Built as a wooden full rigged ship by the yard of Charles Lamport, at Workington, for Ratbone Bros. of Liverpool. Built under Lloyds Class 13 A1.
1858 Launched under the name SCAWFELL.
Tonnage 826 gross,798 net, dim. 198.0 x 32.6 x 21.8ft.
Strongly built, with teak beams, strengthened with iron braces, oak planking and deks. She got a 40ft long raised quarterdeck.
Built for the trade from the U.K. to India and China. A real tea clipper.
Her maiden voyage was under command of Capt. R. Thomson to China; she sailed on 05 January 1859 from Foochow and arrived off Deal on 29 April after a passage of 114 days.
The next tea season she sailed again under Thomson on 14 Jan. 1860 from Foochow and arrived London 4 May, after a passage of 111 days.
Her third tea voyage again under Capt. Thomson, when she sailed from Whampoa on 13 January 1861 and 88 days later on 11 April she arrived in Liverpool.
Was not used in the tea season 1861-1862.
Fourth tea voyage under command of Capt. Thomson, when she sailed from Hong Kong on 14 June 1862, arrived 15 October at London after a voyage of 125 days.
Fifth voyage under command of Thomson, sailed from Shanghai on 2 July 1863 arrived London on 30 October after a passage of 120 days.
Sixth voyage under Capt. Thomson, sailed from Whampoa on 7 June 1864, arrived London 13 October after a passage of 128 days.
Seventh voyage, under Capt. Thomson, she made her fastest outward voyage this year when she sailed from London on 8 March 1865 and arrived at Hong Kong on 20 June after a passage of 104 days.
Sailed 03 September 1865 from Hong Kong, arrived 27 December at London after a passage of 115 days.
Eight voyage under Capt Thomson, sailed from Foochow on 7 October 1866 and arrived London 15 January 1867 at London, after a passage of 100 days.
Ninth voyage under Capt. Thomson, sailed on 27 August from Foochow and arrived London on 28 December after a passage of 123 days.
Her tenth voyage under command of Capt. Thomson, she sailed on 26 July 1868 from Foochow, and arrived at London on 26 November, after a passage of 123 days.
Eleventh voyage, and the last tea voyage under command of Capt. Thomson, when she sailed from Canton on 20 August 1869, arrived London 13 December, after a passage of 115 days. The SCAWFELL is not more used in the tea trade, and Captain Thomson left the vessel in 1871, to take command of the Blue Funnel steamer AGAMEMNON, the next 10 years.
1872 Sold to Wilson & Blain at South Shields, rerigged as a barque.
1880 Sold to W. Hutchinson at Newcastle.
On a voyage from South Shields, loaded with coal for the telegraph station Cabo Garajo, which is situated on the eastside of Funchal Bay, Madeira, and at that time an important coal bunker station, she was abandoned on 9 January 1883 during a severe storm and high seas in position 47 30N 11 10W, with 7 ft of water in the hold, and her pumps chocked with small coal. Her crew of 17 was rescued.
Upper Volta 1984 60f sg735, scott ?
Source: The tea Clippers by David R MacGregor.