Ocean Telegraph: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m →New York to San Francisco service: HTTP → HTTPS for the Perseus Project, replaced: [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/ → [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/ |
tonnage |
||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} |
||
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}} |
|||
{|{{Infobox ship begin <!-- commercial vessels --> |
|||
{|{{Infobox ship begin |
|||
|infobox caption= <!-- keywords: yes, nodab; or caption text --> |
|||
|display title= ital |
|display title= ital |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Infobox ship image |
{{Infobox ship image |
||
|Ship image= |
|Ship image= Ocean telegraph.jpg |
||
|Ship caption= ''Ocean Telegraph'' |
|Ship caption= ''Ocean Telegraph'' by [[James E. Buttersworth]], 1858 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Infobox ship career |
{{Infobox ship career |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|Ship country= |
|Ship country= |
||
|Ship flag= |
|Ship flag= |
||
|Ship name= |
|Ship name= *1854: ''Ocean Telegraph'' |
||
*1863: ''Light Brigade'' |
|||
|Ship |
|Ship namesake= 1863: [[Charge of the Light Brigade|Light Brigade]] of the [[British Army]] |
||
|Ship renamed= |
|||
|Ship builder= [[James O. Curtis]], [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]] |
|||
|Ship original cost= |
|Ship original cost= |
||
|Ship laid down= |
|Ship laid down= |
||
|Ship launched= March 29, 1854 |
|Ship launched= March 29, 1854 |
||
|Ship owner=*1854: Reed, Wade & Co |
|Ship owner= *1854: Reed, Wade & Co |
||
*1863: [[James Baines & Co.]] |
|||
|Ship acquired=*1863: [[Black Ball Line (trans-Atlantic packet)|Black Ball Line]] of James Baines & Co, Liverpool, for London to Australia and New Zealand run |
|||
*1865: JM Mackay |
|||
*1871: Taylor, Bethell & Roberts, London, for London to Queensland run |
|||
*1869: Thomas M Mackay |
|||
*1875: Cork Warehouse Co., Cork, Ireland |
|||
*1871: Taylor, Bethell & Roberts |
|||
|Ship maiden voyage= |
|||
*1872: Arthur Bilbrough |
|||
|Ship out of service= 1883 |
|||
*1874: William Williams |
|||
|Ship honours= |
|||
*1875: Achilles Wood Wright & Co |
|||
|Ship fate= [[hulk (ship)#Sailing ship hulks and coal hulks|Coal hulk]] at Gibraltar |
|||
*1876: Cork Harbour Docks & Warehouses Co |
|||
|Ship status= |
|||
*1878: Achilles Wood Wright & Co |
|||
*1881: Sir [[John Arnott]] & Co |
|||
*1884: James F Gibb |
|||
*1884: MA Serfaty |
|||
*1885: Yomtob Bergel |
|||
*1902: The British Coal Co (Gibraltar) |
|||
|Ship operator= *1863: [[Black Ball Line (trans-Atlantic packet)|Black Ball Line]] |
|||
|Ship registry= *1854: {{flagicon|USA|1851}} [[Port of Boston|Boston]] |
|||
*1864: {{flagicon|UKGBI|civil}} [[Port of London|London]] |
|||
*1875: {{flagicon|UKGBI|civil}} [[Port of Cork|Cork]] |
|||
*1884: {{flagicon|UKGBI|civil}} [[Gibraltar]] |
|||
|Ship acquired= |
|||
|Ship maiden voyage= |
|||
|Ship route= *1854: New York – San Francisco |
|||
*1863: London – [[Australia]] – [[New Zealand]] |
|||
*1871: London – [[Queensland]] |
|||
|Ship in service= |
|||
|Ship out of service= |
|||
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 45775 |
|||
*UK [[code letters]] VFQN |
|||
*{{ICS|Victor}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Quebec}}{{ICS|November}} |
|||
|Ship fate= Deleted from registers after 1923 |
|||
|Ship notes= |
|Ship notes= |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| Line 32: | Line 56: | ||
|Hide header= |
|Hide header= |
||
|Header caption= |
|Header caption= |
||
|Ship type= wooden-hulled [[clipper]] |
|||
|Ship class= |
|||
|Ship |
|Ship tons burthen= 1,495 [[Builder's Old Measurement|BM]] |
||
* |
|Ship tonnage=*1,244 [[Moorsom System]] |
||
*1874: {{NRT|1244}}, {{GRT|1272}} |
|||
|Ship length= {{convert|227|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
|||
|Ship |
|Ship length= {{cvt|212.9|ft|abbr=on}} |
||
|Ship beam= {{cvt|40.4|ft|abbr=on}} |
|||
|Ship draught= |
|||
|Ship draught= |
|||
|Ship draft= {{convert|23|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |
|||
|Ship |
|Ship depth= {{cvt|25.2|ft|abbr=on}} |
||
|Ship sail plan= *1854: [[Full-rigged ship|full rig]] |
|||
|Ship propulsion= Sails |
|||
*1876: [[barque]] |
|||
|Ship sail plan= |
|||
|Ship complement= |
|Ship complement= |
||
|Ship notes= |
|Ship notes= |
||
}} |
}} |
||
|} |
|} |
||
'''''Ocean Telegraph''''' was an American [[clipper]] ship. Built in 1854 for the run between [[New York City|New York]] and [[San Francisco]], she was sold to a British firm in 1863 and renamed '''''Light Brigade'''''. For the next 12 years she was used predominantly to transport cargo and immigrants between London and Australia and New Zealand. |
|||
'''''Ocean Telegraph''''' was a [[clipper]] ship that was built in [[Massachusetts]] in 1854 and was last known of in [[Gibraltar]] in 1923. She was in [[United States Merchant Marine|US]] ownership until 1863, when [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|UK]] interests bought her and renamed her '''''Light Brigade'''''. |
|||
== Construction and design == |
|||
''Ocean Telegraph'' was designed by Boston-based [[naval architect]] [[Samuel Hartt Pook]] who designed several very fast clipper ships. She was built by [[James O. Curtis (shipbuilder)|James O. Curtis]] in [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]], up the [[Mystic River]] from Boston, in 1854. She was built for Reed, Wade & Co. of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], for New York to San Francisco run. |
