects of the Heat."" pleasantto find severalof themon your pil- CapeHom galeswere worse than the heat, however. low when you go into your stateroomat The Continentalspent three miserable weeks tacking night.They are harmless to the person,but backand forth off the Capein terribleweather only to the coversof books,and everything which find that theyhad not gaineda singlemile. Hersailors hasbeen pasted or glued,all lackerwork, and enjoyedone privilegenot generallyavailable on sailing paper generally suffersfrom them," ships.The captain installed a stovein the sail locker to Withoutdoubt, the worstproblems faced by sailors dry clothes. Most sailors simply had to keep wearing were causedby the weather.Since the normal route for their wet ones.44Sailor Gregory described one gale the clipperships was from an east coast port to California, SeaSerpent encountered off CapeHom asbeing thento Chinaand Europe before returning home, they worsethat it hadever been before, Squall not infrequentlyrounded both Cape Hom and the Cape aftersquall accompanied by sleetand of GoodHope. The cold weatherat thoselatitudes as passedover us in rapid succession.Several well asthe heat of thetropics caused a greatdeal of dis- heavyseas struck and washed the whole comfortand difficulty for sailors,This was compounded poop,while forwardand amidships all was $Axemw~ flooded. SometimesI could see a hugewave smashedin places,and everything on deck with its white crestcoming down upon us was afloat,... There was no breakfast; the and just havetime to dodge when it would gale was shrieking through the rigging; the board us.... Several times we rolled so that waves seemed like small mountains, and the we shipped an enormous amount of water to white spume was blowing acrosslike snow in leeward,which poured over the side like a a blizzard,at times obscuring the view. The waterfaflwashing the decks fore and aft..., It ship was scudding like a lrightened horse, It was a fearful sight to see huge wavescoming must have been five hundred feet from one down upon us, some of which I am sure wave crest to another, and when we raced musthave exceeded 20 feet in height,and down the slope, the top of the following then seeher roll so thatwater would pour wave was so high that it broke the wind and over her lee side. Forward was so covered at the sailswould drop back loose, but when timeswith spraythat you could hardlysee the the ship would struggle up to the crest again, foremast," it seemedas if they would blow from the bolt ropes.The seasseemed to growworse every The Mary Whitridgeencountered a severestorm near minute, We were running before it and the the Capeof Good Hope about which one of her seamen danger of one coming aboard from aft was wrote great.... About this time another tremendous It commenced to blow hard yesterdayand we seacame roaring over the port rail, filling the began to shorten sail..., When I went below decksto the top of the bulwarks;for a long at 4 thismorning, I thoughtit could not blow moment it looked as though the ship would harder..., I was roused just at sevenbells by not climb the next crest. She was almost on a terrible crashingsound, and the sound of her beamends, with thewater roaring over rushingwater over the deck;my roomwas the lee rail, like Niagra..., The wind seemed afloat. I was out in a hurry,and found that a to increaseall the forenoon; the great seas heavysea had boarded us, crashing through would come roaring and foaming down on carpentershop and galley.The bulwarks were us, looming up higher than the main ,

