Posted by Peter H on February 24, 2002 at 12:58:57 from 213.122.157.225:
In Reply to: Re: To me hoodah. To me hoodah. posted by David Bamford on February 23, 2002 at -1:08:52:
The Black Ball line operated out of Liverpool and the pride of the line was the ‘Marco Polo’, Canadian-built (at Marsh Creek, near St John, New Brunswick). She was reputed to be the ‘fastest ship in the world’ at the time. As she lasted 32 years, she was certainly well-built (1625 tons register). Equally impressive was her interior, including a dining saloon with a maple ceiling and panels of etched silvered glass. On her first voyage in 1852 she reached Melbourne, Australia, in 76 days (120 days was a good average time then) carrying 950 passengers. Her speed was due in part to her construction and in part due to the reputation of her commander, Capt James (‘Bully’) Forbes, ‘bully’ being the operative word. He was also, it should be said, an excellent seaman and navigator. The famous Liverpool folk group, the Spinners, popularised a song about the vessel.
The ‘Marco Polo’ was eventually broken up on P.E.I. Some of the stern carvings were rescued, and can be seen in Liverpool Maritime Museum, which TARS Northern Region is visiting on September 21 (excuse the plug). Dan Lind may be interested to know that the stern carvings included one of an elephant . . .