COVER PAGES
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OFFICER/CREW LISTS
dated
16 June
1881
Position: San Francisco
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
List
of Officers attached to and on board the USS Rodgers at the time of leaving the
anchorage.
R.
M. Berry, Lieut.
H.
S. Waring, Master
C.
F. Putnam, Master
H.
J. Hunt, Ensign
G.
M. Stoney, Ensign
M.
D. Jones, P. Asst. Surg.
A.
V. Zane, P. Asst. Eng.
J.
D. Castillo, Asst. Surg.
W'm
Gilder, Pay Clerk
H.
de Tracey, Acting Carp.
Crew
members on board of the USS Rodgers from 30 May to 1 December 1881. Compiled
list of all names mentioned either in logbook, William Gilder's book
'Ice Pack and Tundra'
or
"Our
Lost Explorers".
Berry, Robert M., Lieutenant
Castillo, Joaquin D., Assistant
Surgeon
Gilder, William, Pay Clerk
(Journalist NY Herald)
Halsey, William F., Master
– hospitalized 14 June 1881
Hunt, Henry J., Ensign
Jones, Meredith D., Passed
Assistant Surgeon
Putnam, Charles F., Master
Stoney, George M., Ensign
Tracey, H.P., de, Acting Carpenter
Waring, Howard S., Master
Zane, Abraham V., Passed
Assistant Engineer
Burk, Frank (Quartermaster)
Booker, Dominick (Steward)
Bruch, Frederick (Boatswain's
Mate)
Bush, Richard
Cahill, Patrick (Machinist)
Derring, W.H.
Grace, William (Cook)
Gardner, George
Hodgson, Joseph (Paymaster)
Huebner, Julius (Fireman)
Johansen, Jacob (Seaman)
Lloyd, Arthur (Fireman)
Loudon, Thomas (Seaman) 13.6.1881
from USS Pensacola
McCarthy, Owen (1st Class
Fireman)
McShane, Frank (Seaman)
McShean, Charles (Seaman)
promoted to Quartermaster 30.9.1881
Melms, Frank F. (Fireman)
Morelli, Robert (Cook)
Morgan, William F.
(Master-at-Arms)
Morrison, S.W. (Machinist)
O'Leary, Albert (1st Class
Fireman) 13.6.1881 from USS Pensacola
O'Leary, Edward (1st Class
Fireman)
Petersen, Olaf F. (Fireman)
13.6.1881 from USS Pensacola
Polter, Otto (Seaman)
Quirk, Joseph F. (Carpenter's
Mate)
Roach, J. (Seaman) AWOL since 9
June 1881
Rohde, William (Quartermaster)
[Rohdy] disrated to seaman 30.9.1881
Schumann, Hans (Second Mate)
Smith, Fred
Smith, J. (Seaman) AWOL since 9
June 1881
Smith, William (Seaman) AWOL since
9 June 1881
Tatarenoff, Constantine
'Peter'
(Dog Driver) joined crew at
Petropavlovsk
'Liverpool' (Native Dog Driver) joined crew at St. Lawrence Bay on 18 or 19 August
1881
'Cockney'
(Native Dog Driver) joined crew at St. Lawrence Bay
on 18
or 19 August 1881
Total number of men on board at departure from San Francisco: 38
plus
who sadly went down with the ship
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List of Officers Who Died
Position: San Francisco
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
List
of Officers who died commanded by Lieut. R.M. Berry, USN during a cruise
for the search of the Jeannette
Station
from June 15 1881 to end of cruise Nov. 30th 1881.
Cha's
F. Putnam, Master – Lost by drifting
to sea on floe of ice out of St. Lawrence Bay Siberia Jan 11th, 1882
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Complement
COMPLEMENT
of Petty Officers, Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, Landsmen, Boys, and Marines on
board of the USS Rodgers at first commissioning May 30th 1881
Master
at Arms 1
Machinists
3
Pay.
Yeoman 1
Blacksmith
1
Capts
of Forecastle 2
Capts
of Tops 4
Quarter
Masters 4
Carpenter's
Mate 1
Ships
Cook 1
Cabin
Steward 1
Cabin
Cook 1
First
Class Firemen 3
Seamen
3
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OUTLINE PLOT OF ARCTIC VOYAGE OF USS RODGERS from ST MICHAEL,
ALASKA
(click to enlarge. Southern and northern parts of this plot
follow in the text)
(Maps Prepared using
Journey Plotter,
developed by Maikel. The Plots can only be approximate. They are made by
joining-up positions on successive days, and sometimes positions are not
given. There will therefore be occasions when the ship appears to have
travelled overland )
LOGS FOR MAY
1881
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30 May 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
In the presence of the Captain of
the yard, Commanding Officer and
crew broke the pennant and put the ship into commission.
Editor's
note: The whaler 'Mary and Helen' was renamed 'Rodgers', after
R.
Adm. John Rodgers, the president of the
Jeannette Relief Board, and commissioned under the command of Lieutenant Robert
M. Berry. Among the volunteer crew were
William Gilder and Frank Melms. Both men have accompanied
Frederick Schwatka's expedition of 1878-80. Gilder, a correspondent of the New
York Herald, wrote a detailed report about the cruise of the Rodgers. His book
'Ice Pack
and Tundra' provided much of the
information that is absent in the logbook.
The Rodger's primary mission was to conduct a search for
the USS Jeannette and the lost whalers Vigilant and Mount Wollaston in the area
of Wrangel Island and a stretch along the Siberian coast. The whalers were last
seen in fall 1879 off Point Barrow, Alaska. The second task was to chart the
region of Wrangel Island, still deemed part of a greater landmass extending
further to the north, and nearby Herald Island. Before they could begin with
their search they had to resupply at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, and
replenish coal at St. Michael, Alaska.
The Jeannette expedition under the command of Lieutenant
George DeLong attempted to reach the North Pole, but got stuck in the ice near
Wrangel Island in 1879. The Jeannette drifted 500 nautical miles to the
westward before she was crushed by the ice on 12 June 1881 and sank on the next
day. Now the crew began their long trek across the ice, hauling sleds and boats
for hundreds of miles towards the Siberian coast. Only about one third of them
survived. Before their departure from San Francisco DeLong announced that he
would leave cairns with information either on Wrangel Island or the nearby
Herald Island if possible, making these islands the obvious starting point for
the search of the Rodgers. However, the Jeannette wasn't able to reach these
islands.
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31 May 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
No weather readings taken yet
Receiving stores and provisions
on board.
LOGS FOR
JUNE 1881
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1 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Receiving stores on board.
Constructors gang at work about ship.
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2 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Receiving stores and provisions
on board.
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3 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Receiving stores on board.
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4 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Receiving stores provisions and
coal on board.
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5 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Lying alongside Navy Yard wharf
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6 June 1881
Position: Mare Island Navy Yard
Lat 38.09, Long -122.27
Full weather recordings commence
at 1am
Commencing and until 4am: Lying
at wharf Navy Yard. Pleasant weather light airs from South-South-West.
4 to 8am: Making preparations for
hauling out in steam. Getting stores on board.
7.00am: Started fiers. [fires]
7.40am: Began hauling out to
buoy. Pleasant weather light fresh breeze from South-South-West.
8.10am: Made fast to buoy.
9.30am: Spread fiers.
10.10am: Started ahead. Slipped
from buoy under charge of pilot
11.15am: Sighted US Flag Ship
'Pensacola', made ship
number. Flag ship returned her number. Standing down bay under pilot
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant with fresh breeze from the South-West by South. Under way standing
down bay in charge of pilot. Set fore and aft sails when they would draw. Set
all fore and aft sails.
3.30pm: Came to anchor off San
Francisco, with port anchor, in 5 fathoms water. Veering to 15 fathoms on
chain. Soft bottom. Took in and furled all fore and aft sails.
4 to 6pm: Riding to ebb tide.
Appearance of rain. Light airs from South-West by South. Ships draught 15 feet 6
inches forward, 16 feet 10 inches aft.
6 to 8pm: Riding to ebb tide.
Light air from South-West by South.
8pm to Midnight: Riding to wind.
Raining and disagreeable. Light airs from the southward.
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7 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and raining whole watch. Light South-South-East breeze, hauling to
southward and westward. Barometer steady at 30.00.
4 to 8am: Overcast. Raining
during first hour. Clearing off and barometer rising after 6am. West by South
breeze. Ebb tide.
8am to Meridian: Fine weather.
South-West breeze. Engaged in setting up standing rigging. Barometer steady at
30.00.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant with fresh breeze from South-West. Ship riding to the wind
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Fresh breeze from the South-West. Ship riding to the wind.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
Fresh breeze from the South-West. Ship riding to the wind.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Light breeze from the South-West
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8 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat 37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Clear
and pleasant; light westerly wind, bright star light.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Light variable winds.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
pleasant. Steady barometer. Received on board for transportation to Fort St
Michaels, Alaska, five (5) boxes from the US Signal Corps office, and one
(1) box addressed to Petropaulowski, Russia. [Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky]
Meridian to 4pm: Pleasant
weather. South-West breeze. Steady barometer. Received on board in Equipment
department eighty nine (89) cases of coal oil, two (2) cases of glass ware +
two (2) barrels of glass ware.*
4 to 6pm: South-West breeze.
Steady barometer. Sent liberty party ashore.
6 to 8pm: South-West breeze.
Steady barometer.
8pm to Midnight: West-South-West
breeze. Steady barometer. Closed clear and pleasant.
Editor's note: *It was not uncommon to transport glassware in
barrels of molasses to prevent damage.
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9 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Day
opened clear and pleasant, with light West-South-West breeze and slightly
falling barometer. The following men were absent without leave viz: J. Roach
(sea), Wm Smith (sea) J. Smith (1st cF) O. Polter sea.
4 to 8am: Pleasant. Light breeze
from West. Barometer falling slightly.
8am to Meridian: Light airs and
light breeze from West by South and South-West. Barometer steady. Received
stores in equipment department. O. Polter returned aboard.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
strong breeze from South-West. Barometer falling slightly.
4 to 6pm: Blowing fresh from
West-South-West. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Blowing fresh from
West-South-West. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh breeze
from West-South-West. Barometer rising.
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9 June 1881
Duplicate pages
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10 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Blowing
fresh from West-South-West.
1.30am: Ship commencing to drag
veered to 30 fathoms and brought up.
4 to 8am: Light to moderate
breeze from West-South-West to West. Pleasant weather. Barometer steady.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
pleasant, fresh breeze from West-South-West to South-West. Got under way and
shifted anchorage, using jib and spanker. The following men absent without
leave, viz;, W. Roach (sea), J. Smith (sea), Wm. Smith (sea).
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
pleasant. Light breeze from the West-South-West. Got up steam and shifted
anchorage. Received on board 1500 lbs of bagging.
4 to 6pm: Overcast and pleasant,
cold. Wind from the West-North-West.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and pleasant,
cold. Wind from the West-North-West.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
cold. Light variable wind.
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11 June 1881
Editor's note: Dated as 10 June
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cold. Light breeze from the West to West-South-West.
4 to 8am: Overcast and pleasant.
Light breeze from the West-South-West.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from West-South-West. Barometer falling slightly. Found out that the stores had
come from New York were in bad condition. Commanding Officer ordered a board of survey and the detailed
report will be appended.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
from West-South-West. Barometer falling slightly. Received on board 1 box
containing clothes for officers. Also several boxes of sheep skin clothing.
4 to 6pm: Blowing fresh from
West-South-West. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
West-South-West. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs and
light breeze from West by South and West-South-West. Barometer steady.
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12 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Clear
and pleasant, West-South-West breeze. Barometer steady 30.16. Cirrus clouds.
4 to 8am: Weather fair. Barometer
steady at 30.14. Cirrus clouds.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. South-West breeze. Rising barometer.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant. West-South-West breeze. Barometer 30.16.
4 to 6pm: Moderately fresh breeze
from West-South-West. Barometer falling. Cirrus clouds.
6 to 8pm: Moderately fresh breeze
from West-South-West. Barometer falling.
8pm to Midnight: Closed pleasant.
West-South-West breeze. Barometer 30.05. Cirrus clouds.
Editor's note: This page bears an arrow pierced heart in the top right
hand corner.
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13 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Fresh
breeze to light air from South-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling.
4 to 8am: Light airs from the
South-South-West. Misty around horizon.
8am to Meridian: Light air from
South-South-West first hour of watch. Light breeze from the West-North-West
remainder of watch. Engaged in receiving stores on board.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
from the South-South-West. Clear and pleasant. Finished receiving aboard. Great
many ladies visited the ship.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze from the
South-West. Clear and pleasant.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze from the
South-West. Clear and pleasant.
8pm to Midnight: Pleasant.
South-West breeze. Rising barometer. Stratocumulus clouds. Misty horizon.
Received on board with bag and hammock, by transfer from USS Ship 'Pensacola'
the following men viz: O. L. Peterson (sea), T. Louden (sea),
Albert O'Leary (1st c.F.). Ensign H. J. Hunt returned on board ship
from duty at Navy Yard Mare Island, Cal.
Editor's note: On this day the
Jeannette sunk after being severely damaged by ice floes on the previous day
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14 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commencing and until 4am: Began
overcast and cloudy, with fresh breeze from South-West, moderating after 2am.
Barometer steady at 30.04. Stratocumulus clouds.
4 to 8am: Overcast. Rising
barometer. South-West breeze.
8am to Meridian: First part of
watch fresh breeze from South-West. From 9 to 11am stiff breeze from
West-South-West. From 11 to 12m stiff breeze from the West. Received fresh
provision aboard. Revenue cutter came alongside.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff breeze
from the West. Clear but misty around horizon. Master
Wm F. Halsey, USN, was sent to hospital at Mare Island Cal, by order of
Commanding Officer on recommendation of
medical jury. Ship dragged at 3.30pm. Veered to 30 fathoms on port chain.
4 to 6pm: Fresh to moderate
breeze from West-South-West. Clear and pleasant. Hove in to 15 fathoms on port
chain.
6 to 8pm: Fresh to moderate
breeze from West-South-West. Clear and pleasant.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate breeze
to light air from West-South-West to West by South. Clear and pleasant, misty
around horizon.
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15 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commences and until 4am: Light
variable airs from southward and westward. Misty around horizon.
4 to 8am: Light variable airs
from the southward and westward. Misty around horizon.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Light variable airs. Barometer rising slightly. Cirrus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
South-West breeze. Falling barometer. Cirrus clouds.
4 to 8pm: Moderate
West-South-West breeze. Barometer falling slightly. Cirrus clouds.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Light breeze from West-South-West first two hours, hauling to
South-West last two. Barometer steady at 30.08 until last hour when it rose to
30.10. Cirrus clouds.
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16 June 1881
Position: San Francisco Cal
Lat
37.71, Long -122.28
Commences and until 4am: Clear
and pleasant. Light breeze from South-South-West hauling to westward. Barometer
steady at 30.10. Cirrus clouds.
4 to 8am: Light South-West
breeze. Pleasant weather. Barometer steady. Cirrus clouds.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to
fresh breeze West to West-South-West. Made all preparation for going to sea. Master
C. F. Putnam USN reported on board for duty. Many people visited ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff breeze
from West-South-West.
3.00pm: Called "All hands up
anchor". Hove up anchor and stood out of harbor, in charge of pilot,
accompanied by several steamers. Great many people were on the dock to witness
our departure. We were cheered by all. Made all preparations for sea. Secured
every thing, boats etc. Steamer left for the city. Draught of ship: Forward 14
ft 10in. Aft 17 ft 9 in.
4 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
West-South-West. Clear and pleasant. In charge of pilot, standing out of
harbour.
7.30pm: Pilot left ship. Changed
course and made all plain sail to top gallant sails. Close hauled on starboard
tack.
8pm to Midnight: Weather clear
and cool. Light to moderate breeze from North-West by West.
8.30pm: Took departure. Point
Bonita Light bore North by East 1/2 East (pc) distant 6 miles.
9.30pm: Stopped engine, blew down
boilers and hauled fires.
Midnight: Farallon Light
bore one point forward of starboard beam. Heavy swell from the westward.
Editor's
note: On the same day when the Rodgers had left San Francisco,
the USS Alliance left Norfolk, Virginia,
to conduct a search for the crew of the Jeannette in an area to the north of
Spitsbergen, in the case that they have successfully reached the North Pole and
took the shorter route to either Greenland or Spitsbergen instead of returning
to Wrangel Island. After an unsuccessful search the Alliance returned to New
York in November after having reached 80 degrees 10' N on 21 August 1881.
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17 June 1881
Position: at sea
Lat 37.69 Long -123.00 Farrallon
Light Station at 4am.
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Editor's note: No further
position given until they reach the Aleutian Islands on 10 July
Commences and till 4am: Fresh
wind from North-West by West. Steady barometer. Cirrus clouds. Moderate sea.
4.00am: Farallon Light
bore broad off starboard quarter.
4 to 8am: Stiff and fresh breeze
from North-West by West. Clear and pleasant. Rough sea. Wind coming in puffs.
8am to Meridian: Weather clear
and pleasant. Fresh North-West wind. Rough sea.
10.00am: Set upper topsails.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant. Fresh North-West breeze. Steady barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds.
4 to 6pm: Fresh and stiff breeze
from North-West by North. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy and squally.
Fresh North-West squalls. Cumulus clouds.
8pm to Midnight: Squally. Fresh
breeze from North-North-West. Barometer steady at 30.10. Cirrocumulus clouds.
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18 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Fresh
breeze to moderate gale from the North-North-West. Overcast and pleasant.
Barometer falling.
4 to 8am: Cloudy and squally.
Wind fresh from North-West by North. Rough sea. Steady barometer.
8am to Meridian: Squally.
Overcast and cloudy. Fresh breeze from North-West by North. Barometer rising.
Moderate sea.
8.20am: Set mainsail and main
topgallant sail.
9.20am: Took in spanker.
11.20am: Set fore topgallant
sail.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
stiff breeze from North-West by North. Squally. Overcast and pleasant.
Barometer rising.
4 to 6pm: Cloudy and squally.
Moderate breeze from North-West by North.
5.40pm: Took in main sail to a
squall and at 5.50 reset it. Heavy sea from North-West.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and cloudy.
Moderate breeze with occasional puffs from North-West by North. Rain squalls
around the horizon. Barometer steady at 30.20.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to
gentle breeze from the North-West. Except last hour from the North-West by
West. Threatening all the watch. Light rain squalls during first two hours of
watch.
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19 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Weather
cloudy but pleasant. Light breeze from North-West by West. Occasional moderate
squalls.
4 to 8am: Cloudy. Pleasant. Light
breeze from North-West by North. Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
5.00am: Set royals and flying
jib.
6.00am: Set spanker, gaff
topsail, mizzen topsail, staysail and main topgallant staysail.
8am to Meridian: From 8 to 9am
light to gentle breeze from West by North. From 9 to 10 light airs from
North-West to westward. From 10 to 11 light to gentle breeze from North-West by
West. From 11 to 12 light to gentle breeze from North-West. Clear and pleasant.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant. Light breeze from North-West by West. Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Passing rain squalls. Light North-West breeze. Steady barometer. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
North-West by North. Clear and pleasant.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant first part; cloudy latter part of watch. Wind light from northward to
westward. Smooth sea.
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20 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Light
North-West breeze. Passing rain and wind squalls.
1.00am: Hauled up main sail.
2.00am: Set main sail.
4 to 8am: Light airs and gentle
breeze from northward and westward. Passing rain squalls.
5.00am: Took in all light sails
and main sail for passing squalls.
5.30am: Set all light sail.
8am to Meridian: Weather clear.
Light breeze from northward and westward. Smooth Sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Cloudy but
pleasant. Light breeze from the North. Rising barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds.
Smooth sea.
1.00pm: Started fires.
3.20pm: Started ahead under sail
and steam. Hauled up courses, ~ the foot ropes on foot of sails for chafe and
reset them.
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from the
North, overcast and pleasant.
5.10pm: Stopped engine to key up.
5.15pm: Started engine ahead.
6 to 8pm: Weather pleasant. Light
airs from northward. Smooth Sea.
7.30pm: Took in and furled all
square sail.
8pm to Midnight: Pleasant. Light
breeze from North by West.
11.00pm: Set the fore sail.
Midnight: Furled the fore sail.
Closed pleasant.
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21 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Clear
and pleasant. Light breeze At Light and gentle breeze from North by West.
Clear and pleasant.
1.25am: Moonrise
4 to 8am: Weather clear and
pleasant, light airs from North by West.
5.30am: Hauled up foresail, broke
out sail room and stored kerosene in it. Smooth sea.
8am to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant, light airs and calms.
11.00am: Hauled down fore and aft
sails.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs from
West by North. Clear and pleasant. Braced yards around sharp up starboard
braces. Sighted full rigged ship on port beam. Standing North on port tack.
4.15pm: Commenced to swing ship,
finished at 5.55.
5.00pm: Stopped engine to key up.
Clear and pleasant light West-North-West breeze. Smooth sea.
6 to 8apm: Clear and pleasant,
light West-North-West airs and calms. Steady barometer. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to
light breeze from the North. Clear and pleasant.
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22 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Clear and
pleasant. Light West-South-West breeze.
12.10am: Set fore and aft sail.
1.50am: Moonrise
4 to 8am: Cloudy, pleasant
West-South-West breeze light and hauling to southward. Barometer steady.
5.00am: Set gaff topsail.
7.00am: Set foresail.
8.00am: Set mainsail.
8am to Meridian: Light to gentle
breeze from South-West to West-South-West. Passing rain squalls from
South-West to West-South-West first part of watch, clear and pleasant at
end of watch.
9.00am: Set all sail to royals.
Meridian to 4pm: Cloudy with
light passing rain squalls last half of watch. Wind light from West-South-West.
Smooth sea.
2.40pm: Took in royals and flying
jib.
3.00pm: Set them again.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from
West by South, cloudy. Steady barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
West by South. Passing rain squalls. Barometer falling. Smoky looking weather.
8pm to Midnight: Cloudy with
passing rain. Smooth sea.
8.30pm: Took in royals, flying
jib and main and mizzen topgallant staysails.
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23 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am:
South-West breeze with passing wind and rain squalls. Barometer falling.
Overcast. Barometer falling. Nimbus clouds.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate
breeze from South-West by West. Passing rain squalls.
7.00am: Hauled fires and stopped
engine.
7:20am: Sighted bark on port beam
standing to the northward. Cloudy weather.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from West first part and West by North afterwards. Passing rain squalls.
Exchanged colors and G.M.T. with English bark standing to the northward.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from West by North, hauling to the northward. Barometer steady. Cumulus clouds.
2.00pm: Talked ship to southward
and westward.
4 to 6pm: Light to gentle breeze
from the North-West. Cloudy to windward and sun occasionally visible. Barometer
rising.
6 to 8pm: Light North-West
breeze. Light passing squalls with rain. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs from
North-West and calm. Overcast, cloudy and drizzling. Steady barometer. Smooth
sea.
10.00pm: Hauled up courses.
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24 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Calm
first three hours of watch. Light airs to light breeze from South-West from 3
to 4am.
1.20am: Hauled down staysails and
squared main yards.
3.00am: Wove ship and stood on
port tack. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Wind light from
South-West first part and from West-South-West latter part of watch. Light
passing rain squalls. Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Light
South-South-West breeze. Barometer steady. Cirrocumulus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to stiff
breeze from South-South-West. Weather cloudy and misty around the horizon.
3.40pm: Braced in with port
braces. Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Cloudy and squally.
Fresh breeze from South-West by West.
6.00pm. Took in royals, gaff
topsail and flying jib. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze from
South-West by South.
7.30pm: Took in spanker.
Barometer steady. Moderate sea.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to
stiff breeze from South-West by South. Overcast and dirty weather.
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500dc366cd0db40002000f9c (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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25 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commences and till 4am: Strong
South-West wind. Moderate sea. Barometer falling. At took [sic!] in
upper topsails and jib. Rain squalls during latter part of watch.
4 to 8am: Strong South-West by
South breeze. Barometer steady at 30.06. Moderate sea.
4.30am: Set upper topsails.
6.00am: Set topgallant sails and
jib.
8am to Meridian: Stiff to fresh
breeze. First part of watch dirty weather, last of watch clear and pleasant.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh South-West
by South breeze. Moderate sea. Overcast. Steady barometer.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze from
South-West by South. Moderate sea. Steady barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze from
West-South-West. Cloudy weather with mist around horizon. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh West by
South breeze, moderating towards end of watch. Moderate sea. Weather overcast.
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500dc366cd0db40002000f9e (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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26 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate West-South-West breeze. Fresh squalls during second hour.
1.00am: Set topgallant sails.
2.10am: Took in topgallant sails.
3.00am: Reset them. Barometer
rising. Overcast and cloudy. Nimbus clouds. Moderate sea.
4 to 8am: Moderate to fresh
breeze from West-South-West. Squally weather and cloudy to windward. Reduced
sails and topsails for passing squalls. Set them soon as squall over. Set
royals during watch and found wind too heavy to carry them. Barometer rising.
8am to Meridian: Fresh West by
South breeze, cloudy and squally first part of watch, clear and pleasant
afterwards. Moderate sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
fresh breeze from West-South-West hauling to northward. Slightly squally during
second hour. Barometer rising. Moderate sea.
12.45pm: Set main topgallant
staysail, royals and flying jib.
4 to 6pm: Fresh to stiff breeze
from the West. Clear and pleasant. Ship working beautifully.
6 to 8pm: Clear first part,
overcast afterwards. Wind fresh from West first hour, West by South afterwards.
Squally. Moderate sea.
8pm to Midnight: Squally. Steady
barometer.
10.00pm: Took in and furled
topgallant sails. Very brilliant comet* in sight to the northward and eastward.
Commanding Officer shifted course to
West. Ship full and by on port tack.
10.30pm: Hauled down and furled
mizzen top staysail.
11.00pm: Hauled up mainsail,
hauled down jib and furled them.
Editor's note:
*Comet Tebbutt c/1881 K1, 'the great comet of
1881'
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27 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Fresh
to moderate breeze from the West. Overcast most of the watch. Very brilliant
comet visible to the North.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from
West. Squally.
6.30am and 7.00am: Took in
topgallant to squall. Reset them when squall passed.
8am to Meridian: Moderate breeze with
passing rain squall. Rising barometer. Cumulus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
stiff breeze from the West. Overcast and cold. Cloudy with the sun occasionally
visible. Ship rolling easily. Water filled with animal life. Barometer falling
last hour of watch.
4 to 6pm: Cloudy and cold. Fresh
breeze from West. Moderate sea. Squally with passing rain.
5.30pm: Took in royals and flying
jib to squall.
5.45pm: Reset them when squall
passed.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
West. Barometer falling. Occasional squalls.
8 to Midnight: Moderate to stiff
breeze from West. Cloudy and cold. Took in topgallant sail and mainsail to
squall, reset them after squall. Barometer steady. Squally weather.
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28 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Fresh
breeze from West by North. Weather overcast and squally with passing rain.
Moderate sea.
4 to 8am: Squally from
North-West. Falling barometer. Took in and reset topgallant sails several times
during the watch.
6.00am: Set main topgallant
staysail.