Ja~ E.Buttersworth oilpainting "Cli~ Shipin a Hurricane." Courte~ Mystic Seaport Museum, inc., Mystic, Connecticut. but just asthey seemed about to overwhelm Thank God we are all safe, But Oh! Such a us,the shipwould struggleup, cieakingand SceneI have passedthrough, I hope never to groaningand we would breatheagain. All witnessagain. last nightAll Handswas at the handskept on deck,and I think mostof them Pumps,No one was allowed to goBelow If I feared that our finish was just ahead,... This mayExcept one poor fellow who had his fin- evening the captain said he was very anxious gersSmashed in thepumps. It wasevident to all the forenoon, fearing the ship would all thatthe Shipwas settling fast. Still we broach to; then all would have been over, strove on. It was indeed a fearfulNight. All I and another ship missing." believehad given over all Hopesof being saved.All was talking of Home & Loved ones. Whilesailing across the Atlantic o6' the coast of North Thuspassed the nightas we toiled at the Carolina,the SeaSerpent encountered a galewhich sea- PumpsGiving but poor Encouragementto manGregory noted was "the worstgale we havehad Eachother. At Length Daylight CameShowing sincewe left NewYork." Perhaps the mostfrightening morePlainly our Situation.A consultationwas 20 thing aboutit wasthe bolt of lightningwhich broke over held by the officers.I examinedthe Boats& theship with a report"like a cannon."Gregory reported Reportedtwo of them Seaworthy & oneof the shockknocked the mateand nearlyall the hands no use the long Boat!. It wasfinally decided down, For himself, he said the eAect"was preciselyas if to throw overboardthe Cargobetween Decks a heavyelectric battery had dischargedits full forceupon Leavingone Gangof menat the pumps..., mysystem, rackng every nerve from my shoulder down We had been at it some ten minutes when and leavingmy backas sore as if it hadbeen struck a Capt.Harding a passenger!Took a glass& heavyblow andvery weak for sometime after."" went aloft to see if He could discern any- The Romanalso encountered gales in theAtlantic thing.After Scanning the Horizona few which compoundedthe problemof a leakingskip to momentsHe sungout SailHo! NeverShall I suchan extentthat the crewpumped the ship around forgetthe Sound.All wasBewildered. Such a the clock, but the water in the gradually rose,Car- God Send.Every one Stopt Instantly.The penterStanley described the final moments as follows: matetried to KeepOrder but it wasof little avail.All Handsmake Sail brought them to Steer& was Rolling fearfully. The their senses.We set the Foresail,Main Top- was now in a Blaze but the Cabin did not sail, & Fore TopmastStaysail & Bore down ignite as Speedily.So I ran Forard at the Risk towards Her Sheheading NW.The Colours of my Life from the Rolling water Casks& was set Union Down. As we neared her they broke open the Paint Locker& seized a can discoveredus & backed their main Topsail. of Turpentine & Hurried aft on the Quarter Sheproved to be the ClipperShip R.B. Forbes. Deck with it. I then tore off the Bell & with it ... They could not render us any assistance Dashed in the Skylights& poured the Turpen- But offered to take us off the wreck... The tine down in the Cabin. In an instant it was Capt.asked who was willing to stayby the all in a Blaze.All wasnow accomplished.... ship in her present condition. The Sailors With sad Hearts we left our Noble Bark to her held a consultation and concluded to leave Fate.s the Ship as there was no Hopes of ever get- In order not to leavethe impression that it was all ting in Safe.Now came the word to clear the work and no play for Jack,perhaps it is appropriateto two remaining Boats& Leave.... Another Sail mention the form of amusement and entertainment on was now in Sight..., Shewas the Wm board the sailing ships.One of the most common was Rice.... They Kindly offered to take part of the ceremony held when a ship crossedthe line. Green- our crew which was finally accepted.... It hands on their first voyagewere inducted into the broth- washard to leavethe Old Shipwhere I had erhood of King Neptuneby having various prankspulled made my Horne for the last Sevenmonths & on them, The most common were an elaborate mock worked so hard to make her look fine, But shavingand dunking, One sailor reported that on his first twas all for the best.... Soon came the word voyage"the sailors did nothing to us, which is general Firethe Ship& LeaveHer. We placed Fire the casewhen thereare no passengers,"Another noted Cracker[sj in the Cabin & Forecastle.The that his captain "bought his majestyoff with tobacco.... third mate Set Fire Forrard, the Chief mate aft, to spareour one passenger,...so we boys also escaped I....sounded the Pumpsfor the last time & to our joy."4' Pranksof