Sweepstakes (clipper)
Encyclopedia
The Sweepstakes was an 1853 clipper ship
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
in the California trade. She was known for a record passage from New York to Bombay, and for a race around the Horn with three other clippers.
Record set, New York to Bombay
"1857, May 9 — July 22, 1857. Sailed from New York to Bombay in 74 days. This one of the fastest passages on record between the two ports."California clipper
"In response to the demands for rapid passage to California after the discovery of goldCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
in 1848, 1853 was a peak year for the construction of United States clipper ships ... The Sweepstakes was one of forty-eight built that year and the last to be built by the renowned Westervelt shipyard."
Just the year before, in autumn of 1852, "four splendid new clipper ships put to sea from New York, bound for California" in "the most celebrated and famous ship-race that has ever been run": the Wild Pigeon, the John Gilpin
John Gilpin (clipper)
The John Gilpin was an 1852 clipper in the California trade, named after the literary character John Gilpin. The ship was known for its 1852 race against the clipper Flying Fish, and for its collision with an iceberg.-Voyages:...
, the Flying Fish and the Trade Wind. "All ran against time; but the John Gilpin and the Flying Fish for the whole course, and the Wild Pigeon for part of it, ran neck and neck, the one against the other, and each against all. It was a sweepstake with these ships around Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
and through both hemispheres."
The Sweepstakes, though black-hulled like other clippers, bore a stripe of gold, found on only a few others like the N.B. Palmer
N.B. Palmer (clipper)
The N.B. Palmer was a clipper ship owned by A.A. Low & Brother which was active in the China trade.One report states that the N.B. Palmer was "the first clipper ship out of New York to China."...
, and was praised for her sleek lines and speed.
The clipper bow of the Sweepstakes was an unusual form, with an upright, curved stem, a straight keel, and a rockered, arched forefoot.
A rather dramatic mishap occurred during the launch. "The launch of this finely-modelled ship was arrested on the 18th by an accidental spreading of the ways as she was moving into the water, causing her to careen over and stop, in which awkward position she remained until Tuesday the 21st, when the launch was finished."
"In sliding down the ways the vessel moved about half her length into the water when she suddenly stopped her onward movement, then careened over and struck the staging alongside and around the stern of the clipper ship Kathay, then under construction in the yard, which broke down and precipitated a large number of spectators into the water, who had taken advantage of the choice situation for a good view of the launch, but they were all recovered during the excitement of the unusual occasion, without anything much more serious than a good ducking and fright."
With the help of steam tugs and two floating derricks, Sweepstakes was brought to Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
for inspection and repairs.
Afterwards, the owners proposed a sweepstakes race for the new ship. "Messrs. Chambers & Heiser offer[ed] to sail the Sweepstakes, a clipper ship of 1600 tons, partially launched on June 18th from the ship-yard of Messrs. Westervelt & Sons, in this city, a race of 3000 miles, say 1500 out and return, each ship to pay an entrance of $10,000; the race to be subject to such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
.
Of the California clippers which sailed between 1850-1860, Sweepstakes was one of eighteen ships which made passages between New York and San Francisco in less than 100 days. The fastest trip between New York and San Francisco was 89 days; Sweepstakes came in seventh, with a passage of 94 days.
In the preface to his autobiography, Master of the Show, Augustus Pitou, a Broadway producer who spent fifty years in theater as a manager, playwright, and actor, claimed to have sailed to Australia aboard Sweepstakes as a cabin boy.
Final voyage
"1862 April 24, Arrived to BataviaHistory of Jakarta
The history of Jakarta begins with its first recorded mention as a Hindu port settlement in the 4th century. Ever since, the city had been variously claimed by the Indianized kingdom of Tarumanegara, Hindu Kingdom of Sunda, Muslim Sultanate of Banten, Dutch East Indies, Empire of Japan, and finally...
in ballast from Adelaide after having been aground on a reef for ten hours in the Sunda Strait
Sunda Strait
The Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
s. Was condemned after having been inspected in dry-dock. 1862 May 13, Sold in Batavia for 15,000 florins to be broken up."
