 Golden West, Outward Bound 1852 off Boston Light, byWilliam Bradford | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Golden West |
| Owner | Glidden & Williams,Boston |
| Builder | Paul Curtis, Boston |
| Launched | November 16, 1852 |
| Owner | J.A. & T. A. Patterson,New York City |
 United Kingdom | |
| Owner | J.G. Ross |
| Builder | Paul Curtis,East Boston |
| Cost | $25,000 |
| Acquired | 1863 |
| Notes | Designed by Samuel Hall |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Extreme clipper |
| Tons burthen | 1441 tons |
| Length | 210 ft (64 m) LOA |
| Beam | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Draft | 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) |
| Notes | 2 decks[1][2][3] |
Golden West was an 1852extreme clipper built byPaul Curtis. The ship had a very active career in the California trade, theguano trade, thecoolie trade, theFar East, andAustralia. She made a record passage between Japan and San Francisco in 1856.
Golden West had a long and sharp bow, with a gilded figurehead of an eagle.
Golden West sailed under many different captains, making trips between New York, San Francisco, the Far East, Liverpool and Australia. An outline of her voyages is as follows:
Boston to San Francisco, Captain Samuel R. Curwen, 124 days, 1852.
San Francisco to theChincha Islands, for a load of guano; arrived at Hampton Roads, January 20, 1854; 69 days from Callao.
Philadelphia to San Francisco, 145 days, 1854Sailed withGolden State, which had left 4 days earlier, from the Horn to the equator.
San Francisco to Manila, 55 daysManila to New York, 99 days, 1855Struck a reef inGaspar Strait; jettisoned 200 tons ofhemp to get off it.
New York to San Francisco, Capt. Putnam, 175 days.Sustained damage to rig offCape Horn; spent 26 days inValparaiso for repairs, 111 days out.Valparaiso to San Francisco, 39 days—very fast run.
San Francisco to Hong Kong via Honolulu, 56 days.
Hong Kong to San Francisco, Capt. Folger, 47 days, 1856
Japan toFarallon Islands (offSan Francisco), 4876 mi., 20 days. This was the record passage to date.
San Francisco to Hong Kong, Capt. Putnam, 62 daysBangkok to Shanghai, with a cargo of rice, 1857Shanghai to New York, 103 days, 79 days fromAnyer, 1857
New York to Sydney, Capt. Curwen, Feb. 25-Aug. 8, 1858Sydney to Hong Kong, 40 days, a fast time.Hong Kong to San Francisco, 60 daysSan Francisco to New York, Capt. Pinkham, 126 days, 1859New York to London, Capt. McKenzieLondon to Melbourne, 100 days
Trade in the Far East, under Capt. Lunt, until 1862Shanghai to New York, Capt. Crandall, 101 days, 1863New York to Liverpool, 1863
Golden West was sold at auction to British buyers in 1863. As of 1864, she was listed with a home port ofLiverpool, owner J.G. Ross, Captain Jewett, master.
In 1866Golden West was in thecoolie trade between China and Peru.[1][2][3]