Lackawanna (1866): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[ggordon]

I've transcribed logs now from that period in the Mediterranean, Asia, and South America and had noticed that there were far more ships than I realized back then.

[Randi]

July 29, At sea making passage to Fayal Island (Azores)

From Merid to 4 P.m.
At 12.15 saw a white Object bearing NE distant 1.5 Miles. At 12.30 sent Acting Master Roderick in the 1st Cutter to ascertain what it was. At 1.15 1st Cutter returned. Strange Object proved to be an empty Beef Barrell bleached by the Sun.

[Randi]

July 30, Arriving at the Azores

From 8 a.m. to Merid
The following named Men were placed on Extra Duty by Order of the Comdg officer ... Patrick O'Brian (Sea) ... for missing Muster

[Randi]

August 12 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (20 37 58 N, 28 30 15 W)

From 8 a.m. to Merid
An Insect, commonly known as a "Snake Doctor" was blown on board by the Easterly Winds, alive and uninjured.

From 4 to 6 P.m.
A large Number of Insects, known as "Dragon Flies" or "Snake Doctors" was blown on board by the Easterly Winds, alive and uninjured.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly
The Southern United States terms "snake doctor" and "snake feeder" refer to a folk belief that dragonflies catch insects for snakes or follow snakes around and stitch them back together if they are injured.

[Randi]

August 18 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (11 58 22 N, 28 47 18 W)

From 8 a.m. to Merid
Merid to 4 P.m.
Large Quantities of Animalculae in the Water.

4 to 6 P.m.
Large Quantities of Animalculae in the Water.

6 to 8 P.m.
At 7.30 noticed the Ship entering into Quantities of Animalculae floating in the Water.

[Michael]

[Randi]

August 22 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (7 23 17 N, 21 0 45 W)

At 3am observed the water to become extremely phosphorescent, the Horizon hardly discernible and the Stars exceedingly luminous.

[Randi]

August 25 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (3 40 48 N, 20 15 45 W)

From 4 to 6 Pm
At intervals large numbers of flying fish springing up under the bow and skimming off along the surface of the water pursued by gulls.

[Randi]

August 29 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (1 59 43 S, 25 49 30 W)

Commences and until 4.a.m.
At 3.45 observed an Aerolite or Meteor to the Sd exploding about 6 miles distant, showing with perfect distinctness all the Colors of a Rainbow.

[Michael]

[Randi]

August 31 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (6 29 27 S, 29 2 45 W)

Commences and until 4 a.m.
Fresh breeze, passing clouds, and fine weather with considerable sea from the SEbyS the ship tumbling about a good deal.

[Michael]

[Randi]

On September 4th they stopped recording wet bulb temperatures.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 04-129.JPG

[Michael]

I wonder what their problem was, and why it took them so long to figure it out.

[Randi]

It was 1867 that had the wet bulb temperatures much higher than the dry bulb temperatures.
This year the values seemed plausible although the vandal with the red pencil didn't like them.

[Randi]

September 8 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (19 8 17 S, 37 46 27 W)

From Merid to 4. P.m.
At 1.15 hove to and passed the word for all hands to commence fishing.

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

Fish and Chips for tea?

[Randi]

September 10 — En-route from the Azores to Brazil (23 0 0 S, 41 10 30 W)

From Merid to 4. P.m.
3.50 ... saw several Whales.

[Randi]

September 12 — Rio de Janeiro

From 4 to 6 p.m.
At 5.15 succeeded after several attempts in making the opening in the side of the ship, leading to the main injection, sufficiently tight to remove the injection valve and stem, by means of a mat of okum sewed into canvas.

OAKUM [from the Anglo-Saxon æcumbe]. The state into which old ropes are reduced when they are untwisted and picked to pieces. It is principally used in caulking the seams, for stopping leaks, and for making into twice-laid ropes.
— White Oakum. That which is formed from untarred ropes.