|||
As ''Ocean Telegraph'' the ship sailed between [[New York City|New York]] and [[San Francisco]]. As ''Light Brigade'' she at first carried cargo and migrants between the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. |
|||
The ship was 1,495 tons register Old Measurement, 1,244 tons Moorsom Measurement. She measured {{convert|227|ft|m}} long, {{convert|40|ft|m}} wide, and {{convert|23|ft|m}} deep.<ref name= era /><ref name=Ocean>[http://www.sjohistoriskasamfundet.se/LB/Nautica/Ships/Clippers/Ocean_Telegraph%281854%29.html Ocean Telegraph]</ref> |
|||
For her first two decades she was a [[full-rigged ship]]. In 1876 ''Light Brigade'' was converted into a [[barque]]. From 1883 she was a coal [[Hulk (ship type)|hulk]] at [[Gibraltar]] to [[Bunkering|bunker]] [[steamship]]s. She was still recorded as being registered in Gibraltar in 1923. |
|||
She was described as "a very sharp clipper and said to be one of the most perfect ships ever built".<ref name=era>[http://www.eraoftheclipperships.com/page64.html Era of the Clipper Ships]</ref> "No expense was spared to make her one of the most perfect and beautiful ships ever built. The bow raked boldly forward, flaring gracefully, and was ornamented with a beautiful carved female figure with forks of lightning playing around She was very sharp, with a long, clean run tapering like that of a pilot boat. Her light and graceful stern was ornamented with carved work surrounding a figure of [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]]. She had a fine sheer, and every line and molding harmonized her whole length."<ref name=era /><ref name=medford>[https://archive.org/stream/medfordhistorica08medf/medfordhistorica08medf_djvu.txt Medford Historical Register Vol. XXXIII, 1930, Published by the Medford Historical Society]</ref> |
|||
==Building== |
|||
In common with other clipper ships of the day she was constructed from wood and with three masts. Also in common with other clipper ships of the day her hull was painted black, and the bottom of the hull lined with [[Copper sheathing|copper]]. Her black hull can be clearly seen, and the copper can just be seen above the waves in an 1858 painting by [[James E. Buttersworth]]. |
|||
''Ocean Telegraph'' was designed by the Boston-based [[naval architect]] [[Samuel Hartt Pook]], who designed several very fast clipper ships. [[James O. Curtis]] built her at [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]], up the [[Mystic River]] from Boston. She was launched on March 29, 1854.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} |
|||
Her registered length was {{cvt|212.9|ft|abbr=on}}, her beam was {{cvt|40.4|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|25.2|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=LR74>{{cite book |year=1874 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIB |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1874/page/n481/mode/1up |via=[[Internet Archive]] |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> Her [[tonnage]]s were 1,495 [[Builder's Old Measurement|BM]] and 1,244 [[Moorsom System]].<ref name=era>{{cite web |url= http://www.eraoftheclipperships.com/page64.html |title= Era of the Clipper Ships |access-date= 11 July 2010 |archive-date= 24 August 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100824201408/http://www.eraoftheclipperships.com/page64.html |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name=Ocean>{{cite web |url= http://www.sjohistoriskasamfundet.se/LB/Nautica/Ships/Clippers/Ocean_Telegraph%281854%29.html |title=Ocean Telegraph |publisher=Sjöhistoriska Samfundet}}{{dead link|date=May 2022}}</ref> She had a wooden hull, three masts, and was completed as a [[full-rigged ship]]. |
|||
== New York to San Francisco service == |
|||
[[File:OCEAN TELEGRAPH Clipper ship sailing card.jpg|thumb|Clipper ship sailing card]] |
|||
From 1854 to her sale in 1863 she was involved in moving cargo and passengers between New York and San Francisco. In common with many other clippers at the time, she was sometimes unable to procure a return cargo and when this happened had to return to New York in ballast.<ref name= era /> |
|||
''Ocean Telegraph'' was described as "a very sharp clipper and said to be one of the most perfect ships ever built".<ref name=era/> "No expense was spared to make her one of the most perfect and beautiful ships ever built. The bow raked boldly forward, flaring gracefully, and was ornamented with a beautiful carved female figure with forks of lightning playing around She was very sharp, with a long, clean run tapering like that of a pilot boat. Her light and graceful stern was ornamented with carved work around a figure of [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]]. She had a fine [[Sheer (ship)|sheer]], and every line and molding harmonized her whole length."<ref name=era/><ref name=medford>{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/stream/medfordhistorica08medf/medfordhistorica08medf_djvu.txt |year=1930 |title=Medford Historical Register |volume=XXXIII, 1930 |publisher=Medford Historical Society |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> |
|||
