The British ship EL DORADO, 913/977 tons (old/new measurement), was built at St. Andrews in 1848; Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1850/51 gives the following additional information on this vessel:

Master: Morrison
Owner:  Gilmour
Port of registry:  St. Andrews
Port of survey:  Liverpool
Intended voyage:  Savann[ah]

The Hamburg bark ELBE was built at Vegesack/Grohn, on the Weser River, by the shipwright Johann Lange, and was launched on 7 December 1848. 187 Commerzlasten / 436 tons register; 34,7 x 8 x 4,6 meters (length x beam x depth of hold); accommodation for 10 passengers in the cabin and 200 in steerage; crew of 15.

The ELBE was purchased on the stocks by the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hamburg-America Line) on 30 November 1848. 15 March 1849, maiden voyage, Hamburg-New York.

Master:
     1849-1853 - F. A. Heydtmann
     1854      - H. F. Schwensen
     1854-1857 - J. F. C. Winzen
     1857-1863 - H. Boll
     1863-1864 - Friedrich Wilhelm Bardua

Voyages:
     1849    - from Bremen/New York
     1849/50 - New York
     1850    - New York (2 x)
     1850/51 - New York
     1851    - New York
     1851/52 - New York
     1852    - New York (2 x)
     1852/53 - New York
     1853    - New York
     1853/54 - New York
     1854    - New York (2 x)
     1855    - New York (2 x)
     1855/56 - New York
     1856    - New York (2 x)
     1857    - New York (2 x)
     1857/58 - New York/Charleston
     1858    - New York/London
     1858/59 - New York/Charleston
     1859    - Quebec/Hull
     1859/60 - New York/Charleston
     1860    - Quebec
     1860/61 - New York
     1861    - Quebec/London
     1861/62 - New York/Antwerp
     1862    - Quebec/Hull
     1862/63 - New York
     1863    - New York
     1863/64 - New York/Dunkirk
     1864    - New York

1851, 1st class passenger accommodation increased to 20.

The Wochenschrift für Vegesack und Umgegend for 24 October 1863 contains the following account of a fire on board the ELBE:

Hamburg, 20. Oct. Gestern Nachmittag gegen 4 1/2 Uhr brach am Bord des hamburger Schiffes ELBE, welches, mit Passagieren besetzt, segelfertig im hiesigen Hafen lag, Feuer aus. In der Überstürzung, mit welcher die Passagiere das Schiff verließen, drängten sie sich in solcher Menge auf die Schiffstreppe, daß dieselbe unter ihrer Last brach und eine Anzahl Personen ins Wasser stürzte. Dieselben wurden jedoch von einem Leichter und einer Schute, die an der Treppe lagen, aus dem Wasser gezogen, und auch die Rettung der übrigen Passagiere gelang ohne weiteren Unfall, als daß eine Frau sich den Arm aussetzte. Um 5 Uhr etwa wurde das Schiff durch einen Dampfer aus dem hafen bugsirt und bei Steinwärder auf Grund gesetzt, wo die schon an dem Mast in die Höhe schlagemden Flammen mit Hülfe der Schiffspritzen bald bewältigt wurden. Über die Entstehungsursache des Brandes war gestern Abend noch nichts Bestimmtes bekannt.

In 1864, the ELBE, was purchased at New York, where she had arrived with severe storm damage, by Capt. Bardua, who renamed her SARAH, and sailed her to Rotterdam. Here she was purchased by Capt. C. Arboe, of Copenhagen, who renamed her ANSGAR. In 1868, the ANSGAR ex ELBE was purchased by T. Sonne, of Copenhagen, from whom she was purchased in 1885 by J. A. Olsen, also of Copenhagen. In 1890, the ANSGAR ex SARAH ex ELBE was purchased by W. Holmberg, of Söderby (Mariehamn), and passed into Russian registry. On 14 November 1900, Capt.A. Sundell, bound from Hartlepool to Copenhagen, the ANSGAR ex SARAH ex ELBE stranded on the island of Læsö.

Sources: Peter-Michael Pawlik, Von der Weser in die Welt; Die Geschichte der Segelschiffe von Weser und Lesum und ihrer Bauwerften 1770 bis 1893, Schriften des Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseums, Bd. 33 (Hamburg: Kabel, c1993), p. 215, no. 201; Walter Kresse, ed., Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger Reedereien, 1824-1888, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte, N. F., Bd. 5 (Hamburg: Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte, 1969), vol. 1, pp. 37, 187-188; Arnold Kludas and Herbert Bischoff, Die Schiffe der Hamburg-Amerika Linie Bd. 1: 1847-1906 (Herford: Koehler, 1979), p. 20.

