If you want to look at similar pages for other ships go to: * * * Index - Use this to find your Ship * * * (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3210.msg52142#msg52142)
Welcome on board the USS Jeannette
This post covers a log page from 1879.
"The
results of the expedition, both meteorological and geographic, were
important. The name of George Washington DeLong is enshrined forever
among the ranks of the Navy's explorer heroes."
(http://imageshack.us/a/img17/8912/farewellfarewell.jpg)
Have a look around the forum, and don't hesitate to pose questions! There are lots of people who would be happy to respond. Each time you join a new ship have a look for one of these pages.
Feel free to add your own questions and comments to: Jeannette -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3338.0)
If you are interested in the names of crew members see: Jeannette -- Crew Lists (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3452.0)
Comments on the log:
- It
is recommended that only experienced transcribers attempt this log. On
the other hand, if you are curious and careful, go right ahead!
- This
is a fairly standard log format. HOWEVER, the log keepers add extra
data (e.g., there were several days with 4 dry bulb temperatures) that
can make transcribing tricky. If you work on Jeannette, be sure to look
at Jeannette -- Discussion: Questions and Comments
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3338.msg53911#msg53911) to
see how to handle these odd cases.
- Note that the date in the log
is in US order (month, day, year) and on the Date tab the order is day,
month, year following the Royal Navy format.
- The noon latitude
and longitude readings may appear to be decimal. However the 'decimal
point' is actually a degree sign. See example under 'Location' in Type
What You See - Yes, but ...
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629)
- Note
that on the RN ships we encouraged transcribers to record the names of
people, places, and ships mentioned in the log. Now that we are in the
Arctic, there are some new items that are of interest. The scientists
would appreciate your recording sightings of sea ice on the Sea Ice tab
and sightings of animals on the Animals tab. The historians would
appreciate your recording refueling on the Refueling tab.
Links to helpful transcribing information:
- Guides for US logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3078.msg49657#msg49657)
- Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)
- HELPFUL REFERENCE POSTS (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3301.0)
- Handwriting Help (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=8.0)
- What Does THAT mean? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=9.0)
- Technical Support (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=14.0)
Links to further info about the ship:
- http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-USNShipsList.htm#Jean
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jeannette_%281878%29
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/jeannett.htm
- http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/jeanette.htm
Has this been mentioned before? Looks like a part of DeLongs original journal (unedited) - including manual transcript!
http://memory.loc.gov/mtftx/txa/a0001/a0001.html
A fellow transcriber (wendolk) has created a database to help both transcribers and historians (and contributors are welcome):
Searchable Database (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=2872.msg44227#msg44227)
Weather Page:
Example: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_042_0.jpg
The
written details are transcribed as follows, though the page you are
working on will not display a grid in this way. Note that the data in
some columns is not transcribed and that some logs do not have all the
columns included in the weather entry box, so, before clicking OK, check
that your data is in the correct fields. It is more important to be
accurate than to be fast. Only transcribe what is written. Ask on the
forum for handwriting help if unsure.
