Bear (1919) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

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Randi
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Bear (1919) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

Post by Randi »

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https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23696536 January
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Note that some days are missing or out of order. For example, July 1-5 follow July 12.
Just transcribe them as they appear, and please post a note in this topic.



Michael has done Ice Hunting for this year, but at that time the science team only wanted 8am, noon, and 8pm locations.
The science team now wants the hourly distances and courses.
Since this year was not transcribed during OW3, the science team would also like to have all the weather.

On the weather page, please enter: date, locations, distances, courses, and all the weather data in the columns outlined in red in the spreadsheet.
(The weather data requested here is the same as it was during OW3.)
One weather transcription (Stream 1 in the Tracker and highlighted in orange) is sufficient.

On the events page please enter: date, location information and sailing information.
Other events are optional. Since Michael has already done the ice, mentions of ice are optional.

One person can do both weather and events, but the system allows one person to do the weather page (Stream 1) and a second person to do the events page (Ice hunting and/or Stream 3).

Every transcriber needs to enter the date.
The date is used to organize the pages.
(If one transcriber does events and weather and they are in the same image, the date is only entered once)



OW web site: Bear

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Randi
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Re: Bear (1919) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

Post by Randi »

ggordon wrote:Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:50 pm Well, this has eaten up much of my day. The Bear is in San Francisco Bay and the log says that they went over to California City to get coal. I was just going to transcribe it, but then curiosity got the better of me and off I went.

I grew up near the Bay, but had never heard of California City. So I started Googling around and couldn't find much at first because today there is a city named California City down near Bakersfield, which was all Google would show me. But I persisted with various queries and eventually found that there was a huge California City Point naval coaling station near Tiburon, up in Marin County, about 30 miles from where I grew up. I've been around that area, but had no idea there had once been such a major operation going on there. It's a peaceful park now.

I came across a photo which I'll see if I can figure out how to insert here.

Image

Later during World War II, it became the Tiburon Navel Net Depot where they constructed a huge seven mile long net that was stretched across the Golden Gate to block submarines and torpedoes.

Randi wrote:Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:12 pm Great research!

You are now officially classed as an OWaholic ;D

ggordon wrote:Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:14 am Finally a little excitement! On Feb. 3:
12:55 a.m. fire alarm sounded in yard, called all hands to help put out fire on dock No.6
1:40 a.m. fire out.

ggordon wrote:Sat May 04, 2019 6:42 am Rough seas caused problems on May 24:
6:20 c/c S S E. While changing course the platform grating over the quadrant was carried away and several cases of gasolene were washed overboard.
Also lost overboard one camparing watch, one pair of binoculars one hatchet and one axe.
Taking water over the bow.
Cleared away dunnage over quadrant so as to be able to steer again. Vessel with out means of steering between 6:25 and 6:50.
...
8AM to Merid
Radio room leaking between house and deck.
...
5:00 PM Sen. Capt. P. H. Uberroth, was thrown to deck and sustained injuries to wrist and forearm, due to violent rolling of vessel.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_0909.JPG

Randi wrote:Sat May 04, 2019 1:10 pm Comparing watch

ggordon wrote:Wed May 29, 2019 11:06 pm On June 16 the Bear is leaving Unalaska after several days of repairs and coaling. While there the ship's surgeon and twelve members of the crew stayed ashore treating island residents for a flu epidemic. This entry appears in the log just before leaving port.
9:20 Put stores and mail for St. George and St. Paul Islands, ashore not being authorized to land same on account of any possible liability of spreading the "flu". The stores and mail were taken over by Unalga.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_0957.JPG

ggordon wrote:Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:46 pm As noted in the first message for this topic, the log pages skip from June 30 to July 6. Page 989 is June 30 and Page 990 is July 6.

ggordon wrote:Sun Jun 09, 2019 7:12 pm July 12 ends on page 1004. July 1 starts on page 1005 and continues in order until July 5 on page 1015. Page 1016 picks up with July 13.