7.45am: Wove ship to southward and
westward.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to
fresh breeze from North-West to West-North-West. Partially overcast and cold.
Dirty looking to windward. Flying scud coming from the northward and westward.
Took in spanker. Barometer steady. Long sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
from West-North-West. Weather squally. Cloudy occasionally clear spot. Fresh
squalls with rain at intervals. Took in topgallant sail to squall at 2.10, 2.40
and 3.20 and reset them when squalls passed. Moderate sea.
4 to 6pm: North-West by West
breeze with frequent fresh squalls. Barometer 30.20. Took in and reset
topgallant sails several times.
6 to 8pm: Moderate to fresh
breeze from North-West. Cloudy and squally. Dirty to windward. Barometer
rising. Took in topgallant sails.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast raining
and squally. Wind fresh from North-West. Moderate sea.
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29 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze with occasionally fresh squalls during first two (2) hours.
Steady and hauling a little to the northward after 2am.
1.30am: Hauled down mizzen top
staysail.
2.30am: Reset it.
3.00am: Set topgallant sail and
main topgallant staysail.
4 to 8am: Moderate to gentle
breeze from the North-West by West to North-West. Overcast and cold. Clouds
steady and hard looking. Set royals and flying jib. Barometer rising.
8am to Meridian: Wind moderate to
light variable in direction from West-North-West to West by South. Smooth sea.
Cloudy with pouring rain.
10.45am: Started fiers.
Meridian to 4pm: Light South-West
by South breeze freshening and hauling to southward. Steady barometer at 30.44.
Sky overcast. Smooth sea.
Noon: Took in and furled all
square sails.
1.00pm: Started ahead under steam
and fore and aft sails on course West.
2.00pm: Set fore sail.
4 to 6pm: Gentle breeze from the
South-West by South. Overcast and pleasant.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and raining.
6.35pm: Shortened and furled all
sails. Wind light from West-South-West to West. Moderate sea.
8pm to Midnight: Freshening
breeze from West by North. Barometer rising. Foggy during first three hours of
watch. Comet in sight to the northward during last hour. Smooth sea. Ship under
steam alone.
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30 June 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Light
to gentle breeze from West by North. Foggy and dirty weather. Few stars visible
first hour of watch. Comet visible first hour of watch bearing (p.c.) North.
Barometer falling.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from
West first three hours of watch and from West by South last hour. Thick fog
first two hours overcast and misty afterwards. Smooth sea. Several fur seals
were observed near the ship.
8am to Meridian: Moderate West by
South breeze. Barometer rising. Overcast and foggy. Fog lifted at noon
permitting noon observation.
11.00am: Kept ship off to
North-West by North and set all fore and aft sails which increased her speed
from 2.4k to 3.4k. Broken sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze
from West by South. Clear and pleasant. Broke out and cleaned fore passage.
Barometer steady. Bent and set mizzen topmast staysail.
4 to 6pm: Wind moderate from West
by South. Clear and pleasant first part. Foggy last part of watch. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
West by South. Clear and pleasant last part of watch. During first hour foggy.
Clear sunset. Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze from
West by South. Overcast and very foggy. Barometer steady.
VOYAGE OF USS RODGERS - UNALASKA to ST MICHAEL, ALASKA
(northern part of voyage follows)
LOGS FOR
JULY 1881
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1 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Moderate West by South
breeze. Weather overcast and foggy. Smooth sea. Long swell from westward.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from West. Barometer rising.
Overcast and foggy. Smooth sea.
6.00am: Tacked ship to southward and westward.
8.00am: Furled sails and steamed ahead on course
West.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze from West-South-West.
Overcast and foggy. Very dirty weather. Long sea from the South-West. Ship rolling
easily.
Meridian to 4pm: Light South-West breeze.
1.00pm: Set fore and [aft] sails. Foggy. Sea
smooth.
4 to 6pm: Freshening breeze from South-West. Foggy.
Steady barometer.
5.00pm: Made all sail and stood away to
West-North-West 1/2 West.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from South-West by South.
Foggy dirty weather. Long sea from South. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate breeze from South-West
first two hours, hauling to West by South third hour and to West last hour of
watch. Foggy first part cloudy overhead last hour. Smooth sea.
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2 July 1881
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Foggy. Light breeze from West. Barometer
steady.
12.10am: Tacked ship to southward and westward.
4 to 8am: Gentle breeze from West to North-North-West. Foggy and wet.
4.30am: Wind shifted from West by North and hauled to North-North-West.
Barometer rising.
8am to Meridian: Light North-North-West breeze first part, shifting to
North-East last hour. Foggy, clear last hour.
11.45am: Braced in. Smooth sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze from East at beginning of watch.
Freshening and hauling to southward. Engaged during watch in breaking out and
stowing fore hold.
12.30pm: Hauled up mainsail, took in spanker, flying jib and staysails
and squared away before the wind.
2.00pm: Barometer fell suddenly from 30.64 to 30.58 and wind shifted
from East-South-East to South-South-East. Foggy. Smooth sea.
3.00pm: Set flying jib and mainsail, spanker and gaff topsail and braced
up by starboard braces. At close of watch ship going large on port tack.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from the South. Foggy dirty weather. Barometer
steady.
6 to 8pm: Fresh South by West breeze. Foggy.
7.00pm: Commenced distilling. Smooth sea. Barometer falling rapidly.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh breeze from South-South-West. Barometer falling
and wind increasing.
8.00pm: Took in and furled royals and flying jib.
9.00pm: Hauled down and stowed main topgallant and mizzen topmast
staysail.
10.30pm: Hauled up mainsail. Took in and furled topgallant sails.
Editor's note: Ship hit 8 knots
at 5pm and 9 knots from 7 to 10pm.
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3 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Stiff
breeze to moderate gale from South-West to West. Blowing hard at intervals. Barometer
falling rapidly first half hour of watch remained steady for two hours and
commenced to rise. Ship labouring hard. Distilling.
1.30am: Took in jib and main topmast staysail.
3.40am: Took in upper topsail.
3.55am: Wove ship.
4 to 8am: Strong wind from North first two hours hauling to North by
West and North-North-West last two hours. Weather cloudy. Rough sea. Barometer
rising rapidly. Distilling.
8am to Meridian: Fresh breeze from North-West by North. Moderating and
hauled a little to the westward.. Barometer rising. Sky overcast. Long swell
from the Northward.
9.20am: Set jib, main top staysail, main topgallant staysail, mizzen top
staysail, fore topgallant sails and mainsail.
10.00am: Set flying jib and spanker. Distilling.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate breeze to light air from West-North-West to
North-West by West. Overcast and pleasant.
3.00pm: Took in all square sails and stood on course West. Barometer
steady. Clouds steady and threatening looking.
4 to 6pm: Light North-West by West breeze. Weather cloudy. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Light North-West by West breeze. Steady barometer. Sky
overcast. Sea smooth.
8pm to Midnight: Light air from North-West first hour, calm remainder of
watch. Overcast and threatening. Barometer steady. Hauled down all fore and aft
sails.
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4 July 1881
Position: at sea
Lat: 41.50 at sunrise
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Light
air from West by North. Cloudy. Smooth sea.
3.30am: Set jib
4 to 8am: Light air from the
North. Working to the eastward and finally setting down to a gentle breeze from
East. Barometer steady at 30.72. Sky overcast. Took amplitude at sun rise North
41 degrees 30' East. Ship head (pc) West.
4.30am: Set fore and aft sail.
6.00am: Made all square sail
except mainsail and hauled down all fore and aft sail except jib. Hoisted the
ensign at daylight.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze
from East. Overcast and pleasant. Clouds steady and hard looking.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from East. Smooth sea. Cloudy.
3.40pm: Changed course to
West-North-West and braced up by port braces. Set flying jib and spanker, gaff
topsail and lee clew of mainsail.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from
East. Steady barometer. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
East-South-East to South-East. Overcast and pleasant. Braced up with starboard
braces.
8pm to Midnight: Weather cloudy.
Moderate to fresh breeze from South-East. Weather cloudy but pleasant. Smooth
sea.
500dc366cd0db40002000faf (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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5 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Overcast, foggy and cloudy. Raining during 3rd
hour. Fresh breeze from South-South-East hauling to southward. Barometer
falling. During the watch ship logged 11 knots under all steam and sail.*
2.00am: Took in royals to light squall. Reset them.
3.00am: Set all staysail.
4 to 8am: Stiff breeze from South. Foggy and wet. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Fresh South-West breeze. Thick foggy weather.
9.15am: Changed course to West by North.
9.20am: Stopped engine and banked fiers. Commence distilling. Moderate
sea increasing toward end of watch. Barometer falling.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze from South by West. Fog and drizzling rain
throughout watch.
1.00pm: Hauled down main topgallant and mizzen top staysail. Barometer
fell .08, remaining steady at 30.08.
4 to 6pm: Stiff to fresh breeze from the South. Foggy and raining.
Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from South by West to South-South-West. Foggy
and raining. Rough sea.
8pm to Midnight: South-South-West breeze. Falling barometer. Overcast
and raining. Nimbus clouds.
Editor's note: *And the ship could hold steady 9-10
knots from midnight to 4pm according to columns.
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6 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from the South-West to West by South. Overcast and cold. Took
in all sails. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Moderate
West-South-West breeze. Cloudy with rain at intervals.
4.30am: Set all fore and aft
sail, except gaff topsail and changed course to full and by.
7.00am: Set gaff topsail. Large
heavy squall from South-West.
8am to Meridian: Fine weather.
Rising barometer. Moderate West-South-West breeze. Cirrostratus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to
moderate breeze from West by South. Overcast and pleasant. Sun visible
occasionally. Sea moderate. Gaff topsail out haul carried away. Took
in the sail, rove new gear on set sail. Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Wind moderate from West by South. Heavy swell from
West-South-West. Weather cloudy.
6 to 8pm: Moderate West-South-West breeze. Steady barometer. Long swell
from South-West.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate breeze from West-South-West. Overcast and
cold. Heavy swell from South-West. Barometer steady. Comet visible for a short
time bearing (p.c.) North.
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7 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate to light breeze from South-South-West to South-West. Cloudy and cold.
Long swell from West-South-West.
4 to 8am: Overcast and cloudy.
Drizzling rain during the second and third hour. Light South-South-West breeze,
freshening and hauling to southward. Barometer falling slowly.
4.30am: Made all square sail and
took in main trysail.
8am to Meridian: Moderate breeze
from South to South-South-West. Overcast and foggy. Braced sharp up with
starboard braces. No observation at noon. Sea going down. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate breeze
from South-South-West to South-West by South. Cloudy and foggy first part.
Misty afterwards. Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Light South-West
breeze. Steady breeze. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Stiff breeze from
South-West to South-West by South. Overcast and cold. Registered mercurial
barometer from 8pm.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh breeze
from South-West with a moderate sea. Wind and sea increasing toward midnight.
Weather cloudy.
9.00pm: Took in and furled royals
and flying jib.
9.40pm: Took in and furled
topgallant sails, main topgallant staysail, mizzen top staysail and gaff
topsail and spanker.
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8 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing: Strong breeze from
South-South-West. Increasing to strong gale at close of watch.
12.00am: Hauled up and furled mainsail.
1.00am: Hauled down and stowed jib.
3.00am: Took in and furled upper topsail. Heavy sea running.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze to strong gale from the South-West to South-West
by South. Clear and pleasant. Very heavy sea from South-South-West. Barometer
unsteady. Ship laboring very hard. Shipping great many seas.
8am to Meridian: Fresh South-West gale with heavy sea. Weather clear and
cold.
10.00am: Took in and furled foresail and brailed up spanker.
10.05am: Wove ship to southward and eastward and brought by on starboard
tack.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate gale from South-West. Heavy sea. Rising
barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
4 to 6pm: Stiff to fresh breeze from South-West by South. Partially
overcast and pleasant. Sea moderating. Barometer falling.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze South-West by South first hour. South-West by
West last hour of watch. Partially clear first hour, cloudy afterwards. Sea
rough, moderating toward end of watch.
8.00 to Midnight: Moderate breeze from West-South-West. Rising
barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
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9 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from West-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Cleared up between
2 and 3am. Comet visible in the North. Very dim.
4 to 8am: Light westerly breeze.
Weather cloudy. Long swell from West-South-West.
8am to Meridian: Overcast first two
hours and pleasant last two hours. Light West by South breeze. Steady
barometer. Smooth sea.
9.30am: Tacked ship to northward
and westward.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from South-West by West to
South-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant. Light West-South-West breeze. Steady
barometer. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to moderate breeze from West-South-West to
South-West by West. Clear and pleasant. Bright moon light.
500dc366cd0db40002000fb9 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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10 July 1881
Position: at sea
Lat 53.50, Long -166.40
approximate position – bearing line to peak of Mount Makushin given at
2.20 am, assuming distance of 30 nm
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Clear
and pleasant. Light breeze from West-South-West to South-West by West.
2.20am: Sighted highest peak of Ounalaska
[Mount Makushin on Unalaska Island] bearing (p.c.) North-West by
North. Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Light South-West by
West breeze. Barometer steady. Clear sky. Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from South-West by West. Clear and pleasant, but hazy around horizon. Land in
sight along starboard beam. Under steam.
Meridian to 4pm: Light South-West
by West breeze. Clear and pleasant. Smooth sea. Land in sight along starboard
bow and beam during watch.
4 to 6pm: Light South-West by
West breeze. Steady barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds. Smooth sea.
4.40pm: Changed course to
South-West and at 5.30 to West-South-West again by order of Commanding Officer.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
South. Clear and pleasant. Barometer unsteady.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Light airs from South. Ounalaska Isld. and the
Islands of Four
Mountains in sight during watch.
500dc366cd0db40002000fbb (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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11 July 1881
Position: at sea
Lat 52.50, Long -172.00 Amukta Pass at noon
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Commenced pleasant with light airs from South-East.
1.30am: Light breeze sprung up
from East-South-East freshening and hauling to eastward.
2.00am: Made all plain sails to
topgallant sails. Land all along starboard beam. Overcast and drizzling rain
during last hour of watch.
4 to 8am: Moderate to stiff
breeze from East. Overcast and raining. Very dirty and raining. From 4 to 5am
land in sight on starboard beam and quarter.
5.00am: West end of of Younanska
Island [Yunaska Island] bore (p.c.) North-West by North distance
about 15 miles. Changed course to South-West by West 1/2 West. Took in flying
jib.
6.49am: By order of Commanding Officer changed course to
South-West by West.
7.00am: Passed through a chopping
sea; resembling the sea seen on a bank. The water had a peculiar color, having
every appearance of shoal water. Got a cast of lead, no bottom at 17 fathoms.
Barometer falling very rapidly.
8am to Meridian: Foggy and
raining. Fresh breeze from East to South-East. Standing through
Amoukhta Pass.
8.20am: Changed course to
North-West by West.
10.50am: Changed course to West.
11.50am: Sighted Seguam Island
on port bow. Moderate sea in the channel. Large patch of floating kelp.
Meridian to 4pm: Pleasant light
breeze from North.
2.00pm: Passed out from under lee
of land, got a fresh breeze from South by East and wove around on port tack.
2.40pm: Set mainsail, main top
staysail and mizzen top staysail.
3.00pm: Stopped steaming and
hauled fiers. Set flying jib to ease the helm. Changed course to West by South
by order of Commanding Officer.
4.00pm: Made a high peak on port
beam bearing (p.c.) South 25 West.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from
South by West to South-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Land in sight on port
bow and beam.
6.00pm: Changed course to West.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy. Fresh southern
breeze.
8.00pm: Cape Sevennai*
bore (p.c.) South-West 5/8 West. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Pleasant.
Moderate breeze from South during first hour. Breeze lessening, falling calm at
10.00. Ship fell off to North-North-East and light air came out from West.
Braced round on starboard tack. Light air came out from North. Chappeled ship
and headed course at 11.
Editor's note: *Possible
misspelling of Mys Severnyj or North Cape on Akta Island.
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12 July 1881
Position: at sea
4.00am: Wind force 0. No steerage
way
Lat 52.50, Long -174.50 approximate position N of Akta Island – bearing line to North
Cape (?) given at 4am
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Light
air from South-East to South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Very high air, the
light sail would be full and the courses becalmed.
3.10am: Wove ship.
4.00am: Cape Severnoi [Editor's
note: see 11. July at 8pm] bore (p.c.) South-East by East.
4 to 8am: Cloudy. Light variable
airs and calm. Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Cloudy but
pleasant. South-South-East breeze.
8.45am: Started fiers.
11.00am: Started ahead under
steam. Barometer falling. Smooth sea.
Noon: Changed course to West 1/2
South.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to moderate
breeze from South to South-South-East.
4.00pm: Partially overcast and
pleasant. Island bore (p.c.) South by East. Barometer falling.
4 to 6pm: Light South-South-East
breeze. Weather clear and pleasant. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
Light airs from South-South-East.
7.00pm: Fell calm, with
occasional light airs from North-East. Shortened and furled sails.
8pm to Midnight: Light air from
South by East. Overcast and raining last hour of watch. Set all plain sails to
royals. Barometer falling.
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13 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and foggy with rain last hour. Light variable airs and calm. Smooth
sea.
2.30am: Hauled up mainsail.
4 to 8am: Overcast, cloudy and
raining the during the whole watch. Light variable airs, working all around the
compass. Rising barometer. Nimbus clouds. Braced around the yards several
times.
4.30am: Hauled up courses and
clewed down royals.
5.30am: Reset royals and
foresail.
8am to Meridian: Light variable
air. Overcast and raining. Took in all square sails.
Meridian to 4pm: Light variable
air and calm.
1.30pm: Hauled down fore and aft
sails. Foggy and raining. Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Freshening breeze from
South-West by West. Barometer falling. Smooth sea. Raining throughout the
watch.
5.00pm: Set fore and aft sails
and headed West.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from West
by South. Overcast, foggy and raining. Took in fore and aft sails. Barometer
falling.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze
from South-West by South to South-West by West. Foggy and raining, smooth sea.
9.20pm: Made all fore and aft
sail.
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14 July 1881
Position: at sea
Long 180.00
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Editor's note: While no exact
position is given, Gilder mentioned that they have passed the 180th
meridian on this day. To avoid confusion the date wasn't changed though,
because the ship would cross the date line several times. It should also be
mentioned that after the Alaska Purchase of 1867 the date line was congruent
with the 180th meridian in the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea,
which is running through Wrangel Island. With the International Date Line this
is no longer the case.
In Gilder's own words:
'Thursday, the 14th of July, we crossed the 180th meridian, and were in east
longitude. Here is where the mariner takes up one day when sailing toward
the west, or drops one if going east. As we return in a few days and
re-cross the same meridian, we would have to make two changes in our
calendar, but Lieutenant Berry concluded that we might as well retain our
old reckoning. The only difference it made is that we found the religious
people of Petropaulovski holding service on Saturday instead of Sunday, and
we are constantly in doubt as to whether to-day is really to-day or
to-morrow. And yet this constantly dropping and taking up a day every time
we cross the 180th meridian, would make it exciting for us in case of
wintering on Wrangel Land, as that meridian passes directly through the
island; so that we would be constantly crossing and re-crossing it,
involving ourselves and our journals in the most inextricable confusion. We
could not go hunting and reach the hunting-grounds until the next day, no
matter how short the time occupied in the journey, and, in returning, would
always arrive the day before we started. No well-balanced mind could exist
under such circumstances.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/21/mode/1up
Commencing and until 4am: Light
breeze from South-West by West. Steady barometer, until last hour when it fell
.09. Smooth sea. Overcast and hazy around horizon.
4 to 8am: Gentle breeze from
South by West to South-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Light South by
West breeze. Overcast and hazy with fog at times.
9.20am: Made all plain sail.
Smooth sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
South-West by South breeze. Falling barometer. Cumulus clouds. Foggy during
greater part of watch. Sea smooth.
4 to 6pm: Gentle to moderate
breeze from South-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Barometer very unsteady.
6 to 8pm: Light to moderate
breeze from South-South-West. Cloudy and hazy. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
drizzling rain during the whole watch. Moderate breeze from South by East.
Cumulus clouds. Smooth sea.
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15 July 1881
Position: at sea
Lat 52.80, Long 173.20 near Massacre Bay on Attu Island at noon
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Gentle
to moderate breeze from East-North-East to North-East by East. Very foggy and
wet. Braced yards as wind hauled. Hauled down main top and mizzen top staysail.
Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from
North-East by East first part hauled gradually to North and North-North-West.
Overcast and foggy. Smooth sea.
6.30am: Set weather clew of
mainsail and mizzen topmast staysail, main topgallant staysail.
8.00am: Sighted land on port beam.
8 to Meridian: Foggy. Light
North-North-West breeze hauling to westward.
10.15am: Fog lifted, disclosing Attou
Island on port bow. Changed course to South by East and at 11.30 to
South-West passing to the southward of the island. Fixed the position of a reef
extending from the South-East point of Attou Island. 2.5 miles direction
(p.c.) South 71 East (not marked on chart).
Meridian to 4pm: Calm from 1 to
3pm. Light air from North-West last hour of watch. Clear and pleasant.
1.00pm: Changed course to
West-South-West.
3.00pm: Changed course to West
1/4 South. Bearings at time (pc) Viz Rock at West end of Attou Island
North 50 degrees W, East end of Attou Island North 47 degrees East. Running between
the Islands Attou and Aghatou during the entire watch. At end of
watch; West end of Attou Island bore (pc) North-West 1/2 North. Highest
peak of Aghatou Island bore (pc) East-South-East.
4 to 6pm. Moderate North-West
breeze. Cloudy weather. Long swell from southward.
5.00pm: Changed course to West by
South.
5.30pm: Fog set in Attou
and Agattou Islands.
6 to 8pm. Light West-North-West
breeze. Rising barometer. Long swell from northward and westward.
8 to Midnight: Light to gentle
breeze from North-West to North-West by West. Foggy and drizzling rain first
three hours of watch. Overcast and pleasant last hour. Barometer steady. Long
swell from southward.
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16 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am: Light
West-North-West breeze first three hour. West by North last hour. Overcast with
fog first part. Long swell from southward.
4 to 8am: Light West-North-West
breeze. Steady barometer. Overcast during whole watch. Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from West to West by South. Overcast and pleasant. No latitude and longitude at
noon. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Light West-South-West
breeze. Easy swell from southward. Weather cloudy.
4 to 6pm: Overcast and cloudy.
Light West-North-West breeze, hauled to northward. Barometer rising. Smooth
sea.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from West
by South. Foggy and cold. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze
from West by South first three hours and from South-West by West last hour.
Weather overcast and foggy. Clear overhead at intervals last hour.
10.40pm: Stopped engine to key
up.
11.45pm: Set fore and aft sail.
Smooth sea.
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17 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and foggy. South-West breeze. Smooth sea. Barometer rising.
3.00am: Made all sail excepting
mainsail and kept ship full and by on West-North-West 1/2 West.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate
breeze from South-West to South-South-West. Foggy and pleasant.
5.00am: Took in all square sails.
8am to Meridian: Moderate breeze
from South-South-West to South by West. Cloudy with fog around horizon. Smooth
sea.
9.00am: Made all sail.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
foggy. Moderate breeze from South. Barometer steady. Long swell from southward
and westward.
2.30pm: Changed course to West
1/2 North by order of Commanding Officer.
3.00pm: Took in gaff topsail.
4 to 6pm: Moderate to stiff
breeze from South. Foggy and raining. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Fresh South by East
breeze. Overcast and drizzling rain. Moderate sea. Barometer falling.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
raining during the whole watch. Moderate breeze from South by East. Falling
barometer. Moderate sea.
10.00pm: Banked fiers.(sic)
Editor's note: Ship maintained steady 8 knots from 11 am to midnight.
Hit 9 knots twice.
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18 July 1881
Position: at sea
From San Francisco to
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate to light breeze from South to South-West. Raining from midnight to
3am. Foggy remainder of watch.
1.00am: Spread fiers.
1.40am: Started ahead under steam
and sail.
3.30am: Took in all square sails.
4 to 8am: Light South-West
breeze. Overcast and foggy. Long swell from southward. Furled all square sails.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
foggy, drizzling rain during last hour.
10.00am: Hauled down fore and aft
sails.
Meridian to 4pm: Light air from
North. Foggy and ~.
12.30pm: Changed course to West
by North. Passed great many whales.
4 to 6pm: Light airs from
northward and calm. Overcast, raining and foggy.
6 to 8pm: Light North-East
breeze. Barometer rising.
7.45pm: Loosed all sails. Set
topsails.
8pm to Midnight: Light to
moderate breeze from North-East by East. Overcast and raining.
10.25pm. Changed course to
West-North-West 1/2 West. Set all square sails to royals. Took in spanker and
gaff topsails.
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19 July 1881
Position: at sea
Noon to 6pm: Changed course
– work into land, working into harbour.
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Reaching Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Commencing and until 4 am:
Moderate East-North-East breeze. Overcast and raining. Moderate sea.
0.40am: Brought by the wind on
port tack, with main topsail to the mast. Took in main and mizzen top
staysails, main topgallant staysail, flying jib and royals. Hauled up courses
and set spanker. Banked fiers.
3.10am: Filled away set foresail
and royals. Took in spanker.
4 to 8am: Foggy. Moderate breeze
from North by East. Barometer falling.
7.00am: Took in and furled
royals.
8 to Meridian: Gentle breeze from
North by East. Foggy and cold.
11.00am: Sighted land on
starboard bow and ahead. Took in all sails and stopped engine in order to determine
position. Standing off and on until noon. Got cast of lead in 52 fathoms. No
noon observation.
12.20pm: Got cast of lead in 52
fathoms.
12.40pm: Pyramid Point
bore (pc) South 1/4 East. Fifth point to northward of Pyramid Point bore
(pc) West-North-West 1/2 West. Set course North by East 1/2 East and started
ahead under steam.
3.30pm: Sighted Brothers ['Three
Brothers' or 'Kamni Tri Brata'] bearing (p.c.) North 1/2 West standing in to entrance of
Avatcha Bay. Foggy. Calmed and light variable airs.
4 to 6pm: Foggy. Falling
barometer. Light South-South-East breeze. Standing in for Petropaulovski
in conn of Commanding Officer. General
course North-North-West.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
South-South-East. Foggy and raining. Working into the harbor. Piloted by
Captain.
7.00pm: Mate of 'Alexander' came aboard and piloted ship
to anchorage.
7.15pm: Came to with port anchor
in 5 fathoms of water veering to 30 fathoms of chain. Bearing from anchorage
(pc) church spire in city North. Center building of Alaska Fur Company
building South-West by West. Hauled fiers. Governor of Kamchatka
visited ship. All so boarding officer from Russian man-of-war 'Strelock'.
8pm to Midnight: Light air from
South-South-East. Foggy and raining.
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20 July 1881
Position: at
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Commencing and until 4am: Calm.
Overcast and foggy.
4 to 8am: Light air from North by
East. Foggy and raining at intervals.
8am to Meridian: Light variable
air from South-South-East to South by West. Overcast and raining.
Meridian to 4pm: Calm. Overcast
and drizzling rain. Commanding Officer
paid official visit to the Governor and the Russian Man-of-War "Strelock".
