Name Westward Ho! Acquired 1857 Launched 24 September 1852 | Owner Sampson & Tappan Tons burthen 1.451 million kg | |
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Owner Sold to Don Juan de Ugarte, of Lima, Peru, for the coolie trade Fate Caught fire and sank, Feb. 24, 1864, in the harbor at Callao, Peru. | ||
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.
Contents
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.
Voyages
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.
Coolie transport to Peru
In 1856, Westward Ho! brought 800 coolies from Swatow to Callao, for work in the guano deposits.
Loss of the ship
Westward Ho! caught fire on Feb. 27, 1864, at anchor in Callao.