In 1848 Gold Rush fever was spreading throughout the continent and adventurers were flocking to California to find their fortunes. On 15 February 1849, seventy-five Newporters set sail on the old whaler “Audley Clarke” under the command of Capt. Ayrault Wanton Dennis. After a quick stop at the Cape Verde Islands for supplies, the ship pulled into San Francisco Bay after a 198 day voyage around Cape Horn. “Audley Clarke” was immediately deserted and floundered in litigation concerning ownership and customs matters. Most passengers stayed out west or embarked on voyages to Australia’s Gold Rush.
Gold nugget from the NHS collections.
Pencil sketch of the Audley Clarke from the ship’s’ log, collections of Newport Historical Society.