4 to 8pm: Calm. Cloudy weather.
Granted liberty to starboard watch.
8pm to Midnight: Calm and cloudy.
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21 July 1881
Position: at
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Commencing and until 4am: Calm.
Overcast and pleasant.
4 to 8am: Light airs and calm.
Master C.F. Putnam left the ship with working party to secure dogs. Took
two boats with provisions for two (2) days.
8 to Meridian: Light breeze from
North. Engaged in restowing deck load of lumber.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from North-West. Engaged as previous watch.
4 to 8pm: Same a previous watch.
8 to Midnight: Day closed clear
and pleasant. Light North-West breeze. Steady barometer.
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22 July 1881
Position: at
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Commencing and until 4am: Light
airs and calm. Rising barometer. Pleasant weather.
4 to 8am: Engaged during the
watch in restowing deck load and cleaning ship. Weather same as previous watch.
8am to Meridian: Pleasant weather.
Number of visitors on board from the Alaska Fur Co., steamer 'Alexander'
and Russian Man-of-war.
Meridian to 4pm: Pleasant. Light
breeze from North-East to North by East. Barometer rising.
2.45pm: Master Cha. F. Putnam
with party returned on board. Received on board 22 trained dogs.
4 to 8pm: Light breeze from the
North first 2 hours. Calm last two. Weather pleasant. Received on board a
quantity of dried salmon for dog food.
8pm to Midnight: Calm. Steady
barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds. Pleasant weather.
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23 July 1881
Position: at
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Commencing and until 4am:
Pleasant and calm. Barometer steady. Cirrocumulus clouds.
4 to 8am: Calm and pleasant.
Barometer falling slightly. Crew engaged in shifting and restowing deck load.
8 to Meridian: Light airs from
North-West and calm. Working party on shore for wood and water. At noon working
party returned.
Meridian to 4pm: Calm and
pleasant. Steady barometer. Sent working party on shore. Received on board a
quantity of skin clothing and dried salmon. The latter for dog food. Six head
of cattle. 22 train dogs. Six cords of wood. Received full tanks of fresh
water.
4 to 8pm: Calm and pleasant.
Finished securing deck load as follows, viz., in the waist is stowed as
follows, eleven thousand feet of lumber, six (6) cords of wood piled to a
height of eight feet amidships, tapering to a little below the rail on each
side, extending from the main hatch aft, forward to the deck house. Abaft of
the lumber, on each side on the main hatch, are the dog pens. Forward of the
lumber on the port side the cutter, on the starboard, the spare rudder and
water casks. The decks are completely choked up, only room enough next to the
pipe and fife rails to belay the ropes.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
cloudy, but pleasant weather. Calm with steady barometer. Cir-Nim clouds.
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24 July 1881
Position: at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Lat 53.00, Long 158.70
Commencing and until 4am: Clear
and pleasant. Calm. Cirrocumulus clouds. Steady barometer.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Calm.
7.00am: Started fiers.
9.00am: Hauled fiers and emptied
boilers to repair a leak.
8 to Meridian: Calm. Received on board
fresh ~ (600lbs).
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from South-South-East.
2.00pm: Started fiers.
4.00pm: Got underway and steamed
out of port.
4 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
Light South-South-East breeze. Steady barometer.
7.45pm: Set course East-North-East
1/2 East.
7.50pm: Took departure of Petropaulovski.
Lighthouse bore (p.c.) North by West 1/2 West distance of 4 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light air to
light breeze from East. Overcast and pleasant. Hazy around horizon. Barometer
steady.
Editor's note: Captain de Livron,
commanding officer of the Strelok, offered to join their search for the missing
ships. Upon their return from St. Michael the Rodgers was supposed to meet the
Strelok at Plover Bay, but was delayed. They met the Strelok at St. Lawrence
Bay instead, but after their departure they lost sight of the Strelok at Cape
East and they didn't see the ship again.
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25 July 1881
No position given
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am: Light
breeze from the East. Cloudy and pleasant. Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from the
East. Overcast and cloudy. Steady barometer. Land in sight along port beam.
Cumulus clouds.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to
light breeze from East-North-East to North-East. Overcast and raining first 2
hours of watch. Pleasant remainder.
10.00am: Changed course to
North-East 1/2 North. Set fore and aft sails, but would not draw. Left them up
today.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from North to North-East. Cloudy but pleasant. Hauled down fore and aft sails.
Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Light North-North-East
breeze. Barometer rising. Cirrocumulus clouds. Overcast but pleasant.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from the
North. Overcast but pleasant. Barometer rising.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze
from North-North-East to North-East. Weather cloudy but pleasant. Swell from
North-East.
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26 July 1881
No position given
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cloudy during first and last hours. Clear and pleasant rest of
watch. Barometer falling. Light breeze from North by West to North by East. Set
all fore and aft sails.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from North
by East to North-East by East. Overcast but pleasant. Hauled down all fore and
aft sails.
8.00am: Land bore (pc) North-West
by North.
8am to Meridian: Light airs from
North-East and calms. Weather cloudy but pleasant.
10.00am: High Peak in sight on
port beam. Smooth sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
cloudy. Steady barometer. Smooth sea.
1.00pm: Set fore and aft sails.
Light airs from East to East by South.
4 to 6pm: Light airs from East.
Overcast but pleasant. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Light airs from East by
South. Cloudy but pleasant weather. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs from
East and calm. Overcast but pleasant. Barometer falling.
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27 July 1881
No position given
Lat 55.30, Long 166.30 approximate position at 4pm
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am: Light
air to light breeze from East. Overcast but pleasant.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from
East-South-East to South-East. Pleasant weather.
6.00am: Sighted Behring Island
on starboard bow. Center of western part bearing (pc) East 3/4 North. Made
all square sails except mainsail.
7.28am: Changed course to
East-North-East.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Light South-East breeze; hauling to South-South-East after 10am.
Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs to
light breeze from South-East by East to South-East. Clear and pleasant.
4.00pm: Highest peak on Behring
Island bore (pc) South 1/4 East distance between 15 and 18 miles. Also high
land bore (p.c.) North-West by West.
4 to 6pm: Light South-East
breeze. Clear and pleasant. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Light airs from
East-South-East. Barometer 29.96. Smooth sea.
8.00pm: Changed course to
North-East 1/4 East by order of Commanding
Officer.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs from
East-South-East. Overcast but pleasant. Smooth sea.
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28 July 1881
Position: at sea
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am: Cloudy
but pleasant. Light airs from East-South-East and calm.
0.30am: Took in mainsail and
mizzen topmast staysails.
3.30am: Reset them.
4 to 8am: Calm and light airs
from East-South-East. Light breeze from North-West after 6am. Barometer steady.
Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to
light breeze from South to South-East. Overcast but pleasant. No observation at
noon. Commenced serving out lime juice to each man aboard ship. Each man to
take daily one ounce. To be taken in the presence of the officer of the deck.
By order of the Commanding Officer.
Meridian to 4pm: Cloudy. Light
airs from South to South by West. Smooth sea.
3.00pm: Hauled down mizzen
topmast staysail.
4 to 6pm: Cloudy. Light breeze
from South. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from the
South. Overcast but pleasant. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Cloudy but
pleasant. Light airs from South-South-West.
11.00pm: Stopped engine to key
up.
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29 July 1881
Position: at sea
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am: Cloudy.
Light South-South-West breeze, hauled to West last hour. Steady barometer.
4 to 8am: Light airs to light
breeze from West-South-West to South-West. Overcast but pleasant.
6.00am: Commenced distilling.
Barometer steady.
8am to Meridian: Light airs and
variable from South-West to West-North-West. Cloudy but pleasant. Easy sea from
North-West.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from West. Cloudy. Smooth sea. Barometer falling. Ship under all sails and
steam.
4 to 6pm: Gentle breeze from the
West. Overcast and cold. Distilling.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
West. Weather cloudy. Distilling.
8pm to Midnight: Cloudy. Light to
moderate breeze from West. Smooth sea. Closed pleasant.
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30 July 1881
Position: at sea
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing until 4am: Gentle to
moderate breeze from West-North-West. Overcast but pleasant. Distilling.
Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Moderate
West-North-West breeze. Cloudy and cold.
7.30am: Set weather clew of
mainsail.
7.50am: Stopped distilling.
Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Moderate breeze
from West-North-West. Rising barometer. Smooth sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze
from North-West. Overcast but pleasant.
Noon: Changed course to
North-East 1/4 North. Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Light North-West
breeze. Cloudy. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy. Light
North-West by North breeze. Steady barometer.
7.00pm: Fell calm with occasional
light airs from North-North-West. Hauled up courses. Took in royals and
topgallant sails.
8pm to Midnight: Calm. Overcast
and hazy around horizon. Took in and furled all square sails. Barometer steady.
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31 July 1881
Position: at sea
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am: Calm
and cloudy.
2.00am: Hauled down fore and aft
sails. Smooth sea. Barometer falling.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Calm first hour. Light breeze sprung up from East.
6.00am: Set fore and aft sails.
7.00am: Breeze hauled ~ ~ to the
southward. Made all sails. Close haul on starboard tack.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze to
light airs from East-South-East to South-East by East. Overcast but pleasant.
Near noon the sun was visible for a short while.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs from
North-East to East-North-East. Cloudy and hazy. Smooth sea.
12.40pm: Took in all square sails
and furled them.
12.45pm: Changed course to
North-East by North.
3.00pm: Took in all fore and aft
sails.
4 to 6pm: Overcast and cloudy.
Light airs from North-East. Barometer rising. Smooth sea.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
North-East by North. Overcast but pleasant.
8pm to Midnight: Cloudy and
misty. Light airs from North-East by North to North-East by East.
LOGS FOR
AUGUST 1881
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1 August 1881
Position: At sea
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am:
Cloudy and pleasant. Light breeze from North by West.
1.30am: Set fore and aft
sails.
3.00am: Breeze freshened and
hauled to westward. Made all sails.
3.30am: Wind hauled to West by
North. Took in all square sails.
4 to 8am: Light to gentle
breeze from North to North by West. Overcast and cold. Barometer steady.
8am to Meridian: Weather
overcast and drizzling rain. Light North by West airs. Calm last hour.
Noon: Changed course to
North-North-East 3/4 East.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
calm. Barometer steady. Cumulonimbus clouds. Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Light airs from
North-North-West. Overcast and raining. Barometer falling.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and
drizzling rain. Light North by West airs. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light air to
gentle breeze from North by West to West. Overcast with little blue sky last
hour. Drizzling rain first hour.
11.00pm: Set all square sails.
Barometer falling.
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2 August 1881
Position: At sea
Lat 63.00, Long -169.00
approximate position at 3.45 pm
From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,
Russia to St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am:
Light air from West to West-South-West. Partially overcast and pleasant.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Light breeze from West-South-West first two hours and from West afterwards.
Smooth sea.
8am to Meridian: Warm and
clear, with light West breeze hauling West-South-West.
9.30am: Changed course to
North-North-East 1/4 East by order of Commanding Officer.
10.00am: Barometer steady.
Smooth sea. Land in sight on port bow.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from the South-West. Clear and pleasant. Between 3 and 4pm temperature of water
at surface dropped 4 degrees from 48 degrees to 44 degrees . Barometer steady.
3.45pm: South-East cape bore
(p.c.) South 70 degrees West. East cape North 5 degrees East. Passing St.
Lawrence Island; distance 7 to 9 miles.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Light South-West breeze.
5.10pm: Changed course to
North-East by East and at 6pm to North-East 3/4 North.
6.00pm: North Punuk Island
bore (p.c.) North-West 1/4 North distance 3 miles.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant
weather. Light Southern breeze. Steady barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds. Smooth
sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze
from South to South by East. Clear and pleasant. Set spanker, gaff topsails and
all staysails. At end of watch North-East portion of St. Lawrence Island
bore (p.c.) West-South-West.
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3 August 1881
Position: At sea
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Reaching St. Michael, Alaska
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and pleasant. Light South-South-East breeze. Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant
weather. Light South-East breeze. Hauling to eastward and freshening at 6am.
6.00am: Took in gaff topsail
to ease helm.
7.00am: Noticed appearance of
shoal water, sounded and found 7 fathoms. Shoal water extended a mile, sounding
showing respectively 7, 7, 9, 9, + 13 fathoms.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to
moderate breeze from South-East by East. Clear and pleasant. Taking sounding at
15 minute intervals; depth varying from 13 to 9 fathoms. Gray sandy bottom.
Water showing considerable difference in temperature as per column.
Meridian to 4pm: Got cast of
lead at 1.30 in 9 fathoms. At 2 in 9 3/4 fathoms. At 3 in 9 3/4 fathoms. At 3.30
in 9 3/4 fathoms. At 4 in 9 3/4 fathoms. Gray sandy bottom. Clear and pleasant
first part squally, cloudy with passing showers latter part of watch. High lump
of land one point forward of port beam.
1.40pm: Took in and furled all
square sails. Set spanker.
2.00pm: Changed course to East
by North.
4 to 6pm: Overcast cloudy and
squally. Moderate to fresh breeze from South-East. Steady barometer.
4.30pm: Made all plain sail to
topgallant sails, except mainsail, and all fore and aft sail.
5.45pm: Changed course to
East-North-East 1/4 East by order of Commanding Officer.
6.00pm: Took in spanker and
mizzen top staysail to ease the spanker.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
South-East by South. Overcast with rain squalls. Water still showing great
difference in temperature.
7.20pm: Stuart Island
was sighted in horizon, bearing (pc) North-East by East. Got cast of lead at
half hour intervals. 9 fathoms water. Gray mottled sand.
8pm to Midnight: Wind fresh
from South-East first two hours and from South-South-East afterwards. Overcast
with passing rain. Occasional sharp squalls.
9.00pm: Took in and furled all
square sails and changed course to East by North.
10.30pm: Made Egg Island
1/2 point on starboard bow.
10.50pm: Took in fore and aft
sails, hauled up to wind and anchored in lee of Stuart Island in 9
fathoms of water; Sticky mud bottom. Veered to 36 fathoms at water edge on
starboard chain. Strong tide setting East-North-East. Ship riding to tide.
Banked fiers.
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4 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels Bay
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from South-South-East. Barometer falling. Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Moderate to stiff
breeze from South. Foggy with rain squalls.
5.20am: Commencing heaving up
anchor.
6.00am: Got under way.
Standing up for St. Michael.
8.15am: Came to off North-East
end of Stuart Island in 3 fathoms water. Black mud bottom. Veering to 15
fathoms on starboard chain.
11.10am: Got under way and
stood in for St. Michael. Wind from South until 11 o'clock when it hauled
to South-South-West blowing in fresh squalls. Fore and aft sail set when it
would draw.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
drizzling. Light to moderate South-South-West breeze. Rising Barometer. Smooth
sea. Standing in for St. Michaels.
2.20pm: Came to in 3 1/2
fathoms water. Veering to 15 fathoms on starboard chain. Sent a boat with
officer to sound out harbor, and planting buoys to work ship higher up harbor.
4 to 8pm: Light
South-South-West breeze. Barometer falling towards close of watch. Sky overcast.
Nimbus clouds. Long sea.
8.20pm Got underway and stood
half mile nearer the trading post. Anchored with starboard. Anchored in 3 1/4
fathoms water, veering 15 fathoms chain.
Editor's note: Unable to
get closer to the trading post than a 3/4 mile they had to transport the
coal with a lighter instead. This delayed their departure for several days.
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/48/mode/1up/
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5 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels Bay
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Light airs from South-West first 2 hours. Calm remainder. Overcast and raining.
4 to 8am: Calm to light airs
from West. Overcast. Raining first two hours.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from West-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Engaged in coaling ship. Sent
lighter ashore in tow of whale boat.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
breeze from West-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Lighter returned and
discharged 162 bags of coal.
4 to 6pm: Light to gentle
breeze from West-South-West. Overcast and pleasant. Sent lighter in tow of whale
boat for coal.
6 to 8pm: Gentle breeze from
South by West. Overcast and pleasant. Lighter returned and discharged 187 bags
of coal.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
stiff breeze from South by West. Overcast with rain at intervals.
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6 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels Bay
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Stiff breeze from South by West to South-West. Overcast and threatening.
4 to 8am: Stiff breeze from
South-South-West. Overcast and drizzling rain. Sent party ashore to buy coal,
too much sea to tow off lighter.
8am to Meridian: Stiff to
fresh breeze from South-South-West. Drizzling rain first hour of watch. Working
party ashore bagging coal. Working party returned at noon.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh
South-West wind. Sent party ashore to buy coal. Swell from North-West. Overcast
with drizzling rain.
4 to 8pm: Fresh wind from
South-West first part and South-South-West afterwards. Working party ashore
bagging coal. Overcast with drizzling rain.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to
light breeze from South-South-West to South by West first hour. Overcast and
drizzling rain.
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7 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and misty. Light breeze from South-South-West first three hours and
South-West last hour.
4 to 8am: Light South wind.
Coaling ship. Overcast.
8am to Meridian: Light air to
light breeze from South to South-South-East. Overcast and misty. Coaling ship.
Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs
from South-West. Overcast. Engaged in coaling ship.
4 to 8pm: Light airs to light
breeze from South-West to West by North. Overcast. Engaged in coaling ship.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs
from West by North. Overcast. Engaged in coaling ship.
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8 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Light breeze from West by North to West. Overcast. Barometer rising. Nimbus
clouds.
4 to 8am: Light airs from
South by West and South-West by South. Overcast. Engaged in coaling ship.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to
light breeze from South-West to West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Engaged
in coaling ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs
from North-North-West to North-West. Overcast. Engaged in coaling ship.
4 to 8pm: Light airs from
North-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Engaged in coaling ship.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to
light breeze from North-West. Partially overcast and pleasant.
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9 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Light airs to gentle breeze from North by East. Partially overcast and pleasant.
4 to 8am: Gentle breeze from
North by East. Clear and pleasant. Engaged in bagging coal ashore.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze
from North by East. Clear and pleasant. Engaged in coaling ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Wind light
from North by East first three hours, then North-West. Engaged in coaling ship.
Clear.
4 to 8pm: Light North-West
breeze. Coaling ship. Clear and pleasant.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Wind light North-North-West first three hours South-West last two.
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10 August 1881
Position: At anchor St
Michaels
Lat 63.50, Long -162.10
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and pleasant. Light South-South-West breeze. Fog last hour.
4 to 8am: Foggy first hour.
Clear and pleasant afterwards. Coaling ship.
8am to Meridian: Calm first
three hours. Light airs from West-North-West last hour. Clear and pleasant.
Coaling ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs to
gentle breeze from North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Engaged in coaling
ship.
4 to 8pm: Light breeze to
light airs from North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Coaling ship.
8pm to Midnight: Calm to light
airs from North-North-West. Overcast and drizzling rain.
NORTHERN PART OF VOYAGE OF USS RODGERS FROM ST MICHAEL, ALASKA
(This is incomplete)
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11 August 1881
Position: Between St. Michaels
and Plover Bay*
Lat 63.60, Long -161.70 at Egg
Island at 8.20am
Editor's note: *to meet
the Strelok
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cloudy. Light breeze from the South. Barometer falling.
Cumulonimbus Clouds. Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Overcast and
drizzling. Light South-West breeze. Made preparations for getting under way.
7.40am: Got under way and
stood out of St Michaels Bay in conn of Commanding Officer.
8am to Meridian: Overcast,
light breeze from South-West. Steady Barometer. Cumulus clouds. Steaming out of
St Michaels Bay.
8.20am: Ship going under steam
from 3.5 to 4 knots per hour, grounded on a shell and gravel hump, on tide an
hour ebb. At first touch put helm hard a port and reversed the engine without
effect. Ship drawing 17 ft 6 in. aft. 15 ft 6 in forward. On course (p.c.)
North-West by West 1/4 West from 1.5 to 2 miles from nearest land on port beam.
Bearing (p.c.) Egg Island North 42 degrees E, South-East pt. Whale Island South
44 degrees West. Made sail braced aback and steamed astern but failed to back
off. Lowered a boat and found from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 fathoms water a ships length
ahead, astern and on either bow. In sounding around the ship from the rail found
on starboard quarter 18 ft, on port quarter 16 1/2 ft. On starboard beam 15 ft,
on port beam 13 ft both in wake of fore royal backstays. On starboard bow 16 1/2
ft, on port bow 15 ft, ahead 18 ft. Astern 19 1/2 ft. Got out stream anchor on
starboard beam, but failed to haul off. Tide running ebb. Heel of ship at close
of watch about 20 degrees . Smooth water. Sounded well and found all tight.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from South-South-West. Overcast and threatening. Ship aground.
Ebb tide.
3.00pm: Bilge took the ground
and ship ceased to heel at 29 degrees . Throw overboard deck load of wood to
lighten ship. Got lighter of coal from deck and sent it ashore. Water smooth
with moderate breeze from stern. Sounded well every half hour. Found to surface
of water. Sent boat out to sound. Tide fell five feet. Least water under ship
was abreast port fore chain 11 ft. Took very careful sounding, showed rocky and
sandy bottom. Rocks 1 to 2 feet above bottom.
4 to 6pm Gentle breeze from
South-South-West. Overcast and unpleasant. Ship aground. Making all preparations
for getting ship off when the tide rises. Got two lighters of coal ashore. Ship
still on bilge.
6 to 8pm: Light
South-South-West breeze. Steady barometer. Carried out starboard bower on
starboard beam in readiness to heave off when tide should rise.
8.00pm: Began righting
rapidly.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
moderate breeze from South-South-West. Overcast and threatening. Ship still
aground. Laying easily. Tide rising slowly. Heel of ship at 8pm 26 degrees , at
9pm 20 degrees , at 10pm 20 degrees , at 11pm 16 degrees , at midnight 16
degrees . Lowest water under port fore chain at midnight 16 ft. Sounding well
every half hour no increase in water.
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12 August 1881
Position: Between St. Michaels
and Plover Bay
Lat 63.60, Long -161.70
at Egg Island
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast with moderate South by West breeze. Ship lying easily.
1.00am: The tide slacked and
the lead astern showed 16 ft. At the same time the heel of the ship was 17
degrees 30'. Depth of water abreast of fore rigging at 1am 14 ft. At 4am depth
aft 17 ft.
2.30am: Heel of ship 20
degrees .
3.25am: Tide turned flood.
4.00am: Heel of ship 16
degrees 30'.
4 to 8am: Light to moderate
South-South-West breeze. Steady Barometer. Tide and ship rising.
6.00am: Heel of ship 8 degrees
.
7.30am: Made sail and braced
all aback. Came up the hawser from main top head. Shifted stream anchor to
starboard quarter and brought a strain on it. Hove in on large hawser from bower
anchor.
7.55am: Ship break away and
swung to her anchor in 3 1/2 fathoms water. Sounded well and found ship tight.
Hauled up kedge. Shortened sail and proceeded to heave up anchor.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to
light breeze from South-South-West. Overcast and drizzling rain. Got kedge
aboard. Hove up starboard anchor, unbent hawser from anchor and bent starboard
chain. Got lighters along side and discharged them.
11.00am: Came to anchor with
port anchor. 5 fathoms water veering to 15 fathoms on chain. Hoisted boats and
made all preparations for going to sea. Sounded the well frequently, no increase
in water.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from South-West three hours and South-South-West last hour.
1.20pm: Got underway and
steamed out on course North-West. Made fore and aft sails.
2.30pm: Egg Island bore
(p.c.) East-North-East distance 5 miles
3.40pm: Changed course to
West-North-West (p.c.)
4 to 6pm: Overcast and
drizzling. Barometer falling slightly. Light South-South-West breeze. Smooth
sea.
5.00pm: Took departure.
South-West point of Stuart Island bore (p.c.) South-South-West distance 8
miles. Ship on course West-North-West under steam and fore and aft sails.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
South-South-West. Overcast and drizzling rain. Made all plain sails to royals.
Got cast of lead at 10 minute intervals. Hard sandy bottom 10 fathoms water.
8pm to Midnight: Wind moderate
from East-North-East first three hours; freshening and shifting to
South-South-East last hour. Overcast and raining.
8.15pm: Took in main and
mizzen topmast staysail and main topgallant staysail and spanker.
11.36pm: In accordance with
night orders changed course to West by South having run 20 miles from 8pm. Set
spanker and braced up by starboard braces. Smooth sea. Barometer falling
rapidly.
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13 August 1881
Position: St. Michaels to
Plover Bay
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and drizzling. Moderate South by West breeze; hauling to
South-South-West during the second hour. Barometer falling.
0.15am: Set main top and
topgallant staysails.
1.45am: Took in and furled all
square sails. Ship on course West by South as per night orders of Commanding
Officer.
4 to 8am: Moderate to light
breeze from South-South-West to South-West. Overcast and misty. Land in sight on
starboard beam.
8am to Meridian: Moderate
breeze from West. Partially clear first hour. Overcast with light drizzling rain
and fog. Moderate sea. Rising barometer.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast
cloudy and foggy, with occasional patches of clear sky. Smooth sea. Light
South-West breeze falling and hauling to southward.
2.30pm: Set fore and aft
sails.
3.45pm: Made sail. Changed
course to West 1/2 South. At 3.40 by order of Commanding Officer.
4 to 6pm: Light to gentle
breeze from the South-South-East. Overcast and raining. Set all square sails.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
East. Overcast with drizzling rain.
7.00pm: Hauled down main and
mizzen topmast staysails and main topgallant staysail and brailed up spanker and
gaff topsail. Hauled up lee clew of mainsail.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
raining throughout watch. Moderate breeze from East. Freshening and hauling to
southward. Smooth but gradually rising sea.
9.30pm: Braced up a little and
set mainsail.
10.30pm: Set spanker.
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14 August 1881
Position: St. Michaels to
Plover Bay
Lat 64.40, Long -172.20 off
Mys Chaplina at 6pm
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate to stiff breeze from South-South-East to South. Overcast and cold.
Barometer falling. Temperature of water fell 9 degrees between 2am and 3am,
rising 4 degrees from 3am to 4am.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze from
the South first hour and from South by East afterwards.
6.00am: Took in royals and
flying jib. Overcast and misty. Moderate sea.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
drizzling. Fresh South-South-East breeze, hauling to eastward. Distilling. No
noon observation.
8.15am: Banked fiers.
9.30am: Took in spanker and
weather clew of mainsail and hauled down staysail.
10.30am: Set royals.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze
to light airs from East-South-East to North-East by North. Overcast, foggy and
raining.
4 to 6pm: Light baffling air
from North to West-South-West. Thick foggy weather first part.
5:00pm: Heard breakers on port
bow. Wove ship to southward and eastward and brought by the wind on port tack
heading North-East. Fog partially cleared and showed Isabel Island
bearing West-South-West distance about 1/2 mile.
6.00pm: By cross bearing
plotted position off Tchaplin Point. Got cast of lead in 25 fathoms. Blue
mud bottom. Set course South-South-East.
6 to 8pm: Light
West-South-West breeze hauling to southward. Barometer rising. Changed course to
southward.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
stiff breeze from South-West to West-South-West. Partially overcast and
pleasant.
9.00pm: Set course South by
West,
Point Tchaplin bore (p.c.) West distance about 2 1/2 miles. Got cast of
lead at short intervals getting bottom from 11 to 17 fathoms. No bottom at 12m
in 20 fathoms. Long swell.
