by (STAR OF THE WEST)
(STAR OF THE WEST). Star of the West was a steamship built in 1862 by Jeremiah Simonson for Cornelius Vanderbilt, and it frequently traveled to Nicaragua. In 1861, the Federal government hired her to ship supplies to Fort Sumter, but it was fired on by cadets from The Citadel. D. 2pg. 8” x 12”. June 16, 1855. Punta Arenas Nicaragua. A contemporary copy of a financial agreement for the steamer Star Of The West. The document states in part “In the Article of Agreement dated March the twentieth one thousand eight hundred and fifty five entered into between me and acting legally for Michael Baker of South Dartmouth Mass, as his attorney of the first part and Capt E W Turner of the Steam Ship Star of the West of New York, of the second part – it was agreed to appoint Mr. Charles Morgan of New York to be the approver of the names on the ‘Bond’ for the Sum of Twenty five thousand dollars to be given by the said E W Turner pledging payment on receipt of the first sample of the ‘Guano’ at any port from the Island or Islands in the Pacific Ocean the Geographical position of which the said Michael Baker and myself have bound ourselves, to furnish and have for ever transferred all right and title thereto as set forth in the Article of Agreement…”. The document has three filing folds and some ink blotches, and it is in very good condition. (Inventory #: 4111)