ggordon wrote:Sun Jun 09, 2019 7:20 pm On July 17 dense fog caused issues approaching Gambell Village and there is mention of some sort of emergency at the village. I did TWYS for spelling of "representive".
Cabin and Wardroom stores furnished to local Board of Education representive , the government supply being exhausted and an emergency existing.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1025.JPG

ggordon wrote:Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:08 pm On July 21 the Bear took on board a couple of men from the Northern Mining and Trading Co who were stranded in Whalen Village, Siberia after losing their schooner a few days earlier.
4:30 Mr. L.S. McGeik and Mr. G.M. Harwood, of the Northern Mining and Trading Co- Cal., came on board and reported that their schooner "Casco" when anchored off Paorten lagoon,(about 10 miles to Westward of Ugelen, Siberia), had broken adrift on the afternoon of the eighteenth instant, had disappeared in a fog, and had not been seen or heard of since. These men claimed that they were ashore at the time, unable to return to the"Casco," on account od the heavy sea running. Their present condition is destitute and their request for transportation to Nome, Alaska, is granted by the Commanding Officer. Issued them a ration.
It is thougt that the "Casco" may have sought shelter in a harbor to the westward or else been carried to the southward and eastward by the wind and current. Decided to stand along the coast to the northward and westward.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1034.JPG

ggordon wrote:Wed Jun 12, 2019 3:06 am Things got even more interesting on July 22.

At Little Diomede Island,
12:00 following destitute native Eskimos, came on board for transportation to Cape Prince of Wales:Raisin Akkwahlluk, P.Ilekeuk, F.Iyayuk, S.Oonalik, Santa C.Willgzergrok,
S. Koomanasuck, R.Ingonulook K.Kiyoonuk, Mrs. S.Owgina, M. Kunegniana, Mary Kugzruk, and for Nome,Mary Illooseena and Florence Egadlena. Issued them a ration.
Later at Prince of Wales,
9:00 Following men arrived on board, Castaways from Sch."Ukuiwak" of Nome, wrecked July 18, 1919 on south shore of Cape Prince of Wales: Thomas Byrne, R.G. Oliver,
R.H. Oliver, and Kirk Smith, for passage to Nome.
and 13 natives left vessel.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1036.JPG

With all this, it makes me wonder how many people were encountering problems up there around then who were not so fortunate to have the Bear come along at the right time to help.
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Re: Bear (1919) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

Post by Randi »

ggordon wrote:Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:13 pm August 11 has this interesting entry about the ice pack being much farther South than normal.
5:00 on account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward.
Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg.N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counteracting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska Shore.
It is thought that this is the extreme limit xx the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.

ggordon wrote:Tue Jul 02, 2019 7:37 am On Sept. 22 the Bear is headed out from Nome with a boatload of people.
170 natives of King Island began coming aboard (with freight and baggage), for passage to King Island.
A few other people came on board headed for King Island too.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1169.JPG

ggordon wrote:Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:01 am They had a rough crossing to King Island. One watch on the way was "engaged in securing native boats." However, they got there safely.

I was wondering why so many people were trying to go from Nome to the island all at once. I found this article which seems to explain why.

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/05/17/ukivok-the-haunting-alaskan-ghost-village-on-king-island/

They had a history of going to the Nome area during the summer to gather food for the Winter, presumably in their own boats. The village had a population of about 200, but it doesn't say when. So in 1919 that was probably the whole village that was over in Nome. I'm guessing that they had made the trip over in their boats, but got the opportunity for a trip back aboard the Bear. There was mention that a couple members of the Board of Education went ashore at King Island for official business. So maybe the Bear was headed over to the island anyway, or maybe it was all planned far in advance that they would be transporting the natives back home.

ggordon wrote:Wed Jul 10, 2019 5:48 pm Miserable conditions on the Bear on Oct. 13.
1:35 due to increasing velocity of wind C.O. decided to get underway; up anchor.
During watch bolt governing steering gear lead giving away as result of rotten wood of carling, crew asisted Carpenter to make temporary repairs. Watch shifted sack coal on quarterdeck to render aft steering wheel servicable.
Omitted quarters owing to crowded and ice covered decks; crew engaged in clearing decks and gear of ice.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1219.JPG

ggordon wrote:Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:19 pm On November 15 Commanding Officer P.H. Uberroth was first sent to the hospital in Seattle to get X-Rays for his arm and finger that were injured during a fall on deck on the way up to Alaska. Later that day he was informed that as of three days earlier, Nov. 8, he was detached from the BEAR. No word yet as to his replacement.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1289.JPG

ggordon wrote:Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:33 pm November also has pages out of order.

