Shenandoah (1885): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[Michael]

[ggordon]

March is complete. Several deserters remained at Valparaiso, Chile. Many punishments were doled out for late returns from liberty and drunkenness while in Valparaiso. The last couple of weeks the ship headed north along the coasts of Chile and Peru, only stopping briefly at Callao, Peru for coal and supplies.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

Crossed the equator on April 3rd. Still heading north toward Panama. For whatever reason, no port visits while passing Ecuador and Columbia.

[ggordon]

On April 6 the ship arrived at Panama City, and on April 7 and following pages showed the location as Panama, U.S.C.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-195.JPG

First I was struggling with what the first letter was, but it seemed to be more like a "U" than anything else. But what was U.S.C.? I thought of United States Canal Zone, but that wasn't created until several years later.

After much searching, I found that in 1885, Panama was part of Columbia and at the time the official name of Columbia was, "United States of Columbia". I'm guessing that Panama City was just named Panama at the time and renamed Panama City later to differentiate the name of the town from the name of the new country of Panama.

That was an interested side trip that cost a few hours.

[Randi]

I remember running into that

[Michael]

[ggordon]

April 17 at Panama, U.S.C. (now Panama City, Panama):

4AM to 8AM:

At all hands missed Thos. Summers (B.u.), prisoner at large, and afterwards found that the catamaran was missing, also E Jansen Bayman; two of the dinghy rowlocks also missing - Sent an officer in steam cutter to search along shore for the missing catamaran.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-205.JPG

[Michael]

Someone was planning ahead, taking the rowlocks!

[ggordon]

These prisoners had been brought on board a few days earlier for transport, with no explanation as to why. They were initially placed in the brig, but later released to be prisoners at large. I had an uneasy feeling when I read about them being released from the brig.

[ggordon]

April 18 at Panama, U.S.C.:



9:45PM

observed a brilliant meteor which started in N.E. near horizon, crossed the heavens and disappeared near the horizon in E.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-206.JPG

[Michael]

I like the icon!

[ggordon]

April 21 at Panama, U.S.C.

Something happening on shore? Yesterday 40 Marines with ammunition and supplies were sent ashore.

3:15PM:

At wig-wag signal (signed Admiral Jonett) was received from shore - "Send for Marines, as soon as possible, send thirty-blue jackets with ammunition"

4PM:

sent on shore thirty one men with arms and accoutrements under the command of Lieutenant McCrea.

4PM to 8PM:

Lieut. McCrea returned on board having delivered 31 armed blue jackets to Col. Haywood.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-209.JPG

[Michael]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_crisis_of_1885

[ggordon]

What a spoiler! I had no idea what was going to happen next.

This explains why they had spent time in Chile and Peru, and then headed directly to Panama. I remember officers of the Shenandoah and Esmeralda exchanging visits somewhere along the way.

[ggordon]

April 22 at Panama, U.S.C.

4AM to 8AM

At 5:45 sighted a man-of-war coming in, which proved to be the French Corvette "Dayot" -
Sent 50 ten pound charges of torpedo powder, 10 III inch shell, 1 C Machine with fuzes, igniters and electric leading wire and 1 revolver to the Commanding Officer on the Isthmus. Also sent Ensign Oliver to report for duty ashore with Lieut. Hughes

8AM to Meridian

The "Dayot" anchored at 8:45; sent an officer on board with the usual offers of civilities - English Corvette "Heroine" left the harbor under sealed orders at 8:45 - Sent two revolvers on shore for landing force, also supply of provisions - Lieut. L. Young left the ship to report to Commander McCalla and returned at 12.

Meridian to 4PM

Commanding Officer of the french Corvette paid an official visit to this ship - Made preparations for landing the 4th company of blue jackets

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-210.JPG

[ggordon]

April 24 at Panama, U.S.C.

Nothing of interest in yesterday's log, but today...

1:15PM

landed 31 blue jackets with arms in command of Lieut Young. Sent ashore extra rations of hard bread.

4PM to 8PM

Distributed the men on board for working all the great guns and the two 20 lb. howitzers - And loaded all the guns with canister the 60 pdr excepted, it being loaded with shell.
6:30 the two lighters loaded with dynamite from the Canal company were towed near the ship and anchored to the Nd under protection of this ship.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 36-212.JPG

There is reference to the Canal Company, which would have been a French company since the Americans didn't take over building the canal until much later.

Wikipedia has an article on the history of the Panama Canal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_o ... nama_Canal

The Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique de Panama was created in 1881 to build the canal, but it went bankrupt. So in 1884 the Compagnie Nouvelle du Canal de Panama was created to resume work. This was likely the Canal Company referenced in the log.

[Randi]

I can't help wondering how the crew felt with two lighters loaded with dynamite nearby....

[ggordon]

This is the most excitement I've seen in a log since working on the Coast Guard cutters in Alaska. I can't wait to see what happens next, but house chores must take priority for now.

[ggordon]

April 26 at Panama, U.S.C.

7:30AM

Signal from shore - "Cap't McCalla to Cap't Norton; you can send for last draft of men sent on shore"

1:35PM

Lieut Young and his company of 30 men returned on board with arms and accoutrements, one canteen missing - Ensign Henderson went on shore for duty with Lieut. Hughes.

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