Westward Ho! (clipper)
.jpg) Westward Ho! | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | Westward Ho! |
| Owner: | Sampson & Tappan |
| Builder: | Donald McKay, East Boston |
| Launched: | Sept 24, 1852 |
 Peru, CallaoPeru | |
| Owner: | Sold to Don Juan de Ugarte, of Lima, Peru, for the coolie trade |
| Acquired: | 1857 |
| Fate: | Caught fire and sank, Feb. 24, 1864, in the harbor at Callao, Peru. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Extreme clipper |
| Tons burthen: | 1600 tons, 1650 tons OM |
| Length: | 220 ft LOA |
| Beam: | 40 ft. 6 in. |
| Draft: | 23 ft. 6 in. |
| Notes: | 2 decks[1][2][3] |
Westward Ho! was an 1852 extreme clipper which made two very fast passages to San Francisco, 100 days from Boston and New York City. She had a very close race with Neptune's Car, and ended her days in the coolie trade.
Construction
Westward Ho! had long, very sharp ends, with concave lines. Her frame was of white oak, and planking of hard pine. She was copper fastened, with yellow metal sheathing. The hull was painted black, the inside buff relieved with white, the waterways blue.
The finish work below decks was quite fancy, with rosewood, mahogany, carvings, gold ornamentation, and paneled mirrors. Some of the cabins had stained glass windows with Venetian blinds. The figurehead was a Native American warrior giving chase.[3]
Voyages
- Boston to San Francisco
- 107 days, Capt. Johnson, 1852
- 100 days, 18 hrs., Capt. Johnson, 1855
- New York to San Francisco
- 107 days, Capt. Johnson, 1852
- 105 days, Capt. Hussey, 1853
- 100 days, 1856
Race to San Francisco
Westward Ho! made a very fast passage to San Francisco between January 12 and April 22, 1855, under Capt. Johnson. She arrived in San Francisco just 100 days and 18 hours from Boston Light. One day later, the clipper Neptune’s Car left Sandy Hook, New York. She arrived in San Francisco one day after Westward Ho!, after a passage of 100 days, 23½ hours.[2]
Coolie transport to Peru
In 1856, Westward Ho! brought 800 coolies from Swatow to Callao, for work in the guano deposits.[2]
Loss of the ship
Westward Ho! caught fire on Feb. 27, 1864, at anchor in Callao.[2]
References
- ↑ Crothers, William L. (1997). The American-Built Clipper Ship, 1850–1856: Characteristics, Construction, Details. Camden, ME: International Marine. pp. xvi, etc. ISBN 0-07-014501-6.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bruzelius, Lars (1997-10-18). "Clipper Ships: "Westward Ho" (1852)". The Maritime History Virtual Archives. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- 1 2 "The New Clipper Ship Westward Ho! of Boston". The Boston Daily Atlas. Boston: The Maritime History Virtual Archives. September 21, 1852. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
External links
- Image of Westward Ho!
- Another image of Westward Ho!
- Description of coolie trade in Peru in the time of Westward Ho! and Winged Racer