“At about 3 P.M. we could see her hull from the deck, and, carrying with us a fresh breeze, while she was in the doldrums, we closed on her rapidly. When within half a mile we hoisted our colors, when every glass was pointed toward her peak, and all sorts of conjectures were made as to what colors she would show. No one could imagine that so large a vessel could be a slaver. “On closing under her lee, and when within a cable’s length, a white package was thrown from her side into the sea; and the experienced then exclaimed, ‘A slaver, and there go her papers!’ A few minutes more, and we sheered up alongside to leeward of as beautiful model of a ship as ever was seen. Some forty dejected looking individuals, apparently a mixture of all nations, stood on her deck; still no colors, nor did she appear inclined to shorten sail or heave-to. The Captain then determined to run ahead and lower the quarter-boats to drop down and board; and as this manœuvre was being carried out a blank gun caused her to square the mainyard, which she did with studding-sails hanging to the yard, and luffed up into the wind. [Illustration: The “Brisk” The “Emanuela” ] “It was an anxious five minutes to those on board while the boats were away. A small white British ensign run up at her peak showed that she was a prize, and a voice hailed us, ‘Eight hundred and fifty slaves on board!’” In 1855 the California fleet was increased by the building of thirteen medium clipper ships, among which were the _Andrew Jackson_, _Carrier Dove_, _Charmer_, _Daring_, _Herald of the Morning_, _Mary Whitridge_, and _Ocean Express_. Only three passages were made from Atlantic ports to San Francisco during this year in 100 days or less; the _Herald of the Morning_, from New York, 99 days; _Neptune’s Car_, from New York, and _Westward Ho_, from Boston, each 100 days. Thirteen ships made the passage in over 100 days and less than 110 days; among them being the _Boston Light_, from Boston, 102 days; the _Cleopatra_ and _Red Rover_, from New York, each 107 days; the _Flying Cloud_, from New York, and _Meteor_ and _Don Quixote_, from Boston, each 108 days; the _Flying Fish_, two passages from Boston in 109 and 105 days, and the _Governor Morton_, from New York in 104 days. This was Captain Creesy’s last voyage in the _Flying Cloud_, and he now retired to his home in Salem until 1861, when he was appointed a Commander in the United States Navy and assigned to the clipper ship _Ino_. She carried a crew of eighty men from Marblehead, and on her second cruise in 1862 made the record run of twelve days from New York to Cadiz. Captain Creesy subsequently commanded the clipper ship _Archer_, and made two voyages to China. He died at Salem in 1871, in his fifty-seventh year. So long as the American clipper ships and their brilliant exploits hold a place in the memory of man, the names of Josiah Creesy and the _Flying Cloud_ will be remembered with pride.