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Show Toast Incited Ocean Record Moses Grlnnell's Story of the Famous Trip of the Clipper Ship Flying Cloud Around the Horn to San Francisco. In the days when the Yankee clipper clip-per ships were the undisputed queens of the seven seas one of the most prosperous and famous of American shipping firms was that of Grinnell, Minturn & Co., two of its prominent members being Henry and Moses H. Grinnell, the brothers, who are famous In the history of polar exploration as the financial backers of numerous arctic arc-tic expeditions and projects. It was a firm that owned several clipper ships, among them being the famous Flying Cloud; and It is of this former proud mistress of the seas that I tell today a hitherto unpublished story, as it was told by Moses H. Grinnell himself a year or two before his death in 1877. "It was at the time when a great ocean commerce had been developed between New York city and California, following the discovery of gold in the territory, that our firm came into possession pos-session of the Flying Cloud," said Mr. Grinnell. "This was in the year 1851, and we placed aboard the clipper what up to that time was the largest cargo ever consigned to San Francisco. "The night before she sailed 1 gave a little dinner In honor of the captain, a very modest man but a superb sailor, sail-or, and at the proper time I arose and proposed a toast. 'Gentlemen,' I said, 'I ask you to join me in the health ot the captain of the Flying Cloud, and in the wish that he may take his ship around the' Horn to San Francisco in such time as to beat the world's best sailing record." "Half banteringly, and half In earnest earn-est because our firm was anxious to get that record cargo to San Francisco- as quickly as possible, I made my wish. Then, as shy as a schoolboy, the captain got up. 'I am a sailor,' he said simply, 'I am not an orator. So all I can say Is that if it is In the books I'll take the Flying Cloud around the Horn to San Francisco in record time.' "Next day he sailed, and 1 prompt; forgot all about the Incident, taking It as a little after-dinner pleasantry. But about ten months later, I should say, it all popped into my head again with a suddenness that shocked me. I was at my country home adjoining Washington Wash-ington Irving's 'Sunnyslde' you know. I married a niece of his and was dressing for church when I heard a terrific clattering of horses' feet. I looked out of my window and saw a team tearing in my direction at breakneck break-neck speed. One hasty glimpse at the driver told me that it was Andy Hall, the port officer of New York; the next instant there flashed into my mind that bantering toast of mine to the captain of the Flying Cloud and I turned and gasped to Mrs. Grinnell: 'He's heard from the Flying Cloud and she's lost; he wouldn't drive all the way up here from the city to tell me anything else. And she's lost because I toasted the captain to take her around the Horn in record time. He tried to do it, and he's lost his ship.' "With my heart in my mouth 1 rushed to meet Andy Hail. As I opened the front door he tossed the reins to a boy, jumped to the ground and rushed toward me. " 'Mr. Grinnell,' he shouted, 'he's done it he's done it!' " 'What do you mean, Andy?' I asked anxious and yet fearing the worst. " 'Why,' he cried, between breaths, 'be took the Flying Cloud around the Horn to San Francisco in 89 days. It's the greatest record a clipper ship ever made! There were ten days when he sailed an average of close on to three hundred and seventy-five miles a day. We just got the news at the custom cus-tom house, and I couldn't wait till Monday morning to let you know. So I drove up here as fast as my horses would take me.' " For a few moments Mr. Grinnell mused happily on that great event of a quarter of a century before. "And do you know," he smiled at last, "1 was so happy over the news Andy-Hall Andy-Hall brought me that I actually forgot to go to church that mcrning." (Copyright. 1910. by S. J. Kdu-.ir.ls.) |