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15 August 1881
Position: St. Michaels to
Plover Bay
Lat 63.90, Long -172.30
approximate position between St. Lawrence Island and the Siberian coast at 5am
Commencing and until 4am:
Fresh South-West by West wind. Long swell from South-West. Overcast with light
drizzling rain at intervals.
2.00am: Hauled down main
topgallant staysail.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Moderate breeze from West-South-West, hauling to westward. Barometer rising.
Course full and by on starboard tack, standing off the land.
5.00am: Sighted St.
Lawrence Island on port bow.
7.00am: Tacked ship to
westward.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to
gentle breeze from the South-West by South. Clear and pleasant. Standing into
the land.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
and long swell from South-West by South. Clear and pleasant.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant
first hour. Fog rising during second hour. Barometer steady. South-West breeze.
4.15pm: Hauled down and furled
fore and aft sails.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
South-West by South. Clear overhead and foggy around horizon. Working along the
land under steam.
8pm Midnight: Light breeze
from South-West to South-West by West. Partially clear first half hour.
8.10pm: Set course West by
North.
8.40pm: Thick fog shut in,
brought ship to course South-South-West. Standing from the land, keeping just
steerage way.
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16 August 1881
Position: St. Michaels to
Plover Bay
Lat 64.37, Long -173.35
at Reyd Plover
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cloudy. South-West by West breeze. Steady Barometer. Ship under
steerage way, waiting off entrance to Plover Bay for daylight.
1.00am: Headed North by East
3/4 East.
2.00am: Headed
South-South-West.
2.15am: Headed into the land
by order of Commanding Officer.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from
South-South-West to South-West by South. Foggy dirty weather. Standing along
coast, waiting for fog to lift to run in. Long swell from South-West.
8am to Meridian: Wind light
from South-West to South. Overcast, foggy and raining. Shore occasionally
visible. Standing off shore. Long heavy swell from South-West.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
drizzling. Barometer steady. Moderate breeze from South. Long swell. Ship in
conn of Commanding Officer. Standing along the coast for Plover Bay
under steam.
4 to 6pm: Gentle breeze from
the South. Foggy and disagreeable weather. Working into Plover Bay. Kept
the lead going: found very different soundings from those on the chart. Much
less water.
6 to 8pm: Light
South-South-East breeze. Long swell from southward. Overcast with drizzling rain
and fog. Standing in to Plover Bay.
6.50pm: Came to anchor in 16
fathoms water. Veering to 45 fathoms on port chain. Communicated with shore and
found the H.I.R.M. Ship 'Strelock'* had been here and sailed August 13,
for St. Lawrence Bay. No dog food obtainable.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate
South-South-East breeze, fresh in squalls. Foggy and raining.
Editor' note: *'His
Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship' was the
designation of a Ship-of-the-Line (usually 2-3 gun decks). The correct
designation of a corvette like the 'Strelok' was H.I.R.M.C.
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17 August 1881
Position: Plover Bay to St
Lawrence Bay
Lat 64.40, Long -172.20 off
Mys Chaplina at 2pm
Commencing and until 4am:
Foggy and raining. Fresh wind from South-South-East. Squally.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from
South-South-East first two hours and South afterwards, overcast and misty.
Drizzling rain first hour.
5.40am: Called 'all hands up
anchor'. Got under way and steamed out of Plover Bay. Long heavy swell
outside.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
foggy first hour. Cloudy during second and third hours, cleared away during last
hour. Moderate breeze from West. Barometer steady.
9.00am: Set fore and aft
sails.
10.00am: Made all sails.
11.00am: Headed course
North-East by East. Hauled down main top and topgallant staysails, mizzen
topmast staysail and brailed up spanker.
11.40am: Changed course to
North-East by North.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to
moderate breeze from West-South-West. Clear and pleasant.
2.00pm: Took departure.
Point Tchaplin bore (p.c.) West-North-West distance 3 miles. Set course
North 1/4 East.
3.20pm: Changed course North
by East. At end of watch Ittygram Island [Ostrov Itygran] bore
(p.c.) South-West by West 1/4 West. Got cast of lead no bottom at 10 fathoms.
4 to 6pm: Moderate South-West
breeze. Clear and pleasant.
4.50pm: Changed course to
North 1/4 East.
6.00pm: Banked fiers and
stopped steaming.
6 to 8pm: Clear and cool.
Moderate West-South-West breeze. Steady barometer. Long swell from the
southward.
7.45pm: Changed course to
North by order of Commanding Officer.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
moderate breeze from West-South-West. Clear and pleasant.
11.00pm: Reduced sail to
topsails, fore topmast staysail and set spanker. Hove to on starboard tack, with
main topsail to the mast to await daylight. Got cast of lead in 21 fathoms
water.
Cape Krelengran [Mys Kryguygun] bore (p.c.)
North-West by West distance about 6 miles.
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18 August 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay,
Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at
Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from South-West clear and pleasant. Hove to first part of watch.
2.30am: Sighted schooner on
starboard beam standing to eastward.
2.45am: Spread fiers and
headed in for Cape Krelengoner [Mys Kryguygun].
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
East-South-East breeze. Rising barometer. Long swell from South-East. Ship on
course North-West by West. Standing in for St. Lawrence Bay.
6.35am: Came to in 15 fathoms
water veering to 31 fathoms on port chain. Russian corvet 'Strelock' at
anchor close by. She sent an officer to tender service.
8am to Meridian:
Light breeze from the South-East to East-South-East clear and pleasant. Captain Livron
Comanding Officer of "Strelock" came aboard.* Great many
natives came aboard, traded with them getting seal skin boots.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to light breeze from East to
South-East. Overcast and pleasant. Russian ship sent over and received on board
one cow and hay for same. Presented by Commanding Officer of
"Strelock".
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from East-South-East to East.
Overcast but pleasant.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from the eastward. Overcast and
pleasant. Commanding Officer visited Russian vessel.
8pm to Midnight: Light to moderate breeze from South-East to
East-South-East. Overcast and raining.
Editor's note:
*They were informed by
Captain de Livron that the crew of the Revenue Cutter Corwin investigated
numerous artefacts taken by natives from a stranded shipwreck. They believed
that these artefacts belonged to the lost whaler Vigilant.
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/61/mode/1up/
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19 August 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay to
Herald Island
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
Commencing and until 4am: Wind
fresh to moderate from South-East. Overcast and raining.
4 to 8am: Light South-East
breeze. Foggy and raining.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze
from South by West first two hours and South-South-East afterward. Falling
barometer.
Meridian to 4pm: Light
southerly breeze. Overcast, foggy and raining.
2.00pm: Fog lifted. Spread
fiers.
2.30pm: Fog shut in again;
banked fiers.
4 to 8pm: Light breeze from
South-South-East. Fog and drizzling rain.
8pm to Midnight: Light South
by East airs. Calm second hour.
9.50pm: Spread fiers.
10.20pm: Got underway and
steamed out of St Lawrence Bay.
10:30pm: The "Strelock"
followed passing us at 11.40. Made fore and aft sails.
Midnight: Took departure.
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20 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 66.08, Long -169.65 near
Mys Dezhneva at 7.20am
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and cool. Rising barometer. Light breeze from the South; freshening and
hauling to West and West-North-West. Ship on course East by North.
1.00am: Banked fiers.
1.45am: Started ahead again
under steam and sail. Russian corvet "Strelock" keeping in company.
2.00am: Changed course to
North-North-East.
4 to 8am: Moderate to stiff
breeze from West. Clear and pleasant.
7.20am: East Cape bore
(p.c.) West. Russian corvet "Strelock" on port beam about six miles
distance.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Fresh breeze from West.
8.20am: Stopped engines.
Banked fiers. Commenced distilling.
11.00am: Lost sight of "Strelock".
*
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant. Fresh breeze from West and West by North. Ship full and by on port
tack.
3.00pm: Took in flying jib,
main top staysail and spanker.
4.00pm: Wove ship to southward
and northward. At close of watch ship on starboard tack close hauled under all
plain sail to topgallant sail except spanker, also main and mizzen top staysail.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from
the West. Clear and pleasant. Stopped distilling. Moderate sea from North-West.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze from
West first hour, West by North second hour. Overcast and foggy.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
foggy. Light breeze from West by North, hauled to North. Wind died away. Smooth
sea. Rising barometer.
10.00pm: Got cast of lead in
20 fathoms. At 11pm 24 fathoms, at 12pm 22 fathoms.
11.30pm: Spread fiers.
Midnight: Shortened sail and
started ahead under steam course North-West by West by order of Commanding
Officer.
Editor's note:
*The Strelok landed two
German scientists at the East Cape. This was the last time when they saw the
Strelok. She didn't show up at their meeting point at Cape Serdze Kamen.
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/68/mode/1up/
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21 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 66.91, Long -171.64 near Mys Serdtse-Kamen at 7.45am
From Mys Serdtse-Kamen to
Ostrov Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am: Calm
until 3.40am then light airs came out from South-East. Very foggy until 3.30
then fog lifted. Got cast of lead each hour of watch. Depth of water as follows;
1am 24 fathoms, 2am 24 fathoms, 3am 25 fathoms, 4am 22 fathoms. Hauled down all
fore and aft sails. Long sea from the North-West.
4 to 8am: Light to gentle
breeze from South-South-East. Foggy first hour, clear and pleasant afterwards.
4.00am: Made all sails to
topgallant sails except weather clew of mainsails and spanker.
5.20am: Sighted high land on
port bow. Got cast of lead as follows: At 5am in 20 fathoms, 6am in 20 fathoms,
at 7am in 19 fathoms, at 7.55am in 18 fathoms.
7.45am: Cape Serze Karmen
on port bow bearing west (mag).
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. South-South-East breeze. Rising barometer. Smooth sea. Swung ship for
compass correction.
11.00am: Received a visit from
natives who described a wreck in accordance with information received. Stood
along the coast towards their village on course West 1/2 North.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze
from South-West to South-South-West. Clear and pleasant. Took soundings as
follows: 1pm 15 fathoms, at 2pm in 14 fathoms, at 2.50pm 13 1/2 fathoms.
12.30pm. Shifted course
West-North-West 1/2 West.
1.00pm: Shifted course West
1/2 South. Spoke and took aboard native and canoe. Native directed way to
suppose wreck.
2.50pm: Hove to and sent whale
boat ahead to sound out the harbor. Ship following in. Whale boat went ashore.
3.10pm: Took in all sails.
5.35pm: Whale boat returned.
6.00pm: Took departure.
Kelunchin Island* [Ostrov Kolyuchin] bore South-South-West (mag)
distance one mile. Set course West-North-West and made sail. Clear and pleasant.
Light South-South-West breeze.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
South-South-West breeze. Steady barometer. Smooth sea.
7.45pm: Stopped engine and
banked fiers and changed course to West. Got cast of lead as follows: at 7pm in
16 fathoms, at 8pm in 17 fathoms.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze
from South-South-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Got cast of lead every
hour. Depth of water as follows, viz: 9pm in 15 fathoms, 10pm in 13 fathoms,
11pm 14 fathoms, midnight 13 fathoms. Smooth sea.
8.40pm: Changed course to
North-West by West. Cape Onman** bore (p.c.) West-North-West resembling
an island.
10.00pm: Hauled fiers.
Editor's notes: *The name of the
island has the words Eel Eelthtan written above it, which is probably
Eeteetlan Island mentioned in WM Gilder's book: 'Icepack and Tundra'.
However, Eeteetlan is not Ostrov Kolyuchin, but Ostrov Idlidlya 25 miles to
the west of Cape Serdze Kamen, according to their own measurements: 'The
position of the island was established by numerous observations of the stars
before the weather became too cold to use the necessary instruments, and
ascertained to be 67 degrees 03' north latitude and 172 degrees 45' west
longitude.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepackandtundr01gildgoog#page/n158/mode/1up
Gilder noted that their
maps weren't reliable: 'To one accustomed to the accurate surveys of
southern coasts, the irreconcilability of Arctic shores to the chart lines
is somewhat bewildering, and a discrepancy of from forty to sixty miles in
the location of Koliutchin Island by the various charts made it rather
doubtful that we had reached that point. Knowing the name to be the native
one for the position, I appealed to our guide and asked him if it was
Koliutchin Island. At first he seemed to be in doubt, but, after
consultation with his friends ashore, he came to me and pointing at the
island pronounced the name. I was then satisfied that he was correct, but
his mere assent to my question, I felt, amounted to nothing; he would
undoubtedly have said '' yes" had I asked him if it were Staten Island. His
volunteered information was much more satisfactory; but, like all these
good-natured savages, he seemed willing to agree to anything suggested to
him.'
archive.org/stream/icepackandtundr01gildgoog#page/n94/mode/1up/
**It's unlikely that they
could see Cape Onman from their position
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22 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Mys Serdtse-Kamen to
Ostrov Vrangelya
Editor's note: Hourly
soundings noted in margin by all other hourly recordings
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate South-South-West breeze. Weather pleasant. Partially clear. Got cast of
lead as follows: 1am 17 fathoms, at 2am in 17 fathoms, at 3am in 19 fathoms, at
4am in 20 fathoms. Bottom fine dark gray sand. At end of watch high lump in
sight on port quarter bearing South (mag). Light scud passing to southward.
4 to 8am: Overcast. Raining
first two hours. Barometer falling slightly. Moderate breeze from
South-South-East hauling to eastward. Got cast of lead as follows: viz: At 5am
20 fathoms, at 6am in 20 fathoms, At 7am in 21 fathoms, at 8am in 23 fathoms.
8am to Meridian: Moderate
breeze from South-East. Partially overcast and pleasant. Long swell from the
southward. Passed drift wood during the watch. Got cast of lead as follows, viz:
at 9am 22 fathoms, at 10am in 24 fathoms, at 11am in 25 fathoms, at meridian in
25 fathoms. Bottom blue mud and sand.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
South-South-East breeze. Cloudy and raining. Got cast of lead as follows, viz:
1pm in 26 fathoms, 2pm in 26 fathoms, at 3pm in 26 fathoms, and at 4pm 26
fathoms. Soft blue mud bottom.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze from
South-South-East. Falling barometer. Brilliant rainbow visible last hour.
Moderate sea. Hauled up lee clew of main sail. Cast of lead as follows, viz:,
5pm in 26 fathoms, 6pm in 26 fathoms. Fine dark gray sand.
6 to 8pm: Moderate to light
breeze from South-South-East. Clear and pleasant. Long sea from the southward.
Got cast of lead as follows, viz: 7pm in 26 fathoms, 8pm in 26 fathoms. Blue mud
and sand.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to
light breeze from South-South-East. Got cast of lead as follows, viz: at 9pm in
27 fathoms, at 10pm in 27 fathoms, at 11pm in 27 fathoms, at midnight in 27
fathoms.
10.25pm: Started fiers.
Midnight: Commenced steaming
ahead.
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23 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
9pm: Working in towards
Wrangel Land through ice. Hove to [Editor's note: Entry in knots/sea
direction columns]
Lat 70.88, Long -177.46 about
12nm South-East of Cape Hawaii, Ostrov Vrangelya at 7pm
http://archive.org/stream/ourlostexplorers00blisrich#page/60/mode/1up
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast but pleasant. Light South-South-East breeze. Calm during last hour.
Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Light air to light
breeze from North-West to North-North-West. Overcast and foggy. Passed drift
wood. Saw some strange birds around ship. Long sea from the southward. Depth of
water as follows, viz:, 5am in 28 fathoms, 6am in 28 fathoms, 7am in 29 fathoms,
at 8am in 29 fathoms. Blue mud. At last cast very soft mud.
8am to Meridian: Wind fresh
from North-North-East. Long swell from North-North-East. Overcast and raining.
Depth of water as follows, viz:, at 9am in 26 fathoms, at 10am in 26 fathoms, at
11 am in 26 fathoms, at meridian in 26 fathoms.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
from North hauling to North-West and falling light.
3.20pm: Tacked ship to
northward. Set topgallant sails, mainsail, main and mizzen top staysails. Depth
as follows: viz:; at 1pm in 25 fathoms, at 2pm in 24 fathoms, at 3pm in 23
fathoms, at 4pm in 23 fathoms.
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from
the West. Overcast and raining. Passed some drift wood and a blade of an oar.
Passed through water resembling tide rip. Saw many birds around ship. Ducks and
other water fowls. Depth of water as follows, viz:, 5pm in 22 fathoms, at 6pm 22
fathoms. Bottom hard.
6 to 8pm: Wind light from West
to West by North. Cloudy. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Light air to
gentle breeze from North-West by West to North-West by North. Overcast and cold.
Depth of water as follows, viz: 9pm in 21 fathoms, at 10pm in 21 fathoms, at
11pm in 17 fathoms.
6.45pm: Sighted Wrangel
Land bearing from right ahead to 4 points forward of port beam, the South
end making down to a low cape and the greater part high mountains sloping
gradually to the North-end. Ice in sight between the ship and the shore. Land
distant about 15 miles. The edge of ice about 6 miles.
8.30pm: Made out a black mass
in ice near shore and commenced working towards it in loose ice. It prove to be
a piece of dirty ice. Continued on to within 8 miles or nine miles of the land,
then headed course North-North-East. Working through the loose ice.
11.00pm: Hove to to leeward of
pack to wait for day light.
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24 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65 Ostrov
Geral'd at 1.30pm
Commencing and until 4am:
Gentle to moderate breeze from the West. Partially overcast and pleasant.
Midnight to 2.20am: Ship in
pack ice partially. Hove to under spanker and jib.
2.20am: Started ahead slowly
under steam to work ship out of ice. Ship struck several times against heavy
cakes.
3.00am: Stood on course
North-North-East
3.30am: Shifted course to
avoid ice, making good North-East. Set fore sail. Wrangel Island in sight
on port beam. At end of watch South end of land bore (p.c.) West-South-West 1/2
West. North end of land bore (p.c.) North-West 1/4 West. Depth of water as
follows, viz: 1am in 21 fathoms, 2am in 21 fathoms, at 3am in 21 fathoms, 4am in
21 fathoms.
4 to 8am: Moderate to stiff
breeze from West to West-North-West.
5.00am: Sighted Herald
Island. Passed through some loose ice. Pack ice along port beam.
6.00am: Set foresail and lower
topsails.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Fresh breeze from West by South hauling to southward. Rising
Barometer. Wrangel Island visible on port beam and quarter. Herald
Island on starboard bow. Ship on course North.
10.00am: Made all sails to
topgallant sails except mainsail. Depth of water: 10am 21 fathoms, noon 18
fathoms.
1.30pm: The whale boat with
party in charge of Master H.S. Waring, USN, left the ship to examine
Herald Island for cairns or other indications of the 'Jeannette'
party having been there. Standing off and on with the ship, weather pleasant and
wind moderate from the South-South-West. Heavy breakers on the reef extending
out from the North-West point of the island.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
the South-South-West. Clear and pleasant.
6.00pm: Whale boat returned
having landed and found nothing to indicate that the 'Jeannette' party
had ever visited the island.
6.15pm: Stood along the island
to the East end to see if any cairn were left. But saw no sight of any.
7.00pm: Set course South-East
1/2 East. Made sails to topsails. East end of Herald Island bore (p.c.)
North 3/4 East, West end North-West by West distance from center of Island about
6 miles. Banked fiers and commenced distilling.
8pm to Midnight: Light to
moderate breeze from South-West by South to South by West. Clear and pleasant.
9.00pm: Set topgallant sails.
Got sounding as follows, viz: 10pm 31 fathoms, midnight 36 fathoms. Hard bottom.
At end of watch Herald Island bore (p.c.) North-West by West. No ice in
sight. Long sea from southward and westward.
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25 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.27, Long -178.92
at Ostrov Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am: Wind
light and variable from South to West.
2.40am: Spread fiers and
shortened sail. Commenced steaming on course South by West. Herald Island
in sight bearing (p.c.) North-North-West. Standard compass very erratic.
4 to 8am: South-East breeze.
Steady barometer. Full and by. Working towards Wrangel Land. Pack in
sight ahead and on starboard beam.
11.00am: Sighted Wrangel
Land
bearing (p.c.) North-West by North 1/2 West. At noon the Southern point of
Wrangel Land bore (p.c.) West-North-West. Ice pack in sight on starboard
bow.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
light breeze from South-South-East. Standing in towards Wrangel Land on
course West-North-West 1/2 West. Large ice pack to northward. Smooth sea.
4.30pm: Shortened sail and
stood into pack. Working towards Wrangel Land. Set spanker and jib to aid
steering. Edge of pack about 12 miles from beach. Ship at close of watch about 6
miles from nearest point on shore.
6 to 8pm: Calm clear and
pleasant. Working in toward Wrangel Land through the pack under steam.
Ice in some places quite heavy. Passed great many walrus. At end of watch in 4
miles of beach.
8pm to Midnight: Weather
pleasant and calm. Working in through ice.
10.00pm: Came to anchor off
Wrangel Land in 7 fathoms water. Veered to 15 fathoms port chain. Landing
party went ashore. Banked fiers.
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26 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.27, Long -178.92
at Ostrov Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am:
Calm. Steady Barometer. Ship at anchor off Wrangel Land 1/2 m from shore.
Strong tide. Large masses of ice drifted by ~ it necessary to use the helm.
4 to 8am: Calm, clear and
pleasant
6.00am: Master H.S. Waring
left the ship with whale boat to hunt a harbor or safe anchorage. Ebbtide
running 1 knot per hour. Very little ice along shore. Heavy pack one mile from
shore.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to
gentle breeze from West-South-West to South. Clear and pleasant. Master H.S.
Waring returned and reported a good harbor inside sand spit ~ of ship
anchorage. Current running along beach to the westward 1,2 knots per hour. Flood
tide. Ship swung to the flood at 10am. Ice pack tending to the eastward showing
a different current from the one the ship anchored in.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from South to South-West. Clear and pleasant. Ice flow settling
to the eastward.
2.15pm: Spread fiers.
2.30pm: Got under way and
stood into harbor under steam.
3.45pm: Came to anchor in
harbor in 4 fathoms water veering to 30 fathoms on port chain. Soft mud and
gravel.
4.00pm: Hauled fiers. Ice
working to eastward. Commenced fitting out boats for expedition.
4 to 8pm: Gentle breeze from
South-West by South to South-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Ice pack
working to the eastward. Engaged in fitting out boats.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze
from South-West. Overcast and cold.
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27 August 1881
Position: At Wrangel land,
Arctic Ocean (Rodgers Bay)
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am:
Gentle to moderate breeze from West. Partially overcast and pleasant.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate
breeze from West to West-South-West, clear and pleasant. Engaged in fitting out
boats. Pack setting to eastward. No ice along the shore.
8am to Meridian: Weather clear
and pleasant. Moderate breeze from West-South-West first two hours and from
South-West last hours. Engaged in fitting out and provisioning exploring
parties.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
South-West breeze. Partially clear. Exploring parties were organized as follows:
Viz: Land party. Lieut Robt M. Berry, P. A. Surgeon M.D. Jones,
Thom Loudon (c.F.c), Frank Melms (c.F.), O. Peterson (cF) &
D. Booker (cS) with provisions for 10 days.
The 2nd whale boat; Master
H.S. Waring in charge, Asst. Surgeon J.W. Castillo, F. Bruch (BM),
F. Berk (QM), J. Huvner (cF) [Huebner], Owen
McCarthy (I.c.F), W. Grace (sc) with 20 days provisions. 4th whale
boat Ensign H.J. Hunt in charge Asst. Eng. A.V. Zane, A. Lloyd
(cT), J. Johansen (sea), J. P. Quirk (CM), Ed. O'Leary (IcF),
Frank McShear (Sea) [McShane] with 20 days provisions.
The whale boats left the ship at 3.30pm. 2nd whale boat going to the northward
and eastward. 4[th] whale boat to the southward and westward. Both boats
ordered to be back by the 10th of Sept. The party in charge of Commanding
Officer left the ship at 4pm struck across the land and were to attempt to
reach the opposite coast. Those remaining aboard Master Chas. F. Putnam,
Ensign Chr. M. Stoney and pay clerk Wm Gilder were ordered to make
magnetic observations and survey the adjacent coast and harbor.
4pm to Midnight: Moderate to
light South-West breeze. Clear and pleasant. Ice outside setting to the
northward & eastward.
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28 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am: Calm
until 9pm. Then light North-East airs through remainder of day. Clear and
pleasant weather. Fog from 7 to 9pm.
9.00am: Set up tent and
established magnetic observations on shore. Got observation for Latitude by
meridian altitude of sun and for Longitude by p.m. time sight. Set up tide gage
which was knocked down by floating ice in inside harbor.
Ebb tide from 3am until 9am,
then flood until 6pm. No apparent tidal current from 6 to 9pm when ship again
swung to the ebb.
Ice inside mooring with tide.
In the afternoon made
observations for magnetic inclination and set up declinometer.
Ensign Stoney
engaged in setting up signals on the
shore and cutting in ~ peaks.
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29 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commenced clear and pleasant.
Calm and light westerly airs as per columns.
Tide apparently very irregular
today. The ice outside setting to southward and northward.
The ice inside the harbor
breaking up somewhat and going out with the tide.
Ensign Stoney and party engaged all day in
measuring base line and cutting in signals. Got observations for magnetic
inclination.*
Set up self registering tide
gauge, but was knocked down by drifting ice.
Weather cloudy towards noon
and remaining cloudy till 6pm when thick fog set in lasting during remainder of
day. Light drizzle last three hours.
Sent party after walrus and
shot two large ones. Party reported having killed ten, but were unable to tow
them home.
*dip 79 degrees 15',
variation 19 degrees 49'
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/82/mode/1up/
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30 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commenced cloudy with light
drizzling rain and light North-East airs. Calm from 2am until 7.30 when light
North-East breeze sprung up.
Ice in harbor breaking up and
going out with tide and no ice coming in. Ice outside setting to the northward.
Ensign Stoney
and party at work in surveying.
Sent party after walrus.
Succeeded in killing two small ones.
Determined constant of
magnets.
In the afternoon wind from
East-North-East to North-East and freshening to a stiff breeze at Midnight.
Cloudy, with drizzling rain
and fog last part.
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31 August 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Blowing fresh from North all
day, rendering magnetic work in the tent ashore impracticable.
Cloudy, snowing from 4pm to
midnight. Heavy pack ice setting along shore to the southward and westward.
Ship riding to the wind all
day. No moving ice inside the harbor.
At 4 started fiers under
donkey boiler for purpose of heating ship. At 8pm hauled fiers.
LOGS FOR
SEPTEMBER 1881
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1 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cold. Strong wind from the North; Squally with occasional passing
snow fall.
No observations on account of
high winds.
Started fiers under donkey
boiler at 6am for heating purpose. Hauled them at 8pm.*
Heavy ice flow passing to
southward and northward. Ice nearly all out of harbor. Very high water at 5am
and again at 6pm.
Editor's note: *Temperature by
barometer at 6 am is 56 degrees Fahrenheit, it drops to 52F at 8 am, but by
midday it is 70F, spends most of the afternoon at 75/76F, and finally falls
away to 65F by midnight. Meantime the dry air temperature has hovered around
32F all day.
