Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Thursday 30 August 1855, page 2


MISCELLANEOUS. THE "STORM CLOUD", CAPTAIN JAMES CAMPBELL. This vessel has not only made the quickest passage to Tasmania on record, but is also the most splendid clipper ship that has yet visited the Tasmanian waters. She is built of iron, is over 910 tons, built and owned by Messrs Stephens and Son, of Glasgow, and her perform-ances, though quite a new vessel, already add to the credit of the Scottish builders. She is of great length, with extremely sharp and long bows, and an equally beautiful stern. She is very neatly rigged, and sails like a witch. On the present voyage she reached Madeira in six days; made the run from Scilly to Cape Otway in sixty-six; and sighted the shores of Tasmania on the sixty-ninth day. For a considerable portion of the voyage she was but little favored by the winds, and had an indifferent crew, but a decidedly smart commander, and chief officer (Mr. John Maxwell Auld). In twenty-four hours she logged 370 nautical miles a feat which equals, if it does not surpass the performance of the celebrated "Marco Polo". The vessel will remain at George Town, where she will be placed on the "hard" and painted. The immigration officer, and the president and some of the members of the St. Andrew's Society proceeded to George Town on Tuesday morning in the Cobre. They found the immigrants in excellent health and spirits, a result to be attributed to the attention of the surgeon, Dr. James M. Thomas, and the good ventilation and roominess of the berths. The health officer at George Town has reported the immigrants to be perfectly healthy. Four children died on the passage one of whom was also born at sea, and named after the ship and the gentlemanly commander. The immigrants consist of farm and domestic servants; and to the credit of Scotland be it said, all but four could read and write. They are apparently a good Class of people and there is little doubt, after the satisfactory experience of the last few months in Scottish immigration, that all will be speedily engaged. The "Storm Cloud" is consigned to Messrs. Du Cruz & Co. The statement that she was consigned to Mr. Munro was a blunder of the telegraph. She has a few agricultural implements for this port and coal for Calcutta, to which port she is bound. We cannot close this notice without giving Captain Campbell, the doctor, and the officers of the "Storm Cloud" credit for the speedy voyage, the health of the people, and the admirable order and cleanliness of the ship. We only wish that her commander had determined to bring her up to town, which might have been done with small expense and trouble, now that we have a good tug steamer on the river. A prejudice appears to exist at home that large clipper ships ought not to go up to Launceston, and it is in order show its erroneous character that we should have liked to see Capt. Campbell do with his fine ship what was done by the

"Whirlwind" and "Montmorency" which were not much under the tonnage of the "Storm Cloud".