Under the command of Captain Little she was involved in a race from New York to San Francisco in 1859/1860 against ''[[Great Republic]]'' which at 109 days ''Ocean Telegraph'' won by 1 day, and which also placed her for the second time on the list of clipper ships to make the journey in 110 days or less. On her voyages she also became one of the 36 ships to make the run from 50° S in the Pacific to the Equator in 20 days or less (19 days), and one of the 48 ships to make the run from the Equator to San Francisco in 20 days or less (20 days).<ref name= era /><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2005.05.0028 Medford Historical Society]</ref> |
|||
In common with other clipper ships of the day her hull was painted black, and the bottom of the hull was [[Copper sheathing|sheathed with copper]]. Her black hull can be clearly seen, and the copper can just be seen above the waves, in an 1858 painting by [[James E. Buttersworth]]. |
|||
The fastest outward passage to San Francisco from New York of ''Ocean Telegraph'' was 105 days, 20 hours. In total she made eight passages with cargo to San Francisco from New York. The average of seven of these is under 117 days, and of the eight is 121 days. She made five passages with cargo from San Francisco to New York, of which four were under 100 days. The average of the five is 96.8 days. Portions of a number of these runs were very close to record. Fastest return passage 90 days. In 1855 she made the run from Callao to New York in 58 days, believed to be the fastest on record.<ref name=medford /> |
|||
==American clipper== |
|||
The clipper ship trade card used to advertise the Ocean Telegraph had an illustration of two telegraphers facing each other over an expanse of water.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/pss/3111171 Bulletin of the Business Historical Society]</ref> |
|||
[[File:OCEAN TELEGRAPH Clipper ship sailing card.jpg|thumb|''Ocean Telegraph'', sailing card, Geo. H. Willis, Commander]] |
|||
''Ocean Telegraph'' was built for Reed, Wade & Co. of [[Boston]], who sailed her on their "Shippers Line of San Francisco [[Packet boat|Packets]]" between New York and San Francisco via [[Cape Horn]]. This remained her route until 1863. Like many clippers at the time, she was sometimes unable to procure a return cargo and had to return to New York in [[ballast]].<ref name=era/> |
|||
Commanded by [[Sea captain|Captain]] Little, ''Ocean Telegraph'' took part in a race from New York to San Francisco in 1859–60 against ''[[Great Republic]]''. ''Ocean Telegraph'' completed the voyage in 109 days, beating ''Great Republic'' by one day. This put her for the second time on the list of clipper ships to make the journey in 110 days or less. She sailed from 50° S in the Pacific to the [[Equator]] in 19 days, making her one of 36 ships to cover that distance in 20 days or fewer. She sailed from the Equator to San Francisco in 20 days, making her one of 48 ships to do so in 20 days or fewer.<ref name=era/><ref>{{cite book |url= https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2005.05.0028 |title=Old ships and Ship-building days of Medford. |chapter=6: The California clipper Ship Era. |series=Medford Historical Society Papers |volume=28 |publisher=Medford Historical Society}}</ref> |
|||
She sailed from San Francisco to Queenstown, with a cargo of [[guano]] from Peru in 1862.<ref name = "howeandmatthewsvol21927">{{Cite book|title = American Clipper Ships, 1833-1858|last = Howe|first = Octavius T.|year = 1927|location = Salem, MA|pages = 457–459|last2 = Matthews|first2 = Frederic C.|volume = 2, Malay - Young Mechanic}}</ref> In 1863, when it was no longer possible to make a profit on the trade from New York to San Francisco, she was sold. |
|||
[[File:OCEAN TELEGRAPH Clipper ship sailing card 216507.jpg|thumb|upright|Another sailing card, Willis, Commander]] |
|||
== England to Australia service == |
|||
Her fastest outward passage from New York to San Francisco was 105 days and 20 hours. In total she made eight passages with cargo to San Francisco from New York. The average of seven of these is under 117 days, and of the eight is 121 days. She made five passages with cargo from San Francisco to New York, of which four were under 100 days. The average of the five is 96.8 days. Parts of a number of these runs were very close to record. Fastest return passage 90 days. In 1855 she sailed from [[Callao]] in [[Peru]] to New York in 58 days, believed to be the fastest on record.<ref name=medford/> |
|||
[[File:Light Brigade.jpg|thumb|left|Light Brigade at Gravesend, London]] |
|||
In 1863 sold for £7060 to the Black Ball Line of James Baines & Co., Liverpool, principally for the London to Australia and New Zealand run, and renamed ''Light Brigade''. As part of the Black Ball Line, under Captain Henry Evans, she carried immigrants from London to Brisbane, Australia in 1863; British troops and their families to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1864 from both [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] and [[Rangoon]] in India, and from London, for the [[New Zealand Wars]] (two separate voyages); immigrants from London to Sydney, Australia in 1867 and returned to London via Calcutta with cavalry horses for the troops in Calcutta; immigrants from London to [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]], in 1867; and immigrants from London to Brisbane, Australia in 1869 and 1870/71.<ref name=Ocean /> On this last trip Captain Evans died in Brisbane 10 days before the ship sailed again for London in April 1871 with a cargo of primary production goods being 2630 bales wool, 48 bales sheepskins, 500 casks tallow, 788 cases preserved mutton, 223 cases preserved meat, 11 calfskins, 1500 hides, 6031 horns, 89½ cwts bones and hoofs, 3 cases honey, 3 packages tobacco, 2 cases natural history specimens, 2 boxes silver plate, 69 sundry boxes and packages.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1327502 ''The Brisbane Courier'' (Qld. : 1864-1933), Wednesday 5 April 1871, Pg 2]</ref> |
