Sweepstakes(clipper)
 LithographofSweepstakesby Fannier Palmer and published byNathaniel Currierin 1853
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Sweepstakes |
| Owner | Chambers & Heiser, New York |
| Builder | Daniel and Aaron Westervelt,New York |
| Launched | 1853 |
| Fate | Ran aground on a reef in theSunda Straitand damaged; sold for scrap on May 13, 1862 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Clipper |
| Length | 216.4 ft (66.0 m) |
| Beam | 41.6 ft (12.7 m) |
| Draft | 6.2 ft (1.9 m)[1] |
Sweepstakeswas an 1853clipper shipin the California trade. She was known for a record passage from New York to Bombay, and for a race around theHornwith three other clippers.
Record set, New York to Bombay
[edit]Sweepstakesmade a record passage from New York to Bombay in 1857, of 74 days, between May 9 and July 22. At the time, it was "one of the fastest passages on record between the two ports."[1]
California clipper
[edit]Sweepstakeswas built at the height of the clipper ship boom, in 1853, when there was a high demand for quick transportation to theCalifornia Gold Rush.Forty-eight clipper ships were built that year.Sweepstakeswas the last clipper ship built by theWestervelt shipyard.[2]
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":Wild Pigeon,John Gilpin,Flying FishandTrade Wind."All ran against time; but theJohn Gilpinand theFlying Fishfor the whole course, and theWild Pigeonfor part of it, ran neck and neck, the one against the other, and each against all. It was a sweepstake with these ships aroundCape Hornand through both hemispheres. " [3]
Sweepstakes,though black-hulled like other clippers, bore a stripe of gold, found on only a few others like theN.B. Palmer,and was praised for her sleek lines and speed.[2] The clipper bow ofSweepstakeswas an unusual form, with an upright, curved stem, a straight keel, and a rockered, arched forefoot.[4]
A rather dramatic mishap occurred during the launch. The ship was sliding down the ways towards the water, when the rails gave way and spread out. The ship careened onto its side, and remained toppled over for three days, until Tuesday the 21st.[5]The ship "struck the staging alongside and around the stern" of another clipper ship under construction,Kathay.A "large number" of spectators viewing the launch fromKathaywere pitched into the water, but all were recovered without incident.[6]
With the help of steam tugs and two floating derricks,Sweepstakeswas brought toBrooklyn Navy Yardfor inspection and repairs.[6]
Afterwards, the owners proposed a sweepstakes race for the new ship. "Messrs. Chambers & Heiser offer[ed] to sail theSweepstakes,a clipper ship of 1600 tons, partially launched on June 18 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 theNew York Yacht Club.[5]
Of the California clippers which sailed between 1850-1860,Sweepstakeswas 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;Sweepstakescame in seventh, with a passage of 94 days.[7]
Sweepstakes'ports of call included New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Manila, Macao, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Bombay.[1]
In the preface to his autobiography,Master of the Show,Augustus Pitou, a Broadway producer[8]who spent fifty years in theater as a manager, playwright, and actor,[9]claimed to have sailed to Australia aboardSweepstakesas a cabin boy.[10]
Final voyage
[edit]Sweepstakesmade its final voyage in 1862, fromAdelaidetoBatavia.The ship went aground on a reef in theSunda Straitduring this passage, and was damaged. It was drydocked for inspection, and condemned. The ship was sold for scrap on May 13, 1862, for 15,000florins.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcLars Bruzelius (1996-06-30)."Clipper ships: 'Sweepstakes'".Retrieved2010-03-09.
- ^abc "Clipper ShipSweepstakes".Fitz Hugh Lane.Museum of the City of New York. March 17, 2010.RetrievedMar 17,2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:Maury, Matthew Fontaine (1860).The physical geography of the sea.New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 338.
- ^ Crothers, William L (1997).The American-built clipper ship, 1850-1856: Characteristics, construction, and details.Camden, ME: International Marine. p. 36.ISBN978-0-07-014501-6.
- ^ab "Monthly notes, July 1853".Appleton's Mechanics' Magazine and Engineers' Journal.3.New York: D. Appleton & Co: 168. 1854.RetrievedMarch 17,2010.
- ^abMorrison, John H. (1909).History of New York ship yards.New York: Press of W.F. Sametz & Co. p. 338.
- ^ Clark, Arthur Hamilton (1912).The clipper ship era; An epitome of famous American and British clipper ships, their owners, builders, commanders and crews, 1843-1869.New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. p. 296.
- ^"Augustus Pitou, Sr".Internet Broadway Database.The Broadway League.RetrievedMar 18,2010.
- ^ "Pitou, Augustus, 1843-1915".American Theater Guide.Answers.com.RetrievedMar 17,2010.
- ^Pitou, Augustus (1914).Masters of the show as seen in retrospection. By one who has been associated with the American stage for nearly fifty years.New York: Neale Publishing. p. 9.
