Two Lost Worlds

On August 16, 1830,

the Hamilton Queen sailed from Salem

on her maiden voyage, bound for the East Indies.

This was an era when the whole world

stood at a new threshold of commerce

and communication between nations.

The story of this vessel is a vital chapter

of America's rise to prominence in that era.

The historical hour of the clipper ship.

Laden with American goods,

the queenly vessel slipped from the harbor

to which she would bring back

the treasured produce of the Orient.

As she rode the outgoing tide,

the tides of fortune for the young

American republic flowed with her.

With speed that was never equaled in the days of sail,

the clipper skimmed over the wide blue waters.

It was the clipper ship that won America's

place in the race between nations for trade and wealth.

Yes, the Hamilton Queen carried far more

than the valuable cargo in the hold below her rolling deck.

She carried the American dream of destiny,

and she carried the dreams of men,

who took in their hands the wheel of destiny.

Men like young Kirk Hamilton.

His was the vision and courage

of the seafaring Yankee pioneer.

He knew the dangers that faced the pioneer,

but his was the energy and the enterprise

that ignored the danger and achieved the dream.

86 days out of Salem with a fair wind,

the fate of the nation and the fate

of Kirk Hamilton was bound up in his ship.

Bound around Cape Horn, across the Pacific,

and westward to the fabulous fortune laden Indies.

Outward bound for destiny.

- 18 days ahead of our original charted course,

Captain Tallman.

Aye, Mr. Hamilton.

The clipper certainly justified your new design,

and proven her worth.

We haven't proven anything yet, Captain.

How do we take on the last of our cargo

in the East Indies?

And deliver it on the Salem docks,

ahead of competitive shipping companies?

- Well, barring unforeseen trouble and weather permitting,

we should be in East Indies in about six weeks.

Five.

Five, if we nose her through the New Hebrides islands.

That's risky son.

Too many seizers in those waters.

Oh, there isn't a pirate ship afloat

that can keep this clipper's sails in sight

for 24 hours, Captain, much less board her.

That's still taking a big chance, Kirk.

Dad took a chance on us, Captain.

His company and everything he owns

is tied up in this voyage.

If we're not the first ship back in Salem, no contract.

That'll mean no more ship sailing under the Hamilton flag.

- You're a very persuasive mate, Mr. Hamilton.

It's a very important voyage, Captain.

Chart the course as you see her, mate.

Thank you, Captain.

- Confound it, I never can keep any cigars around here.

Salty!

Salty!

Salty!

Coffee, Captain, Mr. Hamilton.

Put it on the table.

By the way, Salty,

I had some cigars around here this morning.

You didn't see them when you cleaned my quarters, did you?

Who me, oh no, sir.

- Good, I was just going to throw them out, they're poison.

Poison sir?

Excuse me, captain, I,

I don't feel very good.

- I don't guess you'll be missing any more cigars.

At least not until tomorrow.

Sail ho!

Sail ho!

Larboard quarter.

Sail ho, sir!

Where away?

Right off our larboard quarter, sir.

What do you make of it?

- Looks like a merchant frigate to me, Captain.

Man the sails, bail out.

Look alive!

Sail ho, off port bow!

An American ship.

Run up an American flag.

Aye, Captain Hackett.

Speak of luck, they carry rich cargo.

Have the crew man the guns.

We'll bracket in on them when we clear the fog bank.

Aye, Captain.

She surprised us.

It's the Phantom.

Main battery of nine pounders.

Secondary battery of six pounders,

mounted on the forecastle and quarterdeck.

We won't be able to battle it.

We can outrun it.

- You want to test the speed of the clipper,

here's your chance.

Have the men crowd on the sail.

Run out the guns and get every man to his station,

I'm going forward.

Aye, aye.

(indistinct) Mr. Fuller.

Man the port side.

Pack up that rigging!

Raise those (indistinct).

Pull her off again.

Lay on, fire at will.

- We've been hit on port beam, water level.

Man the pumps.

Aye-aye, sir.

Hicks, lay below and look for damage.

Fire off again!

Take over, Mr. Morgan!

Get some hot water, quick.

How'd the clipper do, Captain?

Ship shape mate, but don't try to talk.

Tell me about her.

She left the pirate ship last night

like she had wings for sails.

Pain ease any, son?

- I'll be up deck-side in short order, Captain.

There's no use fooling yourself, Kirk,

you've got a nasty splinter in that left leg.

We can't remove it.

You need medical attention,

so we're dropping anchor at Queensland.

- I can hold out til we reach the East Indies, Captain.

- Our destination is Queensland, mate, that's an order.

Under a full head of sail,

the clipper veered southward from her course,

and raced with the wounded Kirk Hamilton for medical help.

Four days later, she arrived at a tiny harbor

on the coast of northeast Queensland, and dropped anchor.

The disturbing news of her escape spread quickly.

This community had been attacked before by the pirates,

whose return was greatly feared by the peaceful settlers.

But they welcomed the Yankee seamen as fellow pioneers,

and in a simple shack, Kirk Hamilton

was made as comfortable as his painful injury permitted.

How is he, Doctor?

- Can't tell, I couldn't remove all the splinter.

He's lost a lot of blood.

- How long will it be before you'll be able

to remove the rest of it?

Um, 'nother week, maybe two, it depends.

Besides, he should stay here under observation

for at least a month.

Blood poisoning.

- You'll have to ship out without me, Captain Tallman.

Is that the way you want it, son?

That's the only way it can be, Captain.

What happens to the clipper and her cargo right now

is more important than what happens to one man.

We can't afford to lose even one day.

I wanted to hear it from you, Kirk.

I knew you'd want it that way.

We can pick up the rest of the cargo in the East Indies

and stop for you on the way back to Salem.

It'll take two months.

I'll be waiting, Captain.

- I'll leave Salty and Mercer here to take care of you.

You'll need 'em.

That's an order, son.

Besides, with Salty here I'll be able

to smoke one of my own cigars for a change.

Thanks, Captain.

Right, mate.

Yes, the news spread quickly

throughout the little Australian settlement.

And to men like Martin Shannon, a sheep rancher,

the arrival of the Yankee clipper

and the story of her running fight with the pirates

brought a very serious problem.

The presence of the sea raider threatened to disrupt

the operation of the ranch, and to Martin Shannon,

his ranch was of first importance.

Here too, as in America, a new civilization

was being built, on a primitive frontier.

Here, where wild kangaroos hopped among the fields,

the land was forced to yield to the farmer and the rancher.

The land meant security, and the bright hope of the future.

But the colonists sent their wool and mutton

to the Western world by only one route, the sea.

Now their very homes, as well as the sea lane,

were threatened by the pirates.

While the men worked diligently in the pastures and sheds,

their minds dwelt on the danger to their homes and families.