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''Red, White and Blue'' of
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
was a
ship-rigged A full-rigged ship or fully rigged ship is a sailing vessel's sail plan with three or more masts, all of them square-rigged. A full-rigged ship is said to have a ship rig or be ship-rigged. Such vessels also have each mast stepped in three seg ...
,
lifeboat Lifeboat may refer to: Rescue vessels * Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape * Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues * Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen ...
that, with her crew John Morley Hudson, Francis Edward Fitch and Fanny the dog, broke an American record for a small vessel by crossing the Atlantic from New York to
Margate Margate is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in south-east England. The town is estimated to be 1.5 miles long, north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay and Westbrook. The town has been a significant m ...
in 38 days in 1866. She had a
pressed ''Pressed'' is a 2011 Canadian crime drama film directed by Justin Donnelly and starring Luke Goss, Tyler Johnston, Jeffrey Ballard, and Michael Eklund. It is the debut directing project for Justin Donnelly. Plot Business executive Brian Parker ...
and moulded,
galvanised Galvanization or galvanizing ( also spelled galvanisation or galvanising) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are submerge ...
iron
hull Hull may refer to: Structures * Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship * Submarine hull Mathematics * Affine hull, in affi ...
, and her masts, spars and sails were like those of a full-sized
clipper A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "Cl ...
, but sized in proportion to the hull. The voyage was tough. The crew endured heavy weather, a leaking hull, and spoiled stores; the dog died at sea. The ship and crew received the welcome due to them at Margate, but some of the British public found it difficult to credit the success of the attempt, although the voyage was ultimately proved genuine. The ship was exhibited in 1866 at
The Crystal Palace The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14,000 exhibitors from around ...
, London, and in 1867 at the
Exposition Universelle Exposition (also the French for exhibition) may refer to: *Universal exposition or World's Fair *Expository writing **Exposition (narrative) *Exposition (music) *Trade fair * ''Exposition'' (album), the debut album by the band Wax on Radio *Exposi ...
, Paris, where Hudson was granted an interview with Emperor Louis Napoleon. The original purpose of the voyage was to provide publicity for Oliver Roland Ingersoll's invention, Ingersoll's Improved Metallic Lifeboat. The exhibition of the ship in London and Paris was intended to consolidate that publicity and to attract orders from shipowners. However the temporary British controversy about the validity of the crossing attempt, and Hudson's consequent difficulties and debts, contributed to the rather quiet way in which this story ended.


