Omaha (1875): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[Randi]

(Click on an image above to open full-size image in new tab)

NARA URL	JPG Link	General area(s)
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/169760680	January February March	Chile
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/169760901	April May June July (1-7(AM))	Chile Peru Panama
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/169761016	July (7(PM)-31) August September October November December	Panama Peru

Muster Rolls of U.S.S. Omaha 1875-1878

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See Omaha: general for some general background and discussion.
See Omaha: examples for a quick introduction to transcribing or a refresher.

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Post in Ask Questions Here or this topic if you have questions.

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[Michael]

Valparaiso, Chile
16 January

At 5:30 an explosion occurred in the Gunner's Storeroom of the Chilean man-of-war Admirante Cochrane; creating a fire in that part of the vessel. Sent a boat with an officer and fire extinguishers to offer services.

[Randi]

Probably Chilean ironclad Almirante Cochrane

[Michael]

Valparaiso, Chile
14 March

At 7:10 Peter M^cQuaid S.E.F. died on board this ship of diabetes.

RIP Peter M^cQuaid

[Michael]

Valparaiso, Chile
15 March

At 7:00 sent the body of deceased, Peter M^cQuaid (S.E.F.) ashore for burial, also as escort, one company of men.

[Michael]

Valparaiso, Chile
16 March

Shades of the USS Concord!!!

9:20 By order of the Comd'g officer and in consequence of the prisoners creating a disturbance in the brig and abusing the sentry on post, confined in double irons Gilbert Higgins (Sea), George Foster (Cox), Davison McCullough (O.S.), James Smith 2^d (O.S.) and Jno Ryan (Lds). Jno Ryan (Lds) still creating a disturbance in the brig was placed, by order of the Comd'g officer, in the cell.
...
Gilbert Higgins (Lds), still persisting in creating a disturbance in the brig and using abusive language to the sentry on post, at his own request and by order of the Comd'g officer was placed in the coal bunkers.

Meridian to 4 P.M.

Gilbert Higgins (Lds) was, at his own request, removed from the coal bunkers and re-confined in the brig.

[Randi]

[Michael]

Here's an interesting bit of history. We are heading for Antofagasta, Bolivia. Tricky, because Bolivia is a landlocked country! Except, from Wiki...

A period of political and economic instability in the early-to-mid-19th century weakened Bolivia. In addition, during the War of the Pacific (1879–83), Chile occupied vast territories rich in natural resources south west of Bolivia, including the Bolivian coast. Chile took control of today's Chuquicamata area, the adjoining rich salitre (saltpeter) fields, and the port of Antofagasta among other Bolivian territories.

It's like the Concord. One year, heading west they stopped in Hawaii, which was a British Colony. On the way back, it was an American territory.

[Michael]

More history. On April 13^th, we anchor in Iquique, Peru.

The city developed during the heyday of the saltpetre mining in the Atacama Desert in the 19th century. Once a Peruvian city with a large Chilean population, it was conquered by Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Today it is one of only two free ports of Chile, the other one being Punta Arenas, in the country's far south.

[Michael]

Mollendo, Peru
28^th April

By order of the Comd'g Officer, and on recommendation of the Surgeon, placed Tho^s. Franklin (Lds) under sentries' charge, in consequence of his showing signs of insanity.

Any relation, Stuart?

[Michael]

10 May
Pisco, Peru

4 to 8 A.M.

A disturbance occurred on shore between W^m H. Williams (Stge Stwd) and Jno E. Jackson (W. Stwd) in which the former was badly cut with a knife. Sent on shore a reward of Ten dollars on shore for the apprehension and delivery on board of Jno E. Jackson (W Stwd).

Boys will be boys...

[Michael]

20 May
Callao, Peru

There was a note on the 10^th about him being returned to the ship and a reward paid, but nothing more until now.

Noon

Jno E. Jackson (W. O. Stwd) was by order of the Captain released from confinement, his term of confinement for ten days being up.

[Michael]

15 June
Callao, Peru

8 Am to Meridian

Captain E. R. Calhoun relieved Capt. P. C. Johnson of the command of this vessel, the orders of each being read. By
order of Capt Johnson all men rated by him were dis-rated, and by order of Capt. Calhoun, all men dis-rated by
Capt. Johnson were re-rated from this date.