other types also amusedsailors. found 7 feet water in Her. She would not Two mariners in the SeaSerpenr found two other crew members asleepon deck, lashedthem together,and tied could play an instrument to accompanythe singing. One one to a belayingpin and the other to the mainsail.Then observernoted that the most popular songs"were those they releasedall twentypigs on deck.Immediately "the known as 'sob songs,'melodies of mothers and sweet- boatswainbegan to curse and swearat them and sung heartsand angelswatching over them at sea."He out for the boys. Sucha scrabblingI never saw before." thought it quite peculiar that the second most popular The two bound sailors "went head over heels..., A long songswere "the grog and fighting songs,"since the two chasewas it before we got the 'critters' in but a merry typeswere so different. onewas it. I thoughtI shoulddie of laughter,"~ Forming clubs seeinsalso to havebeen popular, The Speakingand/or visiting other ships was another wel- BrassHeads and SnatchBlock Guardsof the SeaSerpent comebreak in routine.Speaking consisted merely of have been mentioned before, There was also a club on exchanginga seriesof signalswith eachship using an the Roman.The members met on a regularbasis and elaboratebut universally adopted code book in which argued about "Religion, Politics, Ships,Captains, Sailors, four digit numbers identified ships and ports or transmit- Women, in fact, Everythingwe can think of."~ 22 ted a varietyof messages,"Visiting, also called gamming, Given all of the hard and unpleasantwork aswell as took moretime, but it wasgenerally inore meaningful. the discomfortsand dangersinvolved, one might legiti- Whentwo shipsmet at sea,the captainand a boatcrew mately wonder why anyone ever went to sea.One from one ship visited the other while the first.mate and a observerfelt being at seaenabled one to avoid such boat crew from the second ship went on board the first. things as "the noises of cats at night, the barking of dogs, These visits provided opportunities to catch up on news; the screamof locomotives,the painfully regular puKng exchangenewspapers, magazines or books;and to send of stationaryengines, the roar of wheels, the annoyances letters home. One seamanreported that his ship sent off of mischievousboys."" CarpenterStanley of the Roman fifty letters by a homewardbound they visited. addressedthis subject severaltimes. At one point he The officers also sometimesexchanged food, tobacco noted that "at Seayou can see something new Everyday" and a varietyof delicacies." but at home "you see no change."On another occasion Reading,singing and spinningyarns were especially he recorded popularforms of entertainmentduring the dogwatches When I get Home there is one thing that will and on Sundays.Occasionally one or more of the sailors Pall me, that is to Sleep in a Bedwith Pillows

Lithograpb,'8 ClippetShip in a SnowSquall," by Currierand Ives,Courtesy, hfystic Seaport Aiuseum, Inc, h1ystic,Connecticut, ~ C

C- < Footnotes

'The mostcomplete list of workson the subjectis 'Ibid; Frederick Perry,Fair Winds 8t Fouh A Narra- probablymy Annotated Bibliography of American tive of Daily Life Aboard an American Clipper and British ClipperShips, G.W. Blunt White Library Ship,, 1925, pp, 23-24. Reprinted, Stanfordville, Information Bulletin 69-2. Additional articles may be NY, 1979!. foundin myseries of worksentitled Bibliography of 'Perry,Fait' Winds 4 Foul, pp. 24-25, Maritime and Naval History: Periodical Articles SBradley,"Before the Maston the ClipperShip Mary Published 1970-1979, availablethrough the TexasA8cM Whitrktge,"p. 85. LIniversitySea Grant College Program. 'Stanley,Roman Journal, August 7 and28, 1853. 'EdwardE. Bradlev, "Before the Maston the Clipper "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 29. ShipMary Whitridgeof Baltimore,"Log of Mystic Sea- port, lail, 1979,p. 79. "Perry,Fair Winds 4 Foul, p, 28-29. 'I IughMcCulloch Gregory, The SeaSerpent Jour- "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, pp. 9 and47, nal: HughMcCulloch Gregory's Voyage Around uIbid,, pp. 50-52, the World in a ClipperShip 1854-55,edited by '4Stanley,Roman Journal, October 18 November24, RobertH. Burgess, Charlottesville, Va., 1975, p. 24.See 1853;Perry, Fair'Winds S. Foul, pp. 72-73; Gregory, Sea also p. 16. SerpentJournal, pp. 56-59. 