Golden West (clipper)

Golden West was an 1852 extreme clipper built by Paul Curtis. The ship had a very active career in the California trade, the guano trade, the coolie trade, the Far East, and Australia. She made a record passage between Japan and San Francisco in 1856.

Golden West, Outward Bound 1852 off Boston Light, by William Bradford
History
United States
Name: Golden West
Owner: Glidden & Williams, Boston
Builder: Paul Curtis, Boston
Launched: November 16, 1852
Owner: J.A. & T. A. Patterson, New York City
United Kingdom
Owner: J.G. Ross
Builder: Paul Curtis, East Boston
Acquired: 1863
Notes: Designed by Samuel Hall
General characteristics
Class and type: Extreme clipper
Tons burthen: 1441 tons
Length: 210 ft (64 m) LOA
Beam: 39 ft (12 m)
Draft: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
Notes: 2 decks[1][2][3]

Construction

Golden West had a long and sharp bow, with a gilded figurehead of an eagle.

Voyages

Golden West sailed under many different captains, making trips between New York, San Francisco, the Far East, Liverpool and Australia. An outline of her voyages is as follows:

Boston to San Francisco, Captain Samuel R. Curwen, 124 days, 1852.

San Francisco to the Chincha Islands, for a load of guano; arrived at Hampton Roads, January 20, 1854; 69 days from Callao.

Philadelphia to San Francisco, 145 days, 1854 Sailed with Golden State, which had left 4 days earlier, from the Horn to the equator.

San Francisco to Manila, 55 days Manila to New York, 99 days, 1855 Struck a reef in Gaspar Strait; jettisoned 200 tons of hemp to get off it.

New York to San Francisco, Capt. Putnam, 175 days. Sustained damage to rig off Cape Horn; spent 26 days in Valparaiso for repairs, 111 days out. Valparaiso to San Francisco, 39 days—very fast run.

San Francisco to Hong Kong via Honolulu, 56 days.

Hong Kong to San Francisco, Capt. Folger, 47 days, 1856

Japan to Farallon Islands (off San Francisco), 4876 mi., 20 days. This was the record passage to date.

San Francisco to Hong Kong, Capt. Putnam, 62 days Bangkok to Shanghai, with a cargo of rice, 1857 Shanghai to New York, 103 days, 79 days from Anyer, 1857

New York to Sydney, Capt. Curwen, Feb. 25-Aug. 8, 1858 Sydney to Hong Kong, 40 days, a fast time. Hong Kong to San Francisco, 60 days San Francisco to New York, Capt. Pinkham, 126 days, 1859 New York to London, Capt. McKenzie London to Melbourne, 100 days

Trade in the Far East, under Capt. Lunt, until 1862 Shanghai to New York, Capt. Crandall, 101 days, 1863 New York to Liverpool, 1863

Sale of the ship

Golden West was sold at auction to British buyers in 1863. As of 1864, she was listed with a home port of Liverpool, owner J.G. Ross, Captain Jewett, master.

Coolie trade

In 1866 Golden West was in the coolie trade between China and Peru.[1][2][3]

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References
  1. 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.
  2. Howe, Octavius T; Matthews, Frederick C. (1986) [Reprint of 1926-1927 ed.]. American Clipper Ships 1833-1858. Volume 1, Adelaide-Lotus. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 245–246. ISBN 0486251152.
  3. Ross, Don (c. 2005). "Era of the Clipper Ships". Deep Sea Derby. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
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