[Randi]

Philip Carrigan Johnson Jr.

... he commanded the screw slop Omaha and the steam sloop Richmond, both in the South Pacific Squadron between 1874 and 1876. In 1877, he was ordered to duty as captain of the navy yard in Mare Island, California.

Title: Commander Philip C. Johnson, Jr., USN
Caption: A Civil War photograph. Midshipman, Aug. 30, 1846. Passed Midshipman, June 8, 1852. Master, Sept. 15, 1855. Lieutenant, Sept. 16, 1855. Lieutenant Commander, July 16, 1862. Commander, July 26, 1866. Captain, June 14, 1874.
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collec ... 48708.html

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Rear Admiral Edmond R. Calhoun, U.S. Navy, 1899.
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collec ... 63289.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Colhoun
Doesn't mention Omaha but does mention Richmond.

[Michael]

[Michael]

Bay of Panama
7 July

At 12 o-clock (noon) of this day, Captain Edward Simpson, U.S.N. relieved Captain Edward R. Calhoun U.S. Navy of the
command of the U.S.S. Omaha, and the new cruise of the vessel commenced. All the old officers of this vessel were
detached by order of the Navy Department excepting the following, who remain attached to the Omaha; viz:
Ensign Samuel Seavery, Surgeon James S. Knight, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Smyser, U.S.M.C, Boatswain John Smith
and Carpenter Thomas P. Smith.

This is interesting because it's essentially a change of crew. The list of crew at the start of the log book is blank.

Maybe Captain Calhoun isn't mentioned as being in charge of USS Omaha is because essentially he just sailed her from Callao, Peru to the Bay of Panama.

The next day we received 191 men from USS Powhatan.

[Randi]

Yes, but it was blank in the previous log book too. Besides, it lists rates rather than names.

The list of officers was filled in.





https://archive.org/details/dictionaryo ... 8/mode/2up
Omaha is mentioned!

[Michael]

We have a new scribe:





I think the U.S.C. stands for the United States of Colombia. Panama was part of Gran Colombia until 1903.

[Michael]

19 July
Panama Bay

A muggy day. These were their temperatures at 1500:

Code: Select all

Ship_rh 83 80
Temperature  =  28.3C    83F
Wet Bulb     =  26.7C    80F
Dewpoint     =  26.1C    79F
Rel Humidity =  88%
Humidex      =  41.1C   106F

There may have been higher values, but these have been among the highest I've noticed since they arrived here.

It was probably pretty nasty in the sleeping quarters. These were the lowest temperatures in the day, recorded at 06 and 0700.

Code: Select all

Ship_rh 78 76
Temperature  =  25.6C    78F
Wet Bulb     =  24.4C    76F
Dewpoint     =  24.0C    75F
Rel Humidity =  91%
Humidex      =  36.3C    97F

[Michael]

Bay of Panama
18 August

Sharp lightning and thunder during first hour. Lightning conductor at the Main struck about 12:15 A.M.

This reminds me of when I was working in Germany. We had a thunderstorm moving towards the base. There was a German worker doing something near the top of the radio mast outside our building. Our weather observer, Rex who was a Corporal, went out and told the man to get off the tower, as there was lightning coming. The man refused. Rex came in and told me to tell "that guy" to get off the mast. "You're a Captain. He'll listen to you." So, I went outside and told the man to get down off the tower, tapping the Captain's bars on the shoulder of my uniform. He grumbled, but climbed down. We started waking away, and when we were about 20 feet away, there was a very loud crack and a bolt of lightning struck the tower! Talk about timing!!!

I went back in and wrote up a commendation for Rex. His actions almost certainly saved that man's life.

8 A.M to Meridian

And in hoisting inboard from the lighter, the following named stores in Paymaster's Department. Viz: - 1,6000 (sic) lbs bread, 4,500 lbs preserved Meat, 1,500 lbs. Rice, 3000 lbs Sugar, 400 lbs butter, 600 gallons beans, 210 gallons Molasses, and 208 gallons Vinegar, one barrel of beans containing 34 1/2 gallons, was accidentally destroyed, losing all the contents overboard.