The steamship ELBE, the first of three vessels of this name owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd, was built by John Elder & Co, Glasgow (yard #248), and was launched on 4 April 1881. 4,511 tons; 131,9 x 13,7 meters (length x breadth); straight stem, 2 funnels, 4 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, compound engines, service speed 16 knots; accommodation for 179 passengers in 1st class, 142 in 2nd class, and 796 in steerage; crew of 148 to 184.

The ELBE was the first Norddeutscher Lloyd express steamer, and the first Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer with 1st class amidships rather than aft. 26 June 1881, maiden voyage, Bremen - Southampton - New York. 1883, fitted with electric lights. October 1889, first of three voyages to Australia. Some time after 1890, her bridge was extended forward by some 3 meters, with windows instead of portholes. She was an uneconomic ship to run, due to high coal consumption and her small cargo holds. On the evening of 29 January 1895, sailed from Nordenham for New York with 352 passengers and crew. At approximately 5:30 the following morning, 30 January 1895, approximately 30 miles west of Ijmuiden, Netherlands, collided with the British steamship CRAITHIE, bound from Aberdeen for Rotterdam with a cargo of coal, and sank in 20 minutes, in 30 fathoms of water. Of the 352 on board, 332, including Capt. v. Gossel, died, the highest loss of life in Norddeutscher Lloyd history; the 20 survivors were taken by hering catcher to Lowestoft. Early in 1993, Dutch amateur divers located the wreck, and salvaged much of the glasswork and tea sets.

Sources: Arnold Kludas, Die Seeschiffe des Norddeutschen Lloyd, Bd. 1: 1857 bis 1919 (Herford: Koehler, c1991), pp. 29-30 (photographs); Edwin Drechsel, Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, 1857-1970; History, Fleet, Ship Mails, vol. 1 (Vancouver: Cordillera Pub. Co, c1994), pp. 26-27, 76 (photograph; painting); Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), p. 551.

The U.S. (later Hamburg) ship ELECTRIC was a "medium clipper", built at Stonington/Mystic, Connecticut, by Irons & Grinnell, launched on 5 September 1853, and registered at New York on 10 November 1853. 1046 tons (1273 tons in the New York certificate of registry); 185 ft 1 in x 38 ft 7 in x 21 ft 5 in (length x beam x depth of hold). She was owned first by G. Adams, and later by the Gerry family of New York. She made a single voyage around Cape Horn to California, sailing from New York on 15 November 1854, and arriving at San Francisco on 4 March 1855, a passage of 116 days. She sailed from San Francisco on 24 March 1855, and crossed the Pacific to Hong Kong in 48 days. From Hong Kong she proceeded to Shanghai, from where she sailed to New York in 106 days.

Aside from this single round the world voyage, the ELECTRIC served in the transatlantic trade, in particular between New York, Havre, and Antwerp. On 30 July 1856, she was purchased from Brower, of New York, for $62,250, by the Hamburg shipowner Robert Miles Sloman, who continued to employ her primarily in the North Atlantic trade. On 2 November 1868, she sailed from Hamburg with 350 passengers and a general cargo, and on 21 December 1868, went ashore at Great Egg harbor, New Jersey. Her passengers were landed on the beach, her cargo was lightered, and she was towed to New York, where extensive repairs were made. On 7 November 1872, while bound from Hamburg to New York, she was abandoned, leaky and nearly full of water, in lat. 40 North, lon. 55 West. Her crew, together with the crew of the British bark CHASE - which the ELECTRIC had earlier come upon in a sinking condition - were picked up by the HELMESBRAND, Kjaer, master, and landed at Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland.

Masters:
     1856-1859 - J. C. Wienholtz
     1859-1863 - H. C. Johannsen
     1863-1869 - J. Junge
     1869-1872 - C. J. N. Peyn

Voyages:
     1856-1861 - Melbourne/intermediate ports/Bremerhaven
     1861      - New York
     1861-1862 - New York
     1862      - New York/London
     1862-1863 - New York/London
     1863-1864 - La Plata/Callao
     1864      - New York/London
     1864-1865 - New York/Newcastle on Tyne
     1865      - New York/London
     1865-1866 - New York/London
     1866      - New York
     1866      - New York/Bremerhaven
     1866-1867 - New York/London
     1867      - New York/Philadelphia
     1867-1868 - New York/Philadelphia/Bremerhaven
     1868      - New York
     1868-1869 - New York/Bremerhaven
     1869-1871 - Dona Francisca/Batavia/Semarang/Nieuwediep/Amsterdam
     1871-1872 - New York/Bremerhaven
     1872      - New York (twice)