'Journalof SamuelG. Stanleyon boardthe Clipper "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 24. ShipRoman, August 2, 1853,in thecollections of the G.W.Blunt White Library of MysticSeaport in Mystic,Ct. "Ibid., pp. 45-46. Hereinafter this source is cited as Stanley, Roman "Bradley,"Before the Maston the ClipperShip Mary Journal. Whitridge,"p. 82, 'Bradley,"Before the Maston the ClipperShip Mary 'Wtanl~,Roman Journal, June 13 and September 11, Whitndge," p, 81, 1853. "Gregory, Sea Serpent Journal, pp. 50-51. Whitridge" p. 90. ~Mary MatthewsBray, A SeaTrip in Clipper Ship "Gregory, Sea Serpent Journal, p. 47; PerryFair Days, Boston, 1920,p. 71. Winds 4 Foul, pp. 85-86; Stanley,Roman Journal, May "Stanley, RomanJournal, September11, 1853;Gre- 22, May 29,June 4, August 28, October 2 and October 30, gory,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 92;Bradley, "Before the 1853. Maston the Clipper Ship Mary Whitridge" p. 82. "Adams, A VoyageAround the World, pp. 142-145. "Stanley, RomanJournal, October 9, 1853. "Addie Cushing Colman,Captain Moses Rich Col- "Ibid., September11, 1853. man, Master Mariner, Scituate, Massach~ ~41bid.,October 30, 1853;Bray, A Sea Trip in Clipper 1807-1872:Letters of a Yankee Clipper Ship Cap- Ship Days, p. 15: tain, Dorchester,Mass., 1949, pp, 59-60,70, 71, 75, 78, 85 and 97. "Gregory, Sea SerpentJournal, p. 30. "Perry, Fair Winds 8cFoul, p. 72. "Ibid., p. 77 "Ibid., pp, 75-76. »Stanley,Roman Journal, July 10and 15, 1853. ~Ibid., pp. 94-95, ~Perry,Fair Winds A Foul,pp. 185-186and 192-193. »Greogry,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 111. "Adams,A VoyageAround the World,pp. 133-134. 4'Bradley,"Before the .on the Clipper Ship Mary »Gregory,Sea SerpentJournal, p, 64; Bray,A Sea Trip in Clipper ShipDays, p. 76. Whitridge" p, 89. 4-'Stanley,Roman Journal, June 20,June 22, August 19 -"Stanley,Roman Journal, July 5, 1853. and November 14, 1853. "N. Adams,A VoyageAround the WorM, Boston ~Perry,Fair Winds 4 Foul, pp. 59 and 66-67. 1871,pp. 35-36; Bray,A Sea Trip in Clipper Ship Days, pp. 140-141. "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, pp. 40-41. -"Bradley,"Before the Maston the Clipper Ship Mary 4'Bradley,"Before the Maston the Clipper Ship Mary Whitridge" p. 69, Whitridge" pp. 87-88. "Bray,A SeaTrip in Clipper ShipDays, pp. 142-143 "Gregory, Sea Serpent Journal, p. 120. and 156-157;Gregory, Sea SerpentJournal, pp. 108- 48Stanley,Roman Journal, November 26-December1, 109;Bradley, "Before the Maston the Clipper Ship Nary 1853. "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 14;Bradley, "Beforethe Maston theClipper Ship Mary Wbitridge," p. 86. "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, pp. 11-12. "Adams,A VoyageAround the World,pp. 18-20. "Gregory,Sea Serpent Journal, p. 26;Bradley, "Beforethe Mast on the ClipperShip Mary Whirridge" p. 90. "Perry,Fair Winds R Foul,p. 26;Gregory, Sea Ser- pentJournal, pp, 5-6; Bray, A SeaTrip in Clipper ShipDays, p. 71;Bradley, "Before the Mast on the ClipperShip Mary Whitridge,"p. 89-90. '4Stanley,Roman Journal, October 14, 1853. "Adams,A VoyageAround the World, pp, 136-137. "Stanley,Roman Journal, July 28, September 25 and October 17, 1853. -,k ' < Suggestionsfor Further Reading

Over the past century hundreds of books and articles Bray,Mary Matthews.A Sea Trip in Clipper Ship Days. havebeen written about clipper ships and the people Boston: RichardG. Badger,The Gorham Press,1920. who built and sailed them. Some of the books contain The author was the daughter of Captain accountsof a singlevoyage of a particularship and were George Bray,master of the clipper ship usually written by one of the sailorsor a passenger. National Eagle.In this book, she described Other books contain descriptions of the entire clipper the voyageof her father'sship from Boston to ship era, A few others deal with individual vesselsor New Orleans to Liverpool to India and return builders. Many of the books listed