Browns Nautical Almanac
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Bibliographic Notes |
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The Theme of "Gone"
Origins of the 4-masted iron sailing ship, which unexpectedly
prolonged the usefulness of windjammers during the ascendancy of
steam ships. It is the human story of events at the high point
of merchant sail-power between 1870 & 1907.
About The Author....
'Bill' Cumming, the great-grandson of two Master Mariners
employed by R & J Craig, is a well-travelled Chartered Engineer
who has accumulated the original material for this book over
many years.
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The Storyline....
Based on real people and events this is a gripping factual account of
the background events and repercussions of the milestone launch of the
world's first 4-masted iron merchant ship in 1875. The phenomenal
success of this large square rigged sailing-ship, named County of
Peebles, prompted R & J Craig of Glasgow to launch a further eleven
fabulous jute clippers. Initially they traded between Cardiff, East
India and Dundee and were referred to as the Scottish East India Line. R
& J Craig's bold decision to build sailing vessels (the fleet was known
as Craig's "Counties") during the ascendancy of steam power, created an
unanticipated demand for 4-masted iron and later steel windjammers.
These flourished at the peak of the sailing ship era, and continued for
50 years longer than predicted. One of these ships was perhaps the
fastest wind ship ever created. The careers of each of the twelve
renowned 4-masters are revealed in detail for the first time in one
publication. Remarkably, the dilapidated hulls of the County of Peebles
and County of Roxburgh still survive! |
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