Ship


Description

The name of the ship, ''Red, White and Blue'', was chosen as a cosmopolitan and diplomatic reference to the flags of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and others. After reaching the United Kingdom, the vessel was given the Scots nickname of ''Wee Craft'' or ''Wee Ship''. The hull of ''Red, White and Blue'' was constructed of galvanised iron, "pressed and moulded to a
clinker built Clinker built (also known as lapstrake) is a method of boat building where the edges of hull planks overlap each other. Where necessary in larger craft, shorter planks can be joined end to end, creating a longer strake or hull plank. The techni ...
configuration" by the inventor Oliver Roland Ingersoll. This Ingersoll's Improved Metallic Lifeboat was a new design for onboard
lifeboat Lifeboat may refer to: Rescue vessels * Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape * Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues * Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen ...
s and
jolly boat The jolly boat was a type of ship's boat in use during the 18th and 19th centuries. Used mainly to ferry personnel to and from the ship, or for other small-scale activities, it was, by the 18th century, one of several types of ship's boat. The de ...
s, the intended advantage being lightness and ease of maintenance. She was LOA of 2.38 tons, beam with a hold depth of , or from deck to keel (not that she had a deck), and was pointed at
bow Bow often refers to: * Bow and arrow, a weapon * Bowing, bending the upper body as a social gesture * An ornamental knot made of ribbon Bow may also refer to: * Bow (watercraft), the foremost part of a ship or boat * Bow (position), the rower ...
and
stern The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Ori ...
. She was fitted out with a ship-rig at New York. The tiny rigging was in proportion to the hull, that is to say, a fraction of the size of a normal cargo ship. The sails were made to the design of D.M. Cumisky of 39 South Street, New York, and the spars were made by Arthur Bartlett of 252 South Street. This was an open boat, with no shelter apart from a canvas dodger. She had watertight compartments. That is to say, she had a watertight compartment at each end, and she contained air cylinders at the ends and at the sides, "with safety valves that will cause the boat to free herself of water in a few minutes." In 1866 she carried "12 ten-gallon kegs of water, 200 lbs of bread, 5 lbs coffee, 2 lbs of tea, 10 lbs butter, 4 boxes smoked herrings, 1 dozen cans of milk, 15 lbs smoked beef, 17 lbs cheese, 4 bottles pickles, mustard, pepper, salt and sauce, 2 bottles of brandy, one bottle of whisky and one bottle of bitters." Other stores carried for the 1866 voyage were: "2 dozen cans roast beef, 2 dozen cans roast turkey, 2 dozen cans roast chicken, 2 dozen cans mutton soup." These were donated by Isaac Reckhow of Brooklyn, who also donated the dog. For the master's department she carried, "a boat
compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...
, quadrant,
charts A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent ta ...
,
parallel rule Parallel rulers are a drafting instrument used by navigators to draw parallel lines on charts. The tool consists of two straight edges joined by two arms which allow them to move closer or further away while always remaining parallel to each oth ...
,
dividers A caliper ( British spelling also calliper, or in plurale tantum sense a pair of calipers) is a device used to measure the dimensions of an object. Many types of calipers permit reading out a measurement on a ruled scale, a dial, or a digital ...
, weather indicator, longline,
glass Glass is a non-Crystallinity, crystalline, often transparency and translucency, transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most ...
, 7 lbs lead, American
ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diff ...
and pennant, English and French ensigns, anchor and fifty fathoms of rope, but no chronometer." In case of illness she carried "six bottles of Indian
liniment Liniment (from la, linere, meaning "to anoint"), also called embrocation and heat rub, is a medicated topical preparation for application to the skin. Some liniments have viscosity similar to that of water; others are lotion or balm; still othe ...
, six bottles of vegetable pills, a bottle of powders, and another mixture of some marvellous character, which we are told is ''the never-failing
smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) ce ...
cure, and has cured
yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
and cholera''". The inscription, "Ingersoll's Improved Metallic Life Boat" was written along both sides of the hull. The ship's ensign was a "13 star flag, single ply wool bunting with hand appliqued stars". The front inscription identified it as having belonged to ''Red, White and Blue'' in 1866, but the reverse inscription said that it had previously been the Civil War flag of the " U.S.S.S. Flambeau's
Picket boat A picket boat is a type of small naval craft. These are used for harbor patrol and other close inshore work, and have often been carried by larger warships as a ship's boat. They range in size between 30 and 55 feet. Patrol boats, or any craft e ...
2nd Cutter 1864, Acting Ensign J.M. Hudson". The flag as used on the mizzen gaff of ''Red, White and Blue'' measured , having had cut off its length to fit the smaller ship.