below can be found in to Boston December 1858to February1860. most large public or university libraries.A few might be Chase,Mary Ellen. Donald McKay and the Cll~ 27 availableonly in special libraries devoted to maritime Ships. Boston: Houghton Miffin Company,1959, history.A fewothers probably should be in mostpublic This short biography of the famousdesigner junior high or senior high school libraries. and builder of clipper ships in EastBoston, Abbey, CharlesAgustus. Before the Mast in the Massachusetts,was written for junior high Clippers:Composed in Large Part of the Diaries of school students.It contains chapterson some CharlesA. AbbeyKept While at Seain the Years of McKay'smost famous ships such as 1856 to 1860. New York: The Derrydale Press,1937. Hound, Flying Cloud, Sovereignof the Seas Abbey went to seaat the age of 14 and sailed and Great Republic. in the ships ,Charmer, Henry Clark,Arthur Hamilton. The Clipper Ship Era: An Epi- Brigham, Intrepid and Keystone,and the bark tome of Famous American and British Clipper Francis Palmer, mainly to SanFrancisco and Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders and China. During his five-yearseafaring career, Crews, 1843-1869. New York: G. P.Putnam's Sons, 1910; he rose from the position of cabin boy to that reprinted Riverside,Connecticut: 7 C's Press,Inc., 1970. of ordinary seaman, This is one of the earliest works on the sub- ject of clipper ships.The author commanded Gregory,Hugh McCulloch. The SeaSerpent Journal: severalclipper ships after 1863and thus knew Hugh MeCullochGregory's Voyage Around the personally many of the people about whom World in a ClipperShip 1854-55.Edited by RobertH. he wrote. He included a partial list of clipper Burgess.Charlottesville, Virginia: UniversityPress of Vir- ships built between 1850and 1860. ginia, 1975. Gregory was 22 when he sailed from New Cutler,Carl C. Greyhounds of the Sea:The Storyof York in the SeaSerpent for a voyageto San the AmericanClipper Ship.New York: Halcyon Francisco,Hong Kong and Shanghaibefore Houseof G. P.Putnam's Sons, 1930; reprinted Annapolis, returning to New York. His father was a dis- Maryland; United StatesNaval Institute, 1961. tinguished naval oNcer and friend of William This is probably the best general history of Howland,captain of the SeaSerpent, This American clipper ships. It is written in an book containsthe completeday-to-day diary interesting and readablestyle by one of the Gregory kept during the voyage.The editor founders of Mystic Seaport,the famousCon- has also provided a he!pful glossaryof nauti- necticut maritime museum. It is based largely cal terms to help readersunfamiliar with 19th upon newspapers,custom house documents Century terminology understand and logbooks of clipper ships, all primarily the journal. from the 1850's. In addition to its extensive narrativehistorical treatment of clipper ships, Howe, Octavius Thomdike and Fredrick C. Matthews. the book contains severalappendices which American Clipper Ships. 2 vols.Salem, Massachusetts: provide information on the measurements, The Marine ReaserchSociety, 1926-27, builders and original owners of more than This is the best single source of information 200 clipper ships built between 1850and about individual clipper ships. It is actually a 1860;sailing and arrival datesand mastersof biographical dictionary of clipper ships and is ships sailing to California and China, 1850- based largely on contemporaryrecords and 1860;and hull lines and sail plans of several ships registers,The quantity of information clipper ships.The author also included a about individual ships variesgreatly, but what- small number of footnotes and a brief ever is included is usually accurate. bibliography, Jennings,John Edward. Clipper Ship Days: The GoldenAge of AtnericanSailing Ships. New York: Putnam'sSons, 1928; reprinted Riverside, Connecticut: 7 Random House, 1952, C's Press, Inc,, 1970. This is a verygeneral book written for junior This is probablythe mostdetailed study of high levelstudents. The authordid not one of the best known builders of clipper include either footnotes or a bibliography. ships,lt containsa completelist of shipshe built and much detailed information about Judson,Clara Ingram. Donald McKay,Designer of ClipperShips. