Built as a three-mast wooden clipper by Smith & Dimon, New York for Howland & Aspinwall also from New York.
8 Dec. 1846, launched under the name SEA WITCH.
Tonnage 907 53/95 tons, dim. 58.5 x 10.4 x 5.8m.
Built for the trade to Canton. She was a nice looking vessel, with a sharp bow, and carried as figurehead a black dragon. Her sailing records over the course of ten voyages in as many years, remains one of the most remarkable of that era. Her first three voyages were made under command of R.H.Waterman, his nickname was Bully Waterman. 23 Dec. 1846, sailed for her maiden voyage from New York bound for Canton, and she was back at New York on 25 July 1847 after a passage of 81days from Canton against the monsoon. On her outward voyage she sailed in 42 days from New York to the Cape of Good Hope, a distance of 8.894 mile she made with an average speed of 206 mile a day. Her best speed over a period of 24 hours was 302 mile, and on her return voyage her best was 312 mile.
On her second voyage she arrived after a passage of 77 days from Canton in New York. Her third voyage was even quicker, she sailed from New York to Canton and back to New York in only 194 sailing days, and on this voyage she made calls at Valparaiso and Callao on the outward leg. She sailed from Canton on 8 January 1849, and she reached New York on 25 March after a passage of 74 days and 14 hours. It was a record and so far I know never broken.
A newspaper the Commercial Advertiser gives the following:
During the voyage she has made the shortest direct passage on record, viz.: 69 days from New York to Valparaiso; 50 days from Callao to China; 75 days from China to New York. Distance run by observation from New York to Valparaiso 10.568 miles; average 6 2/5 miles per hour. Distance from Callao to China 10.417 miles; averages 8 5/8 knots per hour. Distance from China to New York 14.255 mile; average 7 7/8 knots per hour. Best ten consecutive days run, 2.634 miles, average, 11 1/10 knots per hour.
In 1850 after her arrival at New York, after a passage of 85 days, Capt. George Fraser relieved Capt Waterman, before first mate on the vessel. She sailed from New York on 13 April 1850, arrived at Valparaiso on 11 June, and at San Francisco on 24 July after a passage of 97 days, also a record.
Her next two voyages from New York to San Francisco in 1851 and 1852 were made in 111 days and 108 days respectively. Her next voyage was via Cape Horn to Hong Kong, continuing eastward to South America, where she was forced to put into Valparaiso because of holes in the hull, possible bored by a member of the crew. 30 March 1854, she arrived at Panama City with on board a full cargo of Chinese workers (coolies) from Canton. The onlookers were amazed how many coolies were discharged; they must have been stowed in every available nook and cranny one bystander reported. She was filthy and stank like a slaver.
The ships last voyage was still under command of Capt. Frazer, she sailed on 5 April 1855 from New York, and while still in the Atlantic, Captain Frazer was killed by one of his officers, and the ship was forced into Rio de Janeiro, where Captain Lang took over command. She sailed then to China, where she embarked 500 coolies- bound for Havana. Captain Frazer was a driver if that was the reason that he was killed, I don't know.
On 28 March 1856, after a voyage of 99 days at sea she struck a reef 12 miles from Havana and sank with no loss of live.
Micronesia 1993 29c sg 308, scott 168h.
B.I.O.T 1999 20p sg 226.
Sources: History of the Panama Railroad, The Chinese Tragedy website.
Greyhounds of the Sea by Cutler. American Clipper ships by Howe & Matthews.