|||
The clipper ship trade cards used to advertise ''Ocean Telegraph'' had an image of two telegraphers, one American and the other British, facing each other across a sea.<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://www.jstor.org/pss/3111171 |date=January 1934 |title=Clipper Ship Trade Cards |journal=Bulletin of the Business Historical Society |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=12–14 |doi=10.2307/3111171 |jstor=3111171 |via=[[JSTOR]]}}</ref> |
|||
In 1871 the ship was sold to Taylor, Bethell & Roberts, London, principally for the London to Queensland, Australia run.<ref name=Ocean /> She made 2 trips from London to Keppel Bay (Rockhampton) in 1871–1872 (Captain Holden) and 1872–1873 (Captain L. Davies). ''Light Brigade'' was described on the first trip as "a smart looking full-rigged ship, admirably adapted for the conveyance of passengers and immigrants, the various compartments for their accommodation being, both roomy and well ventilated. It may be added that the ship 'tween decks presents a clean and orderly appearance."<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27270087 ''The Brisbane Courier'' (Qld. : 1864-1933), Wednesday 16 March 1872, Pg 11]</ref> Also on the first trip it was decided that she not travel down to Brisbane but that she return with cargo from Keppel Bay to London. This cargo did not arrive in a satisfactory condition and settlers near Keppel Bay decided not to again ship goods as part of her cargo. As a result, on the second trip she then travelled down in ballast to Sydney looking for a return cargo. The newspapers of the day do not then make it clear whether she returned to London via Batavia ([[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]]), or San Francisco, or both. |
|||
In 1862 she sailed from San Francisco to Queenstown{{clarify|reason=Which Queenstown?|date=May 2022}} with a cargo of Peruvian [[guano]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howe |first1=Octavius T |last2= Matthews |first2= Frederic C |year= 1927 |title=American Clipper Ships, 1833–1858 |volume= II: Malay to Young Mechanic |place= Salem, MA |publisher= Marine Research Society |pages= 457–459}}</ref> In 1863, when it was no longer profitable for her to sail between New York and San Francisco, she was sold. |
|||
Each time ''Light Brigade'' had sailed to Australia and New Zealand during this period she carried around 400 passengers, mail and a cargo of general merchandise. The passengers for Auckland were soldiers and their families. The passengers for Lyttleton, Sydney, Brisbane, and Keppel Bay (Rockhampton) were predominantly assisted immigrants - labourers, domestic servants, and tradespeople for the settlements there. She returned with mail and a small number of passengers, but return cargo to fill the space of the assisted immigrants and soldiers was harder to procure. |
|||
==British clipper== |
|||
A typical cargo of primary production goods for transport to London is described above. A typical cargo of general merchandise coming out from London consisted of apparel and ready made clothing £272, flannels and blanket, £380, cotton goods £606, general drapery £290, saddlery and leather goods £187, cordage and twine £144, sacks, 150 woolpacks 150, paints and varnish £150, stationery £130, brushware £11, hardware and ironmongery £356, machinery £854, railway material, £1200, upholstery and furniture £51, toys and fancy goods £12, oilman's stores and provisions £303, salt fish £165, oils 2350 gallons, salt 60 tons, fruits and spices 4 cwt, drugs £91, cigars 1721 lbs, beer in glass 50 barrels, bar and rod iron 2 tons, lead: sheet, pipe, and pig 1 ton, steel 5 tons, tin plates 582 boxes, and wire 3 tons.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1307284 ''The Brisbane Courier'' (Qld. : 1864-1933), Wednesday 21 February 1872, Pg 2]</ref> |
|||
In 1863 [[James Baines & Co.]] of [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]] bought ''Ocean Telegraph'' for £7,060 for their [[Black Ball Line (trans-Atlantic packet)|Black Ball Line]] of packet ships, chiefly to sail between London, Australia and New Zealand.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} She was renamed ''Light Brigade''. By 1864 she was [[Ship registration|registered]] in [[Port of London|London]]. She was given the UK [[official number]] 45775 and [[code letters]] VFQN.<ref>{{cite book |year=1864 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=692 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1864 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> By 1865 her main owner was one JM Mackay.<ref>{{cite book |year=1865 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=215 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1865 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
With the Black Ball Line, commanded by [[Sea Captain|Captain]] Henry Evans, ''Light Brigade'' took migrants from London to [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]] in 1863; British troops and their families to [[Auckland]], New Zealand, in 1864 from both [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] and [[Yangon|Rangoon]] in [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]], and from London, for the [[New Zealand Wars]] in two separate voyages. She took migrants from London to [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] in 1867 and returned to London via Calcutta with cavalry horses for the troops in Calcutta; migrants from London to [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]], in 1867.<ref name=Ocean/> |
