“NATIONAL EAGLE” – 1852 ~ 1884 – Medium clipper built by Joshua T. Foster at Medford, Mass. for Fisher & Co. of Boston – 179’ x 36’ x 24’ – Figurehead, gilded eagle with outspread wings. This clipper completed three runs to San Francisco, her best run being 121 days from New York.
The company’s first venture was the cotton trade between Boston, New Orleans and Liverpool. In 1853 “EAGLE” returned to Boston with a deadly outbreak of yellow fever aboard. Capt. Pedrick was seriously ill, his wife, the mate and several crew members had died from the disease. Following this tragedy, she was successfully engaged in the ice trade between Boston and Calcutta under Capt. George Matthews. In 1884, on a voyage to Trieste, she was driven ashore by a gale in the Adriatic Sea. The crew managed to get off safely, but vessel and cargo were total losses.
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