Swordfish

An extreme clipper ship built in 1851 by William H. Webb, New York as Yard No. 64. Dimensions 169'6"×36'6"×20 and tonnage 1036 tons.

1851 September 20: Launched at the shipyard of William H. Webb, New York, for Barclay & Livingston, New York. Her first master was Captain David S. Babcock, Stonington, late of the ship Charlestown and the clipper bark Race Horse.
1851 November 12 - February 10: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 90 days, 16 hours. [Cutler gives November 9 as departure data and 94 days passage time] The clipper Flying Fish which sailed from Boston on November 7 arrived to San Francisco in 100 days and 6 hours.
1852: Sailed from San Francisco to Hong Kong in 48 days.
1852 September 25: Sailed from Whampoa to New York in 89 days.
1853 February 12 - May 30: Sailed from New York to San Franciso in 107 days under command of Captain Charles Collins. Best day's run was 340 miles. The clipper ship Sea Serpent, which left New York on the same day as the Swordfish, arrived to San Francisco less than 48 hours behind her rival.
1853 June 16 - July 19: Sailed from San Francisco to Honolulu in 8 days, 2 hours en route to Shanghai which was reached after 32 days, 9 hours.
1853 October 15 - January 2: Sailed from Whampoa to New York in 97 days. The clipper ship Stag Hound which arrived at the same day was only 87 days on the same passage.
1854: Sold to Crocker & Warren, New York, for about $55.000.
1854 March 29 - July 23: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 110 days. [Cutler gives 117 days]
1854: Sailed from San Francisco to Hong Kong in 42 days.
1854: Sailed from Manila to New York in 102 days.
1855 March 19 - July 21: Sailed from New York to San Francisco in 113 days.
1855: Sailed from Whanpoa to New York in 91 days.
1856 April: Captain Joseph W. Crocker was given command of the ship.
1856 May 7: Sailed from New York to Panama.
1857 ___ - April 29: Sailed from Manila to New York in 101 days.
1859 December 12 - March 3: Sailed from Shanghai to New York in 81 days, or 72 days from Anjer. The passage from the Equator to New York took 16 days. [Record]
1860: Command of the ship was handed over to Captain Crandall.
1860/61 ___ - March 18: Sailed from Shanghai to New York in 102 days.
1861: Sailed from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 36frac12; days.
1862 July 9: Sailed from Shanghai with a cargo of cotton for Amoy.
1862 July: Drifted ashore and was wrecked at the mouth of Yangtze Kiang when her achors were fouled.
1862 July 26: The wreck was sold at auction.

References:

Clipper ships, general references.
Dunbaugh, Edwin L. & Thomas, William duBarry: William H. Webb: Shipbuilder.
Webb Institute of Naval Architects, Glen Cove, NY, 1989.
Fairburn, William Armstrong: Merchant Sail.
Fairburn Education Foundation, Inc., Center Lover, ME, 1945-1955. 6 vols.
Howe, Octavius T. & Matthews, Fredric C.: American Clipper Ships 1833-1858.
Marine Research Society, Salem, 1926-1927.

Updated 1998-08-13 by Lars Bruzelius.

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