Baltimore clippers were first built as small, fast sailing vessels for trade around the coastlines of the United States and the Caribbean Islands.  Their hull-lines tended to be very sharp, with a "V"-shaped cross-section below the waterline and strongly raked stem.  Many such vessels went to Australia during the Australian gold rush.  The famous yacht America was conceptually conceived from the Baltimore clipper.

In early 1825, as the much larger frigate was unable to pursue its adversary among the small islands, Vigilant was chartered to take advantage of her relative shallow draft and superior sailing speed. Lt. Carl Irminger was appointed commanding officer in charge of thirty fully armed soldiers. The Adolfo was soon sighted near a small bay on Culebra Island. Lt. Irminger made his vessel ready for battle. All soldiers were hidden out of sight on deck, muskets ready. Vigilant, believed to be an unarmed Danish merchant vessel, was commanded to come alongside the larger and much better armed Adolfo. Once alongside, Lt. Irminger brazenly demanded Adolfo's surrender. Having noticed the pirate was preparing to fire her large guns, Lt. Irminger commanded his men to fire, and thereby achieved complete surprise. The first volley killed Adolfo's captain La Forcado. Several crewmembers were wounded and the privateer surrendered.

This was not the only time Vigilant was called upon to do naval duty. On the 14th of February, 1842, the frigate Alart was wrecked near Puerto Rico. Since a suitable replacement was not immediately available, the Vigilant was chartered to do guard duty and assist in the protection of local craft. She was manned by two officers and 25 men from the Alart. 

Being a faithful public servant for so many years, Vigilant provided an essential link between the Danish islands, and had on numerous occasions brought governors, Danish officials and foreign visitors safely to their destinations.

By the mid 1840's Vigilant was employed as the official packet between Christiansted, her home port, and Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.Vigilant has been know to make the trip in as little as four and a half hours.

Vigilant continued in service between St. Croix and St. Thomas during the first decade of the 20th century. At this time, the Danish East Asiatic Company sent the motor schooner Viking out to replace Vigilant . After only a few years of service the Viking was nearly wrecked in 1912 and had to be sent back to Denmark for extensive repairs. Vigilant once again was back plying her old mail and passenger trade which she did with dignity until the islands were sold to the United States in 1917.
Not all that sailed on board the Vigilant were equally enthusiastic about the venerable old schooner. In 1894 a Danish passenger remarked: "...The vessel is so rotten that you have to walk very carefully on deck to avoid falling through. In 1918 another passenger noted: "...The owner of the Vigilant , if closely questioned, will admit that parts of the vessel have occasionally been renewed. If hard pressed he will frankly confess that the only original part of the vessel remaining is a small eight foot piece of oak keel".

After 1917, no longer used in the passenger and mail trade after the United States purchased the former Danish islands, Vigilant was now employed as a local trading schooner and occasionally chartered out to adventurous tourists.

During the yearly hurricane season no vessel was safe in the West Indies. While lying at anchor at Christiansted during the night of September 13, 1876, Vigilant sank during a severe hurricane. A month later she was raised and underwent extensive repairs by Captain Pentheny. Again in October, 1916, the schooner  went to the bottom during a hurricane. Again she was raised and repaired. Finally, on September 12, 1928, she again sank during a severe hurricane in Christiansted harbor. This time Vigilant was beyond repair.

Vigilant sailed for 138 years -- an outstanding achievement for a wooden ship which plied the waters, to the North and the South, especially in the Caribbean where saltwater, heat, worms, etc. decimate any wooden vessel. Vigilant outdated all other vessels by many decades despite enemy fire, treacherous coral reefs, and the yearly hurricane season.

There is little doubt that the 'Vigilant was the last Baltimore Clipper.
 

This Vigilant Baltimore clipper model features:

         35" long x 29" tall x 12 wide             $890        S & H is $130

Display case: https://www.modelshipmaster.com/products/accessory/displaycase.htm

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