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1943. some of the most famous ones. This is a shortgeneral biography of the fam- Mjelde,Michael Jay, Glory of the Seas.Middletown, ousdesigner and builder of clipperships Connecticut:Wesleyan University Press,1970. written for junior high level students, The Gloryof theSeas was the lastclipper built by DonaldMcKay. This is undoubtedly Laing,Alexander Kinman. Clipper Ship Men. New York: the most detailed study of any clipper ship. Duell, Sloanand Pearce,1944. . Clipper Shipsand Their Northrop,Everett H. Horence Nightingale of the Makers. New York: Putnam, 1966. Ocean.Kings Point, New York. United States Merchant 29 Theseare both verygeneral works and are Marine Academy 1959 written tnuch like novels without either foot- This smallpamphlet contains the storyof notesor bibliographies.The first dealswith how MaryA. i'attentook chargeof the clipper men who built, owned and sailed clipper shipneptune's Car in 1857when her hus- shipswhile the secondis devotedlargely to band,Joshua Panen, became too ill to com- designersand builders of clippers. mandthe shipand the first matewas under arrest for insubordination. Mary Patten was Lyon,Jane D. ClipperShips and Captains. Neer York: only19 when she assumed command of the AmericanHeritage Publishing Company, 1962. ship and sailed it around Cape Hom to San This is a verygeneral history written for jun- ior high schoollevel students and has Francisco, numerous illustrations, tnany of which are in color. McKay,Richard Corneliu, SotneFamous Sailing Ships and Their Builder,Donald McKay.New York: G, P. .r Glossary

Abrogate, to abolish by o5cial action or to do away Buntlines, lines attachedto the foot of a squaresail to with. gather a sail up to its yard or to spill it. Aft, toward the or rear. Caboose, a cookhouseor deck, or, in the 1850's,also Atnldships, usually in line with the , but some- meant stove. times midway between bow and stern. Cask, a barrel-shapedcontainer. Becket,a smallpiece of ropemade into a circlefor var- , a heavytiinber projecting horizontally from ious uses;the term is often applied to any simple eye the bow through which the cat tackle moves.This tackle which receives the hook of a block. heavesthe ring of the to the cat heacLThis pro- 30 , a deviceof brass,iron or wood which is cessis called Catting the anchor. set in the pin or fife railsto securethe runningrigging sail ropes!. Clew, a lower comer of a squaresail or after comer of a Bonito, any of various medium-sizedtunas intermediate fore-and-aftsail; to haul a sail! up or downby ropes betweenthe smallermackerels and the largertunas. through the clews. Broach to, to swing to the wind when running Iree, CoiHng down the rigging, to lay a rope down in cir- throughbad steering or by the forceof a heavysea, This cularturns; if the rope is laid up righthanded,it is coiled dangeroussituation is a frequentcause of foundering, or from left to right; if lefthanded,from right to left; hemp loss of sparsat least. rope is alwayscoiled from left to right. Bow, the forward part of a vessel. Crimp, a despicableperson who preys upon seamen, Bu&rarks, a vessel's frames extend three or four feet getting their advanceand other money Irom them by above the weather deck and are planked, forming a solid various underhanded and contemptible practices. "rail." It servesthe crew'ssafety, hei ps securedeck cargo Cross-jack,the lowest yard on the mizzen-mastof a and keepsout a certainamount of waterin rough sailing ship. weather. Crossing the line, crossingthe equator seeLine! Duff, a mixture of flour and water, with raisins added is Hold, a largelower compartment of a vesselused for Plum Duff It is a sea tradition to serve this dish on cargo. Thursdays,perhaps to compensatefor the no-meatration Holystone,a brickof sandstoneused to cleandecks by that day. haulingit backand forth; smallones used around Dunnage,all kindsof woodenblocking used in the comersare called prayer books. Pieces of stonefrom a holds of vesselsto raisethe cargo above the