|||
== Later service == |
|||
In 1875, ''Light Brigade'' was sold to the Cork Warehouse Co., [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Ireland]], and changed into a bark.<ref name=Ocean /><ref name=medford /> |
|||
By 1869 ''Light Brigade''{{'}}s main owner was a Thomas M Mackay.<ref>{{cite book |year=1869 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=228 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1869 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> She again took migrants from London to Brisbane in 1869 and 1870–71.<ref name=Ocean/> On this last trip Captain Evans died in Brisbane 10 days before the ship sailed again for London in April 1871 with a mixed cargo of exports from Queensland.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1327502 |title=Shipping. |newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail|The Brisbane Courier]] |date=5 April 1871 |page=2 |via=[[Trove]]}}</ref> |
|||
In February 1883, she arrived at Queenstown VA 19 days south of New York, leaking badly.<ref name=Ocean /> The ship was subsequently condemned, and sold to [[Gibraltar]] where she was converted into a [[Hulk (ship)|coal-hulk]].<ref name=Ocean /> She was last reported in 1891.<ref name=medford /> |
|||
[[File:Light Brigade.jpg|thumb|''Light Brigade'' at [[Gravesend]], Kent]] |
|||
In 1871 Taylor, Bethell & Roberts of London bought ''Light Brigade'', chiefly to sail between London and Queensland.<ref name=Ocean/> By 1872 her main owner was an Arthur Bilbrough of London.<ref>{{cite book |year=1872 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=305 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1872 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
She made two trips from London to [[Keppel Bay]], Queensland: commanded by Captain Holden in 1871–72 and Captain L Davies in 1872–73 (Captain L. Davies). On the first trip ''[[The Courier-Mail|The Brisbane Courier]]'' described her as "a smart looking full-rigged ship, admirably adapted for the conveyance of passengers and migrants, the various compartments for their accommodation being both roomy and well ventilated. It may be added that the ship 'tween decks presents a clean and orderly appearance."<ref>{{cite news |url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27270087 |title=Rockhampton |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=16 March 1872 |page=11 |via=Trove}}</ref> Also on the first trip it was decided that she not travel down to Brisbane but that she return with cargo from Keppel Bay to London. This cargo did not arrive in good condition, so settlers near Keppel Bay decided not to send cargo aboard her again. As a result, on her second trip she sailed down to Sydney in ballast looking for a return cargo.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} |
|||
Each time ''Light Brigade'' sailed to Australia and New Zealand in this period she carried about 400 passengers, mail and general cargo. Her passengers for Auckland were soldiers and their families. Most of her passengers for Lyttleton, Sydney, Brisbane, and Keppel Bay were assisted migrants – labourers, domestic servants, and tradespeople for the settlements there. She returned with mail and a small number of passengers, but return cargo to fill the space of the assisted migrants and soldiers was harder to find.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} |
|||
By 1874 ''Light Brigade''{{'}}s main owner was William Williams of London, and she appeared in ''[[Lloyd's Register]] of British and Foreign Shipping'' for the first time.<ref name=LR74/><ref>{{cite book |year=1874 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=319 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1874 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
==Irish barque== |
|||
In 1875 Achilles Wood Wright & Co acquired ''Light Brigade'' and registered her in [[Port of Cork|Cork]], [[Ireland]].<ref>{{cite book |year=1875 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIF |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1875/page/n474/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> By 1876 the Cork Harbour Docks and Warehouses Company had acquired her, and her [[Sail plan|rig]] had been reduced to a barque.<ref>{{cite book |year=1876 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIG |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1876/page/n537/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1876 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=333 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1876 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
By 1877 or 1878 Achilles Wood Wright was again the ship's main owner. There are discrepancies about ''Light Brigade''{{'}}s ownership between her entries in ''Lloyd's Register'' and the ''Mercantile Navy List''.<ref>{{cite book |year=1877 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIB |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1877/page/n556/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1877 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=343 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1877 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1878 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIB |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1878/page/n563/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
