The best passage to the westward made by the _Dreadnought_ was in 1854, when she ran from the Rock Light, Liverpool, to Sandy Hook in 19 days While it cannot be said that the _Dreadnought_ ever made the fastest passage of a sailing vessel between New York and Liverpool, as the records in this respect are held by the _Red Jacket_, Captain Asa Eldridge, from Sandy Hook to the Rock Light, in 13 days 1 hour, in 1854, and by the _Andrew Jackson_, Captain John Williams, from Rock Light to Sandy Hook in 15 days, in 1860, still the uniform speed of the _Dreadnought’s_ many voyages entitles her to a high place among the celebrated packet ships of the past. The _Dreadnought_ was a strikingly handsome and well-designed, though by no means a sharp ship. Her masts, yards, sails, ironwork, blocks, and standing and running rigging were of the best material and were always carefully looked after. She was a ship that would stand almost any amount of driving in heavy weather, and her fast passages were in a measure due to this excellent quality, though mainly to the unceasing vigilance and splendid seamanship of her commander. She was wrecked in 1869 while under the command of Captain P. N. Mayhew; her crew were rescued after being adrift fourteen days in the boats, but the noble old packet ship went to pieces among the rugged cliffs and crags and roaring breakers of Cape Horn. CHAPTER XVI AMERICAN CLIPPERS OF 1854 AND 1855 During the year 1854 no less than twenty passages were made from Atlantic ports to San Francisco in 110 days or less. The _Flying Cloud_ repeated her famous record passage of 89 days, and was followed by the _Romance of the Seas_, 96 days; _Witchcraft_, 97 days; _David Brown_, 98 days, and _Hurricane_, 99 days. The abstract log of the _Flying Cloud_ is as follows: Sandy Hook to the equator 17 days. Equator to 50° South 25 “ From 50° South in the Atlantic to 50° South in the Pacific 12 “ To the equator 20 “ To San Francisco 15 “ -- Total 89 “ On this passage the _Flying Cloud_ gave a fine example of her sailing qualities. She sailed eight days after the _Archer_, also an exceedingly fast ship, and led her into San Francisco by nine days. Captain Creesy received a grand ovation on this, his second record passage, and the merchants of San Francisco, always generous and hospitable, vied with each other to do him honor. Upon his return to New York, a banquet was given him at the Astor House, then the finest hotel in the city, and a splendid service of silver plate was presented to him by the New York and Boston Marine Underwriters.