Location | Place Name | Name = On passage from San Francisco Cal. to Ounalashka
| Hour | | Wind Dir | | Force | | Bar Height | | Ther Attached | | Dry | | Wet | | Water | | Weather Code | | Cloud Code | | Clear Sky | |
| 1 | W | 4 | 30.24 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | f | Nim | 0 |
| 2 | " | 4 | 30.24 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | " | " | 0 |
| 3 | " | 4 | 30.24 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | " | " | 0 |
| 4 | " | 4 | 30.24 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | " | " | 0 |
| 5 | " | 4 | 30.22 | 56 | 59 | 58 | 59 | " | " - | 0 |
| 6 | " | 4 | 30.22 | 57 | 59 | 58 | 59 | " | " - | 0 |
| 7 | " | 4 | 30.22 | 57 | 59 | 58 | 60 | " | " - | 0 |
| 8 | " | 4 | 30.22 | 57 | 59 | 58 | 60 | " | " - | 0 |
| 9 | W by N | 4 | 30.20 | 56 | 59 | 58 | 60 | " | " - | 0 |
| 10 | WNW | 3 | 30.20 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 60 | " | " | 0 |
| 11 | SW by W | 3 | 30.20 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | " | " | 0 |
| 12 | SSW | 3 | 30.20 | 60 | 62 | 60 | 60 | o | " | 0 |
Location | Observed | Latitude = 36 20 | Longitude = 128 11
| Hour | | Wind Dir | | Force | | Bar Height | | Ther Attached | | Dry | | Wet | | Water | | Weather Code | | Cloud code | | Clear Sky | |
| 1 | SW by S | 3 | 30.19 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 62 | om | none | 0 |
| 2 | " | 3 | 30.19 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 62 | " | " | " |
| 3 | " | 3 | 30.19 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 62 | " | " | " |
| 4 | " | 3 | 30.19 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 62 | " | " | " |
| 5 | WSW | 3 | 30.16 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | omf | " | " |
| 6 | " | 3 | 30.16 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
| 7 | NNE | 2 | 30.16 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | om | " | " |
| 8 | NbyE | 2 | 30.16 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
| 9 | N | 2 | 30.18 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
| 10 | " | 2 | 30.18 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
| 11 | " | 2 | 30.18 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
| 12 | " | 2 | 30.18 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 60 | " | " | " |
Notes for transcribers:
- The
dash and ditto, one above the other, in the Forms of Clouds by Symbols
column between 5 am and 9 am are impossible to transcribe as written.
Philip advises that they should be entered as ' " - '. For more
information, see: "Multiple Cloud Codes" and "Overwritten Cloud Code" in
Type What You See - Yes, but ... What About ... ?
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629) and
Jeannette -- Discussion: Questions and Comments
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3338.msg53911#msg53911).
- The
cardinal points are not specified for latitude and longitude. Even
though the cardinal points are obviously 'N' and 'W', they should not be added.
- There
is no field on the page specifically for refueling. If the amount of
coal received is mentioned, the data should go on the Refueling tab.
There may be entries for 'Coal consumed' and 'Coal remaining', but there
is no need to enter these numbers unless they interest you (in which
case they would go on the Events tab)
- At the right side are the
notes of the 'Record of the sail the vessel is under at the end of
watch'. These are not consistently shown at the end of each watch. You
do not have to transcribe them
Took in all the
Square sails
Ship is under Fo
and aft sail.
Fore and aft sail s
P.L. 114.25
Took in all sail
Record of the Miscellaneous Events of the Day:
Example: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_042_1.jpg
This
page has been completely transcribed below to help new transcribers
become familiar with both the writing and the language used. Nobody is
expected to transcribe all the text! Following it are some comments
about transcribing the page.
Lieutenant Geo. W. DeLong
Friday July 11th 1879
Commenced and until 4 a.m.
Weather cloudy and misty with moderate W. wind
Tacked ship at 2.30 to N'd
John Cole
4 to 8 a.m.
Weather foggy. Fresh breeze from the Westward
William Nindemann
8 a.m. to Meridian.
Weather moderate sky overcast. Wind W. inclined to
Southerly. At the close of the day. Ship is heading her course
W.N.W. with for and aft sail set.
William Dunbar
Meridian to 4 p.m
Overcast and misty with moderate South West breeze
John Cole
4 to 6 p.m.
Overcast and misty. Moderate S.W. wind. Thick fog at times.
William Nindemann
6 to 8 p.m.
Overcast and misty. At 7 tacked ship to W.N.W.
Light airs from N'd.
William Dunbar
8 p.m. to Midnight.
Overcast and misty. Light Northerly airs
John Cole
Moon dec. 16o N
Last Quarter
John W. Danenhower
Master,
U.S.N.
Notes for transcribers:
- The date should be transcribed. Date = 11/07/1879.
- With
the exception of the date, entering any or all of the information on
this page is optional, although including the ice, people and places
mentioned below is encouraged. Note: When transcribing
descriptions or context, please do not edit what is written in the log.
It is OK to transcribe only a small segment of the text if the log entry
is long.
