Holidays in the log books

[Randi]

Holidays in the U.S. Log Books

[Randi]

x

[Randi]

x

[Randi]

On May 30 observed Memorial Day.

Observed Memorial Day and performed only necessary duties.
12:00 fired a national salute of one minute guns. Set colors at half mast during the salute.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284521/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/159a/northland/b1711/26-159a-northland-b1711_181.jpg

[Randi]

4'th of July

HMS Welland's log, 4 July 1914: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM% ... -020_0.jpg

8.0 Dressed by masthead flags in honour of American national holiday.

HMS Bristol - 4 July 1914

8:00am - Dressed ship overall in honour of American Independence anniversary
Noon - Fired 21 Gun Salute (American Flag)
6:40pm - Undressed Ship
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM5 ... -010_1.jpg

[Randi]

From the logs of the Gnat, stationed in China on April 26, 1923.

"Dressed ship in honor of H.R.H. Prince Albert's wedding."

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM% ... 0016_0.jpg

On May 6, 1923, Bluebell "dressed the ship for H.M. the King's accession day" = and then "undressed the ship" that evening.

I love that phrasing.

[AvastMH]

Capt Bodfish took celebration meals seriously. Here's Thanksgiving 1897, Thursday November 25th.

They are frozen in for the winter in Langden Bay (Canadian NorthWest Territories). There's a gale blowing from the NW with snow. The temperature is 12 below (F). They have Roast Pots & Duck with all fixings & Ice Cream.



The 'hashtag' mark on the left is a reminder for him to include the details in his autobiography 'Chasing the Bowhead'. The Christmas dinner got a triple line tag mark

[Randi]

[AvastMH]

July 4th 1897

Port Clarence. The crew of the Orca go off to enjoy a Baseball game



Aha! Guess who they meet up with? The Beluga, Capt Bodfish in charge
4th July



I wonder who won?

[AvastMH]

Being struck in the Arctic (Herschel Island, Canadian Yukon) all over winter is no reason to miss important events. Here's Thanksgiving 1894 on the William Baylies and it is surrounded by reports of deer meat being brought to the ship by native hunters. Its a great mirror of the early saving of the first European settlers centuries before
Thanksgiving 1894 (November 25th)

[AvastMH]

July 4th 1894

Venue: Pauline Cove, Herschel Island, Canadian Yukon.

William Baylies reports briefly...
Ships all flying their bunting and fireing guns. Later sun came out and the days sport commenced on shore. Running foot races, jumping, hurdle racing, ball throwing, tug of war pulling & ending with a boat race about 2000.

The Narwhal reports the whole day over 4 pages of logbook!
crew employed in getings in readiness for our whaling season. Jacob still working for the ship
All hands on shore enjoying sports and taking their part in them This is a copy of the sports provided for the day with the rewards for them
Contest Tug of War open to a team from each Ship. the Newports team won the prize 1 Box of tobacco
2nd Running race 75 yds prize Gold tooth pick. Capt Tilton won this
3rd. Running race 100 yds Anderson of the Karluk won this 1 Box of powder
4th Standing long Jump Capt Scavitt won this prize 1 Blanket lined coat
5th Running long jump Capt Scavitt won this prize 5lbs tobacco
6th Sack race 75 yds with 3 prizes 1 Box of tobacco. 2 1 skin coat 3 1 pocket knife 1st C W Anderson of the Narwhal. 2nd Wada of the Balaena. 3rd Studer of Jeanette
7th Wheel barrow race blind folded 10 lbs leaf tobacco Bluder won
8th Cabin boys Running race 100 yds. 1 suit of clothes. Jeanettes boy won
9th three legged race 100 yds Capts Tilton and Mr Buckley 1st 10 lbs tobacco. 2nd Anderson and Candles 2 bars of soap
10th Hop step and jump. Shaffer of Grampus. 1box writing material
11th Foot race for Natives Matory of Grampus 10 lbs tobacco
12th. Harpoon darting for Sailors and Boatsteerers. 1st Gill Gary. 2nd Shaffer both of Grampus
13th Hand lance darting for Capts and Officers 1st Mr Buckley 5lbs tobacco 2nd I Capt Smith 1 Jumper
14th Running High jump 1st Capt Scavitt coat 2nd Shaffer bunch of matches
15th. Standing High jump 1st Leavett 3lbs smoking tobacco. 2nd Shaffer 3 bunches matches
16th to Climb a greased pole 1st Box of smoking tobacco. 2nd 5 bunches matches. It was tried by 8 or 10 men without success and the prizes turned over the Obsruction Races
17th Tub race 1st box of tobacco George Mattson of Balaena. 2nd Big Jack of M D Hume 4 bunches of matches
18th race with 6 Prizes 1st - 1 Suit underclothing and a hat, 2nd Suit underclothing and no hat, 3rd 2 Boxes of Cartridges #5-70 Cal., 4th 2 Lbs Tobacco, 5th 2 Cans Powder, 6th 1 Clay Pipe. There was one of the very best Amusements of the day I can't remember only the winer of the 1st Prize Dam Murphy of the Balaena took that - he came in well ahead the others came in in a jam bled up mess and I do not know just what the judges desision was on the rest. I think 40 Sailors entered in this race and more backed out. there should have been more Prizes for this race
19th A game of Base ball between the Knicker Bocher 9 and the Pioneers prize 1 box of tobacco Pioneers winning
20th. Second Obsruction Race with 20 prizes 70 sailors entered in this Some of the obsructions broke down tumbling some 20 men in a heap and mixing them up so that they were completely confused for a moment and runing in every direction first one being knocked down and then another This was the best sight of the day and finished our sport.then came the firing of the anvils and the Big Rope game guns After this all hands went onboard there ships Pretty well tired and well pleased with the sports and with the prizes recieved and still the sun was 15 degrees high this at 2200. I wonder where this lot of men will spend the next 4th July. One year ago the Narwhal the Balaena and the Grampus were off the Mackenzie River the crews employed pumping in fresh water for our whaling cruise

