. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. eet the ships N. B. Palmer and SamuelRussell, and the noted barks Benefactor and 1853 the Great Republic touched the water from thestocks of Donald McKay, at East Boston, built for theLows, and having a tonnage of 3,356. She was a four-master and a four-decker, designed for the China trade, andto be the largest possible box of tea af


. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. eet the ships N. B. Palmer and SamuelRussell, and the noted barks Benefactor and 1853 the Great Republic touched the water from thestocks of Donald McKay, at East Boston, built for theLows, and having a tonnage of 3,356. She was a four-master and a four-decker, designed for the China trade, andto be the largest possible box of tea afloat. All NewYork was anxious for the coming of the big vessel, and forseveral days, while berthed at Pier No. 28, East river, shewas on exhibition. Then when loaded and ready for sea,with crew all shipped, the ship was held at her berth, be-cause the rule of the owners was to send no vessels to sea onSundays or on holidays. But the Great Republic was des-tined to destruction. At midnight the cry of fire soundedin the silent streets of the old Fourth Ward, and the lumberingengines, drawn by the willing hands of the old volunteerfire department, were hurried to Goodwins cracker bakeryin Front street. It was burning like tinder, the shower of. 132 NEW YORK WHARVES. sparks carried toward the river falling upon the tall masts and partly unbent canvas of the Great Re-public were a shining mark, and an hour later, despite allefforts, the ship was afire aloft, and the fiery fragments ofrigging and sails were falling upon the resinous and var-nished decks. The Great Republic was doomed. So was the Joseph Walker,grain-laden, lying on the lower side of Pier No. 29, near theend of the wharf. The Constellation, lying ahead of her,was barely saved, and a new clipper lying at the end of PierNo. 28, astern of the Great Republic, was cut loose and sentadrift, all afire, to speed away up the river on the strengthof the flood tide, ground near Blackwells Island, and thereto burn to


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectseafari, bookyear1887