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2 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commenced with fresh breeze
from the North. Occasional snow squalls. Generally cloudy with clear space at
intervals. Ship riding to the wind.
Ice outside all morning to the
southward and westward. Surf breaking heavily at times on outside of sand spit.
No observation owing to high
winds.
Started fiers under donkey
boiler at 9am for heating ship. Hauled fiers at 8pm.
10.00pm: The Commanding
Officer and Thos Loudon (cF) returned on board, having left the
remainder of party and came on to get a boat for them. Sent a boat up the harbor
for them.
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3 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
3.00am: The boat returned with
O. Peterson (cF) and W. Booker (c Cook) [Editor's note: Booker was
steward (cS)]
4.00am: Sent another boat with
Ensign Stoney in charge. Started fiers under donkey boiler.
10.00am: Dr Jones and
Frank Melms (cF) were made out on beach opposite the ship on main land. Sent
a boat for them.
1.00pm: Ensign Stoney
with boat and crew returned.
8.00pm: Hauled fiers.
Overcast during the day, with
snow during the greater part.
Wind fresh from North first
part, moderating towards noon and dying away to light airs from North-North-East
at 11pm. High water at 9am and 10pm. Low water at 3am and 3pm. Rise and fall of
tide 5 feet.
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4 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Wind unsteady in direction
during the day. Varying from North to South going round by the eastward. Survey
party went out for work. Master Putnam ashore for magnetic purpose.
6.00pm: Master HS Waring,
Dr JW Castillo and men returned to ship on foot having to leave their boat.
The latter having been shut in by the ice. The following articles were
left with the boat: viz:, 1 whale boat complete, including spars, rigging,
sails, oars and paddles. 3 water breakers, 1 boat anchor, 1 boat box,
containing: 1 axe, 1 hatchet, 1 lantern, nails &c, 1 harpoon, 1 shovel, 1
alcohol stove, 1 A tent and gear, 5 sheep skin sleeping bags, 3 buffalo robes
and 3 day provisions for seven men.
Master Waring reported that he had found a
"cairn" left by the U.S. Revenue Cutter "Corwin", the records showed that
she had landed on Herald Island August 9, 1881 and Wrangel Land 12
August 1881, "Corwin"
landed about 17 miles to the northward and eastward of our anchorage. Dense fog
at intervals during the day. Great deal of ice outside of sand spit, working to
southward and westward.
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5 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Day commenced with light
breeze from South-West. Calm remainder of day. Very gloomy weather. Surveying
party out at work. Master Putnam ashore taking magnetic observations.
Commanding Officer and Dr Jones out most of the day, examining the
country. Ice scattering outside of spit. Heavy ice some distance from shore.
Used donkey boilers for heating ship during the day. Hauling fiers at night.
Overcast all day.
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6 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Weather very unsettled, light
airs from East-South-East to East from 10 to 12m and from South-East from 7 to
8pm. Calm remainder of day. Very dense fog most of day, snowing at intervals.
Fog would lift for short intervals. Ice outside in considerable concentration.
Breaking at times and making loud noise. Sounding out harbor. Master Putnam
ashore for magnetic observations. Mountains covered with snow. Used donkey
boiler for heating purpose. Hauling fiers at night.
Editor's note: After a
cool day by the barometer yesterday (about 52F all day), the temperature
leapt from 53F to 71F today between 11am and midday. Top temperature for the
day was 82F at 8pm. Snug!
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7 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
The day opened with some snow
but cleared up during the latter part of the morning. Great moderate in the
weather. Snow nearly all melted by night. Ice very heavy on sip ['ship'?]
and extending out to sea as far as the eye could reach. Master Putnam
ashore. Engaged in determining magnetic deviation. Finished sounding out harbor.
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8 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Day opened with gentle breeze
from the North and freshened until 6pm when it shifted to North by West and
lessened. All ice was blown from the spit, but heavy ice could be seen out at
sea to the southward and westward. Surveying party out. Master Putnam
ashore determining magnetic deviation.
11.00pm: Very brilliant
display of Northern light covering the Eastern heavens. The effect of it could
be noticed on the declinometer. Brightest of Northern light was in the southward
and westward. High water at midnight.
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500dc366cd0db40002001034 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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9 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Light wind from the northward
and eastward most of the day. During the later part of day southerly winds.
Swung ship for deviation of compass. Ice well out to sea in small quantities.
Finished surveying. Master Putnam ashore taking magnetic observations.
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10 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commenced calm, then light
breeze from North and North-North-West. Calm at 8am. Light airs from
South-South-East and South till 3 when it shifted to North-North-West and
continued light from North-West and North throughout the day.
Weather overcast and calm
clearing partially from 5 to 7pm snowing during afternoon. Made observations for
magnetic declination. Started fiers at 7am under donkey boiler and hauled them
at 8pm.
High water at 12.30 and at
1pm. Low water at 6am and 7pm.
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11 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Commenced calm. During first
part light airs from North-West to North then moderate breeze from
North-North-West till 3pm, afterwards moderated from North.
Weather cold and partially
clear greater part of day.
Made observations for magnetic
declination.
High water at 1am and 1pm. Low
water at 7am and 8pm. Rise and fall of tide 4 feet. Ice outside ~ outside.
Made observations for set of
tide inside of harbor. The flood tide set to northward and ebb tide to eastward.
7.00pm: Ensign Hunt and
party returned on board, having passed the Northern point of the island, when
they were blockaded by ice and compelled to return.
During the day heated ship
with donkey boiler.
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12 September 1881
Position: At Wrangel Land
Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.97, Long -178.42
at Rodgers Bay, Ostrov
Vrangelya
Light to moderate breeze from
North during the day except from 5 to 6 pm when wind was North by East.
High water at 3am and 3pm. Low
water at 9am and 9pm. Rise and fall of tide 4 feet.
Weather cold and partially
clear.
Brought instruments aboard and
made preparations for sea.
Editor's note: On this day
the three boats of the Jeannette crew were separated in a storm. The boat of
Lt. Chipp was never seen again.
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13 September 1881
Position: At Wrangel Land
Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.27, Long -178.92
at Ostrov Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am:
Light North-North-West breeze. Weather pleasant, partially clear.
4 to 8am: Light airs from
North-North-West to North. Partially overcast but pleasant. Engaged in preparing
for sea. Got all dogs aboard. Started fiers.
8am to Meridian: Light airs
from North to North-North-East. Partially overcast but pleasant. Preparing for
sea.
9.30am: Got under way and
stood out of harbor.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs
from North-East. Overcast and pleasant. Preparing for sea. Standing along
Wrangel Island to the northward and eastward. Shifting course so as to keep
about 3 miles of shore.
4 to 6pm: Calm. Overcast
except overhead, but pleasant. Secured every thing for sea. Standing along
Wrangel Island about 3 miles of shore. Passing through loose ice.
6 to 8pm: Calm. Overcast but
pleasant. First part of watch standing along Wrangel Island about 3 miles
of shore.
6.50pm: Stood off setting
course North-East by North. Got cast every half hour. 10 fathoms at 7, 10
fathoms 7.30, 10 fathoms 8pm. At end of watch land in sight bore (p.c.) as
follows, viz:, northward end of Herald Island North-East, South end of
Herald Island North-East by East. Point Waring in Wrangel Island
South by East. Cape Hawaii on Wrangel Island South-West by West
1/2 West.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Bright moonlight last half of watch. Light air from North-East by East
to East-North-East. Long swell from North-East.
10.00pm: Lost sight of
Wrangel Island bearing (p.c.) South-South-West. Herald Island in
sight on starboard bow. Aurora last part of watch. Got cast of lead as follows:
viz:, 9pm in 12 fathoms, 10pm no bottom at 12 fathoms, 11 and 12m in 14 fathoms.
Bottom soft mud.
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14 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.27, Long -178.92
at Ostrov Vrangelya
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and pleasant. Light North-East breeze. Barometer steady. Cirrocumulus
clouds.
3.00am: Sighted a bright light
on port bow. Stood for it, and made it out be a whaler trying out*.
4 to 8am: Calm. Partially
overcast and pleasant.
5.00am: Stopped engine and set
a boat with carpenter in charge to communicate with the whaler 'Coral' of
New Bedford. Rest of watch stood by whaler, while making out official report
to the Hon. Sect. of of the Navy. Could hear nothing of the 'Jeannette'
or crew. Heard some reports of the missing whalers.
8am to Meridian: Cloudy and
pleasant. Calm. Steaming just fast enough to keep up with the 'Coral'.
Stopping at intervals. Three whalers in sight during watch. Got cast of lead at
10 and 12m in 22 fathoms. Soft mud.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant. Light East-North-East airs and calm. Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
Lying to near whaler and preparing mail to go on board.
4 to 6pm: Calm. Partially
overcast and pleasant. Laying to off whaler 'Coral'. Waiting to finish
official reports to the Hon. Sect. Of the Navy.
5.20pm: Boat with
Commanding Officer and mail left ship for whaler 'Coral'.
6 to 8pm: Calm. Lying to.
8.00pm: Started ahead on
course South-East by South for Herald Island.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Calm. Steady barometer. Cumulus clouds. Standing on course South-East
by East under steam for Herald Island.
11.00pm: Stopped engine and
lay by to wait for daylight.
Editor's note: *'trying-out' means
boiling oil from blubber. For a detailed description follow this link:
http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2010/marchapril/feature/whaling-the-old-way
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15 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65
Ostrov Geral'd
Commencing and until 4am:
Calm. Partially overcast and pleasant.
1.40am: Started ahead slowly
and run on course until 2.25 when stopped engine.
3.25am: Started ahead again on
course. Got soundings every half hour 22 fathoms until 4am got 21
fathoms. Soft mud bottom with pebbles. Long swell from the southward. Herald
Island bore (p.c.) at end of watch as follows; viz;, South-West end
South-East 1/2 S, North-East end South-East 3/4 East. One whaler in sight at
daylight bore North. During the watch could see the lights of two whalers
bearing northward and eastward.
4 to 8am: Calm first three
hours. Light East-South-East airs last hour. Standing in to Herald Island.
6.50am: Sent whale boat to
shore to search for the 'Corwin' cairn at North-East summit. Two whalers
in sight to eastward. Smooth sea. Got cast at 5 in 21 fathoms and at 7 in 18
fathoms.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
cloudy. Rising barometer. Light East by South breeze. Master Waring
returned on board with whale boat without having made the landing. Made sail and
filled away at 10am on course North-North-West. Then stood for whalers to the
northward and eastward. Hove to alongside of a whales carcass and procured dog
food from it.
9.00am: Got cast 18 fathoms.
At 11 in 28 fathoms, at noon no bottom at 33 fathoms.
Meridian to 4pm: Light air to
light breeze from East-South-East. Overcast and pleasant. Along side whale
carcass.
2.30pm: Started ahead under
steam and sail, all plain sail to topgallant sail.
4.00pm: Got cast of lead. No
bottom in 28 fathoms. Seven whalers in sight on starboard beam and ahead.
4 to 6pm: Light
East-South-East breeze. Smooth sea. Cloudy but pleasant.
5.45pm: Stopped engine to
communicate with whaler 'Coral'*, which had just struck a whale.
5.50pm: Ahead again.
6.00pm: Changed course to
North by West 1/2 West. Got cast in 36 fathoms, soft mud bottom.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy. Steady
barometer. Smooth sea.
8.00pm: Sounded in 31 fathoms
water. Mud bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze
from East-South-East. Overcast with light drizzling rain. At intervals quite
clear. Got cast at 10pm in 28 fathoms. Soft sandy bottom. At 12m in 29 fathoms
black hard sand. No ice in sight.
Editor's note: *They asked Captain
Coon of the Coral if he could spare them a boat to replace the one that they
abandoned at Wrangel Island, but he declined the request. The Rodgers then
returned to Wrangel Island on 22 September and retrieved their boat.
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/95/mode/1up/
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16 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 72.90, Long -174.50 *
Editor's note: *After an
unsuccessful search so far the Rodgers commenced searching along the pack
ice to the north of Wrangel Island. Positions between 16. and 27. September
marked with a '*' are derived from the following chart by William Gilder:
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/n19/mode/1up
Commencing and until 4am:
Light East-South-East breeze first two hours hauling to East third hour and
East-North-East last hour of watch.
2.00am: The temperature of
water at surface was 34 degrees , a fall of 4 degrees during the hour. Overcast
with drizzling rain first three hours. Snow last hour. Got cast in 32 fathoms.
3.50am: Ran into small broken
ice and at 4 sighted the pack ahead and on starboard bow and beam distance 1/4
mile. Slowed down and headed away from the pack.
4.00am: Got cast in 40
fathoms, soft brown bottom.
4 to 8am: Overcast and
snowing. Light North-East breeze. Barometer falling slowly. Ship lying to to
leeward of ice pack distance 1/4 mile. Furled sail and kept distance from pack
under steam alone, waiting for clear weather.
6.00am: Got cast in 52
fathoms.
8.00am: Got cast in 54
fathoms, soft blue mud.
8am to Meridian: Light airs
from North-East. Overcast and snowing at intervals. Standing along large field
of ice (very heavy) 4 feet out of water.
10.00am: Got cast in 66
fathoms, soft blue mud. Saw along the ice small ducks and a few gulls.
11.30am: Started up into a
pocket heading North-West.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs
from North-East first hour, light breeze from North second, third calm. Moderate
North-North-West breeze last hour. Changing course first two hours to clear ice
field.
2.00pm: Passed the end of
heavy ice field showing about 5 feet above the water. Headed course East and
ahead fast. Got cast at 2pm in 60 fathoms, 4pm in 52 fathoms, soft mud bottom.
Temperature of water rose 6 degrees last hour. Weather overcast and foggy
greater part of watch. Clear last half hour.
4 to 6pm: Overcast and foggy.
Freshening breeze from North-North-West. Barometer steady. Stood East by North
first hour then lay to to wait for clear weather.
6.00pm: Got cast in 42
fathoms, soft blue mud.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast and moderately clear. Wind very cold, ship lying to
under spanker and main trysail, heading from North by East to North-East by
East.
8.00pm: Got cast in 42
fathoms. Soft bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh
North-West breeze. Smooth sea. Overcast. Lying to under main trysail and
spanker.
10.00pm: Got cast in 42
fathoms. At 12m in 40 fathoms. Soft blue mud. Ship drifting slowly to southward
and eastward.
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17 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast. Fresh North-West breeze. Barometer steady. Smooth sea. Lying to to
leeward of ice pack under spanker and main trysail. Got cast at 2am in 37
fathoms, at 4am in 32 fathoms. Soft blue mud.
4 to 8am: Fresh to moderate
breeze from North-West. Overcast and cold, but clear until 7am when it set in
thick.
5.30am: Spread fiers.
6.00am: Started ahead
North-North-West. Whaler trying out bore South by East about 8 miles.
6.30am: Changed course to
North. No ice in sight. Few birds in sight; gulls and ducks. Passed two walrus
in ice second hour of watch.
8am to Meridian: Moderate
North-West breeze. Foggy first hour, pleasant and partially clear afterwards.
10.00am: Made the ice ahead.
Got cast in 31 fathoms.
Noon: Got cast in 35 fathoms.
Soft blue mud.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
cloudy. Light breeze from the North. Ship under steam standing through loose ice
to the northward. Ice heavier and closer after 2pm forcing her to the northward.
Ship in conn of Commanding Officer.
4 to 6pm: Calm. Overcast and
quite thick. In heavy ice working to the northward through leads. New ice
forming on the water. Ship experienced several heavy strikes.
5.15pm: Ship came to heavy ice
headway stopped. Tried to force her through full speed, but could make no
headway. Started back working to southward through lead.
6 to 8pm: Calm. Weather
overcast. Working to southward through heavy ice. New ice forming.
8 to Midnight: Light airs and
calm. Barometer steady.
8.00pm: Pack became solid. Ran
alongside of a large field and planted ice anchor. Got out another with ~ from
port quarter and sprung ship around to protect rudder from large cake coming up
astern. Ice closing in fast. No clear water in sight, but indications of it
showing in clouds to South-West. Banked fiers.
500dc366cd0db40002001045 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0116__0.jpg)
500dc366cd0db40002001046 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0116__1.jpg)
18 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 73.20 at noon
Commencing and until 4am:
Light airs to light breeze from East, from 12.30 to 3am. Calm from 3 to 4am.
Temperature moderating. Misty not able to see far ahead about 1/4 mile.
2.30am: Spread fiers.
3.45am: Got in ice anchors and
started ahead working through ice. Ice very compact, but not very heavy. Made
three ship length 1st hour going most of the time full speed. Saw
polar bears on the ice. Indications of open water ahead to the southward and
eastward.
4 to 8am: Light South-East by
East breeze first hour, then moderate from East. Fresh squalls between 5 and
7am. Working through the ice first part.
4.40am: Extended a lead which
continued as far as the open water. Passing between the East and West pack, the
former tending to eastward and the latter to southward and westward as far as
the eye could reach.
5.20am: Propeller struck block
of ice propelling under the water and stopped engine. During first part in
working through thick ice held ship head to ice and steamed ahead full speed.
7.00am: After reaching clear
water changed course to North-East 1/4 East to skirt along the Eastern pack.
8.00am: Finding the ice
tending to northward changed course to North 3/4 East. Weather cloudy and cold.
Passed two walrus in ice second hour of watch.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
cloudy, but clearing away. Plenty of loose ice. Ship making Northing and
Eastings. Heavy ice pack to northward and westward. At noon meridian altitude
showed latitude 73 degrees 12' North. Ship on (true) course North by East
steering through loose ice on edge of pack. Got cast at 10am in 51 fathoms, at
noon in 54 fathoms. Soft blue mud.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to
moderate breeze from East-South-East. Cold and setting in thick at intervals and
snow squalls. Lighting up occasionally showing a little blue sky. Clear
intervals around the horizon. No land in sight. No ice in sight to the
North-North-West from the deck, but ice reported from mast head heavy ice on
both beams. Passed through several smooth places with light skin of ice on it.
Got cast at 2pm 49 fathoms, at 4pm in 78 fathoms blue mud. Shifted course as per
column.
4 to 6pm: Moderate
East-South-East breeze, weather cloudy and cold. Snow falling at intervals.
Changed course to skirt ice pack. Heavy ice to northward and eastward. Got cast
at 6 in 64 fathoms, soft blue mud.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and thick.
East-South-East breeze. Barometer steady.
8.00pm: Hove to, to await
daylight. Got cast at 8pm in 59 fathoms, mud bottom.
8 to Midnight: Gentle breeze
to light airs from East-South-East to South-East by South from 8 to 11pm. Calm
from 11 to 12pm. Very changeable, at intervals light rain snowing and misty.
Occasionally lighting up, stars coming out very bright overhead, but misty
around horizon. Very brilliant display of Northern light, brightest in the
South-West. It would extend across the entire heavens, in a bow shape, changing
its form very rapidly. Then suddenly shoot off in every direction, so bright as
to have the appearance of day breaking. Passing fine ice cakes. No heavy ice in
sight, young ice forming. Ice blink to northward and westward. Got cast at 10pm
and 12m in 47 fathoms. Soft blue mud.
500dc366cd0db40002001047 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0117__0.jpg)
500dc366cd0db40002001048 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0117__1.jpg)
19 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 73.73, Long -171.80
http://archive.org/stream/ourlostexplorers00blisrich#page/69/mode/1up
Commenced and until 4am:
Weather overcast and foggy. Light South-East airs first hour. Calm afterwards.
Passed several large pieces of ice between 1 and 2am. Got cast at 2am in 54
fathoms, at 4am in 56 fathoms.
4 to 8am: Commenced overcast
and foggy. Fog clearing away after 6am.
5.00am: Started ahead on
course North-North-West.
6.00am: Made the pack on port
bow and beam.
8.00am: Made heavy pack on
starboard beam. Ship steaming through lead several miles wide passing
occasionally large detached masses of loose ice.
8am to Meridian: Light air to
light breeze from North-East. Weather overcast and foggy. Snowing at intervals,
lighting up occasionally, with blue sky overhead. Ice on both beams and ahead.
Ice very compact, large cakes piled on each other.
9.40am: Got to sound of lead,
stopped engine, got cast of lead 82 fathoms, hard bottom. Turned around and set
course South-East. Detached cakes of ice to South-East in lead.
11.15am: Saw a polar bear in
water just ahead of ship. Shot bear and got it aboard for dog feed. Passed great
many birds: ducks, gulls and sand snipes. Also great many seals.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
moderate breeze from North-East to East-North-East. Snowing first two hours. Fog
last two. Got cast at 2pm in 62 fathoms, at 4pm in 65 fathoms. Soft bottom.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Steady barometer. East-South-East breeze. Open sea. Made all sails and set
course South by West.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and
pleasant. Steady barometer. Gentle to stiff breeze from East. No ice in sight.
8pm to Midnight: Cloudy first
part. Clear afterwards. Fresh East-South-East breeze. Under steam and sail. Took
in mizzen topmast staysail to ease helm.
500dc366cd0db40002001049 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc366cd0db4000200104a (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0118__1.jpg)
20 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Returning to Herald Island
'After cruising along the pack so far without
discovering any traces of sledge parties from the Jeannette, and our further
progress being cut off, we steamed toward Herald Island to anchor there for the
purpose of making observations upon the current reported to flow in a
north-westerly direction.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/99/mode/1up/
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast and cloudy. Fresh breeze from East. Steady Barometer.
1.00am: Made a whalers light
on port bow. Took in and furled topgallant sails. Passed through the whaling
fleet during the watch. No ice close at hand.
4 to 8am: Gentle breeze from
the East. Overcast and foggy. Very thick, with light rain at intervals.
5.00am: Lost sight of whalers.
5.40am: Set in very thick,
could not see a ship length ahead. Reduced sails and lower topsails and jibs,
ran engine as slow as possible. Sounded whistle at intervals.
6.20am: Think we passed a sail
close aboard on starboard beam. Did not see it myself, although took every
precaution to do so, but was reported twice by reliable lookout. Moderate sea.
Got cast at 6am in 28 fathoms, at 8am in 23 fathoms. Sandy bottom. Barometer
falling.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
foggy, with drizzling rain.
10.00am: Changed course to
South by West 3/4 West. Got cast as follows; viz:, At 9 in 20 fathoms, at 10 in
18 fathoms, at 11 in 17 fathoms, at 11.30 in 16 fathoms and at noon in 15 1/2
fathoms. Hard bottom gravel.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast.
Thick fog. 16 fathoms water. Ship under lower topsails and jib with steam up.
Got starboard anchor of bow and ready for letting go.
2.40pm: Shortened sails and
came to in 16 fathoms water. Veering to 45 fathoms on starboard chain at water
edge. Indicator showed surface current of .5 knots per hour setting (p.c.)
North-West by North. Banked fiers.
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from
East-South-East. Very thick fog. Long swell from East-North-East.
4.00pm: At anchor 16 3/4
fathoms water. Put over current log could get no decided rate of current. Ship
tended to East-South-East. Tried current log at 5pm and 6pm with same result.
Neither was there any change in the depth of the water. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Foggy, with light
breeze from East-South-East. Long swell from East-North-East. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Thick fog.
Light breeze from East-South-East to East.
9.00pm: Veered to 60 fathoms
on starboard chain. Current indicator showed .2 knot per hour East-South-East at
9pm, at 10pm, at 11pm and midnight. The surface current seam due entirely to
tide. For while the depth as shown by the lead remained constant, there was no
appreciable current, which as the depth increased the current increased and
tended to the northward and westward by compass and as the depth decreased the
current increased but tended to southward and eastward.
Editor's note: 'The weather grew thicker as night
approached, and a strong wind prevailed while we held our course toward
Herald Island. During the night we passed in view of the lights of some of
the whalers, who were still holding their position near where we had left
them when going toward the north. As the fog continued we dropped anchor in
fifteen fathoms of water at half -past two o'clock on the afternoon of the
20th. During the following twenty-four hours the observations of the current
were continued, which indicate a tidal current setting toward the northwest
as the water is deepening, and toward the southeast when shoaling, while at
high and low water there was no current perceptible. The measurements were
made at the surface, and at a depth of ten fathoms.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/99/mode/1up/
500dc366cd0db4000200104b (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc366cd0db4000200104c (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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21 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65
Ostrov Geral'd
Commencing and until 4am:
Light breeze to light airs from midnight to 2.45am from East by South to East.
Calm at 3am, last hour light airs from North-East by East. Very thick fog
lifting at intervals. But at no time could see over three ship length ahead.
2.00am: .5 knot current
setting West-North-West. Depth of water 15 fathoms 1 foot, at 3am .6 knot
current setting West-North-West. Depth of water 15 fathoms 3 feet, at 4am .5
knot current, setting West-North-West. 15 fathoms 4 feet depth of water. Swell
moderating during the watch. Barometer steadily falling. Swell from eastward.
4 to 8am: Light
East-North-East breeze. Dense fog. Surface current setting East by North force
.3 knots per hour. Easy swell from eastward.
8am to Meridian: Thick fog.
Falling barometer. East-South-East breeze. Current (10 feet below surface)
setting East-North-East at 9am .4 knot, at 10am .5knot, at 11am .3 knot, at noon
.2 knot West-North-West (p.c.).
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs
from South-East from 12m to 2pm. Calm from 2 to 3pm. Light airs from West last
hour. Very dense fog with drizzling rain. Fog lifting a little at intervals, but
most of watch not able to see two (2) ship length ahead. Hove current log every
hour showing as follows; viz:, 1pm .5knot, 2pm .85 knot, 3pm .75 knot, 4pm 1.
knot per hour setting West-North-West. Tried the current log at a depth of 10
feet at each time noted for surface current and got same rate. Got depth of
water each hours as follows; viz:, 1pm 16 fathoms 4 feet, at 2pm 17 fathoms 1
foot, at 3pm 17 fathoms, at 4pm 17 fathoms several pieces of drift wood floated
by ship in direction of current, also some whale feed. Barometer steady last
three hours. Swell moderating to little swell from the northward.
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from
West. Foggy with drizzling rain. Lighted up to latter part of watch. Current at
5pm setting North 1.1 force 1.1 knots 10 fathoms depth.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and cloudy.
Moderate breeze from West. Barometer steady.
6.00pm: Spread fiers.
6.15pm: Got under way and
started ahead under steam course South by West 3/4 West.
7.00pm: Set topsails and jib,
got cast of lead in 16 1/2 fathoms water. Sand and gravel bottom.
8.00pm: Sounded depth and
bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate
breeze from West-North-West. Overcast and misty. Snowing, sleeting and raining
at intervals. Barometer steady. Got cast as follows; viz:, 9pm 17 fathoms, 10pm
17 fathoms, 11pm 18 fathoms, 12m 20 fathoms.
9.45pm: Set in very thick,
slowed down, engine very slowly turning over.
11.25pm: Stopped engine and
banked fiers and hove to on port tack, with main topsail to the mast. Settled
away upon fore topsail and set spanker. Passed during the watch considerable
whale feed.
500dc366cd0db4000200104d (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc366cd0db4000200104e (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0120__1.jpg)
22 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean off
Wangel Land
Lat 71.27, Long -178.92
at Ostrov Vrangelya
Editor's note: Knots
column notes 'Drifted about 2 miles to eastward' for the hours midnight to
4am.