In 1880 or 1881 Sir [[John Arnott]] & Co was ''Light Brigade''{{'}}s main owner.<ref>{{cite book |year=1880 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIG |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1880/page/n559/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1881 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIG |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1881/page/n560/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1881 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=383 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1881 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> Arnott was a prominent entrepreneur in Cork, and the first of the [[Arnott baronets]]. |
|||
In February 1883 ''Light Brigade'' reached [[Queenstown, Virginia]] 19 days out of New York, leaking badly.<ref name=Ocean/> She was subsequently condemned.<ref name=Ocean/> ''Lloyd's Register'' last records her in 1884, still owned by Sir John Arnott & Co. |
|||
==Gibraltar hulk== |
|||
Between 1883 and 1885 ''Light Brigade'' quickly changed hands. In 1884 the ''Mercantile Navy List'' records a James F Gibb of London as her main owner.<ref>{{cite book |year=1884 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=403 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1884 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> ''Lloyd's Register'' records her main owner as MA Serfaty, followed by a Yomtob Bergel.<ref>{{cite book |year=1884 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=LIB |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1884/page/n532/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> 1884 is ''Lloyd's Register''{{'}}s last record of her. By 1885 she was registered in Gibraltar, where Bergel used her as a coal-hulk.<ref>{{cite book |year=1885 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=416 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1885 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
''Light Brigade'' was still in Bergel's ownership in 1900.<ref>{{cite book |year=1900 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=576 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1900 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> By 1902 The British Coal Company (Gibraltar) owned her.<ref>{{cite book |year=1902 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=615 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1902 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> The ''Mercantile Navy List'' last records her in 1923, still owned by the British Coal Co, and still registered in Gibraltar as a barque.<ref>{{cite book |year=1923 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=913 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Light%20Brigade&steamsail=Sail&submit=Enter&year=1923 |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[List of clipper ships]] |
*[[List of clipper ships]] |
||
*[[James O. Curtis (shipbuilder)]] |
|||
*[[Samuel Hartt Pook]] |
|||
== |
==Note== |
||
* One |
* One source states that ''Ocean Telegraph'' was built by Hayden & Cudworth. This is not supported by any other source. This clipper ship was built by James O. Curtis. |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 96: | Line 139: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* |
*{{Commons category-inline|Light Brigade (ship, 1854)}} |
||
{{Clipper ships}} |
{{Clipper ships}} |
||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean Telegraph |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean Telegraph Light Brigade (Clipper)}} |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1854 ships]] |
||
[[Category:Clipper ships of Australia]] |
|||
[[Category:Troop ships]] |
|||
[[Category:Individual sailing vessels]] |
|||
[[Category:Age of Sail merchant ships of the United States]] |
[[Category:Age of Sail merchant ships of the United States]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Barques]] |
||
[[Category:California clippers]] |
|||
[[Category:Clippers]] |
|||
[[Category:Coal hulks]] |
[[Category:Coal hulks]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Full-rigged ships]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:History of immigration to Australia]] |
||
[[Category:Individual sailing vessels]] |
|||
[[Category:Sailing ships of the United Kingdom]] |
|||
[[Category:Troop ships]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 18:12, 23 January 2024
 Ocean Telegraph by James E. Buttersworth, 1858
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Namesake | 1863: Light Brigade of the British Army |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | 1863: Black Ball Line |
| Port of registry | |
| Route |
|
| Builder | James O. Curtis, Medford |
| Launched | March 29, 1854 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Deleted from registers after 1923 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | wooden-hulled clipper |
| Tonnage |
|
| Tons burthen | 1,495 BM |
| Length | 212.9 ft (64.9 m) |
| Beam | 40.4 ft (12.3 m) |
| Depth | 25.2 ft (7.7 m) |
| Sail plan | |
Ocean Telegraph was a clipper ship that was built in Massachusetts in 1854 and was last known of in Gibraltar in 1923. She was in US ownership until 1863, when UK interests bought her and renamed her Light Brigade.
