THE CARLISLE CASTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 24

THE CARLISLE CASTLE

LAST OF BLACKWALLERS : The' Carlisle Castle was the second iron, 'ship to be, built in the Blackwall yard.' Messrs. Green built her for their own use, and she was put into the Melbourne trade, where, for many years,,,she ,was a favourite passenger ship. The' Carlisle Castle was given a big sail plan, 1 but she was a very powerful'ship and well able to . carry it. ; She crossed three skysail yards, oyer single topgallants and double topsails when she first came out. Later, when double topgallants became fashionable, she sent the double yards aloft at fore and main, retaining the single mizzen topgallant sail. But whilst she had: her single topgallant yards, the Carlisle Castle had rather a peculiar way of reefing her main topgallant sail.. A yard was laced to the sail about half-way down; by this means the sail could be halved. It sounds rather an awkward arrangement, arid must have been a big strain on the sail in heavy weather. She was one of the last iron ships to use stunsails. With these she was amply provided, having two sets, Including storm lower stunsails, for running the easting down. She was heavily stayed

with three topgallant backstays each side, two royal backstays, and one skysail backstay. The Carlisle Castle saw the end of the famous Blackwall Line, but right to the last she carried a large number 1 of boys. In the old days of the Indian trade these boys were called midshipmen in the Blackwall frigates. She left the Maiden moorings on March 26, 1869, but was hardly clear of the Sandheads before the discovery was made that her bottom was very foul 'with long streamers of ribbon weed, which almost stopped, her moving at all in light winds. With such a handicap the Cape was not passed till the 78th day out, and she did not make fast in the Blackwall Dock until September 5, when she was 169 days out, and had been posted at Lloyd s for about a month. Her best outward passage was 74 days, to Melbourne, in 1880. She took her departure from the Lizard at 10.10 p.m. on April 25, and arrived in Hobson's Bay on July B._ The best homeward passage of the Carlisle Castle was in 1877-78. This time she entered the lists against the cracks of the wool fleet, and .was d^y-docked and carefully prepared for the contest. . All her antagonists were proved heelers with many a fine record to their credit, and they looked upon the steady-going old Blackwaller as an interloper which they could afford to ignore. But it so happened that these world-renowned clippers had the surprise of their lives. Captain | John Smith took her ln J^ e " bourne for this' passage. _ He was a young man then with his name still to make, and,'he carried sail for all it was worth. He afterwards achieved fame in the Windsor Castle. : Only one ship, the Mermerus, was : in ahead of her, and this was con- • sidered a great triumph ior the Carlisle' Castle In a race against five of ; - . not a bad one. '■ . -. ■