The White Star Line, not to be outdone by rivals, followed the example of the Black Ball and in 1854 chartered the _Chariot of Fame_, _Red Jacket_, and _Blue Jacket_. These ships, of which the first was a medium clipper and the other two extreme clippers, were built in New England. The _Chariot of Fame_ was a sister ship to the _Star of Empire_, 2050 tons, built by Donald McKay in 1853, for Enoch Train’s Boston and Liverpool packet line. The _Chariot of Fame_ made a number of fast voyages between England and Australia, her best passage being 66 days from Liverpool to Melbourne. The _Blue Jacket_ was a handsome ship of 1790 tons, built by R. E. Jackson at East Boston in 1854, and was owned by Charles R. Green, of New York. Her best passages were 67 days from Liverpool to Melbourne and home in 69 days. The _Red Jacket_, the most famous of this trio, was built by George Thomas at Rockland, Maine, in 1853-1854, and was owned by Seacomb & Taylor, of Boston. She registered 2006 tons; length 260 feet, breadth 44 feet, depth 26 feet; and was designed by Samuel A. Pook, of Boston, who had designed a number of other clipper ships, including the _Challenger_--not the English ship of that name,--the _Game-Cock_, _Surprise_, _Northern Light_, _Ocean Chief_, _Fearless_, _Ocean Telegraph_, and _Herald of the Morning_. He also designed several freighting vessels and yachts. It was the custom at that period for vessels to be designed in the yards where they were constructed, and Mr. Pook was the first naval architect in the United States who was not connected with a ship-building yard. On her first voyage the _Red Jacket_ sailed from New York for Liverpool, February 19, 1854, commanded by Captain Asa Eldridge, and made the passage in 13 days 1 hour from Sandy Hook to the Rock Light, Liverpool, with the wind strong from southeast to west-southwest, and either rain, snow, or hail during the entire run. During the first seven days she averaged only 182 miles per twenty-four hours, but during the last six days she made 219, 413, 374, 343, 300, and 371 miles, an average of a fraction over 353 miles per twenty-four hours. Captain Eldridge was well known in Liverpool, having, together with his brothers, John and Oliver, commanded some of the finest New York and Liverpool packet ships of their day; he had also commanded Commodore Vanderbilt’s steam yacht _North Star_ during her cruise in European waters in 1853. He was afterwards lost in command of the steamship _Pacific_ of the Collins Line.