- There are no examples within this page. As an abstract example, if you had the following comment 0053 Unmoored; maneuvering to clear drifting berg you could simply enter drifting berg
- In
general, the symbols for degrees, minutes, and seconds can be omitted.
Because the entry boxes will not accept a degree symbol, we have
developed the convention of using a lower-case 'o' to represent degrees.
It is up to the transcriber to decide whether or not to include the
'o'.
Log keeper's quirks:
- Fractions
in temperature columns. The number should be entered as a decimal. Type
What You See
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51631#msg51631)
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_029_0.jpg 1PM:
Water temperature, noted as 60 1/2 should be entered as 60.5
(http://i.imgur.com/faO41lk.png) - A variety of 'b's maybe enjoyed.
(http://i.imgur.com/z9y3f5T.png) - Two stroke zero. This sometimes ends up looking like the number 11. The number 6 is also affected:
(http://i.imgur.com/0PghdnL.png) - Some
days
(http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_128_1.jpg)
have a second date in parentheses in red ink. The explanation is given
here:
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_127_1.jpg.
Please enter the second date under the first one and in parentheses
(like on the log page). Philip says:
It's amazing the number of ways log-keepers manage to complicate things.
I'd
really like the date that's consistent with the reported longitude (the
red date - which the log-keeper obviously feels slightly guilty about
not using) but I think we need to stick with TWYS, so Craig is right as
usual, please put in both.
(For the full discussion see http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3338.msg61082#msg61082.) - Some weather details have been left out of the log. Only type what you see!
(http://i.imgur.com/6w1Gj3c.png) - Cloud code says 'overcast', but percentage of blue sky is 10/10. Type what you see... TWYS!
Also where a ditto and dash share the cloud type box, enter: " - for the cloud type.
Where a dash and Nimb share the cloud type box, enter: Nimb -
(http://i.imgur.com/YWlSMg0.png)
Other information and comments:
"The
crew of the Jeannette split into three companies after the Jeannette
was crushed by ice. The Second Cutter was possibly lost at sea, the
Whaleboat was rescued, and the First Cutter reached land but only the
two seamen who were sent to obtain rescue survived, the other souls were
lost. This list is taken from the final report of the inquest."
| Name | Designation | Boat | Survived, Yes/No |
| George W. DeLong, | Commanding Officer | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| James M. Ambler, | Passed Assistant Surgeon | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| George W. Melville, | Chief Engineer | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Raymond Lee Newcomb, | Naturalist and Astronomer | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| William Dunbar, | Ice Pilot | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| John (Jack) Cole | Boatswain | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Jerome J. Collins, | Expedition Meteorologist & | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Correspondent "New York Herald" | | |
| John W. Danenhower, | Second Officer | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Charles W. Chipp, | Executive Officer | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| William F.C. Nindemann, | Carpenter | First Cutter | Sent ahead for relief -rescued |
| Louis P. Noros, | Seaman | First Cutter | Sent ahead for relief -rescued |
| Tong Sing | Cook | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Aneguin | Dog-driver and Hunter | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Alfred Sweetman | Carpenter's Mate | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Walter Sharvell | Coal heaver | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Albert G Kuehne (Kaihne) | Seaman | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Edward Starr | Seaman | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Henry D Warren (Warner) | Seaman | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Peter E Johnson | Seaman | Second Cutter | Fate not known |
| Hans H Erichson (Ericksen) | Seaman | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Heinrick H Kaack (Kaak) | Seaman | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| George W. Boyd | Coal heaver | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Walter Lee | Machinist & Coppersmith | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Adolph Dressler (Dresslor) | Seaman | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Carl A Gortz | Seaman | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Neils Iverson | Coal heaver | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Ah Sam | Seaman | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| Alexey | Dog-driver and Hunter | First Cutter | Died Lena Delta |
| John (George) Lauderback (Landertack, Lauterbach) | Coal heaver | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Herbert Wood Leach | Seaman | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| James H. Bartlett | Fireman | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Frank E Manson | Seaman | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
| Henry Wilson | Seaman | Whaleboat | Rescued by Natives |
[/list]