Commencing and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from West-North-West. Weather overcast. Light snowfall first two
hours and foggy around horizon. Hove to during the watch under jib, lower fore
topsail, spanker and main topsail to the mast. Moderate sea.
4 to 8am: Overcast and cloudy.
Moderate North-North-West breeze, hauling to westward. Ship hove to on port
tack.
4.45am: Wove ship to southward
and eastward, bringing her full and by on starboard tack heading West by North.
Made sail to topsails and started ahead under steam and sail.
7.45am: Made South-East shore
of Wrangel Island on starboard bow and beam. Shortened sail and headed up
for Pillar Point bearing (p.c.) North. Made fore and aft sail on port
tack. Got cast of lead as follows: viz:, 5am in 20 fathoms, at 6am in 19
fathoms, at 7am in 18 fathoms and at 8am in 17 1/2 fathoms. Hard gravel bottom.
8am to Meridian: Gentle wind
from North-West by North. Overcast and cold. Snowing at intervals.
11.50am: Ran into loose rotten
ice. Standing along Wrangel Island. Working up to where whale boat was
left.
Noon: Pillow Pt. [Pillar
Point] bore (p.c.) North-North-West distance half mile. Got cast as follows:
viz:, 9am in 17 fathoms, at 10am in 14 fathoms, 11am in 14 fathoms, at noon in
15 fathoms. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate
breeze from West-North-West. Overcast. Working through loose ice along
North-East side of Wrangel Island.
4 to 6pm: Standing in through
loose ice towards Wrangel Island to pick up whale boat and outfit
abandoned Sept. 3.
5.30pm: Came to in 5 fathoms
water veering to 15 fathoms on starboard chain. Dragged. Hove up anchor and
steamed ahead coming to again a few hundred yards to windward. Master Waring
left ship with boat and crew with three extra men to recover boat.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
North-West to West by North. A little blue sky in the northward. Ice drifting
around clear water in sight some distance from land.
6.45pm: Master Waring
returned aboard and brought off boat and jib left by him Sept 3. 1881.
7.00pm: Hove up anchor and
stood off from Wrangel Island through the ice.
7.45pm: Reached clear water.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze
from West by North. Weather pleasant. Partially clear. Brilliant aurora last
hour.
10.30pm: Lost sight of
North-East cape of Wrangel Island bearing (p.c.) South-South-East. Smooth
sea.
500dc366cd0db4000200104f (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0121__0.jpg)
500dc366cd0db40002001050 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0121__1.jpg)
23 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 72.80, Long -177.50 *
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and pleasant. Open sea. Ship under steam heading North-North-West.
Barometer steady. Got soundings as follows; viz:, at 1am in 10 fathoms, 2am in
11 fathoms, at 3am in 9 fathoms, at 4am in 9 1/2 fathoms. Gravel bottom.
4 to 8am: Light breeze from
West by North. Occasional clear sky. Cold. Foggy to the North-West.
5.00am: Came up to the ice
pack. Ice not very heavy. Stood along the pack to the eastward then turned
around and stood to the westward and ran on that course until came up to solid
ice pack.
8.00am: Started ahead on
course North-East by East 1/2 East. Wrangel Island bore (p.c.) as
follows; viz:, greatest Eastern end South-East by East. Western end South-West
by South. Ships head North-East by East 1/2 East. Could see Wrangel Island
very plainly. The mountains to the westward were all covered with snow. Got cast
as follows; viz:, at 5am in 12 fathoms water, 6am, 7am and 8am same depth.
Gravel bottom. Saw ducks coming South. Passed some large pieces of drift wood.
8am to Meridian: Light
westerly breeze. Partially clear. Standing along loose ice. Changed course as
per column. Got cast as follows; viz:, at 11am in 15 fathoms, at 12m in 16
fathoms.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
cloudy. Snowing during second and third hours. Light breeze from West. Shifting
suddenly to North-North-East and freshening at 1pm. Made fore and aft sails.
Hauled down and reset it on starboard tack when wind shifted.
3.30pm: Set fore sail.
4 to 6pm: Moderate to fresh
breeze from North-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Moderate sea from the
northward and eastward. Passed drift wood. No ice in sight. Barometer unsteady.
Got cast at 6pm 25 fathoms.
6 to 8pm: Fresh breeze from
North-East by North. Cloudy. Snowing during greater part of watch.
8.00pm: Got cast of lead in 27
fathoms. Rough sea.
8pm to Midnight: Stiff to
moderate breeze from North-East by North. Overcast and snowing. No ice in sight.
Rough sea. Barometer steady.
500dc366cd0db40002001051 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc366cd0db40002001052 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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24 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Latitude 73 degrees 28' N, 179
degrees 52' W [at meridian]
Lat 73.47, Long -179.87
http://archive.org/stream/ourlostexplorers00blisrich#page/69/mode/1up
Commencing and until 4am:
Gentle to moderate breeze from North-North-East. Overcast and cold. Got cast as
follows; viz:, at 2am in 34 fathoms, at 4am in 32 fathoms. Gray mud. Barometer
steady.
12.35am: Hove to on port tack,
under jib and spanker, slowed down, turning over just fast enough to keep ship
from drifting. Ice blink very plain from South-South-East to North-West by West.
3.00am: Very brilliant aurora.
Light enough on deck to read large print.
4 to 8am: Moderate
North-North-East breeze. Overcast.
4.45am: Brought ship to course
North-West and ahead full speed. Moderate sea.
7.00am: Ice reported from mast
head on port beam.
8.00am: Made the pack ahead
and on both bows. New ice rapidly forming on surface of water.*
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
cloudy. Clear to northward after 10am. Latitude 73 degrees 28' North at an
altitude of 120 feet above the sea. About the 180 meridian; no land was visible
in any direction. The sky to the northward was clear and high land might have
been seen had there been any to the southward of 74 degrees North latitude.
Heavy pack ice ahead and on both bows and beams. Got cast as follows; viz:, at
10am 29 fathoms, 12m in 31 fathoms.
10.00am: Shifted course to
East and headed out of pack, steaming through several inches of thick slush
until 11.40am.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to
gentle breeze from North-East to East-North-East. Weather cold with blue sky.
Snowing a little from 3 to 4pm. Long sea from the North-East. Got cast as
follows; viz:, at 2pm in 30 fathoms, at 4pm in 27 fathoms. Gravel bottom.
Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Moderate
East-North-East breeze. Long swell from East. Weather cloudy and cold. Got cast
of lead at 6pm in 24 fathoms. Soft blue mud bottom.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
Temperature of air and water both moderating. Barometer rising. North-East
breeze. Ship under steam and fore and aft sail. Got cast at 8pm 30 fathoms.
Gravel bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze
from North-East by North. Pleasant weather. Clear over head at intervals.
Brilliant display of aurora. Got cast as follows: viz:, at 10pm in 30 fathoms,
at 12m in 28 fathoms. Blue mud. Long sea from northward and eastward. No ice in
sight.
Editor's note:
*This is the first day
where the sea temperature logged is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees
Centigrade) all day
500dc366cd0db40002001053 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc366cd0db40002001054 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0123__1.jpg)
25 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 72.10, Long -177.10 *
Commencing and until 4am: Wind
light and variable. East first hour. East-South-East second and third hour and
East by North last hour of watch. Overcast. Snowing first hour foggy afterwards.
Long swell from North-East by East. Got cast at 2am in 25 fathoms, at 4am in 25
fathoms. Soft mud bottom.
12.00am: Took in fore and aft
sails and hauled up to East-North-East.
1.00am: Made fore and aft
sails and took them in at 3am.
4 to 8am: Overcast, foggy and
snowing throughout watch. Set and took in fore and aft sails as they would draw.
Breeze shifted suddenly from East by North to southward. Got cast as follows;
viz:, at 6am in 24 fathoms, at 8am in 26 fathoms. Gravel bottom.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze
to light airs from South-East by East. Weather changeable. Blue sky at intervals
and thick fog occasionally. Snowing first hour of watch.
10.20am: Took in all sails and
headed South-East. Long sea from East. No ice in sight. Got cast as follows, viz:,
at 10am in 26 fathoms, at 12m in 25 fathoms. Stiff blue mud. Barometer falling.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from South-East by East first hour and South-East afterwards. Weather mild and
pleasant. Partially clear. Got cast as follows; viz:, at 2pm in 20 1/4 fathoms,
at 4pm in 18 fathoms. Soft blue mud.
3.30pm: Sighted Wrangel
Island
on starboard bow and beam and ice on starboard beam. Long swell from eastward.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Barometer steady. North-East breeze.
5.40pm: Headed to and ran over
to ice pack to examine a black mass resembling a ship. Prove to be dirty ice.
Heeded course again.
6.00pm: Got cast in 15 fathoms
water. Gravel bottom.
6 to 8pm: Light breeze from
East. Clear and pleasant. Land in sight on starboard bow at dark. Got cast at
7pm in 10 1/2 fathoms, at 8pm in 10 1/2 fathoms. Hard bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Light
East-South-East breeze. Long swell from eastward. Clear and pleasant. Brilliant
aurora.
Got cast of lead as follows;
viz:, at 9pm in 12 fathoms, at 10pm in 14 fathoms, at 11pm in 12 fathoms, at 12m
in 13 1/2 fathoms.
500dc366cd0db40002001055 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db40002001056 (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers__1881/b001of010__0124__1.jpg)
26 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65
off Ostrov Geral'd
Commencing and until 4am:
Clear and pleasant. Light breeze from East. Remarkably bright star light and
intensely brilliant and active aurora. The aurora was the most brilliant and
altogether the most remarkable I have yet seen. Arranged in three concentric
arcs extending from East to West across the entire heavens. It would
occasionally burst into still brighter luminosity and the thin arcs uniting,
would form one broad belt of light heaving and tossing like the sea in a gale.
The morning star seem to be affected by it in appearance, showing a bright
perpendicular line drawn through its center and extending through upwards of a
degree above and below.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate
breeze from East to West. Cold weather, snowing at intervals.
5.25am: Sighted Herald
Island
on port bow, headed for it. Wrangel Island in sight on starboard beam and
quarter. Long sea.
7.00am: Took in fore and aft
sails. No ice in sight. Wrangel and Herald Islands well covered
with snow.
8am to Meridian: Moderate
breeze from the East first two hours, and East by North afterwards. Course by
the wind. Swell from eastward.
10.00am: Made sails to
topgallant sails. Hauled fiers for purpose of cleaning tubes. Herald Island
in sight on starboard bow during watch.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and
pleasant first two hours. Cloudy last two. Barometer falling. Cumulus clouds.
Long swell from northward and eastward.
2.00pm: Tacked ship to
southward and eastward and at 4pm to northward.
4 to 6pm: Light to moderate
breeze from East to East-North-East, weather overcast. Wind blowing in sudden
squalls. At dark Herald Island in sight on starboard quarter. No ice in
sight. Long sea from eastward.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze from
East by North. Clear and occasional fresh squalls. Long swell from eastward.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
cloudy. Steady barometer. Moderate breeze and swell from East by North.
Midnight: Tacked ship to
southward and eastward.
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27 September 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.70, Long -176.20 *
Commencing and until 4am: Wind
very baffling shifting very suddenly from light airs to moderate breeze from
North-East to East first half of watch. Light air to gentle breeze from
North-East by East to East-South-East remainder of watch. Overcast and pleasant.
No ice in sight.
3.00am: Tacked ship to
northward and eastward. Long sea. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Cloudy weather.
Light easterly breeze.
5.20am: Ship was tacked to
southward and eastward.
7.00am: Sighted the whale
fleet. Long swell from eastward.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Light breeze from East to North. Barometer rising.
9.00am: Sighted steam whaler
'Belvedere'
to windward, tacked ship to northward and eastward in chase wishing to speak
her. Setting mainsail and flying jib, fore, main and mizzen top staysails, gaff
topsail and main topgallant staysail.
11.00am: 'Belvedere'
hove to.
11.30am: Tacked ship to
southward and eastward.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to
light breeze from East. Overcast and pleasant.
1.20pm: Hove to on port tack.
Main topsail to the mast to communicate with 'Belvedere'. Reduced sails
to topsails and spanker and jib.
2.00pm: Commanding Officer
left ship in boat to communicate with 'Belvedere'.
3.00pm: Wove around and stood
towards 'Belvedere'. Hove to to await Commanding Officer. Seven
whalers in sight. Long swell from eastward. Barometer rising.
Commanding Officer returned.
4 to 6pm: Light breeze from
East. Hove to to communicate with whaler 'Belvedere' and send mail.
Cloudy and cold.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and cloudy.
Steady barometer. Light breeze from East. Ship hove to under topsail, spanker
and jib. Filled away occasionally to hold position near 'Belvedere'.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs
from East. Calm at intervals. Overcast and snowing.
9.40pm: Sent boat with mail to
'Belvedere'.
11.30pm: Boat returned. Made
sail to topgallant sails and stood off on port tack.
Midnight: Lights of three
whalers in sight. Long sea from eastward. Barometer steady.
Editor's note: Both the Rodgers and
the Corwin met the whaler Belvedere in 1881, at that time commanded by Leander
Owen. Owen was the Captain of the Rodgers in 1880 at a time when she bore her
first name 'The Mary and Helen'.
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28 September 1881
Position: Off Herald Island
Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65
Commencing and until 4am:
Overcast with fine snow falling. Calm and light North-East by East airs.
12.10am: Set topgallant sails.
01.30am: Hauled up mainsail.
4 to 8am: Overcast first two
hours, clear and pleasant last two. Light North-East breeze. Falling barometer.
4.30am: Set mainsail.
6.00am: Made Herald Island
directly ahead.
7.00am: Hauled up to
South-East by East.
8am to Meridian: Light to
moderate breeze from North-East to East by North. Clear and pleasant. Snowing
first part of watch. Standing towards Herald Island.
11.45am: Started ahead under
steam and sail.
1.30pm: Hauled up courses,
hauled down main topmast staysail and settled topgallant sails on cap. Stopped
engine and hove to off Herald Island.
1.45pm: Sent Ensign Hunt
to search for the "Corwins" cairn on North-East summit of Herald
Island. Moderate breeze from East. Clear and pleasant. Smooth sea.
4 to 6pm: Hove to off Herald
Island. Weather cloudy. Light breeze from eastward.
6 to 8pm: Weather cloudy. Wind
light from East. Rising barometer.
8pm to Midnight: Pleasant
first hour – cloudy afterwards. Thick over the land. Light breeze from the East.
The search party not returning, steamed around the Eastern end of Herald
Island after them. Burned blue lights and sent up rockets to indicate
position.
10.00pm: Came to off Eastern
face of Herald Island in 17 1/2 fathoms water, veered to 60 fathoms on
port chain.
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29 September 1881
Position: Herald Island –
Arctic Ocean
Lat 71.39, Long -175.65
Commences and until 4am:
Moderate breeze from the East, partially clear with small quantities of snow
falling at times. Ship riding to a current setting to the westward.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from
the East. Passing light snow squalls.
5.30am: Got under way and
steamed around the Eastern end of Herald Island looking for Mr Hunt
and boat party. Mr Waring was sent in a boat to the westward on the same
mission.
6.00am: Sighted the missing
boat coming around the North Eastern end of the island and picked her up, and
then returned to the southward and picked up Mr. Waring.
8am to Meridian: Clear and
pleasant. Moderate breeze from East first two hours and East-North-East
afterwards.
9.00am: Picked up the search
party and steamed to southward and westward after relief boat and picked it up.
Sent Master C.F. Putnam and Ensign H.J. Hunt ashore to find the
'Corwin's'
cairn.
Meridian to 4pm: Standing off
and on awaiting party from shore. Cloudy with light breeze from East. Barometer
steady.
4 to 6pm: Gentle to moderate
breeze from the South-East by South. Partially overcast and pleasant.
4.30pm: Took departure from
Herald Island. Set course South-West. Boat returned from Herald Island
having reached cairn left on the North-East summit by the Revenue Cutter
'Corwin'. Left record on island with 'Corwins'. Smooth sea. Steady
barometer.
7.15pm: Changed course to
South-West by South and took in and furled topgallant sails. Blowing fresh from
South-East by South. Squally. Moderate sea.
8pm to Midnight: Overcast and
cloudy during first hour. Wind blowing in occasional strong puffs, and very
baffling. Barometer unsteady. Hauled down main top staysail.
(click to enlarge)
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30 September 1881
Position: Off Herald Island
Arctic Ocean
Lat 70.80, Long -176.90
approximate position SE of Ostrov Vrangelya at noon
From Ostrov Geral'd to Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am:
Moderate to fresh breeze from South-East by South from 12m to 2am. Light to
stiff breeze from South to South-South-East from 2 to 4am.
1.20am: Wind freshened and set
in thick; slowed down engine, took in upper topsails and jib.
2.00am: Wind came out very
suddenly from the South, but died away immediately to light breeze. Weather very
variable and unsettled. Squally during the watch, heavy snow squalls first three
hours, setting in very thick at times, lifting, showing clear horizon and bright
stars overhead. Quite clear most of the last hour.
Wind came out well on weather
bow: took in all sails.
3.00am: Set fore and main
topmast staysails, jib and spanker. Sea increasing, moderate swell from the
southward at end of watch. Barometer rising, very cold. Between 2 and 3am passed
close to ice on starboard beam. Bright display of Northern Lights during the
watch, brightest between 2 and 3am.
4 to 8am: Cloudy and cold.
Moderate breeze from South by East first hour. South afterwards. Fresh squalls
first two hours. Moderate sea. Wrangel Island in sight on starboard
quarter.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and
cloudy. Rising barometer. Light breeze from South by East, hauling southward and
westward. Ship under steam and fore and aft sails, on courses as per columns.
Meridian to 4pm: Light air
from South-South-West from 12m to 2pm. Calm from 2 to 4pm. Overcast and
pleasant.
1.20pm: Took in all fore and
aft sails.
2.00pm: Wrangel Island
in sight on starboard quarter. By order of Commanding Officer Wm Rohdy
(QM) was disrated and reduced to Seaman for gross insolence to the Officer
of the Deck. Chas McShean (Sea) was rated Q.M. Got cast of the lead, no
bottom at 30 fathoms.
4.00pm: Got cast in 22
fathoms. Soft blue mud. Wind dying out. Passed large pieces of drift wood. Great
many birds passed the ship during the watch. Small swell from eastward at end of
watch.
4 to 6pm: Light airs from
East. Weather cloudy and threatening. Smooth sea.
6.00pm: Got a cast of the lead
in 22 fathoms. Gravel bottom.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy first hour.
Clear last. Barometer falling. Cumulus clouds. Light breeze sprang up from
North-West at beginning of watch.
6.30pm: Made the Siberian
coast on port bow, distant from 30 to 35 miles.
8.00pm: Got cast of lead in 24
fathoms. Gravel bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Light to
moderate breeze from North-East. Weather very unsettled, overcast. Snowing from
8 to 11pm. Setting in thick while snowing.
10.00pm: Hove to head to wind.
Made spanker and jib. Engine turning over very slowly. Awaiting daylight. Got
cast of lead in 21 fathoms. Soft mud.
Midnight: Got cast. Soft mud.
Sea increasing from the North-East. Barometer steady.
LOGS FOR OCTOBER 1881
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1 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Geral'd to Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am: Fresh
breeze from North-East first two hours to North-North-East last two. Hove to on
starboard tack under jib and spanker. Drifting slowly to West-North-West.
Moderate sea. Barometer falling. Partially clear first two hours. Overcast and
snowing last two. Got casts at 2 and 4am in 21 fathoms. Gravel bottom.
4 to 8am: Overcast, foggy and
snowing. Rising Barometer. Fresh North-North-East breeze hauling to northward
and westward. Ship hove to on starboard tack.
6.20am: Started ahead on
course South. Set main top staysail.
9.00am: Fog lifted disclosing
the land ahead and on port bow, and beam close aboard and ice bound. Rounded to
to starboard, hauled down fore and aft sail and got cast of lead in 13 fathoms
water.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to
moderate breeze from North by East to North-East. Very unsettled weather,
snowing hard at intervals, setting in thick while snowing. Standing along coast.
Captain directing course; changing course and standing out as water shoals,
looking for a place to land. Heavy ice along beach and heavy sea breaking
heavily on ice. Impossible for boat to land. Passed great many settlements.
11.00am: Set course standing
along coast to northward and eastward. Great many whales in sight during the
watch. Whales around the shore ice. Saw some seal and great many ducks and
gulls. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh breeze
from North-North-East first hour, shifting to North second hour and to
North-West by West last two hours of watch. Weather overcast. Hazy first part,
snow last two hours. Standing along the coast. Land with heavy ice along the
beach. Passed several large blocks of ice grounded at some distance from the
beach. Long sea from North-East first part and changing with the wind to rough
sea from North-West last part of watch.
3.00pm: The snow squalls shut
in the land. Brought by the wind on port tack under fore topmast staysail and
spanker and let steam run down. Running along in from 9 to 10 fathoms.
4 to 6pm*: Overcast and
snowing. Blowing a moderate gale with occasional lulls from North-North-West.
Ship by the wind on port tack under jib and spanker. Engine turning over slowly
– drifting to northward and eastward along the coast.
6 to 8pm: Stiff to moderate
breeze from West-North-West. Overcast and snowing. Ship pitching easily. Heavy
swell from northward and westward. Luminous water.
7.00pm: Got cast of lead in 13
fathoms.
8.00pm: Got cast in 16
fathoms. Hard bottom. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Fresh gale
from West-North-West with strong squalls last two hours. Moderating last half
hour. Rough sea.
9.00pm: Increased speed to get
into deeper water. By the wind on port tack. Under fore topmast staysail and
spanker. Clear overhead, snowing at intervals. Aurora to northward and eastward.
Ship pitching deeply at times, but easily. Got cast at 9 in 19 fathoms, at 10 in
20 fathoms, at 11 and 12 in 21 fathoms. Muddy bottom.
Editor's note:
*The entries of 4 to
6pm and 6 to 8pm are in reversed order
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2 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Geral'd to Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am: A
little blue sky with some stars shining brightly down first two hours, overcast
the last two. Snowing during a part of first hour. Moderate to strong gale from
West-North-West. Rough sea. Ship by the wind, under fore topmast staysail,
spanker and steam. Drifting to northward and eastward. Got soundings as follows:
at 1 and 2am 20 fathoms, at 3am 21 fathoms, at 4am 22 fathoms. Sandy bottom.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze to
moderate breeze from the West-North-West. Overcast and threatening, snowing the
last hour of watch. Rough sea from northward and westward. Ship pitching easily.
Saw good many ducks all standing to the southward. Got cast of lead at 6am in 23
fathoms, at 8am in 24 fathoms. Blue mud.
8 to Meridian: Fresh gale from
West-North-West. By the wind under fore topmast staysail and spanker. Rough sea.
Cloudy. Snow first two hours. Got cast at noon in 23 fathoms. Mud bottom.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and
snowing. Rough sea, moderating after 2pm. West-North-West breeze blowing fresh
first hour, but moderating and hauling to the northward later. Barometer steady
at 29.60.
4 to 6pm: Moderate and fresh
breeze from North-West. Overcast and snowing. Sea moderating. Got cast of lead
at 6pm in 25 fathoms water. Blue mud. Barometer steady. Sea moderating from the
northward and westward.
6 to 8pm: Wind fresh from
North-West by West. Rough sea. Steady barometer. Got cast at 8pm in 25 fathoms.
Mud bottom.
8 to Midnight: Overcast and
snowing. Moderate breeze from northward and westward. Steady Barometer. Nimbus
clouds. Wind and sea moderating.
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3 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Geral'd to Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am: Light
air to fresh breeze form the North-West by West. Overcast and snowing last hour
of watch little blue sky overhead. Blowing in fresh squalls at intervals
followed by very heavy falls of snow. Not being able to see half ships length.
Squalls less frequent last part of watch. Also less fall of snow. Between 2 and
3am bright display of Northern Light. Moderate sea from northward to westward.
Moderating all the watch. Water very luminous. Got cast of lead at 2am in 25
fathoms. Got cast at 4am 25 fathoms. Soft blue mud. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze from
North-West. Squally. Overcast and cold. Heavy snow greater part of watch. By the
wind on port tack under fore topmast staysail and spanker. Steaming half speed
first three hours.
6.00am: Got cast in 25
fathoms. Soft blue mud.
7.00am: Brought ship to course
South-South-East and made sail to topsails and foresail and increased to full
speed. Set jib and hauled down fore topmast staysail. Moderate sea.
8am to Meridian: Partially
overcast first two hours, snowing last two. Moderate westerly breeze. Rising
Barometer. Cumulus clouds.
Noon: Made the land on
starboard bow and rounded to to port setting course North-East. Passed through
discolored water evidently at the mouth of a river. Got cast of lead in passing
through in 17 fathoms. Sandy bottom.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff and
fresh breeze from North-West to North-West by North, overcast and snowing. Heavy
fall of snow at intervals. Saw during the watch several flocks of ducks standing
to the southward. Barometer rising.
12.30pm: Set course
North-East. Between 12 and 1pm passed discolored water. Got cast in 17 fathoms
water. Water resembled a shoal, but got more water than outside of it. Grey
sandy bottom in discolored water.
3.00pm: Got cast in 24
fathoms. Grey muddy bottom. Moderate sea from northward and westward.
3.35pm: Set topgallant sails.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze from
North-West by North. Moderate sea. Weather cloudy. Snowing first hour.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy. Moderate
breeze from North-North-West. Rising barometer.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
moderate breeze from North-North-West to North by West. Overcast and light snow
first hour of watch. Clear and pleasant remainder of watch. Bright star and moon
light. Ice blink on starboard beam between 9 and 11pm. Barometer rising.
10pm: Changed course to
East-North-East. Moderate sea. Got cast of lead in 26 fathoms. Hard bottom.
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4 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Geral'd to Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commencing and until 4am:
Light North by West breeze. Clear and pleasant weather.
3.00am: Light snow squalls.
Smooth sea.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant.
Light breeze from North by West, hauling to northward and eastward. Barometer
steady.
8.00am: Took in all square
sail. Got cast of lead in 26 fathoms.
8am to Meridian: Light air and
light breeze from North-East. Calm and pleasant. Swell from the northward and
eastward.
Noon: Got cast of lead in 25
fathoms. Pebble bottom. Barometer rising. Great many gulls following ship. Saw
flock of ducks standing to southward.
Meridian to 4pm: Light
North-East breezes. Weather pleasant. Partially clear. Long swell from eastward.
2.00pm: Made sail to
topgallant sails.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant.
Rising barometer. Cumulus clouds. Moderate breeze from East-North-East.
6 to 8pm: Gentle breeze from
the East-North-East. Clear and pleasant. Moderate swell from northward and
eastward. Barometer steady.
7.00pm: Took in mainsail. Got
cast of lead. 23 fathoms water.
8.00pm: Got cast in 28
fathoms. Pebble bottom.
8pm to Midnight: Light air
from North-East first hour, and North last three hours. Weather overcast.
9.30pm: Took in all sail
except jib and spanker and brought by the wind on port tack. Slowed down Engine.
Smooth Sea.
