Ships Through the Ages: The "Dreadnought," The Clipper Ship - "Flying Cloud," Old New Bedford Whaler

The "Dreadnought." This 19th century vessel was a fore-runner of the modem armored warship. "The Dreadnought" was the queen of the clipper fleet and was commanded by Captain Samuel Samuels of the American merchant marine. Her record was 9 days and 17 hours in the 2,760 mile run from Sandy Hook to Queenstown, and this record holds good today for sailing crafts. / The Clipper Ship -- "Flying Cloud." This ship, built in 1851 by Donald McKay for Enoch Tram's Line in East Boston. On her maiden voyage, the "Flying Cloud: broke all speed records for the passage from New York City around Cape Horn to San Francisco, the record time being 89 days, 21 hours. This passage meant a reduction of from 1/3 to 1/2 the time that formerly had been required for this trip. / Old New Bedford Whaler. New Bedford, Massachusetts, became the center of American whaling, and it was from this port that whalers first ventured into the Pacific in search of whales. The whaling vessels were usually of 300 to 500 tons and were fitted with windlasses for raising the blubber, boilers for trying it, and tanks or barrels for holding the oil.
Courtesy of Boston Public Library