As Ocean Telegraph the ship sailed between New York and San Francisco. As Light Brigade she at first carried cargo and migrants between the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
For her first two decades she was a full-rigged ship. In 1876 Light Brigade was converted into a barque. From 1883 she was a coal hulk at Gibraltar to bunker steamships. She was still recorded as being registered in Gibraltar in 1923.
Building
[edit]Ocean Telegraph was designed by the Boston-based naval architect Samuel Hartt Pook, who designed several very fast clipper ships. James O. Curtis built her at Medford, up the Mystic River from Boston. She was launched on March 29, 1854.[citation needed]
Her registered length was 212.9 ft (64.9 m), her beam was 40.4 ft (12.3 m) and her depth was 25.2 ft (7.7 m).[1] Her tonnages were 1,495 BM and 1,244 Moorsom System.[2][3] She had a wooden hull, three masts, and was completed as a full-rigged ship.
Ocean Telegraph was described as "a very sharp clipper and said to be one of the most perfect ships ever built".[2] "No expense was spared to make her one of the most perfect and beautiful ships ever built. The bow raked boldly forward, flaring gracefully, and was ornamented with a beautiful carved female figure with forks of lightning playing around She was very sharp, with a long, clean run tapering like that of a pilot boat. Her light and graceful stern was ornamented with carved work around a figure of Neptune. She had a fine sheer, and every line and molding harmonized her whole length."[2][4]
In common with other clipper ships of the day her hull was painted black, and the bottom of the hull was sheathed with copper. Her black hull can be clearly seen, and the copper can just be seen above the waves, in an 1858 painting by James E. Buttersworth.
American clipper
[edit]
Ocean Telegraph was built for Reed, Wade & Co. of Boston, who sailed her on their "Shippers Line of San Francisco Packets" between New York and San Francisco via Cape Horn. This remained her route until 1863. Like many clippers at the time, she was sometimes unable to procure a return cargo and had to return to New York in ballast.[2]
Commanded by Captain Little, Ocean Telegraph took part in a race from New York to San Francisco in 1859–60 against Great Republic. Ocean Telegraph completed the voyage in 109 days, beating Great Republic by one day. This put her for the second time on the list of clipper ships to make the journey in 110 days or less. She sailed from 50° S in the Pacific to the Equator in 19 days, making her one of 36 ships to cover that distance in 20 days or fewer. She sailed from the Equator to San Francisco in 20 days, making her one of 48 ships to do so in 20 days or fewer.[2][5]
Her fastest outward passage from New York to San Francisco was 105 days and 20 hours. In total she made eight passages with cargo to San Francisco from New York. The average of seven of these is under 117 days, and of the eight is 121 days. She made five passages with cargo from San Francisco to New York, of which four were under 100 days. The average of the five is 96.8 days. Parts of a number of these runs were very close to record. Fastest return passage 90 days. In 1855 she sailed from Callao in Peru to New York in 58 days, believed to be the fastest on record.[4]
The clipper ship trade cards used to advertise Ocean Telegraph had an image of two telegraphers, one American and the other British, facing each other across a sea.[6]
In 1862 she sailed from San Francisco to Queenstown[clarification needed] with a cargo of Peruvian guano.[7] In 1863, when it was no longer profitable for her to sail between New York and San Francisco, she was sold.