The next day the Narwhal broke free of her ice bed and off they went.

The Obstacle Race from Herschel Island July 4th 1896. Taken by H H Bodfish working on the Newport that year.

My thanks to Marmaduke who recorded this social extravaganza for the Narwhal transcription.

[Randi]

https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/t ... -guide.pdf has that picture with the caption: "Amercian whalers crowded around the Community House celebrating the 4th of July, 1896."

[Michael]

[AvastMH]

https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/t ... -guide.pdf has that picture with the caption: "Amercian whalers crowded around the Community House celebrating the 4th of July, 1896."

This is a fascinating piece Randi - thank you - it's good to learn a bit more about the involvement of the Inupiaq and Inuvialuit and Gwich’in with vital support for the food provision for the whalers. It cleared up one slight bee in my bonnet - I was fairly sure that some of the native hunters appeared both at Pauline Cove and then at Cape Bathurst in another year. Perhaps they were the Inupiaq from the North Slope.

Another thought just went through my head. All those comments about gales, worst weather ever, so bad I'll never come back etc...how do all of those men still have their hats on their heads?

[ggordon]

Independence Day was celebrated by the Haida July 4 at Unalaska.

8:00AM

Crew engaged in cleaning about ship and making preparations for observance of Independence Day.

9AM to 4PM

Observed holiday routine. Granted liberty to watch.
12:00 Fired national salute of 21 guns. Held boat races, two ball games, and foot races during morning and afternoon.

9:55PM

Deputy U.S. Marshal Dan Ross of Unalaska reported to the Commanding Officer that four or five of the Haida's crew were drunk and disorderly,
and requested that these men be brought back to the ship before it became necessary for him to arrest them. Lieutenant Commander R.B. Hall,
Lieut. R.L. Raney, and Lieut. R.H. Fury left the ship immediately, but after making a thorough search of the village were unable to find a single case
of drunkeness or disorderly conduct on the part of the crew. The marshal was then visited and was requested to produce the men whom he had reported. This he was unable to do nor was he willing to go through the village to search for them. His only action was a vague statement that "My whole town is drunk," and that some sailors had been talking as if they were drunk. During the investigation made by the ship's officers,
two pool halls, a soda fountain and lunch room, and the dance hall were visited. Those are the only public places in town and at none of them was
there found to be the least bit of trouble.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 7-0008.JPG

[AvastMH]

Perhaps the Deputy Marshall had enjoyed little too much 'party spirit'?!

[ggordon]

Coast Guard Day was observed on the Haida at Unalaska on August 4, 1930.

8:00 Full dressed ship in observance of Coast Guard Day.
9:00 All hands mustered and a brief talk on the history, traditions, and aims of the Coast Guard was made by Executive Officer. All work suspended and Coast Guard Day was observed by means of athletic and other events.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 8-0008.JPG

[Randi]

[AvastMH]

Sounds like fun - I hope they got some nice treats to eat too

[Michael]