2-913-903 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Sunderland Clipper Barque, "Flying Dragon", 1854. 'From accounts just received, we are sorry to have to announce the loss by fire of this beautiful clipper barque, on her passage from Ceylon to London, with a general cargo. It appears that she took fire at midnight on the 31st of July last, about 200 miles from the Cape; and ran into Simon's Bay in August, burnt to the water's edge, where she was scuttled. The Flying Dragon was built for the Australian trade, by Mr. John Pyle, of North Sand, Monkwearmouth - the builder of the Spirit of the Age, and other vessels that have been celebrated for their superior sailing qualities - for Robert Smith, Esq, of Manchester; and made on her passage out one of the fastest voyages on record, having accomplished the distance between here [Britain] and Port Phillip [Australia] in seventy-three days'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.