This is one of the rare songs commemorating the high qualities of a ship. The tune is a variant of an old English naval song, "The Flash Frigate," or "La Pique."
H.M.S. Pique was a West Indies frigate. She had the reputation of a "blood ship" especially within the American Navy. Frank Shay gives a version with unique verses in An American Sailor's Treasury.
The Dreadnaught may be the best known of all Western Ocean packet ships (thought not actually the fastest). She sailed under the flag of the Red Cross Line. Renowned for her stability, design and commander, she was built at Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1853, with a volume of 1413 tons register. For her first eight trips, the eastern passage averaged 21 days, 15 hours, and the western passage averaged 24 days 12 hours. The ship wrecked off of Cape Horn in 1869 while under the command of Captain P. N. Mayhew, and the crew was rescued after drifting for fourteen days. Captain Samuel Samuels (and his Newfoundland dog Wallace) published an account of his career in From the Forecastle to the Cabin. According to Captain Clark, the Dreadnaught's fame comes from Captain Samuels employment of an enterprising publicist. Samuels and the ship are also known for an attempted mutiny after taking on a gang of tough Irish seamen called the "Bloody Forty".
There is a flash packet, flash packet of fame,
She hails from New York and the Dreadnaught's her name,
She is bound to the westward... where the stormy winds blow,
Bound away in the Dreadnaught to the westward we'll go.
Now the Dreadnaught is hauling out of Waterloo dock,
Where the boys and the girls to the pierhead do flock,
They give her three cheers, as the tears down do flow,
Crying "God bless the Dreadnaught where'er she may go!"
Now the Dreadnaught she lies in the river Mersey,
Awaiting the tugboat to take her to sea,
Out around the Rock Light where the salt tides do flow,
Bound away to the westward in the Dreadnaught we'll go.
Now the Dreadnaughts a-howling down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passengers merry, with hearts full of glee;
Her sailors like lions walk the deck to and fro;
She's the Liverpool packet_O Lord, let her go!
Now the Dreadnaught is sailing the Atlantic so wide,
Where the high roaring seas roll along her black side,
With her sails tautly set for the Red Cross to show
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!
Now the Dreadnaught is crossing the Banks of Newfoundland,
Where the water's so green and the bottom's all sand,
Where the fishes of the ocean they swim to and fro,
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!
And now she is sailing down the Long Island shore,
Where the pilot will board us as he's oft done before.
"Fill away your main-topsail, board your main-tack also !"
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!
Now the Dreadnaughts arrived in New York once more.
Let's go ashore, shipmates, on the land we adore.
With wives and with sweethearts so happy we'll be,
And drink to the Dreadnaught wherever we be.
Now a health to the Dreadnaught and all her brave crew,
To bold Captain Samuels and his officers too;
Talk about your flash packets, Swallowtail and Black Ball,
The Dreadnaughts the flier that outsails them all.