Sources: Octavius T. Howe and Frederick C. Matthews, American Clipper Ships, 1833-1858, Marine Research Society (Salem, Mass.) Publication No. 13 (Salem, MA: Marine Research Society, 1926-27), vol. 1, pp. 153-154; Carl C. Cutler, Greyhounds of the Sea; The Story of the American Clipper Ship (New York: Halcyon House, c1930), pp. 426 and 497; William Armstrong Fairburn, Merchant Sail (Center Lovell, ME: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, [1945-1955]), II.1272; III.1662, 1964, 2021, 2023, 2029, 2037, 2040, 2059, 2069, 2097; IV.2267, 2648; V.2856, 2858, 2859; VI.3649; Ernst Hieke, Rob. M. Sloman jr., errichtet 1793, Veröffentlichungen der Wirtschaftsgeschichtlichen Forschungsstelle e.V., Hamburg, Bd. 30 (Hamburg: Verlag Hanseatischer Merkur, 1968), p. 374; Forrest R. Holdcamper, List of American-flag Merchant Vessels that received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867 (Record Groups 41 and 36), National Archives Publication No. 68-10, Special Lists No. 22 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1968), p. 196; Walter Kresse, ed., Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger Reedereien, 1824-1888, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte, N. F., Bd. 5. (Hamburg: Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte, 1969), vol. 2, p. 212.

Source: Forrest R. Holdcamper, comp., List of American-flag Merchant Vessels that received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867 (Record Groups 41 and 36), National Archives Publication 68-10, Special Lists 22 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1968), p. 197.

The Bremen ship (later bark) ELISE was built at Vegesak/Grohn by Johann Lange, for the Bremen firm of Albers & Köncke, and was launched on 10 May 1835. In 1850, she belonged half to the firm of J. D. Köncke Hermanns Sohn and half to Ferdinand Henschen. 177 Commerzlasten / 415 tons register; 31,4 x 8,8 x 5,1 meters (length x beam x depth of hold).

The ELISE was originally rigged as a ship, but sometime in late 1852 or early 1853 she was re-rigged as a bark.

On the return leg of a voyage fo New York, the crew of the ELISE rescued 16 survivors from the sunken French steamer LYONNAIS, as reported in the Weser-Zeitung for 4 December 1856:

Nachdem der LYONNAIS mit einem unbekannten Schiffe, welches aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach sogleich gesunken ist, in der Nacht vom 2. auf den 3. November zusammengestossen hatte, blieb Jedermann noch bis zum andern Morgen an Bord, und als darauf beschlossen war, das Schiff zu verlassen, baute man ein Floss, auf welchem sich 40 Menschen, vermuthlich Zwischendecks-Passagiere, einschifften, während die übrigen Passagiere und Mannschaft in den am Bord befindlichen 6 Booten, darunter nur 1 Rettungsboot, vertheilt wurden. Von diesen Allen ist bis jetzt nur das letztere aufgefunden und sind die noch darin befindlichen 16 Menschen, nachdem 2 der Eingeschifften in den 6 Tagen des Umherirrens vor Kälte gestorben waren, von der Bremer Bark ELISE, Capt. Nordenholz, am Sonntag Nachmittag, den 9. November, aufgenommen und somit gerettet worden. Diese hatten sämmtlich erfrorene Glieder und befanden sich überhaupt in einem schrecklichen Zustande; diesem abzuhelfen und zu verbessern, wurde am Bord der ELISE alles Mögliche aufgeboten; da jedoch das Schiff bald Mangel an Wasser gelitten haben würde und selbiges mit der Hamburger Bark ELISE, Capt. Nielsen, auf 40 Grad 51 Min. N.Br., 65 Grad 40 Min. W.L. zusammentraf, so wurden 14 jener Passagiere an Bord dieses Schiffes gebracht, um damit nach Newyork zurückzukehren, während 2 Personen auf der Bremer Bark verblieben, um damit nach Bremen zu kommen.

In 1857, the Bremen bark ELISE was sold to O. C. Reinhardt & D. Isaachsen, of Christiansand, Norway, who renamed her VESTA; her captain under the Norwegian flag was T. A. Torjussen. In May 1863, she was standed at Newfoundland, and became a total loss.

Source: Peter-Michael Pawlik, Von der Weser in die Welt; Die Geschichte der Segelschiffe von Weser und Lesum und ihrer Bauwerften 1770 bis 1893, Schriften des Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseums, Bd. 33 (Hamburg: Kabel, c1993), pp. 187-188, no. 129.