"The cry is still they come." Here is another magnificent clipper, destined to carry our flag around the globe, and to proclaim as the first and fastest nation on "the world of waters." Steam has "bridged the Atlantic;" it is matchless where the distance to be performed is small; but with all its power, it has not yet approached our clippers, in putting a gridle around the earth. What steamer has circumnavigated the globe in ten months? Not one; yet this is now a common feat for our clippers, including often, two months in port, and having to cross the equator five times, in performing the circuit. The Golden West is one of those splendid vessels which will do this as well as any of her class. She is 196 feet long on deck, and about 210 over all; her exterme breadth of beam is 39 feet, depth of hold 23 feet 4 inches, including 7½ feet height of between decks, and she will register about 1350 tons. Her dead rise at half floor is 20 inches, rounding of sides 6 inches, and sheer 3 feet. The bow is long and sharp, its lines almost straight, and wedge-like, but convex as they swell into the fullness of the hull. The cut-water, as it rises, is curved outwards, and terminates in a gilded eagle on the wing, with representations of quartz-rocks in its talons. It forms a beautiful finish to the bow, and looks much better than any representation of a human figure can be made to look upon such a sharp bow. Her sides are smooth to the moulding of the planksheer, and this and the main rail are carried forward in parallel lines, to the head, preserving the harmony of her general outline. The sheer is gradual along her whole length, and the sides in their sweep adn swell, are beautiful rounded. Her run, like the bow, is long and clean, the stern light, and boldly rounded into a segment of an ellipse across and arched in its outline above. The monkey rail is curved over the quarters, and amidships swells in unison with the stern below, rendering her a perfect picture aft, independently of the elaboarte ornamental work which beautifies the stern. She is coppered up to 19 feet forward and to 20 feet aft, and is painted black above.
The whole height of her bulwarks, including the monkey rail, is only five feet. She has a topgallant forecastle, the height of the main rail, and 40 feet long, with the windlass under its break. The space under it can be rendered available for stock pens, store-rooms, &c., and still leave ample space for working the cables. Abaft the foremast is a large house, which contains the galley, quarters for the crew, and other useful apartments.
She has two cabins, built into a half poop deck. The after one is beautifully furnished with mahogany, and other valuable woods, relieved with flowered gilding, papier mache cornices, gothic arched mirrors, &c. It has an after entrance to the poop deck, contains four spacious staterooms, and other apartments, and has two beautiful sofa recesses, one on each side.
the forward cabin contains seven state rooms and the pantry, but two of these rooms are entered from the main deck, and the inside forms an ante room to the forward cabin. The cabins and state-rooms are well lighted and ventilated, and elegantly furnished; in a ward, everything has been supplied, to make them perfect, and consequently insure the comfort of passengers.
The front of the cabin house projects above and forms a good protection to the doors, and the top of it, as well as the sides, and after part of the poop, are protected by railings.
She has good deck room, two of Perley's patent capstans, a patent steering apparatus, an iron tank of 5000 gallons capacity, 4 boats, the best of ground tackle, Litchfield's copper pumps, and all the other details of a complete clipper.
The inside of her bulwarks and houses are painted buff-color, relieved with white, and the waterways blue. Her betwen decks have plate glass air ports in them, fore and aft, have protected hatchways, and are well designed for the accommodation of passengers, if she should be required to carry any.
Of her materials and the style of her construction, it is not necessary to say much, for she is as good as she is unquestionably beautiful. Her frame, all the knees and stanchions in the hold, and all the brasthooks and bitts throughout, are of selected, seasoned white oak, ans she is square fastened, seasoned with salt, and has brass ventilators along her planksheer and in her bitts, and Emerson„s patent ventilators forward and aft.
She is a full rigged ship and will spread between eight and nine thousand yards of canvas in a single suit. Her fore and main masts are built of hard pine, hooped over, the topmasts and jibbooms are also of hard pie, and her mizzen mast is of a single spar. Her masts and yards are beautifully proportioned, and set her off to great advantage. A loft, as well as below she looks line the clipper to a charm, is perfect in all her parts, and beautiful as a whole.
She was built at East Boston by Mr. Paul Curtis, and is owned by Messrs. Glidden & William, and is now loading in their line of San Francisco clippers. She lies at the South side of Lewis' wharf, and we advise every body who loves the beautiful in naval architecture to call and see her. Capt. Curwen, well known as one of our most successful shipmasters, commands her.
Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius.
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Copyright © 1997 Lars Bruzelius.