Nov. 15 is on pages 1288 and 1289.

Page 1290 is a summary with nothing to transcribe.

Page 1291 has the log for Nov. 23.

Hopefully Nov. 16 - 22 will show up later.

ggordon wrote:Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:15 pm On Nov. 29, 1919 Captain F.S. Van Boskerck relieved Senior Captain P.H. Uberroth of command of the Bear.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1304.JPG

ggordon wrote:Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:20 pm It appears that the missing pages have shown up.

Nov. 29 is on pages 1303 and 1304.

Page 1305 is a summary with nothing to transcribe.

Page 1306 has the log for Nov. 16.

Presumably the remainder of the missing pages will follow.

ggordon wrote:Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:24 pm On Nov. 30 the pages resume normal order.

Nov. 22 is on pages 1318 and 1319.

Page 1320 is a summary with nothing to transcribe.

Page 1321 has the log for Nov. 30.

ggordon wrote:Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:25 am Page 1348 appears to have the wrong date logged. The log entry says, "Saturday Dec. 14, 1919". However based on adjacent pages and the fact that Saturday fell on Dec. 13 in 1919, I believe that the correct day for page 1348 is Dec. 13, 1919.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1348.JPG

ggordon wrote:Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:08 pm It looks like the C.O. agreed with me about the crew not taking quarantine as much of a punishment. This entry on Dec. 15:
10:00 held muster of all hands and sounded warning from C.O. to the effect that the breaking of liberty must stop and all further infringements will be dealt with summary court martials.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1354.JPG

Randi wrote:Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:32 pm Hopefully they will take the hint...

https://jsc.defense.gov/Portals/99/Docu ... CM2016.pdf
CHAPTER XIII. SUMMARY COURTS-MARTIAL

ggordon wrote:Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:41 am Some excitement on Dec. 22:
11:00 fire broke out on U.S.S."Nitro" on opposite side of pier 5. Sent a fire and rescue party who assisted in putting out the fire.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23696536/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b360/Bear-b360_1371.JPG

Randi wrote:Mon Jul 29, 2019 2:02 am Not a good start, but good it wasn't stocked!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nitro_(AE-2%29 wrote:USS Nitro (AE?2) was an American ammunition ship that was laid down on 19 March 1919 by Puget Sound Navy Yard; launched 16 December 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Suzalo; and commissioned on 1 April 1921 with Commander R. W. Vincent in command.

ggordon wrote:Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:16 am Bear 1919 is complete.

With the threat of Court Martial from the C.O., there were no further cases of returning late from liberty, although there were still a couple cases of a.w.l.
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Re: Bear (1919) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

Post by Randi »

Michael wrote:Wed Jul 31, 2019 8:00 pm Bear was stuck in ice pretty well around 70N 163W in the period around 08 August. Here is the current ice situation. The small red circle is around the northern extent in Bear's unsuccessful effort to get to Barrow.

Image

Michael wrote:Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:25 pm The voyage for 1919 ha been calculated and you can see it here.

Three hearty cheers for Gordon, who has transcribed his first voyage. He did a much better job than the person who typed up the original logs! :) :) :)

ggordon wrote:Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:36 pm I had modern technology on my side. :)

I can easily correct my mistakes, but it wasn't so easy with a typewriter. I'm just thankful that shortly into 1919 they started using a typewriter rather than handwriting. Why did they go back to handwriting 10 years later on the Northland? Maybe they were thinking ahead to the problems that people today would have trying to keep the pages in order when creating the digitized images. With an actual logbook typing was not possible, but the pages were kept in order. ;D

Randi wrote:Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:16 am Six hearty cheers for Gordon and Michael!



I don't think they went back to handwriting.
For Bear, we have the typed transcript of the deck log for this period.
For Northland we have the original deck log.

For 1927 May-July we have both Northland logs:
Transcript: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 7_0104.jpg
Deck log: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 7_0566.jpg
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