1862 _William Duthie_ wood ship 968 tons. 1863 _Martha Birnie_ „ „ 832 „ 1864 _John Duthie_ „ „ 1031 „ 1867 _Alexander Duthie_ „ „ 1159 „ 1868 _Ann Duthie_ „ „ 994 „
The ships were all three skysail yarders, and good passage makers; they were kept almost entirely in the Sydney trade, and must have made good dividends in those early days. The _John Duthie_ on one occasion made £5000 freight for the wool passage home. Her commander at that time was Captain Levi, a very well-known character, who always offered a glass of Scotch and an apple to any visitor who came aboard his ship.
The next Duthie ship was the _Abergeldie_, of 1152 tons. She was their first ship with iron in her composition, having iron beams. She was launched in 1869, the same year as the _Windsor Castle_, a beautiful little wood ship of 979 tons, which Duthie built for Donaldson Rose. This _Windsor Castle_ must not be confused with Green’s Blackwall frigate of the same name. For some years both ships were trading to Sydney, and one year there was more than a little confusion owing to the two _Windsor Castles_ arriving out on the same day. Duthie’s _Windsor Castle_ made many fine passages both out and home, her best known commander being Captain Fernie. After being sold her name was changed to _Lumberman’s Lassie_, and under this name she was for many years a well-known Colonial trader, and finally a coal hulk.
Passages of Aberdeen Ships to Sydney, 1872-1873.
The best passage made out to Sydney between these dates was that of the iron tea clipper _Halloween_ on her maiden voyage. She left the Thames on 1st July, 1872, crossed the line in 27° W. on the 20th, 19 days out, crossed the meridian of the Cape on 10th August, 40 days out, ran her easting down in 42° and arrived in Sydney on 8th September, 69 days out.
Another very famous Aberdeen ship, the _Star of Peace_, left London, 21st September, 1873, and arrived at Melbourne on 16th December, 86 days out.
This little table will perhaps give a good idea of the usual passages made by the wood and composite built ships.
+-------------+--------+-------+-----+--------+-------+-------+----+ | | | | |Crossed | Ran | | | | | |Crossed| in |Meridian|Easting| |D’ys| | Ship |Sailed |Equator|Long.|of Cape | Down |Arrived|Out | | | | | | |in Lat.| | | +-------------+--------+-------+-----+--------+-------+-------+----+ | | 1872 | | ° | | ° | | | |_Thyatira_ |Feb. 23|Mar. 20| 22 W|April 25| 42 S |May 23| 89 | |_Ann Duthie_ |Mar. 5| „ 25| 27 | — | 48 | „ 24| 80 | |_Ascalon_ | „ 5|April 2| 23 |April 30| 41 |June 7| 94 | |_Maid of_ | „ 21| „ 18| 22 |May 21| — | „ 23| 94 | | _Judah_ | | | | | | | | |_Centurion_ |April 18|May 10| 22 |June 8| 39 |July 5| 78 | |_John Duthie_|June 4|June 30| 27 |July 28| 42 |Aug. 29| 86 | |_Strathdon_ |July 8|Aug. 14| 26 |Sept. 9| 45 |Oct. 25|109 | |_William_ | „ 16| „ 17| 27 | „ 15| 44 | „ 31|107 | | _Duthie_ | | | | | | | | |_Ethiopian_ | „ 25| „ 29| 21 | — | — | „ 31| 98 | | |1873 | | | | | | | |_Harlaw_ |Feb. 5|Feb. 25| 23 |Mar. 22| 45 |April29| 83 | |_Nineveh_ | „ 11|Mar. 8| 21 |April 3| 44 |May 1| 79 | |_Aviemore_ |Mar. 14| „ 29| 23 |May 28| 45 |June 4| 82 | |_Abergeldie_ |July 7| — | — |Sept. 1| 42 |Oct. 2| 87 | +-------------+----------+-----+-----+--------+-------+-------+----+