Captain Barstow took charge of Celestial Empire at anchor off the Battery in New York for a voyage to San Francisco, October 27, 1874.

Celestial Empire unloaded her cargo at Mare Island Navy Yard, near San Francisco, on March 22, 1875, and her bottom was re-coppered.

On May 27, 1875, Celestial Empire set sail in ballast for Callao, Peru, on a charter in the guano trade, arriving July 15, 1875.

"The American Consul found in favor of the captain, saying "I have come to the conclusion that they have not been treated badly - their conduct has bordered on insubordination and they have not complied with the conditions of their contract.

"After boarding 3 new men to replace deserters, on July 27, 1875, the ship "left Callao for the Southern Guano Deposits and arrived at Point Lobos on the 12th of August".

The Guano is loaded into launches of from 10 to 15 tons each direct from the deposits, and through shutes of canvass from the rocks to the Launches and is towed off by the Ship's boats and hoisted, or passed on board in tubs or baskets ..."-- a very dirty and dusty operation.Finally, on October 6, two of Captain Barstow's seamen decided they had had enough of sitting on a rolling ship at the desolate guano deposits.

[2] In March 1853, Celestial Empire, along with fifteen other vessels including clippers Highflyer, Antelope, Levanter, and Shooting Star, was supplied with Bibles by the American Seamen's Friend Society.

[1] The crew of Celestial Empire was rescued by Captain Rufus P. Trefry, of the barque Templar, in February 1878, somewhere in the vicinity of Lat.

At the time of the initial encounter, Celestial Empire was rolling too heavily for the crew to be taken off, due to the sea condition, and the lack of sails to steady her.

France, Captain Trefry received a cablegram from the owners of the derelict ship, as follows : "Gold watch and chain for you at American Legation, London."

The watch bore the inscription : "Presented by the President of the United States [ Rutherford B. Hayes ] to Captain R. P. Trefry, of the British barque Templar, in recognition of his brave and humane conduct in rescuing the officers and crew of the American ship Celestial Empire, February 23rd, 1878."

The schooner’s rail was damaged, because Celestial Empire did not position her fenders properly, and the ship, not the tug, was held to be at fault.