Herald of the Morning (clipper) facts for kids
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Clipper ship sailing card
The Herald of the Morning was a very fast sailing ship, known as a clipper. It was built in 1853 in Massachusetts, USA. This ship was famous for its speed, especially on long journeys from the East Coast of the United States to San Francisco, California. It was one of the few ships that could make this trip in less than 100 days!
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | Herald of the Morning |
| Owner | Thatcher Magoun & Co |
| Builder | Hayden & Cudworth, Medford, MA |
| Launched | Dec. 1853 |
| Acquired | 1875, "Sold to James B. Tibbets and Isaac Benham for $25,000" |
| Norway | |
| Port of registry |  Norway Arendal |
| Acquired | 1879 |
| Notes | Rigged as a bark |
| United Kingdom | |
| Owner | W.J. Smith |
| Port of registry |  United Kingdom |
| Acquired | 1890 |
| Fate | Not listed 1891 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Medium clipper ship |
| Tons burthen | 1294 tons OM, 1108 tons NM |
| Length | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Beam | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Draft | 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) |
| Armament | "Two fancy brass cannon mounted on her poop deck" |
Building a Fast Ship
The Herald of the Morning was designed by Samuel Hartt Pook. He made sure the ship was very sharp at the front. This design helped it cut through the water quickly. Even though it was built for speed, it could still carry a lot of cargo.
The ship's front, called the bow, was described as being "as sharp as a razor." It had no rails, making it look very sleek. The ship's back, or stern, was oval-shaped and decorated with fancy gold carvings. The outside was painted black, and the inside was white with blue details.
Named After a Goddess
The name Herald of the Morning comes from ancient mythology. It refers to Eos (in Greek stories) or Aurora (in Roman stories). Both were goddesses of the dawn. The ship's figurehead, a carving at the front, was a full figure of Aurora. It was placed to match the ship's sharp front.
Amazing Journeys
The Herald of the Morning was well-known for its speed. It made 18 trips around Cape Horn over 20 years while sailing under the U.S. flag. It also made two return trips around the Cape of Good Hope.
Here are some of its notable voyages:
- Boston to San Francisco: 106 days in 1854 (Captain Baker). It was only 180 miles from San Francisco after 100 days.
- New York to San Francisco: 130 days in 1857 (Captain Lathrop).
- Boston to San Francisco: 116 days, arriving March 18, 1859 (Captain Baker).
- Boston to San Francisco: 108 days, arriving May 25, 1860 (Captain Mitchell).
Fastest Trip to California
In 1855, the Herald of the Morning made the fastest trip of the year from New York City to San Francisco. It arrived on May 16, 1855.
- The journey took 100 days and 6 hours from when the anchor was dropped to when it was dropped again.
- It took 99 days and 12 hours from when the pilot boarded to when the pilot left.
- Its best day's travel was 340 miles!
After this fast trip, the ship carried a cargo of guano (bird droppings used as fertilizer) to Mauritius. It arrived there on December 7, 1855, with Captain Otis Baker, Jr. in charge.
Carrying a Train Engine
On May 16, 1863, the Herald of the Morning left Boston with a very special cargo. It was carrying the first train engine for the Central Pacific Railroad. This engine was named Gov. Stanford. The ship arrived in San Francisco on September 20, 1863, after a 117-day journey.
Collision with a Whale
In 1859, something incredible happened off Cape Horn. The Herald of the Morning was hit by a very large sperm whale. The whale was badly hurt. The ship lost part of its front structure, and water started leaking in. The crew had to keep the pumps working until the ship reached its destination.
Painting of the Ship
- Herald of the Morning , by Charles Lundgren