floors and church were used to scrub decks in the British Royal sides,preserving it from sweatand leakage,and to serve Navy,hence the term. as wedges to prevent it from shifting. Hull, the inain structureof a vessel. Fender, a buffer of wood or braided rope hung over a Jackstays,an iron rod alongthe top of a yardto which ship's sides to prevent injury to her hull. the sails are fastened; also the rope running up a mast Fife rail, a pin rail in a semi-circlearound the mast. on which the parrel of a yardtravels. Forecastle, the compartmentset aside for living quar- larboard, an old term for the left, or port, side of a tersof seamen usuafly pronounced fo'c'sul!. ship. Founder, to fill with water and sink at sea. Lee, away from the wind. Forward, toward the bow; pronounced "forrard." Leeway,amount of drift a vesselis carriedtb leewardby Gaff, the sparupon which the headof a fore-and-aftsail force of the wind. is extended. Line, the equator; it is tradition that a seamanbe sub- Galley, the cooking compartment. jectedto an initiationritual the first time he crossesthe Grease down, to apply a lubricant, or "slush," to a mast line, thereby becoming a "shellback." asa preservative,or alongthe courseof a yardparrel to Main-mizzen, the third mast of a four-mastedvessel. prevent friction. Mainsail,the squaresail setfrom the mainyard; the Guano, a substancecomposed chiefly of seafowl large fore-and-aftsail set from the mainmast. excrement, used as fertilizer. Malady, illness or disorder. ,a ropeto hoistand loweryards, gaffs and sails. Mangusteers,probably "Mangosteen," an EastIndian Hawsepipes, the iron castingsin the bow through fruit with a flavorsuggestive of both peachesand which the anchor chains run, pineapple. Hawser, a large rope for towing, mooring or securinga Mast, vertical spars or poles! set in ship primarily to set ship. sail, but also used to support cargo booms and to set signals. Spume,Both or fume. Moorings, heavyanchors and chainspermanently in Squall, a suddenand violent burst of wind; it may be position; the chains are attachedto mooring buoys just wind or a rain, snow or thunder squall. which have a largering in the top to which the anchor Starboard, the right side of a vessel,looking forward. it chain is shaclded. datesback to the time when a steeringboard was used Patrel, a ring which goes around a mastand holds a on the right side of a vesseland the words becamecor- yard close to it; allows the yard to be hoisted and rupted into starboard. lowered. Staysail, a triangularfore-and-aft sail set from the var- Pitch, a byproductof tar which is melted and poured ious staysand named accordingly,such as the foretop- into the deck seams. mast staysail. Port, the left side of a vessel,formerly called the lar- Stern, the after part of a vessel. board side, Originally the word derived from the fact ,the directionof a shipwith respectto the trim of that 17thCentury ships had their only loading port on her sails;to changethe direction of a sailingship! by the left side. turning the bow to the wind; the kwer, forward corner Quarter, the upper portion of the ship's sides near the of a fore-and-aftsail; the rope holding down the lower, . forward comer of a course; the ~cather clew of a course. Tar down, to coat with tar, or with a Rigging, the ropes of a ship; the wire rope supporting the sparsis called standing nggingand the hemp ropes mixture containing tar, as a preservative, used in setting and furling sail are known as running T~uHn muster,a termapplied to the poolingof all the financial resourcesof a group of sailors. rigging Topsail, the squaresail above the course or crossjack. Scouse,ship's biscuit, salt pork and molasses. Scudding, to run before a galeor squall. Yard, a long spar crossinga masthorizontally to support and spreadthe head of a squaresail. Slush down, see Grease dorian, Snatch block, a block that can be opened on one side Yardarm, a yard is divided for easydesignation into to receivea loop of' a rope to savehauling the whole two parts,;the outer quarter of each length through the block. of these parts is the yardarm. Spars, a term appiied to aHmasts, yards, gaffs, booms, etc.