History

The ship was launched on 21 June 1866, after having a false keel fitted, making a total keel depth of . "She was launched with all her spars standing, bows on, from a dock five feet above the level of the water", with Captain J.M. Hudson aboard. She landed neatly, she did not tip over, and Hudson did not get wet. In 1866, ''Red, White and Blue'' was believed to be the "smallest ship ever to cross the Atlantic". After leaving Margate, the crew took the ship to
The Crystal Palace The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14,000 exhibitors from around ...
where from 25 August she was exhibited during the rest of 1866. At The Crystal Palace, Hudson and Fitch attended daily to make the ship's log available, and to answer questions. The ship was exhibited at the Paris
Exposition Universelle Exposition (also the French for exhibition) may refer to: *Universal exposition or World's Fair *Expository writing **Exposition (narrative) *Exposition (music) *Trade fair * ''Exposition'' (album), the debut album by the band Wax on Radio *Exposi ...
of 1867, from July of that year; however, there were difficulties. "Fair promises were made. Steamers were to tow the boat up the
Seine The Seine ( , ) is a river in northern France. Its drainage basin is in the Paris Basin (a geological relative lowland) covering most of northern France. It rises at Source-Seine, northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plate ...
in triumph; but it was towed against a bridge and smashed its masts. Agents were to secure goodly numbers to visit her; but for three months scarcely any one paid for a ticket, until at length the vessel was admitted into the grounds of the Exhibition. Finally, the ruined Captain ran away to England, but cleverly contrived to carry his ship with him." The ship was returned to the United States in 1873. Hudson's 249-page handwritten log of the transatlantic adventure was titled, ''The Log and Voyage of the Wee Ship Red-White-and Blue!! The Smallest Ship that Ever Crossed the Atlantic! The First Full Account of Her Passage And Subsequent History in Europa Also Up to Her Arrival Back in New York.'' Items relating to the ship and crew were sold at auction in 2011 and 2019.


Engraved presentations

The ship had an oval, engraved plaque, with the words, "Ingersoll Metallic Life Boat Red White and Blue. Ship rigged Sailed from New York, United States, July 9th 1866. Arrived off Hastings, England August 16th 1866. Navigators, Capt. John M. Hudson, and Mate Frank E. Fitch. Inventor and Builder Oliver Roland Ingersoll. Property of the American Boat & Oar Bazaar. 243 & 245 South and 475 & 447 Water Street New York." The silver-plated
ship horn A horn is a sound-making device that can be equipped to motor vehicles, buses, bicycles, trains, trams (otherwise known as streetcars in North America), and other types of vehicles. The sound made usually resembles a "honk" (older vehicles) or ...
was engraved also: "Captn John M. Hudson, ship Red White & Blue, 2 tons 38/100 register, made passage from New York to Margate in 38 days."


