338 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



hands of man — lias been sent, guided by the lights of science, to 

 contend with the elements, to outstrip steam, and astonish the 

 world. 



965. The most celebrated and famous ship-race that has ever 

 been run came off upon this course : it was in the autumn of 1852, 

 when navigators were beginning fully to reap the benefits of these 

 researches with regard to the winds and currents, and other facts 

 connected with the Physical Geography of the Sea, that four 

 splendid new clipper ships put to sea from New York, bound for 

 California. They were ably commanded, and, as they passed the 

 bar at Sandy Hook, one by one, and at various intervals of time, 

 they presented really a most magnificent spectacle. The names 

 of these noble ships and their masters were, the "Wild Pigeon," 

 Captain Putnam ; the "John Gilpin," Captain Doane — alas ! now 

 no more; the "Flying Fish," Captain Nickels, and the "Trade 

 Wind," Captain Webber. Like steeds that know their riders, 

 they were handled with the most exquisite skill and judgment, 

 and in such hands they bounded out upon the " glad waters" most 

 gracefully. Each, being put upon her mettle firom the start, was 

 driven, under the seaman's whip and spur, at full speed over a 

 course that it would take them three long months to run. 



966. The "Wild Pigeon" sailed October 12; the " John Gil- 

 pin," October 29 ; the " Flying Fish," November 1 ; and the 

 "Trade Wind," November 14. It was the season for the best 

 passages. Each one was provided with the Wind arid Current 

 Charts. Each one had evidently studied them attentively ; and 

 each one w^as resolved to make the most of them, and do his best. 

 All ran against time ; but the "John Gilpin" and the "Flying Fish" 

 for the whole course, and the "Wild Pigeon" for part of it, ran 

 neck and neck, the one against the other, and each against all. It 

 was a sweepstake with these ships around Cape Horn and through 

 both hemispheres. 



967. Wild Pigeon led the other two out of New York, the one 

 by seventeen, the other by twenty days. But luck and chances of 

 the winds seem to have been against her from the start. As soon 

 as she had taken her departure, she fell into a streak of baffling 

 winds, and then into a gale, which she fought against and con- 



