The ANTELOPE Australian screw steam-ship

The ANTELOPE Australian screw steam-ship

Maker Illustrated London News (Established 1842)

Date1853

Object number00001099

NameEngraving

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 400 x 260 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA page from the Illustrated London News of 5 February 1853 featuring an article titled 'Steam to Australia - The ANTELOPE and the MARCO POLO screw vs sail' with accompanying engraving 'The ANTELOPE Australian screw steam-ship'. The remainder of the page is devoted to the 'Kaffir prisoners at Cape Town'.HistoryThe MARCO POLO was a legend amongst clipper ships of the mid-19th century. She was incredibly fast for her time and set the record for circumnavigating the world in less than 6 months. She had been built in Canada and despite being labelled a "big, black lump of a thing", she surprised all by her capabilities. Much of her success was due to her captain, "Bully" Forbes, who although skill full, became known as pushing his ship, crew and passengers to the limit in the quest for speed on the sea. The MARCO POLO was committed to the passenger and immigrant route from England to Australia and was famous at both ends for transporting 15000 immigrants to Australia, carrying more people to the country than any other vessel. The SS ANTELOPE was an iron screw steamship built in Liverpool and specially fitted for the Australian trade. She was promoted by her owners, Millers & Thompson Co, as an elegant and comfortable ship and promised in an advertisment of 1853 "a surgeon and many stewards and stewardesses" (Belfast News-Letter, February 2, 1853).