Transatlantic crossing

The ship had already been exhibited at the
American Institute American Institute may refer to: * American Institute of the City of New York The American Institute of the City of New York, or, The American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention was a civic organiza ...
fair of 1865, where Ingersoll was awarded a gold medal for his invention. The intention of the voyage was to publicise the new hull-invention with a record-breaking smallest-ship Atlantic crossing, then to exhibit the ship at the prestigious Paris Exposition of 1867. The log book said, "The object of this expedition is to be at the world's fair in Paris, to show the French they have not all complete without something notorious to give the rest a contrast." In order to arrive at the Paris Exposition by its opening date of April 1867, the crew had to perform the crossing in the summer months of 1866, in order to avoid a wintry February 1867 start from New York. The ship was registered on 9 July as if she were a
clipper A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "Cl ...
packet Packet may refer to: * A small container or pouch ** Packet (container), a small single use container ** Cigarette packet ** Sugar packet * Network packet, a formatted unit of data carried by a packet-mode computer network * Packet radio, a form ...
: "a clearance in
ballast Ballast is material that is used to provide stability to a vehicle or structure. Ballast, other than cargo, may be placed in a vehicle, often a ship or the gondola of a balloon or airship, to provide stability. A compartment within a boat, ship, ...
, a crew list nda
bill of health A bill of health is a document from officials of a port of departure indicating to the officials of the port of arrival whether it is likely that the ship is carrying a contagious disease, either literally on-board as fomites or via its crewmen or p ...
." The crew which took the ship from
Sandy Hook Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern e ...
,
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
, to Margate, England, were Captain John M. Hudson and Mate Frank E. Fitch, along with Fanny the poodle. The ''Red, White and Blue'' left New York on 9 July 1866, and arrived at
Margate Margate is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in south-east England. The town is estimated to be 1.5 miles long, north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay and Westbrook. The town has been a significant m ...
on 16 August. Before the voyage, male New Yorkers were commenting: "The fools will never get across", "That captain ought to be tried for murder", and "They ought to be put in a lunatic asylum." Certain American newspapers commented, "One more lunatic weary of breath", or suggested that the ship's name should be "''The Fool's Own''". However Hudson noted in his log that, "The poor ladies, God bless them! were all praying for us." But Hudson wrote, "Let them all have their own opinions; I have mine." The steamer ''Silas O. Pearce'' towed the ship from Red Rock Point to the Sandy Hook lightship for the start of the voyage. The ship encountered and survived bad weather during the 38-day crossing, although "three times she was thrown on her beam-ends". The
chronometer A clock or a timepiece is a device used to measure and indicate time. The clock is one of the oldest human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month and the ...
was a rusty pocket watch, which stopped. The crew lost the
signal lamp Signal lamp training during World War II A signal lamp (sometimes called an Aldis lamp or a Morse lamp) is a semaphore system using a visual signaling device for optical communication, typically using Morse code. The idea of flashing dots and d ...
, and salt water spoiled the stored food. The dog died on 19 August, after suffering fits. A leak below the mizzen mast had been discovered and repaired at the launch, but another leak appeared at sea, keeping the crew and stores wet throughout the trip.
John MacGregor John MacGregor, John Macgregor or John McGregor may refer to: Sportsmen * John McGregor (footballer, born 1851), Scottish international football player * John McGregor (footballer, born 1900) (1900–1993), English football player * John McGrego ...
(1893) said that their uncomfortable journey was the fault of "their own and their friends' mismanagement, the stupid construction of their cabin, the foolish three-masted rig of their boat, the boastful wager of the boat's builder, and their imprudence in painting up the boat on her arrival, and tarring the ropes". They had a kerosene stove, but the roll of the ship prevented its use, so the crew were rarely able to warm their food and drink. The dog was treated well with tinned beef, but Hudson complained that, "That cockpit of ours is a very ''hard'' place. You are crampted up just high enough to catch the hips; it cramps the knees and makes us both sore. It is the ''hardest'' place on board; the rest is bad enough." During the crossing they met a
green sea turtle The green sea turtle (''Chelonia mydas''), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Chelonia''. Its range ...
, a whale and a shark, and spoke various ships. At Deal they refused a pilot and attempted to beat upwind towards Margate, but the wind was too much and the ship was towed into Margate harbour by the boat ''Jessie''. The crew arrived at Margate in "somewhat distressed condition", but at Margate Harbour a "large and enthusiastic crowd" was there to greet them. "The crowd on the pier cheered them lustily, and for the next forty-eight hours the little ship was visited by thousands."


Controversy

The ''Daily Telegraph'' lauded the crew's "pluck and endurance, even if bordering upon rashness", and confirmed its belief in the success of the venture. There were some public suggestions that ''Red, White and Blue'' had not achieved the voyage alone, but had been carried for part of the west–east journey on board ''William Tapscott'', or had been towed. The controversy was celebrated in comic magazines such as ''
Punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...
'' and ''
Fun Fun is defined by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' as "Light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment". Etymology and usage The word ''fun'' is associated with sports, entertaining medi ...
''. The following verse was to be sung to the tune of ''Britannia's the Pride of the Ocean'': Britannia's the pride of the Ocean
The home of the brave and the free;
But Yankees it seems have a notion
That we're much greater fools than we be.
Two men and a dog crossed the briny,
Of course we believe it, we do;
In a boat of two tons, vessel tiny
And they called it the Red, White and Blue.
:And they called, &c (in chorus). In spite of the caviller's malice,
In spite of the doubts on her thrown
It is now at the Crystial Palace
And "seeing is believing" you'll own.
The dog's tale is lost, a sad ''thing'', this!
But the men with their craft remain, two.
So ''to'' the Marines let us sing this
New song of the Red, White and Blue.
:Here's the craft of the Red, White and Blue :Here's the craft of the Red, White and Blue :So to the Marines we'll go and sing this :New song of the Red, White and Blue. (by a ''Metropolitan Martial''). John MacGregor (1893) blamed this misunderstanding partly on the way in which the ship's log was published in re-written form, calling it a "mutilated paper". Although he believed that the ship really had made the voyage without outside assistance, he said, As no foundation was discovered for this story, the rumour was ultimately discounted, after the achievement was proved genuine by sightings from other ships, the logs of those ships and of ''Red, White And Blue'', and by the confirmation of weather conditions. On 24 December 1866, Hudson wrote to the ''London Daily News'' to confirm politely and with dignity, with evidence from his log and from witnesses, that the voyage was not fraudulent.


