Chelan (1934) — Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

[Michael]

CSM may be CGM = CHIEF GUNNER'S MATE

"jumped to came" may be jumped to camel.

Yes, to jumping to the camel, a distance of 6 ft, and to CGM.

[Randi]

HDPE Marine Camel Fender

(added to OWpedia)

[Michael]

Monday, September 17.
Unalaska

23:40. Received Western Area Commander's dispatch 6017-2240 which directed Chelan proceed Nome to render any possible assistance.

Wednesday, September 19
Anchored three miles off Nome

23:45. Surf-station boat came alongside with officer-in-charge who came aboard to confer with the Commanding Officer about the Nome, Alaska, fire.

Thursday, September 20

2:15. Surf boat from Nome Coast Guard Station left the vessel with the medical officer,on Officer and chief radioman to assist in rendering medical aid and clearing radio traffic, due to the fire which destroyed a large portion of Nome, Alaska.

At 6:50 the Chelan moves closed in shore.

8:15. The following details went ashore in Motor launch in conjunction with the Nome, Alaska, fire disaster:

• Six men for guard duty;
• Seven men for special working party;
• Three radio-men with portable transmitter and receiver;
• and three men for carpentry work;
• and two officers.

8:48. Motor launch returned with the Communication Officer and Chief radioman who had been rendering assistance to the Nome Army Radio Station in clearing radio traffic.
8:50 Communication established between the ship and the special details ashore with ship's portable radio set.
9:18. The Commanding Officer went ashore to confer with the U. S. Marshall and local authorities; Chief Radioman went ashore with receiver, C.G.R.-25 to assist WXY, Nome Army Radio Station in clearing communication traffic.
10:30.Surf station boat alongside for clothing stores; repair articles; subsistence stores for Coast Guard Station; and other various provisions, such as fire extinguisher charges, tools and cleaning gear.
11:00. The following parties went ashore with bedding and provisions to render relief to the Coast Guard Station;

• for patrol duty;
• and to work in conjunction with salvaging Federal property;
• two seamen for patrol duty;
• three seamen in working party;
• two firemen in working party;
• and two motor machinists mates to operate surf station power boats.

12:45. Transferred commissary stores as per invoice this date to certain destitute people at Nome Coast Guard Station, Alaska. Transferred clothing stores and eleven charges of sulphuric acid and soda for fire extinguishers to Nome Fire Department as per invoice this date.
12:50. Commanding Officer returned, having conferred with U.S. Marshall and local authorities relative to relief measures.

8:00 p.m. to midnight
8:45. Sent bedding and subsistence stores ashore by surf station boat for men ashore on special relief duty.

Friday, 21 September
Nome

0000. The following special details of men are ashore:

• Patrol party;
• Crew for Nome Coast Guard Station;
• Repair party;
• and for radio
• and soup kitchen.

08:15. The Commanding Officer left in station boat to confer with local relief authorities ashore; the Executive Officer left with a working party of ten men to continue repairs on Nome Station temporary quarters and the reclamation of federal property destroyed in the Nome fire disaster.
11:30. The Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer returned.
11:45. Sent food and provisions ashore for working parties and men on patrol duty.
11:55 Northland stood in and anchored astern.

Transcriber's note: Chelan and Northland were both in Unalaska when word of the fire was received. Chelan was towing targets for Northland, and left that evening for Nome. Northland arrived two days later. I suspect the delay was, perhaps, because Northland was bringing supplies from Unalaska. Interestingly, the logs from Northland are silent about the fire. Northland left Nome on the 28^th taking a Mr. and Mrs. Smith and child plus Miss Ann Banning to Gambell. They log a few vessels coming in and leaving, some mention of transferring stores and mail between the ships, and taking on two seamen who were on duty at the Nome Coast Guard station, but otherwise nothing to indicate that Nome had suffered a devastating fire. Oh yes, they loaned some firearms to the Merchants and Miners Bank.

Saturday, 22 September
Nome

8:45. Station life boat alongside with three men who returned form special repair party ashore.
8:30 The Commanding Officer left for NORTHLAND to have conference with the Commanding Officer NORTHLAND concerning assistance to be rendered in conjunction with the Nome fire disaster.
10:45. The Commanding Officer returned.
11:00 C G Station life boat left with mess provisions for special details ashore.

Sunday, 23 September

Merid to 4:00 p.m.
3:30. Station motor life boat alongside with supplies and equipment which were sent ashore in connection with assistance work at Nome. Past Assistant Surgeon (R) L. B. Sturdevant U.S.P.S. returned on board from temporary duty ashore at Nome Hospital.

6:15 The following passengers reported on board for transportation to Seattle, Washington, being certified destitutes from Nome, Alaska:

• Mrs. M. G. Alvey and three children,
• William G. Alvey,
• Charlene M. Alvey and
• Huntley D. Alvey, dependents of Melvin G. Alvey, B. M. 1 C. (L);
• Mrs. H. C. Cariker, wife of Henry C. Cariker, Surfman;
• Mr. and Mrs. William Palmer; and,
• Frank Rooney.

9:12. Nome Surf Station boat alongside with personal gear of passengers.
10:05. Nome Surf Station boat left.

Monday, 24 September
Nome

8:50. Anchor aweigh, maneuvering and discharging storm oil in order to afford a landing for Nome Surf Station life boat alongside with destitutes from Nome fire disaster.
8:55. Anchored. Surf boat left for beach.
11:10 Anchor aweigh. Maneuvering and discharging storm oil in order to afford a landing for surf boat. The following certified destitutes from the Nome fire disaster came aboard for transportation to Seattle, Washington:

• Mrs. W. A. Nelson and infant;
• Mrs. Richard Lee;
• Miss Margaret Lee;
• Mike Kennedy;
• Mr. E. E. Adams;
• Mr. N. M. Nixon;
• Mr. F. J. M^cCay;
• Mr. A. C. Grabbet;
• Mr. John Rogers; and,
• Mr Robert Baldwin.

11:30 Underway on various courses and speeds en route to Unalaska, Alaska.

As an aside from reading about them dynamiting houses. When a forest fire burned into the City of Fort McMurray, Alberta, a few years ago, the firefighters ended up bulldozing untouched houses so as to make a fire break. Sadly that didn't work in all cases. The only consolation to the firefighters was that those houses would have been destroyed by fire in any case, and where a fire break did hold, they were consoled by the fact that they did save other houses by that action. They did say that destroying houses that were perfectly good at the time was extremely traumatic.

[Randi]

Brrr!

[Michael]

The voyage for 1934 has been completed. You can see a plot of the voyage here. For more details, you can download the KML file and view it with Google Earth. People mentioned can be seen here.

[Randi]

Michael + Michael