Coulter -- Clipper Lancing -- April 28, 2021

 

San Francisco Call, 01-November-1896

From the 01-November-1896 San Francisco Call. William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the newspaper. Click on the image for a larger view.

SHE IS NOW A

CRACK CLIPPER

The Lancing Was Formerly

a Smart Ocean

Steamer.

Two Years Ago She Was Sold

and Transformed Into a

Sailing Ship.

BEATS HER STEAMER RECORD.

Narrow Escape During a Brush With

the Progreso Off the Golden

Gate.

The British ship Lancing now discharging at Green-street wharf is one of the handsomest vessels in port. She was originally a steamer and was built for the French Transatlantic Company a quarter of a century ago. At that time the vessel was known as the Periere, having been named after the millionaire president of the company. She cost nearly a million dollars to build and at that time was the fastest vessel on the run between Europe and New York. Her best average was sixteen knots an hour, but during the last run from Swansea to this port under sail the vessel made as good as 18 knots on many occasions.

After posing as a record-breaker for five years the Periere was ousted from her proud position by some of the new trans-Atlantic liners and later she was sold to a syndicate. Captain Hatfield, her commander, took charge of the vessel and changed her into the present magnificent specimen of marine architecture. She is fitted with water ballast which can be loaded or unloaded at the rate of 100 tons an hour. The cabin accommodations are of the best and all in all the Lancing is one of the finest and most commodious vessels that come to San Francisco.

Captain Hatfield is well known here, and a more genial or better-liked master does not come to this port. On this occasion he is accompanied by his wife and daughter.

The erstwhile steamer, and now smartest sailing vessel afloat, nearly met her fate on the 21st inst. She was almost in collision with the steamer Progreso, and both vessels carry marks of the encounter. Talking about the matter yesterday Captain Hatfield said:

"It was just after midnight, and a high wind was blowing. We were feeling our way toward the Golden Gate when all of a sudden there was a cry of 'Light on the starboard bow!' Before the echoes had ceased an immense steamer came rushing out of the gloom and a disastrous collision seemed inevitable. The Lancing's helm was put hard over, and it seemed an eternity before the ship fell off. "We just cleared the steamer's bowsprit and cathead while our forebrace fouled his bridge.

"I could almost have jumped aboard as she passed our stern and rushed out of sight into the fog. The whole affair only took up a minute of time and nothing could have saved either vessel if they had come together. "

Captain "Alec" Swanson brought the Lancing into port. She came in under sail and at the time, the bar was breaking.

"I never handled a finer vessel in my life, and she is the 'dryest' ship I ever set foot on," was the pilot's comment.

Captain Hatfield was lost in thought for a moment and then he said: "Captain Swanson, the ship can take care of herself for a few moments; let's go and splice the mainbrace."

"No, sir, " was the answer. "When I meet you ashore we'll have a drink together, but not at sea. What I meant by a dry ship is that, in spite of her beam, I have never crossed the bar when it was breaking in a vessel that takes as little water aboard as this one."

The accompanying sketch is drawn from a picture furnished Mr. Coulter by Captain Hatfield.

The steam whaler Orca got in from the Arctic yesterday. Although only away eight months, Captain McGregor has made the best catch of the season. The Orca brings back 14,000 pounds of bone, 450 barrels of oil and many fox and bear skins. There were several desertions at Point Hope; but the men came back, and Captain McGregor put them back on the payroll and said nothing. Some of them managed to reach Forty-mile Camp, and are now living on the bounty of those who have a little to spare in that isolated spot.

"The buffaloes and the whales are going out together," said Captain McGregor yesterday. "It is only here and there in the Arctic that you will find a whale, and it is only here and there on the plains that you will find a buffalo. Sometimes you will run across a herd, like we did, and then you will do well, but more frequently you will get nothing. Whaling in the Arctic is played out, and I think that next year many practical men will have a try at the Antarctic.