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5 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 67.05, Long -172.75
Ostrov Idlidlya near Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am: Light
North-North-West breeze. Steady Barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds. Ship lying to
under jib and spanker to wait for daylight. Land in sight on starboard quarter.
4 to 8am: Light air from the
North-West from 4 to 6am. Light breeze to moderate breeze from South-West from 6
to 8am. Clear and pleasant. Land in sight at daylight. Passed some walrus in the
water, also whales. Barometer steady.
4.30am: Got cast of lead – 25
fathoms with hard bottom.
5.45am: Stood in to the land
South-West 1/2 West.
8 to Meridian: Light breeze
from South-West by South. Clear and pleasant weather. Standing along the land
from Cape Serdze Kamen to Tipcan Island*. Made fore and aft sail.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze
from South-West by West hauling to southward. Barometer steady. Cirrocumulus
clouds.
1.00pm: Lowered boat and sent
her ahead to sound. Ship followed and at 1.25pm came to inside Island with port
anchor in 5 fathoms water veering 15 fathoms chain.
4 to 6pm: Gentle breeze from
South-South-West. Overcast and rainy. Rain freezing soon after falling. Crew
engaged in taking stores and lumber ashore**. Ship riding to tide. Great many
natives around. Barometer rising.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy with light
South-West wind. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and
pleasant. Light breeze varying from South by West to South-West by South.
Barometer steady. Cirrus clouds. Bright moonlight and starlight. Aurora to
northward.
Editor's notes:
*Tiapka Island or
Ostrov Idlidlya, also referred to as Eeteetlan. Gilder gave the position as
follows: 'The position of the island was established by numerous
observations of the stars before the weather became too cold to use the
necessary instruments, and ascertained to be 67 degrees 03' north latitude
and 172 degrees 45' west longitude.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepackandtundr01gildgoog#page/n158/mode/1up
**'On the 8th of October a
small party was landed from the Rodgers on the island of Eeteetlan, about
twenty-five miles west of Cape Serdze Kamen, on the Siberian coast, the
purpose of which was to form a base of supplies for sledge journeys during
the winter and spring following, and to serve as a haven for any survivors
of the Jeannette or missing whalers who might have reached the Siberian
coast during the preceding summer or fall. A severe gale, that prevailed for
several days previous to the arrival of the Rodgers at this point, had
caused a surf upon the sandy shore of the main-land that prevented the
landing of the party and stores there, but Captain Berry decided to place
them upon the island, where a good beach and lee-shore made the landing
feasible. A great many advantages that the main-land presented had therefore
to be abandoned, such as the constant presence and assistance of the
Tchouktchis and a plentiful supply of fresh water, of which the island is
almost entirely devoid.'
http://archive.org/stream/icepacktundraac00gild#page/102/mode/1up
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6 October 1881
Position: At Cape Serdze Kamen,
Siberia
Lat 67.05, Long -172.75
Ostrov Idlidlya near Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commences and until 4am:
Gentle breeze from the South. Overcast and snowing lightly at intervals.
1.35am: Ship commenced to
swing but did not go around. Stem towards island. Barometer falling. Ship riding
to tide and wind.
4 to 8am: Weather cloudy.
Moderate breeze from South-South-East first three hours and South by East last
hour. Sent working party to island to build house and land stores.
8am to Meridian: Overcast
first hour clearing up after. Moderate South by East breeze. Steady barometer.
Engaged in landing stores. Working party on shore.
Meridian to 4pm: Wind varying
from South-South-East to East.
1.20pm: Stiff breeze came out
very suddenly from South-East, lasted a half hour, then moderated and came out
from the East. Partially overcast, threatening weather. Crew engaged landing
stores. Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Weather cloudy.
Moderate wind from South. Working party on shore. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Clear and pleasant.
Moderate breeze from South to South by East. Steady barometer. Cumulonimbus
clouds. Working party returned on board.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to
fresh breeze from South-South-East to South-East. Partially overcast and
pleasant. Wind blowing in puffs. Clouds passing rapidly over the face of the
moon from South by West. Bright moonlight. Barometer falling.
Editor's note: The first
member of Captain DeLongs group of the Jeannette crew, H. H. Ericksen, died
on this day in the Lena Delta from exposure and an infection. DeLong and his
party had neither food nor shelter for weeks. All men of this group died one
by one from exposure and starvation during October, except Nindemann and
Noros who were sent ahead of the group and were rescued by natives.
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7 October 1881
Position: At Cape Serdze Kamen, Siberia
Lat 67.05, Long -172.75
Ostrov Idlidlya near Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commencing and until 4am: Fresh South-South-East
wind. Squally. Clear with bright moonlight.
4 to 8am: Clear. Strong breeze from the South blowing
occasionally in heavy squalls.
5.10am: Ship commenced dragging rapidly and paying
off to port. Yards braced sharp up by starboard braces. East end of island close
astern. No room to veer and engine refused to turn over promptly. Put helm hard
astarboard; set spanker, sheet to windward. Swung the head yards and she dragged
clear. When well clear started engine ahead and brought up. Hove up anchor and
found part of stock gone. Brought by the wind on starboard tack under steam,
fore topmast staysail, main trysail and spanker.
8.00am: Tacked ship to southward and westward.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to fresh breeze from
South-East from 8 to 10am. Gentle to moderate breeze from South-South-East from
10 to 12m. Wind blowing in squalls. Pleasant weather. Barometer steady.
11.30am: Came to anchor in 7 fathoms water. Veering
to 30 fathoms. Engaged in sending stores ashore.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze – moderate and
fresh squalls from South-South-East to South-East. Barometer steady.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant. Moderate
South-South-East breeze. Steady barometer. Smooth sea. Engaged in landing
stores. Working party on shore.
6 to 8pm: Light to gentle breeze from
South-South-East to South by East. Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer
steady.
8pm to Midnight: Weather pleasant. Light breeze from
S by E. Barometer steady.
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8 October 1881
Position: At Cape Serdze Kamen, Siberia
Lat 67.05, Long -172.75
Ostrov Idlidlya near Mys
Serdtse-Kamen
Commencing and until 4am: Day opened clear and
pleasant, bright moon and starlight. Light South by West breeze hauling to
westward. Barometer rising. Cirrocumulus clouds.
4 to 8am: Light to gentle breeze from South-West.
Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Engaged in getting stores ashore.
Carpenter and gang at work on house ashore. Great many natives aboard.
8am to Meridian: Clear. Light airs from South-West.
Rising barometer. Landing stores.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and pleasant. Light breeze
from the southward and westward first two hours, when it fell calm, and during
last hour sprang up from northward and eastward. Barometer rising. Cirrocumulus
clouds. Smooth sea. Finished landing stores.
4 to 6pm: Light air to light
breeze from the North-East. Clear and pleasant. Shore party consisting of the
officers and men viz: Master Chas. F. Putnam, in charge. Dr M.D.
Jones, P.A. Surgeon, W.H. Gilder, Payclerk, O. Peterson (Cox'n),
Frank Milens (Captop) [Frank Melms] and Dog Driver (Las) left the
ship with whale boat and complete outfit, one years provisions for (6) six men,
complete outfit of medical stores. Eighteen (18) dogs and two sleds. Dog feed.
House ashore was completed, outfit for house was sent ashore. Instruments for
observations etc.
6 to 8pm: Weather cloudy. Wind
light from North-East.
6.45pm: Got underway and stood
out from land, took course North by West 1/2 West. Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate
East-North-East breeze. Made sail to topsails. On course North by West 1/2 West.
10.00pm: Changed course to
North-West.
Editor's note: The ship returned to St. Lawrence Bay for winter quarters.
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9 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate breeze from
North-East. Overcast and pleasant. Light fog last two hours of the watch. Dirty
looking to windward. Barometer falling. Under and
square sails to topsails except mainsail, also jib, fore and main topmast
staysails.
4 to 8am: Overcast and dirty weather. Wind strong
from North-East by East.
7.00am: Hauled down main top staysail and jib.
Falling barometer. Moderate sea.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and wet. Blowing a gale
from East-North-East. Barometer falling. Nimbus clouds. Rough sea.
8.30am: Took in and furled upper topsails.
11.00am: Hauled up and furled foresail. Ship by the
wind on starboard tack under lower topsails, fore topmast staysail and steam.
Meridian to 4pm: Wind very variable in force and
direction as per columns. Overcast and drizzling rain from 12 to 3pm. Overcast
and pleasant last hour of watch. Sea moderating. Ship pitching considerably but
easily. Saw some ducks standing to southward during the watch. Sea from the
northward and eastward.
4 to 6pm: Overcast. Moderate wind from South-East by
East. Barometer steady. Rough sea.
6 to 8pm: Overcast. Raining last hour. Barometer
steady. Light south-easterly breeze. Steady barometer. Nimbus clouds.
6.30pm: Set topsails, foresail and main topmast
staysail and jib. Ship close hauled on starboard tack.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to stiff breeze from
South-East to South-East by South. Overcast and threatening weather. Rain first
hour. Latter part of watch lighting up occasionally to windward. Moon visible
through clouds at intervals between 10 and 12. Long sea from southward and
eastward.
10.00pm: Slowed down engine to keep ship from diving
into the seas. Barometer falling.
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10 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Weather cloudy with
drizzling rain during intervals of watch. Moderate to fresh breeze from South by
East. Ship pitching deeply to a long sea from the eastward. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Overcast first hour – clear and pleasant
after. Moderate South-South-East breeze. Steady barometer. Long swell from the
eastward.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze from South-South-East
to South. Overcast first three hours of watch. Clear and pleasant last hour.
Long sea from the southward. Barometer rising.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast and foggy. Wind light from
South. Barometer steady. Moderate sea.
4 to 6pm: Overcast and foggy, drizzly last hour.
Barometer steady. Long swell from southward and eastward.
6 to 8pm: Very light air from South-South-East to
South-East, foggy weather.
7.00pm: Took in all square sails and mizzen topmast
staysail. Long sea from the southward. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Weather thick with drizzling rain.
Calms and light breeze from South-East. Barometer steady. Moderate sea.
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11 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Overcast and raining.
Moderate South-South-East breeze and rough sea. Barometer falling.
2.00am: Set fore topmast staysail, main topmast
staysail and spanker and kept ship away to East by South.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze to strong gale from
South-East by East to South-East by South, blowing hardest between 6 and 7am.
5.40am: Hauled down main topmast staysail and slowed
down engine.
6.20am: Hauled down head of spanker. Overcast and
raining. Passed some driftwood. Rough sea from the southward. Ship pitching
easily. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Overcast with rain. Wind strong from
South-East by East to South-East by South. Falling barometer. Rough sea.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast. Raining first hour. Fresh
southerly breeze hauling to westward and freshening. Rough sea. Ship lying to
under fore topmast staysail and foot of spanker. Engine turning over. Passed
great quantities of driftwood.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze to strong gale from South-West
by West. Overcast. Threatening.
5.00pm: Set lower topsails and stood on course
South-East 1/2 South. Rough sea from the southward. Ship pitching easily. Passed
a great deal of drift wood. Barometer rising.
6 to 8pm: Cloudy. Gale with very heavy squalls from
West by South.
6.15pm: Took in fore topsail. Lying to under fore
topmast staysail and lower main topsail. Flying jib was washed from boom,
carried to masthead and was blown to pieces. Rising barometer. Ship lying to
easily to a very heavy sea.
8pm to Midnight: Clear. Rising barometer. Heavy gale
from the West, hauling to northward. Ship laboring greatly. During second hour
deck load of lumber fetched away, cut lashings and attempted to launch it
overboard to relieve lee rail, but it jammed and only a small portion was lost.
The gale moderating somewhat and the ship righting herself made no further
attempt to rid her of deck load. Set main trysail in view of losing main
topsail. Shot one of the dogs which had been jammed when lumber broke adrift.
Moderating greatly after 11pm.
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12 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate gale to gale from
West-North-West from 12m to 2am. Fresh breeze to moderate gale from 2 to 3am.
Moderate to fresh breeze from 3 to 4am. Weather partially overcast. Bright moon
and starlight at intervals. Heavy sea from northward and westward. Ship laboring
considerably. Seas coming over her weather bow. Barometer steady from 12 to 2am.
Rising from 2 to 4am.
3.00am: Got cast of lead in 30 fathoms water.
4 to8am: Weather cloudy, wind moderate from
West-North-West.
7.00am: Went ahead full speed with engine. Moderating
sea. Rising barometer.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and cloudy. Rising
barometer. Light westerly breeze hauling to southward. Smooth sea. Engaged in
restowing and securing deck load.
10.00am: Made all plain sail.
11.30am: Shortened and furled square sails. Passed
great quantities of drift wood.
Meridian to 4pm: Light air from West from 12 to 2pm.
Calm and light air to light breeze from South-South-East from 2 to 4pm.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Long sea from northward. Passed great
quantities of drift wood, some large trunks of trees. Passed great many ducks
and gulls. Barometer steady.
3.35pm: Set foresail and spanker.
3.50pm: Got cast of lead in 26 fathoms. Hard sandy
bottom.
4 to 6pm: Overcast. Wind light from North-East by
East. Barometer steady. Smooth sea.
4.35pm: Sighted land ahead. Hauled up to
South-South-East and made sail to topsails.
6 to 8pm: Overcast and cloudy. Barometer falling.
Moderate breeze from East by North. Under plain sail to topsails and steam.
7.30pm: Tacked ship to northward and eastward.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to stiff breeze from East by
North. Partially overcast and pleasant.
11.50pm: Hauled down jib and main topmast staysail.
Barometer steady, smooth sea. Bright moonlight at intervals.
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13 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 66.08, Long -169.65 near Mys
Dezhneva
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Cloudy. Obscured moonlight.
Wind fresh from the North-East. Falling barometer. Moderate sea.
12.15am: Wove ship to the southward and eastward.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze from East-North-East. Falling
barometer. Moderate sea.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to fresh breeze from
East-North-East to South-East by East. Barometer falling. From 8 to 11am
overcast, thick and rainy. Between 11 and 12m lifted and stopped raining. Saw
great many ducks during watch.
9.20am: Got cast of lead in 24 fathoms water. Grey
sand.
10.20am: Took in foresail and spanker.
11.10am: Got cast of lead in 23 fathoms water. Grey
sand.
11.40am: Sighted land from 3 pts on port bow to
starboard beam. Most eastern land Cape East.
Meridian to 4pm: Cloudy. Wind fresh from South-East
by East, South-South-East last hour and moderating. Barometer steady. Moderate
sea.
4 to 6pm: Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Wind
variable in force and direction. Force varying from 2 to 7. Direction from South
to South-East.
4.00pm: Tacked ship to the eastward.
5.00pm: Set topgallant sails, main top and topgallant
staysails, mizzen topmast staysail, spanker and gaff topsail.
6 to 8pm: Moderate to fresh breeze from South-East by
East to South-East by South. Clear and pleasant. Moderate sea from southward and
eastward. Barometer steady.
7.10pm: Took in mizzen topgallant staysail.
7.45pm: Moon rose. Took in jib.
8pm to Midnight: Weather pleasant. Wind fresh from
South. Barometer steady. Moderate sea.
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14 October 1881
Position: Arctic Ocean
Lat 65.61, Long -170.62 near Mys Nunyamo (North Head)
at 6pm
From Ostrov Idlidlya to Zaliv
Lavrentiya
Commences and till 4am: Clear. Southerly breeze with
fresh squalls.
1.00am: Tacked ship to the southward and westward.
4 to 8am: Gentle to stiff breeze. South-West by West
to South-South-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising.
4.25am: Tacked ship to southward and eastward. At
daylight sighted land ahead. Cape East bore (p.c.) East-South-East.
6.45am: Changed course and stood for East Cape.
Smooth sea. Saw great many whales.
7.00am: Set jib and main topmast staysail.
8am to Meridian: Clear and pleasant. Wind light from
South-South-West. Rising barometer. Standing through Behrings Straits.
Meridian to 4pm: Clear and pleasant. Light
South-South-West breeze. Rising barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds. Smooth sea.
1.45pm: Shortened and furled sail and headed
South-West by South under steam.
4 to 6pm: Light air from the southward. Clear and
pleasant. Barometer rising.
6.00pm: North Head
bore (p.c.) South-West 1/2 West.
6 to 8pm: Clear. Light airs from South. Barometer
steady. Smooth sea.
7.00pm: Set jib, fore and main topgallant staysails.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and pleasant. Light breeze
from West-North-West hauling to the northward. Barometer steady. At 8pm hauled
up to South-West, at 9.30 to South-West by West, and at 10.30 to West.
11.00pm: Came to in 11 fathoms water with starboard
anchor, veering to 30 fathoms on starboard chain. Mud bottom.
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15 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light air to light breeze
from North-North-East to North-East. Overcast and pleasant from 12 to 3am. Foggy
from 3 to 4am. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Overcast and foggy. Calm.
6.00am: Got underway and stood up to anchorage North
of Lutke's Island.
8.00am: Came to in 17 fathoms water with port anchor
and veered to 60 fathoms chain. Whaler 'Progress'
in the harbor. Barometer steady. Banked fires.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and calm. Barometer
falling. Cumulonimbus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Same as preceding watch.
4 to 8pm: Same as preceding watch. Except steady
barometer.
8pm to Midnight: Same.
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16 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commencing and until 4am: Calm. Clear and pleasant.
Barometer falling. Distilling.
4 to 8am: Light air from North. Clear and pleasant.
Distilling. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Light air from northward and
eastward. Clear and pleasant.
11.30am: Commanding Officer visited the whaler
'Progress'. Spread fires and got under way took 'Progress' in tow.
Barometer falling. Great many natives on board.
Meridian to 4pm: Light northerly air. Clear and
pleasant. Towing barque out of harbor. Barometer unsteady.
3.30pm: Cast off from 'Progress'
and stood back into the harbor. Sent mails by 'Progress'.
4 to 6pm: Light air from northward and eastward.
Clear and pleasant. Working back to anchorage on starboard chain. Banked fires
and commenced distilling.
6 to 8pm: Calm. Clear and pleasant. Distilling.
Banked fires.
8pm to Midnight: Light air to light breeze from
North-East to East. Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling.
9.00pm: Hauled fires.
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17 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light air from East.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Light air to light breeze from East to
East-South-East. Overcast.
6.00am: Started fires under hoisting engine for
heating purposes. Let dogs ashore.
8am to Meridian: Overcast. Light East by South
breeze. Rising barometer. Engaged in landing lumber.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze from East-South-East to
South-East. Steady barometer. Weather overcast and drizzling first two hours.
Partially clear last two. Engaged in landing lumber.
4 to 8pm: South-East breeze. Rising barometer.
Cumulonimbus clouds.
8pm to Midnight: South-South-East breeze. Steady
barometer. Overcast until 10pm. Closed clear and pleasant.
Editor's note: Jeannette: Alexey, another member of DeLongs party died
today
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18 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Clear and pleasant. Rising
barometer. South-South-East breeze.
4 to 8am: Southerly breeze. Falling barometer. Nimbus
clouds.
8am to Meridian: Southerly breeze. Rising barometer.
Clear and pleasant weather. Engaged in restowing lumber not sent ashore.
Meridian to 4pm: Overcast. Southerly breeze.
Barometer rose 1st hour. Steady at 29.94 during the other three hours.
4 to 8pm: South-East breeze and calm. Rising
barometer.
8.00pm: Light breeze sprang up from the North-East.
8pm to Midnight: Light northerly breeze hauling to
North-West. Barometer falling slightly. Foggy and damp after first hour, rainy
last hour.
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19 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Foggy and rainy. Falling
barometer. Westerly breeze. Calm first hour. Light westerly breeze during
remainder of watch.
4 to 8am: Light westerly breeze, shifting to East by
South after first hour. Barometer steady.
8am to Meridian: Clear and pleasant. Rising
barometer. Engaged in building house on deck. Sending down crows nest and
topgallant yards.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze from North-East and
calm. Overcast and cloudy. Falling barometer. Engaged in putting up deck house
and otherwise preparing ship for winter.
4 to 8pm: Light North-East by East breeze and calm.
Overcast and pleasant. Steady barometer.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and pleasant. Westerly breeze.
Steady barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
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20 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light to gentle breeze from
the North. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady.
4 to 8am: Light to moderate breeze from the North.
Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling from 4 to 5am. Steady afterwards.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to stiff breeze from North.
Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Engaged in clearing ship and preparing for
winter quarters. Carpenter and mate engaged in building reading room between
main and foremast for men.
10.00am: Whale ship 'Rainbow'
anchored inside of Cape North.
11.30am: Sent boat to communicate with whale ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to fresh breeze from North.
Clear and pleasant, wind blowing in squalls.
4.00pm: Whaleboat returned from whaler, reported that
the whaler stopped for water. Also reported all the whalers leaving the Arctic.
Barometer steady. Engaged in building smoking room and preparing ship for winter
quarters.
4 to 6pm: Moderate to fresh breeze from North. Clear
and pleasant. Wind blowing in squalls. Barometer steady. Engaged in preparing
for winter quarters.
6 to 8pm: Stiff to fresh breeze from North. Clear and
pleasant. Wind blowing in squalls. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Stiff to fresh breeze from North.
Clear and pleasant. Wind blowing in squalls. Barometer falling.
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21 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate to fresh breeze
from North. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Wind moderating considerably
by 4am.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from North. Clear
and pleasant. Barometer falling. Whaler 'Rainbow'
left during the night.
8am to Meridian: Fresh breeze to moderate gale from
the North. Steady barometer. Cirrocumulus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Wind increasing and barometer
falling. Otherwise same as preceding watch. Sent down topgallant masts.
4 to 8pm: Wind still increasing.
5.00pm: Let go starboard anchor, veered to 75 fathoms
on port and to 30 fathoms on starboard chains. Sent down topgallant rigging.
8pm to Midnight: Wind moderating but barometer
falling.
Editor's note: Jeannette: Lee and Kaack of DeLong's party dead
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22 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Freshening breeze from the
North. Falling barometer. Threatening sky.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze to moderate gale from the
northward. Falling barometer. Moderate sea.
8am to Meridian: Fresh to moderate gale from
northward. Partially overcast and pleasant. Wind blowing in squalls. Barometer
falling. Engaged in preparing ship for winter – building house on deck for men's
smoking quarters. Sent topgallant rigging and topgallant sails down in port
upper bunker. Mended the furl of all sails – passing extra gaskets.
Meridian to 4pm: Fresh to moderate gale from North.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer rising. Preparing ship for winter
quarters.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze to strong gale from North.
Occasional heavy squalls. Clear. Moderate sea.
5.10pm: Started fires.
6 to 8pm: Moderate breeze to gale from North.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Wind blowing at intervals very heavy. Blowing
freshest when clear overhead. Barometer steady.
7.00pm: Started ahead 1 bell. Going 4 bells at
intervals.
8pm to Midnight: Weather cloudy. Gale from North by
West. Heavy in squalls. Barometer steady. Using engine to ease chains.
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23 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Fresh breeze to strong gale
from the North. Steaming slowly to relieve chains. Heavy squalls at intervals.
Steady barometer. Nimbus clouds.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze to moderate gale from
North. Partially overcast and pleasant. Engine turning over to relieve chain –
speed regulated according to the strength of the wind. Blowing heavy squalls at
intervals, condensing. Blowing freshest when clear overhead. Barometer rising.
8am to Meridian: Weather cloudy. Wind heavy in
squalls from North by West. Barometer steady. Using engine through squalls.
Meridian to 4pm: Cloudy. Barometer ranging between
29.39 and 29.40. Fresh breeze to moderate gale first two hours. Gale to heavy
gale last two hours. Steaming full speed during last two hours. Engaged during
watch in sending down upper topsail yards.
4 to 6pm: Gale to heavy gale from North from 4 to
5pm. Heavy gale to stiff breeze from North from 5 to 6pm. Blowing steady from 4
to 5pm and squally last hour. Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer rising.
Lost overboard a deep sea lead and 14 fathoms lead line. Sent down upper topsail
yards. From 4 to 5.30pm steaming ahead four (4) bells to relieve chain.
6 to 8pm: [no entry]
8pm to Midnight: Barometer rising. Wind moderating.
Closed with clear sky overhead and occasional squalls.
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24 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate breeze to gale from
North. Clear and pleasant. Blowing in heavy squalls. Barometer very unsteady
going from 42 to 38 in 20 minutes. Used engine to relieve chain. Going four (4)
bells at strongest puffs.
3:20am: Saw a very vivid meteor in the northward and
westward.
4 to 8am: Weather clear. Wind fresh in squalls from
North increasing to moderate gale. Falling barometer.
8am to Meridian: Clear. Fresh squalls from the North.
Unsteady barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to fresh breeze from North.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Light fall of snow. Barometer unsteady.
Squally. Banked fires. Employed in preparing ship for winter quarters. Sending
down light rigging and light braces.
4 to 8pm: Cloudy. Wind in fresh squalls from North.
Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to fresh breeze from North.
Clear and pleasant blowing in squalls with snow. Barometer steady.
500dc367cd0db4000200108f: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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25 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Cold. Wind fresh in squalls
from North. Snow during last two hours of watch. Slightly rising barometer.
4 to 8am: Moderate breeze from North. Barometer
rising. Cumulonimbus clouds. Unbent main topmast staysail, mainsail and main
trysail.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to fresh breeze from the
North. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Engaged in preparing ship for
winter quarters. Sent down main sails in after port bunker. Building house on
deck. Banked fires. Natives visited ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to stiff breeze in squalls
from North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Finished building
deck house. Whale boat went ashore to feed dogs. Returned at 3.30pm with some
difficulty. Engaged in preparing ship for winter quarters.
4 to 6pm: Moderate breeze from North-West by North.
Clear and pleasant. Cold. Barometer steady.
6 to 8pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from North-West
by North. Clear and cold. Barometer steady.
8pm to Midnight: Light to stiff
breeze in squalls from North-North-West. Clear and cold. Bright starlight.
Barometer steady.
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26 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light to stiff breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and cold. Bright starlight. Barometer rising. Squally.
4 to 8am: Gentle to fresh breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and cold. Barometer rising. Squally.
8am to Meridian: Moderate North-North-West breeze.
Barometer steady. Cumulonimbus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: Steady barometer. Moderate
West-North-West breeze. Cumulonimbus clouds.
4 to 8pm: Same as preceding watch.
8pm to Midnight: Same.
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27 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Clear and pleasant with
moderate North-North-West breeze. Steady barometer and cumulonimbus clouds.
4 to 8am: Moderate North-North-West breeze. Barometer
fell .02 during second hour and remained steady at 29.58. Cumulonimbus clouds.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer unsteady. Natives visited ship.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to moderate breeze North by
West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling. No events of importance.
4 to 6pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from North by
West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling. No events of importance.
6 to 8pm: Gentle to fresh breeze from North by West.
Clear and pleasant. Barometer falling.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to fresh breeze from North
by West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Very brilliant display of the
aurora visible from North-West by North to North-East by North. Brightest
portion North-North-West.
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28 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate to fresh breeze
from North by West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Squally. Bright
display of the aurora from North-West by North to North-East by East.
4 to 8am: Moderate to fresh breeze from North by
West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer falling. Squally.
8am to Meridian: North by West breeze, blowing in
fresh squalls. Overcast last hour. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Same as preceding. Snowing last two
hours.