British clipper
[edit]In 1863 James Baines & Co. of Liverpool bought Ocean Telegraph for £7,060 for their Black Ball Line of packet ships, chiefly to sail between London, Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed] She was renamed Light Brigade. By 1864 she was registered in London. She was given the UK official number 45775 and code letters VFQN.[8] By 1865 her main owner was one JM Mackay.[9]
With the Black Ball Line, commanded by Captain Henry Evans, Light Brigade took migrants from London to Brisbane, Queensland in 1863; British troops and their families to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1864 from both Calcutta and Rangoon in British India, and from London, for the New Zealand Wars in two separate voyages. She took migrants from London to Sydney, New South Wales in 1867 and returned to London via Calcutta with cavalry horses for the troops in Calcutta; migrants from London to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in 1867.[3]
By 1869 Light Brigade's main owner was a Thomas M Mackay.[10] She again took migrants from London to Brisbane in 1869 and 1870–71.[3] On this last trip Captain Evans died in Brisbane 10 days before the ship sailed again for London in April 1871 with a mixed cargo of exports from Queensland.[11]
In 1871 Taylor, Bethell & Roberts of London bought Light Brigade, chiefly to sail between London and Queensland.[3] By 1872 her main owner was an Arthur Bilbrough of London.[12]
She made two trips from London to Keppel Bay, Queensland: commanded by Captain Holden in 1871–72 and Captain L Davies in 1872–73 (Captain L. Davies). On the first trip The Brisbane Courier described her as "a smart looking full-rigged ship, admirably adapted for the conveyance of passengers and migrants, the various compartments for their accommodation being both roomy and well ventilated. It may be added that the ship 'tween decks presents a clean and orderly appearance."[13] Also on the first trip it was decided that she not travel down to Brisbane but that she return with cargo from Keppel Bay to London. This cargo did not arrive in good condition, so settlers near Keppel Bay decided not to send cargo aboard her again. As a result, on her second trip she sailed down to Sydney in ballast looking for a return cargo.[citation needed]
Each time Light Brigade sailed to Australia and New Zealand in this period she carried about 400 passengers, mail and general cargo. Her passengers for Auckland were soldiers and their families. Most of her passengers for Lyttleton, Sydney, Brisbane, and Keppel Bay were assisted migrants – labourers, domestic servants, and tradespeople for the settlements there. She returned with mail and a small number of passengers, but return cargo to fill the space of the assisted migrants and soldiers was harder to find.[citation needed]
By 1874 Light Brigade's main owner was William Williams of London, and she appeared in Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping for the first time.[1][14]
Irish barque
[edit]In 1875 Achilles Wood Wright & Co acquired Light Brigade and registered her in Cork, Ireland.[15] By 1876 the Cork Harbour Docks and Warehouses Company had acquired her, and her rig had been reduced to a barque.[16][17]
By 1877 or 1878 Achilles Wood Wright was again the ship's main owner. There are discrepancies about Light Brigade's ownership between her entries in Lloyd's Register and the Mercantile Navy List.[18][19][20]
In 1880 or 1881 Sir John Arnott & Co was Light Brigade's main owner.[21][22][23] Arnott was a prominent entrepreneur in Cork, and the first of the Arnott baronets.
In February 1883 Light Brigade reached Queenstown, Virginia 19 days out of New York, leaking badly.[3] She was subsequently condemned.[3] Lloyd's Register last records her in 1884, still owned by Sir John Arnott & Co.
Gibraltar hulk
[edit]Between 1883 and 1885 Light Brigade quickly changed hands. In 1884 the Mercantile Navy List records a James F Gibb of London as her main owner.[24] Lloyd's Register records her main owner as MA Serfaty, followed by a Yomtob Bergel.[25] 1884 is Lloyd's Register's last record of her. By 1885 she was registered in Gibraltar, where Bergel used her as a coal-hulk.[26]
Light Brigade was still in Bergel's ownership in 1900.[27] By 1902 The British Coal Company (Gibraltar) owned her.[28] The Mercantile Navy List last records her in 1923, still owned by the British Coal Co, and still registered in Gibraltar as a barque.[29]
See also
[edit]Note
[edit]- One source states that Ocean Telegraph was built by Hayden & Cudworth. This is not supported by any other source. This clipper ship was built by James O. Curtis.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1874. LIB. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d e "Era of the Clipper Ships". Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ocean Telegraph". Sjöhistoriska Samfundet.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Medford Historical Register". Medford Historical Society. 1930 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "6: The California clipper Ship Era.". Old ships and Ship-building days of Medford. Medford Historical Society Papers. Vol. 28. Medford Historical Society.
- ^ "Clipper Ship Trade Cards". Bulletin of the Business Historical Society. 8 (1): 12–14. January 1934. doi:10.2307/3111171. JSTOR 3111171 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Howe, Octavius T; Matthews, Frederic C (1927). American Clipper Ships, 1833–1858. Vol. II: Malay to Young Mechanic. Salem, MA: Marine Research Society. pp. 457–459.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1864. p. 692. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1865. p. 215. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1869. p. 228. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ "Shipping". The Brisbane Courier. 5 April 1871. p. 2 – via Trove.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1872. p. 305. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ "Rockhampton". The Brisbane Courier. 16 March 1872. p. 11 – via Trove.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1874. p. 319. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1875. LIF. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1876. LIG. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1876. p. 333. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1877. LIB. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1877. p. 343. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1878. LIB. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1880. LIG. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1881. LIG. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1881. p. 383. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1884. p. 403. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Lloyd's Register. 1884. LIB. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1885. p. 416. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1900. p. 576. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1902. p. 615. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
- ^ Mercantile Navy List. 1923. p. 913. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via Crew List Index Project.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Light Brigade (ship, 1854) at Wikimedia Commons
