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Westward Ho! (clipper)

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Name
  
Westward Ho!

Acquired
  
1857

Launched
  
24 September 1852

Builders
  
Donald McKay, East Boston

Owner
  
Sampson & Tappan

Class and type
  
Extreme clipper

Tons burthen
  
1.451 million kg

Westward Ho! (clipper) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

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

  • 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
  • San Francisco to Callao 1857
  • 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.

    References

    Westward Ho! (clipper) Wikipedia