Crew


Captain John Morley Hudson

The ship's captain was John Morley Hudson (
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of City of Salford, Salford to ...
1 May 1832 – Brooklyn 12 December 1907). He immigrated in 1847 from Manchester, England to
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Kings County is the most populous Administrative divisions of New York (state)#County, county in the State of New York, ...
, New York and settled there. On 8 August 1856 he was married by a
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their na ...
minister to Sarah Ann Saward, in Brooklyn. They had three daughters: Frances Ellen "Fannie", Sarah Anne and Selina, baptised between 1865 and 1874. He became a citizen of the United States on 18 January 1877. He served as acting
ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diff ...
with the
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from 12 May 1864, to 15 September 1865 when he was honourably discharged. He was registered by the American Ship Masters' Association (of the
Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
era) as a shipmaster, between 14 February 1862 and 1885. He had a 17 April 1883 certificate of competence as a master and pilot of steam vessels around the US coast and the Atlantic Ocean. On 24 July 1895 he captained the steamer ''James Woodall'' in the
Roloff Roloff is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Carola Roloff (b. 1959), German Buddhist nun * Helmut Roloff (1912–2001), German pianist and teacher * Julio Roloff (b. 1951), Cuban composer * Lester Ro ...
Expedition in the
Cuban War of Independence The Cuban War of Independence (), fought from 1895 to 1898, was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) and the Little War (Cuba), Little War (1879–1880). The ...
. On 9 July 1898, Hudson volunteered to rejoin the US Navy as
lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
, and on 12 July of that year he applied to the navy for the position of
line officer In the United States Armed Forces, a line officer or officer of the line is a U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps commissioned officer or warrant officer who exercises general command authority and is eligible for operational command positions, as ...
. He was granted a pension in 1880. Regarding ''Red, White and Blue''s transatlantic adventure, Hudson described himself as the "captain, ... originator and promoter of the enterprise". While in Paris, Hudson had a "personal interview" with Emperor Louis Napoleon. Hudson wrote and collated an undated document called, ''Mind-Your-Helm or Laws of Passing Vessels''. After returning to England, he found himself in financial distress. His wife had had a "serious accident" in America, he could not find work to pay for passage home, and his ship had been seized for debt. A public appeal was made in the hope of assisting his voyage home. He died in 1907 of heart disease at 239 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn, after a brief illness.


Mate Francis Edward Fitch

The mate was Francis Edward "Frank" Fitch (born 1840).


Notes


References


External links

* {{cite book , last1=Hudson , first1=J.M. , last2=Ingersoll, first2=Oliver Roland, title=Log of the Ship-Rigged Ingersoll Metallic Life-Boat Red White And Blue, across the Atlantic Ocean and English Channel , date=1870 , publisher=Bunce & Company Printers , location=New York , url=https://archive.org/details/smallestshipthat00inge , access-date=18 September 2020 (Free, online book) The
George Eastman Museum The George Eastman Museum, also referred to as ''George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film'', the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the world's oldest film archives, opened to the public in 1949 in ...
has images of John Morley Hudson:
John Morley Hudson, husband of Sarah Anne Saward (1864) 2011.0149.0007

John Morley Hudson, with map (ca.1865) 2011.0149.0027

John Morley Hudson (ca.1865) 2011.0149.0035

The Miniature Ship " Red, White and Blue" (ca.1865) 2011.0149.0031
19th-century sailors 19th-century ships Adventure travel Barques 1866 in England Events in Kent