The _Red Jacket_ attracted a great deal of attention at Liverpool, being an extremely handsome ship--quite as good-looking as any of the clippers built at New York or Boston. For a figurehead she carried a full-length representation of the Indian chief for whom she was named. She made her first voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne in 1854 under command of Captain Samuel Reed in 69 days, and as she received very quick despatch, being in port only 12 days, and made the passage to Liverpool in 73 days, the voyage round the globe, including detention in port, was made in five months and four days. On the homeward passage, bringing home 45,000 ounces of gold, she beat the celebrated _Guiding Star_ by 9 days, though she lost considerable time through being among the bergs and field ice off Cape Horn. Upon her arrival at Liverpool the _Red Jacket_ was sold to Pilklington & Wilson, of that port, then agents of the White Star Line, for £30,000, and continued in the Australian trade for several years, becoming one of the most famous of the American-built clippers. The competition of the Black Ball and White Star lines proved of great benefit to both cabin and steerage passengers, as their comfort and convenience became subjects of consideration in a manner unthought of in the old days before the discovery of gold at Bendigo and Ballarat. [Illustration: The “Red Jacket”] CHAPTER XVIII AUSTRALIAN CLIPPERS, 1854-1856 In view of the keen rivalry at this period, James Baines & Co. determined to own the finest and fastest ships that could be constructed, and accordingly placed an order with Donald McKay to build four clipper ships for their Australian line. These vessels were the _Lightning_, 2084 tons; the _Champion of the Seas_, 2448 tons; _James Baines_, 2515 tons; and _Donald McKay_, 2598 tons, all launched in 1854, with the exception of the _Donald McKay_, which was not completed until January, 1855. This firm also bought from Mr. McKay the sister ships _Japan_ and _Commodore Perry_, 1964 tons each, while they were on the stocks in course of construction. These ships designed for the Australian trade were very similar to the later California clipper ships built by Mr. McKay, though with less dead-rise and sharper ends; they were fitted with large accommodation for cabin and steerage passengers; while the _Japan_ and _Commodore Perry_ were somewhat fuller ships than the others, and were designed with a view to carry large cargoes rather than to attain high speed.