BLUE JACKET
The Blue Jacket came from the well-known yard of R. E. Jackson in East
Boston, the other two ships being Nova Scotian built. It arrived in the Mersey
on 20th October, 1854, having made the run from Boston, land to land,
in 12 days 10 hrs. The Blue Jacket on her arrival was bought by James John
Frost, of London, and put on the berth for Melbourne as one of the Fox Line of
packets, the other two being owned by the White Star Line.
In looking at old pictures and prints of these American built ships, several
points in their construction seem to have been common to all, such as the
semi-elliptical stern, the bowsprit built into the sheer, the large wheelhouse
aft, etc; their figure=heads, also, were generally most elaborate full-length
figures and did not grow out of the bow in the graceful way of the
British-built, but seemed to be plastered upon it. And from Marco Polo to Donald
Mackay, these soft-wood clippers had more the appearance of strength and power
that of grace and beauty, though the famous Red Jacket was an exception, being
an extremely taking ship to the eye.
The Blue Jacket, however, was of the powerful type, and extremely like the
Mackey ships in appearance. She was designed to stow a large cargo, having a
full midship section, but her bow was long and sharp enough.
Her chief measurements were:
|
Length of Keel |
205 ft |
|
Length between Perpendiculars |
220 ft |
|
Length Overall |
235 ft |
|
Beam |
41.6 ft |
|
Depth of Hold |
24 ft |
|
Registered Tonnage |
1700 tons |
Her poop was 80 ft long and 7 ft high, and she had 8 ft of height between
decks. She had the usual accommodation arrangements, two points only being
perhaps worth noting; the first was a line of plate glass portholes running the
length of her ‘tween decks, and the second was an iron water tank to hold 7000
gallons.
The Blue Jacket sailed for Melbourne on the 6th of March, 1855, in
charge of Captain Underwood, and made a magnificent run out of 69 days. She
further distinguished herself at a later date by making the homeward run in
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