Snow Squall

Description:

The Snow Squall is a beautifully crafted clipper built in Maine on Turner Island in Portland harbor. In 1851 Cornelius and Alfred Butler built three clipper ships at their yard, Warner, Black Squall and Snow Squall. Snow Squall was the biggest clipper to ever come out of their shipyard, built by the 12 employees they had, whose wages were $1.50 for a ten hour work day.

Like the Snow Squall, many clippers were built for the California gold rush, but when that dwindled, many ship owners thought trade with China was a way to recoup their investments. Although clippers still made the journey to California, they would then hit China, and race back to New York for the market. Some of the cargo carried on the Snow Squall includes, but is not limited to, oats, canvas, matches, coffee, cigars and tobacco, cornmeal, boots and shoes, pork, nails, axe handles, liqour, rope sardines and flour.

The Snow Squall set sail for what turned out to be her last voyage on January 2nd, 1864 from New York around Cape Horn to San Fransisco with 80 tons of steamer lump coal, alcohol, tobacco, canned lobster, whisky, acid and a large amount of explosives.
But in February of that same year, the Snow Squall ran aground on the rocks at the entrance to the strait of Le Maire near Cape Horn

The Captain, Captain Dillingham sailed the damaged and badly leaking Snow Squall for Port Stanley, in the Faulkland Islands for repairs, but his problems were just beginning. In March, three crewmembers were put in jail for mutiny. Although every effort was made to repair the Snow Squall, her damages were far to expensive. Under maritime law, the shipmaster had the right to abandon the ship if the cost of repairs exceeded the ships value after repairs.

In April, 1864 the Snow Squall was condemned, her sailing career had lasted 13 years, which exceeded the usual life of a wooden vessel in those years.

Atmosphere:

When i visited to Spring Point Museum on the campus of SMCC, it was early morning and there were very few people around. I was the only one inside the museum besides the women running the building. The Snow Squall exhibit was beautiful with artifacts found at the site where she was sunk. Along with some of the ships inner wooden skeleton. It was an amazing exhibit.