out about the Peregrine.”
Two references applied to ships called Peregrine. One was for a three-master built in 1850. Katy said that many times the shipbuilders would use the same name on a later ship, especially if the namesake had been fast.
She read the other entry:
“The Peregrine sailed as one of the fastest Baltimore clippers of this period. Owned by the Quaker firm of Williams Tea of New York, she made a record passage of 56 days from Callao Peru to Lintin Island, off Canton, China in 1835 which was not surpassed for several years until the advent of larger vessels.
“According to the Canton newspaper of that time, she lost a famous race with a British boat, the Willow.”
“I know about that one,” said Cutter. “Our English competitor won’t stop reminding me.”
He added, “Her captain was quoted afterward as stating ‘Peregrine will come back. She’s not finished yet.’ We have his words in a sign across the back of the boathouse at Jolly’s shipyard. It cheered up the workers this spring as we put together the hull.”
“Inspiring.”
She read further. “Here’s the ship’s port of registration. It also states she traded in the Pacific for many years.” Her finger moved across the page. “Did you know she sank off New Jersey in September 1840 on a return trip from China?”
Cutter smiled. ”One of our competitors reminded me of the sad fact at a recent race meeting in New York.”
She closed the book. “I know from other research a coastal storm that particular April sank ships all up and down the East Coast.”
Katy decided to research the original registration of the Peregrine. She rummaged through small drawers in a wooden file case. After a few minutes of searching well-thumbed index cards, she jotted numbers on a pad of paper.
“Come on.” They entered a dimly lit room. He noted rows of books with circular stairways among high files. He smelled mildew mixed with the odor of old paper and leather. He followed her up the steps, his eyes watering. At the topmost level she kneeled in front of dusty cardboard boxes.
“Microfilm,” she said as she pulled out small boxes and started off again to a film machine. After going through several reels, she found the right year. Soon, the two of them were reading the Peregrine document.
The form was rectangular with preprinted words in old type showing the registration city, New York. It had been filled out in ink, now faded, on March 11, 1832. The length and width or beam, and the depth of hold of the ship were described. She read, “She was 104 feet long, 25 feet wide, about the size of a small ocean-going yacht. It always amazes me how small these boats were.”
She pointed to a space, “The brig was built in River Sunday, Maryland, in April, 1831.”
“Yes,” said Cutter, “And registered to Williams Tea of New York City on March 11, 1832. “
“You see what is interesting?” she said, looking up at him, her hand on the machine control knob.
Cutter hesitated, then asked, “Why was Peregrine registered a year after she was launched?”
“Perhaps she sailed somewhere else before being listed. She may still have been in the employ of your company. We’ll have to find where she traveled. ”
Katy talked as she rewound the tape. She told him how the owners had to find cargoes to export to the Chinese market. They sold copper, cotton goods, opium, and used silver to buy the tea. It was practically barter, trading one good for another. “Opium was legal to ship from America. It was illegal to import into China.
“I have something else I want to show you.” She put away the microfilm and they returned to her office. He enjoyed the way her hips moved as he followed her. He had hoped he would have more time for the two of them when the ship was on its way. Now he was busy chasing this mystery. So far Katy proved he had cause to worry. Getting to the bottom of this Osprey story was not going to be easy.
At the side of the
Two references applied to ships called Peregrine. One was for a three-master built in 1850. Katy said that many times the shipbuilders would use the same name on a later ship, especially if the namesake had been fast.
She read the other entry:
“The Peregrine sailed as one of the fastest Baltimore clippers of this period. Owned by the Quaker firm of Williams Tea of New York, she made a record passage of 56 days from Callao Peru to Lintin Island, off Canton, China in 1835 which was not surpassed for several years until the advent of larger vessels.
“According to the Canton newspaper of that time, she lost a famous race with a British boat, the Willow.”
“I know about that one,” said Cutter. “Our English competitor won’t stop reminding me.”
He added, “Her captain was quoted afterward as stating ‘Peregrine will come back. She’s not finished yet.’ We have his words in a sign across the back of the boathouse at Jolly’s shipyard. It cheered up the workers this spring as we put together the hull.”
“Inspiring.”
She read further. “Here’s the ship’s port of registration. It also states she traded in the Pacific for many years.” Her finger moved across the page. “Did you know she sank off New Jersey in September 1840 on a return trip from China?”
Cutter smiled. ”One of our competitors reminded me of the sad fact at a recent race meeting in New York.”
She closed the book. “I know from other research a coastal storm that particular April sank ships all up and down the East Coast.”
Katy decided to research the original registration of the Peregrine. She rummaged through small drawers in a wooden file case. After a few minutes of searching well-thumbed index cards, she jotted numbers on a pad of paper.
“Come on.” They entered a dimly lit room. He noted rows of books with circular stairways among high files. He smelled mildew mixed with the odor of old paper and leather. He followed her up the steps, his eyes watering. At the topmost level she kneeled in front of dusty cardboard boxes.
“Microfilm,” she said as she pulled out small boxes and started off again to a film machine. After going through several reels, she found the right year. Soon, the two of them were reading the Peregrine document.
The form was rectangular with preprinted words in old type showing the registration city, New York. It had been filled out in ink, now faded, on March 11, 1832. The length and width or beam, and the depth of hold of the ship were described. She read, “She was 104 feet long, 25 feet wide, about the size of a small ocean-going yacht. It always amazes me how small these boats were.”
She pointed to a space, “The brig was built in River Sunday, Maryland, in April, 1831.”
“Yes,” said Cutter, “And registered to Williams Tea of New York City on March 11, 1832. “
“You see what is interesting?” she said, looking up at him, her hand on the machine control knob.
Cutter hesitated, then asked, “Why was Peregrine registered a year after she was launched?”
“Perhaps she sailed somewhere else before being listed. She may still have been in the employ of your company. We’ll have to find where she traveled. ”
Katy talked as she rewound the tape. She told him how the owners had to find cargoes to export to the Chinese market. They sold copper, cotton goods, opium, and used silver to buy the tea. It was practically barter, trading one good for another. “Opium was legal to ship from America. It was illegal to import into China.
“I have something else I want to show you.” She put away the microfilm and they returned to her office. He enjoyed the way her hips moved as he followed her. He had hoped he would have more time for the two of them when the ship was on its way. Now he was busy chasing this mystery. So far Katy proved he had cause to worry. Getting to the bottom of this Osprey story was not going to be easy.
At the side of the
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