Pioneer Pieces: Clippers to California

If a pioneer really had the bucks, they could take a clipper around Cape Horn (South America) to California in the 1850s, which was believed by that time to be less dangerous than the Panama route.
These trips from the northeast to California around South America took at least 4 months - except on one occasion where Donald MacKay's Flying Cloud made the trip from New York to San Francisco in a record 90 days in 1851.

These southern journeys had their own perils - with discomfort, disease, and even death rising dramatically on these long voyages, along with high seas and frequent storms, many passengers and several ships never made it to California.  "Lost at Sea" was a common report.  There was no turning back on these voyages and no sense of urgency.  Maybe they had "California or Bust" carved on the ship's side?!

Given all these options and the perils of each - I think I would have stayed with the wagon train.  How about you? 

Next time - We've Arrived at California!