4 to 8pm: Barometer steady at 29.48. Squalls from the
North.
8pm to Midnight: Sky clearing and barometer rising.
Editor's note: Jeannette: Iverson of DeLong's party dead
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29 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Clear. Squally. Barometer
gradually rising.
1.15am: Brilliant aurora began. Shortly after fell
calm. Then sprang up suddenly from the North in a heavy squall during which the
barometer fell to 29.50. Moderated as suddenly as it commenced and after 2am
settled to steady breeze.
4 to 8am: Barometer rising. Wind moderating.
8am to Meridian: Gentle breeze to stiff breeze from
North to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Engaged in
cleaning out between decks.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to stiff breeze from North
to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Squally. Engaged in
cleaning out between decks.
4 to 6pm: Gentle to stiff breeze from North by West
to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Squally.
6 to 8pm: Gentle to fresh breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Wind not so squally.
8pm to Midnight: Light to gentle breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Snowing lightly at intervals. Barometer
rising.
Editor's note: Jeannette: Dressier of DeLong's party died in early
morning
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30 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light to stiff breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Display of aurora. Wind very squally.
Barometer rising.
4 to 8am: Light to moderate breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Wind not so squally.
8am to Meridian: Moderate North-North-West breeze.
Steady barometer. Cumulonimbus clouds.
Meridian to 4pm: North-North-West breeze. Barometer
steady. Cumulonimbus clouds. Smooth sea.
4 to 8pm: Weather same as preceding watch.
8pm to Midnight: Northerly breeze. Barometer steady
at 29.84. Cirrocumulus clouds. Closed pleasant.
Editor's note: Jeannette: Final entry of DeLong's diary. Boyd, Goertz
and Collins dead.
The only survivors of the Jeannette crew were the
party lead by chief engineer Melville. This group was rescued by natives
soon after reaching the Lena Delta in September.
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31 October 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Commenced clear and pleasant
with moderate breeze from the North. Barometer steady at 29.83. Cumulonimbus
clouds.
4 to 8am: Clear and pleasant first two hours.
Overcast and snowing last two. Barometer steady. Light northerly breeze.
8am to Meridian: Light airs and calm. Barometer
steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs and calm. Steady
barometer.
4 to 8pm: Same as preceding watch.
8pm to Midnight: Northerly breeze. Falling barometer.
Snowing after 9pm.
LOGS FOR
NOVEMBER 1881
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1 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Clear and pleasant. Moderate
squalls from the North. Falling barometer. Cumulus clouds.
4 to 8am: Freshening breeze from the North. Barometer
falling.
8am to Meridian: Fresh breeze from North. Clear and
pleasant. Engaged in cleaning out main hold. Banked fires. Barometer steady.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff breeze to moderate gale from
North. Partially overcast and pleasant.
2.20pm: Spread fires.
2.40pm: Steamed ahead to relieve chain. Secured boats
for sea. Put up anemometer. Registered 50 miles per hour at 4pm. Barometer
falling.
4 to 6pm: Fresh breeze to moderate gale from North.
Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer falling.
6.00pm: Anemometer registered 50 miles per hour at
6pm.
6 to 8pm: Stiff to fresh breeze from North. Clear and
pleasant. Clouds passing over rapidly to the southward. Barometer steady.
6.30pm: Wind moderated. Stopped engine.
8pm to Midnight: no entries
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2 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Blowing a strong gale from
the North.
2.30am: Spread fires and turned over engine to
relieve chain.
4 to 8am: Fresh breeze to gale from North. Partially
overcast and pleasant. Steaming to relieve chain.
6.00am: Stopped engine.
6.30am: Started engine again.
7.00am: The anemometer registered 40 miles.
8.00am: Registered 55 miles as velocity of wind per
hour. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Blowing a gale from the North.
Steady barometer.
Meridian to 4pm: Blowing a gale from the North.
Anemometer from 2 to 3pm showed 56.7 miles, and for 1 minute showed a rate of 67
miles per hour; for a portion of that interval the rate was much greater.
Barometer falling steadily.
1.00pm: Started steaming.
4 to 8pm: Wind moderating. Stopped engine and banked
fires. Barometer rising.
8pm to Midnight: Wind freshening. Barometer falling.
Closed blowing a moderate gale from the North.
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3 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Commenced clear with strong
wind squalls from the North. Moderating and barometer rising after first hour.
4 to 8am: Fresh northerly breeze. Steady barometer.
8am to Meridian: Stiff breeze from the North. Clear
and pleasant. Anemometer showed average of 24 miles per hour. Barometer rising.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff breeze from northward. Clear
and pleasant. Barometer steady. Anemometer showed average of 29.5 miles per
hour.
4 to 8pm: Moderate to from breeze from North. Clear
and pleasant. Barometer rising. Anemometer showed an average of 38 miles per
hour.
8pm to Midnight: Light to moderate breeze from North
to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Anemometer showed an
average of 25 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010a3: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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4 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Gentle breeze from North by
West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Anemometer showed an average of 25 miles
per hour for watch. Barometer rising.
4 to 8am: Light to gentle breeze from North by West
to North-North-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Anemometer showed average
of 23 miles per hour. Barometer steady.
8am to Meridian: Freshening breeze from
North-North-West. Barometer steady.
10.00am: Got underway and shifted anchorage to North
shore.
Noon: Came to in 9 fathoms water. Soft blue mud
bottom. Veering to 45 fathoms on port chain. Anemometer showed an average of
29.6 miles per hour throughout the watch.
Meridian to 4pm: Barometer rising. North-North-West
breeze. Engaged in making ship snug. Refurled sail, sent down royal yards from
topmast rigging. Hauled taut gear and secured everything about deck. Anemometer
showed an average of 18.6 miles per hour throughout the watch.
4 to 8pm: Moderate North-North-West breeze hauling to
westward. Barometer rising slowly. Cumulonimbus clouds. Anemometer showed an
average of 23.4 miles per hour throughout the watch.
8pm to Midnight: West-North-West breeze hauling to
North. Snowing last two hours. Barometer falling. Anemometer showed an average
of 23.75 miles per hour throughout the watch.
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5 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Clear and pleasant.
Barometer falling. North-West breeze. Anemometer showed an average of 18.75
miles per hour throughout the watch.
4 to 8am: North-West by West breeze. Barometer
rising. Average speed of wind 29.75 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-West by West to North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per
anemometer 23 miles per hour. Barometer unsteady.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to stiff breeze from
North-West to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per
anemometer 26.6 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: Moderate to stiff breeze from North-West.
Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour per anemometer 29 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to stiff breeze from
North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per anemometer 29.5 miles
per hour. Barometer rising.
500dc367cd0db400020010a7: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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6 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Fresh to moderate breeze
from North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per anemometer 30
miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Moderate to light breeze from
West-North-West. Partially overcast and light snow. Average speed of wind per
anemometer 25 miles per hour. Barometer rising.
8am to Meridian: Light to moderate breeze from
West-North-West to North-West. Partially overcast and some snow. Average speed
of wind per anemometer 23.7 miles per hour. Barometer rising.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to light breeze from
North-West by West. Partially overcast with some snow. Average speed of wind
24.5 miles per hour. Barometer rising.
4 to 8pm: Light to gentle breeze from North-West by
West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Moderate sea. Average speed of wind
22 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Light to moderate breeze from
North-West by West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer steady. Long sea. Average
speed of wind per hour 23 miles.
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7 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light to moderate breeze
from North-West. Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Average speed of wind
21.7 miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from North-West
to North-North-West. Clear pleasant. Snowing between 5 and 6am. Average speed of
wind per hour 17.7 miles.
8am to Meridian: Clear and pleasant. Moderate
North-North-West breeze. Rising barometer. Speed of wind 27 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle North-North-West breeze.
Steady barometer. Snowing throughout the watch. Average speed of wind 13.55
miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: Light breeze from the North-North-West.
Steady barometer. Speed of wind 19.6 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Clear and pleasant. Snowing last
hour. Barometer steady. Speed of (wind) 18.8 miles per hour.
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8 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Snowing. Barometer falling.
North to North-West breeze. Speed of wind 13.45 miles per hour. Calm 3rd
hour.
4 to 8am: Moderate North-North-West breeze. Falling
barometer, snowing. Speed of wind 18.05 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: North-North-West breeze. Falling
barometer. Passing snow squalls. Speed of wind 18.3 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate North-North-West breeze.
Snow falling. Barometer falling slightly. Speed of wind 24.9 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: North-North-West breeze. Barometer steady.
Speed of wind 23 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: North-North-West breeze. Steady
barometer. Speed of wind 19.7 miles per hour.
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9 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Squally and partially
overcast. Moderate North-North-West breeze. Falling barometer. Speed of wind 22
miles per hour.
4 to 8am: North-North-West breeze. Passing snow
squalls. Rising barometer. Speed of wind 24 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to stiff breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast, foggy and snowing at intervals. Barometer rising.
Average speed of wind 25 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to fresh breeze from
North-North-West to North-West. Clear and cold with snow at intervals. Average
speed of wind 31 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: Moderate to stiff breeze from North-West.
Clear and pleasant. Barometer rising. Average speed of wind per hour 32.7 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate to fresh breeze from
North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 35.5 miles.
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10 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commencing and until 4am: Stiff to fresh breeze from
North-West to North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Squally. Average speed of
wind per hour 31.2 miles.
4 to 8am: Stiff to fresh breeze from West-North-West
to North-West by West. Clear and pleasant. Squally. Average speed of wind per
hour 38.5 miles.
8am to Meridian: Fresh breeze from North-West by
West. Steady barometer. Speed of wind 35 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: North-West breeze. Barometer steady.
Speed of wind 36 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: North-West breeze. Barometer rising. Speed
of wind 28 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: North-East breeze. Rising barometer.
Speed of wind 35 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010b1: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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11 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Began with moderate breeze
from North-West. Barometer rising. Snowing. Speed of wind 22 miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Rising barometer. North-West breeze hauling
to northward. Speed of wind 21 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to light breeze from North
to North by West. Overcast but pleasant. Average speed of wind 20.5 miles per
hour. Young ice commencing to form. Engaged in making tent and sledge.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze from North-North-West.
Overcast but pleasant. Snowing. Young ice forming rapidly. Average speed of wind
14.7 miles per hour. Engaged in making tent and sledge.
4 to 8pm: Light air and light breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast and pleasant. Quite cold. Average speed of wind 11.2
miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Light breeze from North-North-West.
Overcast and snowing 1st hour. Partially overcast and pleasant. Remainder of
watch. Average speed of wind per hour 14 miles.
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12 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light air to light breeze
from North-North-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind
per hour 10.9 miles.
4 to 8am: Light airs and light breezes from
North-North-West to North. Partially overcast and pleasant first three hours.
Overcast and snowing last hour. Average speed of wind per hour 11.5 miles.
8am to Meridian: Overcast and snowing. Gentle breeze
from the North. Rising barometer. Speed of wind 4 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle North-East breeze. Barometer
rising. Speed of wind 4 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: Light North-East breeze. Rising barometer.
Speed of wind 6 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Light westerly breeze. Steady
barometer. Speed of wind 8 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010b5: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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13 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Overcast. Barometer falling.
West-North-West breeze. Speed of wind 10 miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Freshening breeze from South-East.
Barometer falling. Speed of wind 19 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: Moderate to stiff breeze from
South-East to South-East by East. Overcast and snowing. Barometer falling. Ice
breaking up caused by a long swell from outside of island. Average speed of wind
per hour 26 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff to moderate breeze from
South-East by East. Overcast and snowing. Ice well broken up and driven into the
shore. Long swell from the southward. Veered to 75 fathoms on starboard chain.
Average speed of wind per hour 21.7 miles.
4 to 8pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from South-East.
Overcast and snowing. Long swell from southward. Average speed of wind per hour
43.7 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate breeze to light airs from
South-East to South-South-East. Overcast and snowing first two hours. Blue sky
overhead and pleasant last two. Swell moderating. Average speed of wind per hour
8 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010b7: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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14 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Calm to light airs from
South-South-East. Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer rising a little.
Average speed of wind per hour 6 miles. Smooth sea. Ice nearly all gone. Little
on the beach.
4 to 8am: Calm and light airs from South to
South-East. Partially overcast and pleasant. Barometer rising. Average speed of
wind per hour 7.9 miles.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze from South-East.
Barometer rising. Speed of wind 4 miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: South-East breeze. Falling
barometer. Speed of wind 5 miles per hour.
4 to 8pm: South-East breeze. Variable barometer.
Speed of wind 3 miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Light variable airs and calm.
Barometer steady. Speed of wind 4 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010b9: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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15 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Overcast. Light
West-North-West breeze. Barometer falling. Speed of wind 7 miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Snowing. Light North-West breeze. Settling
barometer. Speed of wind 11 miles per hour.
8am to Meridian: Calm to light air from
North-North-West to North-West. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind 3.7
miles per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Light breeze from North. Overcast
and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 11.5 miles. Ensign H.J Hunt
and party preparing for a sledge trip.
4 to 8pm: Light to gentle breeze from North-West to
North-North-West. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind 12.5 miles.
Brought nine dogs aboard for Hunt's trip.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast and snowing 1st hour. Overcast from 9 to 11pm.
Partially overcast and pleasant last hour. Average speed of wind per hour 22
miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010bb: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010bc: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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16 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commencing and until 4am: Moderate to stiff breeze
from North-North-West. Partially overcast, snowing last hour. Average speed of
wind per hour 3.5 miles.
4 to 8am: Moderate to light breeze from
North-North-West to North. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour
16 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to light breeze from North to
North by East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 14 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs to gentle breeze from
North by East to North-East by North. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of
wind per hour 11.5 miles. Ensign H.J. Hunt and party making preparations
for sledge trip to party left on Siberian Coast.
4 to 8pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from North-East
by North to North-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind 23.5
miles per hour.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind 26 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010bd: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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17 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commencing and until 4am: Gentle to moderate breeze
from North-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 23.5
miles.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from North.
Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 23.5 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to stiff breeze from North.
Overcast and snowing. Ensign H.J. Hunt in charge, T. Lowden (cF) [Thomas
Loudon] and H. Shuman (2.m.)
left ship with 9 dogs and sledge with 7 days rations for purpose of visiting
party left on coast of Siberia. Boat had considerable difficulty in getting
ashore. Average speed of wind per hour 25.5 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Stiff to fresh breeze from North.
Overcast, squally and snowing. Very disagreeable weather. Barometer falling.
Average speed of wind 33.7 knots [sic] per hour. Ensign H.J. Hunt
returned on board, having left party ashore and reported that the dogs could not
drag the sledge – decided to lessen load and try again tomorrow.
4 to 8pm: Moderate to stiff breeze from North.
Overcast, squally and snowing – very disagreeable weather. Average speed of wind
31.7 knots per hour. Barometer falling.
8pm to Midnight: Stiff to fresh breeze from North.
Overcast. Squally and snowing. A severe night! Average speed of wind per hour
36.5 knots.
500dc367cd0db400020010bf: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010c0: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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18 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Stiff to fresh breeze from
North. Overcast. Squally and snowing. A severe night. Average speed of wind per
hour 35.9 miles. Barometer falling.
4 to 8am: Moderate to fresh breeze from North to
North-North-West. Overcast and snowing. Squally until 6am when wind shifted.
Average speed of wind per hour 28.7 knots. Barometer falling.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to light breeze from North by
West to North. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 16.5 knots.
11.00am: Ensign H.J. Hunt left ship and joined
party ashore.
Meridian to 4pm: Calm to light breeze from North.
Overcast, foggy and snowing.
2.00pm: Ensign Hunt and party started out on
trip taking provisions for dogs and men for 10 days and a few trade articles.
4 to 8pm: Calm to light air in puffs from West and
West-North-West. Overcast, foggy and snowing. Snow settled on surface of water
producing a thin layer of loose ice. Barometer going down very low. No unusual
change in the weather. Average speed of wind per hour 2 knots.
8pm to Midnight: Calm to light airs from
West-North-West to North-West first three hours, latter part of last hour gentle
breeze from West. Overcast and pleasant, foggy around horizon and occasionally
few stars visible overhead. Average speed of wind per hour 2 miles.
9.00pm: Barometer commenced to rise. Rising rapidly
first hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010c1: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010c2: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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19 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commenced and until 4am: Light to moderate breeze
from West-North-West. Partially clear with light squalls. Barometer rising.
Average speed of wind 22 miles per hour. Water soon cleared of snow when wind
came up.
4 to 8am: Moderate to stiff breeze from
West-North-West from 4 to 6am and from West by South remainder of watch.
Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 35 miles.
8am to Meridian: Shifting light to stiff breeze as
per columns. Shifting suddenly. Partially overcast and disagreeable weather.
Barometer rising rapidly. Average speed of wind per hour 20.5 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to light shifting breeze,
as per columns. Partially overcast and pleasant. Could see to seaward ice coming
into harbor, but swell soon destroyed it all. Considerable swell from seaward.
Average speed of wind per hour 25.7 miles.
4 to 8pm: Light airs to gentle breeze from West to
North-West, clear and pleasant. Wind went down and water became very smooth by
8pm. Average speed of wind per hour 13.2 knots.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to light breeze from
North. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 13.2 knots.
500dc367cd0db400020010c3: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010c4: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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20 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light air to light breeze
from N, clear and pleasant first two hours. Overcast and snowing last two.
Average speed of wind per hour 8.2 miles. Young ice forming.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from North to
North-West. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 19.7 miles.
Young ice broken up by swell.
8am to Meridian: Light breeze to gentle breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast and snowing first hour. Clear and pleasant
afterwards. Young ice forming. Average speed of wind per hour 18.2 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Light air to light breeze from
North-West by North. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 13.2
miles.
4 to 8pm: Calm to light breeze from North-North-West.
Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 8.7 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light to moderate breeze from
North-North-West. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 14.5 miles.
Young ice broken up.
500dc367cd0db400020010c5: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010c6: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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21 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Gentle to moderate breeze
from North-North-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Display of aurora during
the watch – not very bright. Average speed of wind 23 miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-North-West to North. Partially overcast and pleasant. Average speed of
wind per hour 21 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North. Overcast and snowing last two hours. Average speed of wind per hour 21
miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to stiff breeze from North.
Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 33.5 miles.
4 to 8pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from North.
Overcast and snowing first two hours. Partially overcast and snowing last two.
Average speed of wind per hour 27.7 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North. Partially overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 33.7. A
very disagreeable night. Wind very cold. Very dark.
500dc367cd0db400020010c7: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010c8: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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22 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Gentle to stiff breeze from
North. Partially clear first two hours. Overcast last two. Very disagreeable
weather. Wind very cold. Average speed of wind 27.2 miles per hour. Very dark.
4 to 8am: Stiff to gentle breeze from North. Overcast
and disagreeable weather. Average speed of wind per hour 27.7 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North. Snowing. Overcast and misty last hour. Average speed of wind 27.7 miles
per hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North. Overcast and snowing. Misty first three hours. Average speed of wind per
hour 27.7 miles.
4 to 8pm: Moderate to light breeze from North.
Overcast and snowing first hour. Average speed of wind per hour 21 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Gentle breeze to light airs from
North. Overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind 14.5 miles per hour.
500dc367cd0db400020010c9: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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23 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light airs to light breeze
from North-North-West. Overcast and pleasant. A little blue sky between 1 and
2am. Average speed of wind per hour 12.5 miles.
4 to 8am: Light air to gentle breeze from
North-North-West. Overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 17
miles.
8am to Meridian: Died out calm, then calm to light
airs from North-North-East from 8 to 11am. Calm to light airs from
North-North-West last hour.
Meridian to 4pm: Light airs to light breeze from
North-North-East. Overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 10
miles.
4 to 8pm: Light breeze to light airs from
North-North-East to North-East. Overcast first hour. Partially overcast and
pleasant. Remainder of watch. Average speed of wind per hour 11.7 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to stiff breeze from
North-North-East to North. Overcast and threatening. Snowing first two hours.
Very brilliant and grand display of the aurora, the brightest part in
North-West. The light extended from East to West by the North and to the zenith.
The light was so bright at times that objects could be seen at some distance
more distinctly than during the brightest moonlight. The stars were particularly
bright. The light would pass over the heavens like waves, the outer edges of
which were of dark blue color it would then run into each other like waves seen
in shoal water. Average speed of wind per hour 21 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010cb: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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24 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Gentle to stiff breeze from
North, blowing in puffs. Partially overcast and pleasant. Display of aurora but
not so bright as previous watch, but in same direction and same form. Average
speed of wind per hour 20.5 miles.
4 to 8am: Light to stiff breeze from North to
North-East blowing in squalls. Very disagreeable weather, threatening looking.
Average speed of wind per hour 27.5 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to moderate breeze from
North-East. Blowing in squalls. Overcast and very unpleasant weather, snowing
last two hours. Snow very fine and falling very thick. Average speed of wind per
hour 32 miles. Barometer going down steadily.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze to moderate gale from
North-East. Blowing in squalls. Overcast and snowing, very disagreeable weather.
Barometer going down, got as low as 29.00. Average speed of wind per hour 38
miles. Served out small stores and clothing to crew.
4 to 8pm: Gentle to fresh breeze from North-East to
East-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Blowing in squalls first two hours. Last
two were steady and no snow. Barometer rising. Average speed of wind per hour 26
miles.
8pm to Midnight: Moderate breeze from East. Overcast
and unpleasant. Raining last three hours of watch. Average speed of wind per
hour 23 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010cd: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010ce: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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25 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Moderate breeze from East.
Overcast and unpleasant. Some blue sky during the watch. Average speed of wind
per hour 23 miles.
4 to 8am: Moderate to gentle breeze from East.
Overcast and unpleasant weather. Blue sky first hour. Snowing remainder of
watch. Average speed of wind per hour 22 miles.
8am to Meridian: Light to moderate breeze from East.
Overcast and snowing last hour. Average speed of wind per hour 17.7 miles. Rain
and snowfall last 24 hours 1/2 inch.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle to moderate breeze from East.
Overcast and unpleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 20.2 miles.
4 to 8pm: Moderate breeze to light airs from East and
South-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 16.9 miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs to light breeze from
South-East. Overcast and snowing with little blue sky during watch. Average
speed of wind per hour 8.7 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010cf: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0185_0.jpg)
500dc367cd0db400020010d0: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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26 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Calm to light airs and
breeze from South-East. Clear and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 6.2
miles.
4 to 8am: Light airs to gentle breeze from
East-South-East to East-North-East. Overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind
per hour 10.5 miles.
8am to Meridian: Gentle to stiff breeze from
East-North-East. Overcast and very disagreeable weather, foggy and raining.
Average speed of wind per hour 24.5 miles.
Meridian to 4pm: Moderate to fresh breeze from
East-North-East. Overcast and snowing. Foggy first two hours. Disagreeable
weather. Average speed of wind per hour 31.5 miles. 1/2 inch rain and snowfall
in past 24 hours.
4 to 8pm: Fresh to moderate breeze from
East-North-East to East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 27
miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light to gentle breeze from East to
South-South-East. Overcast and snowing first hour. Clear and pleasant remainder
of watch. Display of aurora. Average speed of wind per hour 14.2 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010d1: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010d2: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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27 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Gentle to light airs from
South-East. Pleasant weather. Overcast last hour of watch. Average speed of wind
per hour 18.5 miles.
4 to 8am: Light airs to gentle breeze from South-East
to East. Partially overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour 18.5
miles.
8am to Meridian: Light to gentle breeze from
East-South-East to East. Overcast and pleasant. Average speed of wind per hour
31.7 miles. 1/2 inch of snowfall during last 24 hours.
Meridian to 4pm: Light to moderate breeze from East
to East-South-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 20.7
miles.
4 to 8pm: Light to gentle breeze from
East-South-East. Overcast and snowing. Average speed of wind per hour 19.7
miles.
8pm to Midnight: Light to stiff breeze from
East-South-East. Overcast and snowing. Very disagreeable weather. Average speed
of wind per hour 22.7 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010d3: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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500dc367cd0db400020010d4: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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28 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Stiff to gentle breeze from
East-South-East to South. Overcast and snowing. Blue sky and clear weather last
hour. Average speed of wind per hour 22 miles.
4 to 8am: Gentle to moderate breeze from
South-South-West to South. Partially overcast and pleasant. Average speed of
wind per hour 22.2 miles.
8am to Meridian: Light airs to gentle breeze from
West-South-West to South-South-West. Partially overcast and pleasant. Average
speed of wind per hour 15.2 miles. 1 inch fall of snow in last 24 hours.
Meridian to 4pm: Gentle breeze to light airs from
South-West to West-North-West. Pleasant weather. Average speed of wind per hour
16 miles.
4 to 8pm: Gentle breeze to light airs from
West-North-West to West-South-West. Pleasant weather. Average speed of wind per
hour 13.7 miles.
4.00pm: Saw a light on the beach, sent a boat ashore
found Ensign H.J. Hunt and party on shore. Ensign Hunt reported
that he had not reached party on the Siberian coast left by ship, owing to his
provisions giving out. Party was very much reduced, had to kill one of the dogs
for food for dogs and party. Found the snow on mountains impassible.
8pm to Midnight: Light airs from West-South-West
first hour. Light breeze to light air from northward and westward remainder of
watch. Clear first three hours, overcast last hour. Average speed of wind per
hour 7 miles.
500dc367cd0db400020010d5: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0188_0.jpg)
500dc367cd0db400020010d6: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS
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29 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Commences and until 4am: Light to gentle breeze from
North to North-North-West. Overcast and unpleasant. Average speed of wind 10
miles per hour.
4 to 8am: Overcast and squally latter part of watch.
Light to stiff breeze from North-North-West to North by West. Disagreeable
weather. Average speed of wind per hour 17.5 miles.
No further entries for the day
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30 November 1881
Position: St Lawrence Bay, Siberia
Lat 65.67, Long -171.08
at Zaliv Lavrentiya
Final entry at noon
8.45am: The alarm of fire was given with position of
fire from forward. Attached hose at once and connected steam and main force
pumps. Fire located in lower fore hold on port side. Battened down hatches, two
streams of water playing in fore hold. Connected up main boilers and started
fires under main boilers. Smoke not allowing donkey boiler to be fired. Broke
connection with main steam pipe from donkey boiler, and attached suction hose
leading steam in hold.
11.30am: Winded ship by hawsers from after warping
chocks. Broke out kerosene oil from sail-room and placed on poop.
5.30pm: Indications of fire breaking out and smoke
driving firemen out of fire-room, buoyed and slipped chain and made all plain
sail heading the ship towards beach.
7.30pm: Ship touched, let go stream anchor and opened
outboard delivery. Lowered all boats.
10.30pm: Succeeded by means of skin boat in attaching
a line on shore.
11.30pm: Ordered to abandon ship, fire having broken
out forward and extending rapidly aft.
2.20am 1 December: Landed with all hands and hauled
up boats. Weather cold, wind fresh from West-North-West, decreasing to light
airs in latter part of the day. Slush ice formed about ship about twenty inches
thick so that ship could hardly force her way through.
Editor's notes: The Rodgers, now fully ablaze, drifted out into the bay. The
ship kept burning and she sank on 2 December.
