shape and style of the sails classified the ship. About half the ships built in Cardigan were brigantines; others were schooners, barques, and brigs. People came for miles to witness the launching of a new ship. A bottle of champagne or some suitable "delicate" beverage (such as weak tea) was broken across its bow by a relative or friend of the owner or builder. Most ships were sold on the British market. As their shipping registries closed there, their ultimate destinies remain unknown on this side of the . Following are accounts of the known fates of four Cardigan built ships... the Caspian , the Victory Chimes , the Barbara MacDonald , and the Anna MacDonald : The Examiner, Tuesday, April 18th, 1899. Island Brig Lost at Sea ....The steam yacht Sagamore arrived here this morning after the cruise in the waters on April 14th. ...70 miles north of Bermuda, the Sagamore fell in with the dismasted brig Caspain, of Charlottetown (and) Captain Gordon , from , (headed) for Jacksonville. They launched the yacht's cutter and rescued Captain Gordon , the crew of six men, and the captain's wife and child, nine persons all told, and brought them to this port. Captain Gordon reports having sailed from on March 30th, for Jacksonville, in ballast. All went well until April 5th, off Hatteras, when the vessel was struck by a cyclonic squall from the northward, which carried away the spars at the deck, leaving the vessel a complete wreck. The vessel was in a helpless condition, and for nine days drifted about the ocean. No vessels passed close enough to be hailed until April 14th, when the Sagamore appeared and made the rescue. The owner of the Caspian is James E. MacDonald , of Cardigan . She was valued at about $6,000. The Caspian was built at Cardigan in 1890, and was about 300 tons register. The Victory Chimes was built in 1918 by Kimball Coffin . She was owned by a company consisting of John A. MacDonald , George Thompson and Mrs. Charles Lyons who became an owner when her husband died during the ship's building. It was launched soon after the end of World War 1, hence the name. The Victory Chimes had a sailing career of 18 years. Captain Daniel MacDonald was the first captain . Her life must have been colorful at times. Mr. J.M. MacSwain , who was present on the day of her launching, tells this story: When the Victory Chimes was about to be launched, my father and mother took me down to the yards to watch the launching. It was unfortunate that the launching had been announced for ten o'clock that morning, for apparently someone had forgotten to check on the tide for that particular hour. So, when the ship was launched, she glided down the ways beautifully, but her momentum carried her across the channel and on to the mud flats on the other side of the river. There she was stuck solid, a situation that could have been