100 Musrtum AND Art NOTES

The Clipper Ship “Thermopylae”

Bye WEEE

i

HE ports of British Columbia harboured many splendid ships in the days of sail,
but they were only visitors. However, as if to make up for lack of ownership,
we had a proprietary interest in one of the swiftest clippers ever launched—the
subject of this sketch. The history of Thermopylae has been duly chronicled during

LLL L OLLI

“THERMOPYLAE’ IN FULL SAIL

recent years, but a brief review of her career may be of interest, particularly in rela-
tion to the accompanying photograph, taken while “dropping the pilot” off the
Columbia River, homeward bound on her last voyage under the Red Ensign—indeed
it would appear to have been the end of her deep-water voyaging.

To state that Thermopylae was the fastest sailing ship ever built would be incor-
rect; that claim has been made for too many ships, and, like the fashion of many
present-day writers who refer to all sailing ships as clippers, only tends toward
confusion. But Thermopylae most certainly was a clipper and one of the swiltest
and most beautiful.