Flying Dragon

A clipper ship built in 1853 by Trufant & Drummond, Bath, ME. Dimensions 187'×38'×22' and tonnage 1127 tons, old measurement.

1852 December: Launched at the shipyard of Trufant & Drummond, Bath, ME, for Reed, Wade & Co., Boston. Later owned by Samuel G. Reed & Co., Boston. Captain Judah P. Baker, late of the clipper ship Shooting Star, was given command of the new ship.
1853 July 21 - December 16: Sailed from Boston to San Francisco in 148 days. During the voyage she was battling the Cape Horn for 35 days with a lost jibboom, sprung bowsprit and fore yard. Captain Baker died on November 24.
1854 January 6 - February 25: Sailed from San Francisco to Callao in 50 days under command of Captain Horton.
1854 April 12 - July 12: Sailed from Callao to Hampton Roads in 91 days.
1854-1859: In command of Captain James A. Little.
1854 October 30 - February 8: Sailed from New York to Calcutta and arrived at Sand Heads in 101 days.
1855 July 31 - November 23: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 114 days.
1856 November 27 - March 5: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 97 days.
1858 March 25 - July 30: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 116 days.
1859-1862: In command of Captain Horace H. Watson, Jr.
1859 May 10 - September 6: Sailed from Boston to San Francisco in 119 days.
1860 February 7: Sailed from Baker's Island for Hampton Roads with a cargo of 1225 tons of guano.
1860 February 20: When in 27°S, 176°W, she was found to be leaking 60 inches per hour.
1860 March 4: By continous pumping and by jettison some 400 tons it was possible to reach Tongataboo. After a further 600 tons had been discharged it was possible to stop some of the leaks. She then proceeded to Sydney where she docked and repaired.
1860 August 18 - November 1: Sailed from Sydney to Hampton Roads in 75 days. [Cutler has October 28]
1861 February 28 - June 24: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 116 days.
1861 August 11 - October 4: Sailed from San Francisco to Melbourne in 53 days, which ws considered the record at the time.
1861 December 5: Sailed from Newcastle, NSW, for San Francisco with a cargo of 1000 tons of coal.
1862 January 29: Wrecked on the Arch Rock in the entrance to San Francisco harbour 55½ days out.

References:

Clipper ships, general references.

Updated 1998-08-24 by Lars Bruzelius

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