Shenandoah (1872): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[ggordon]

The second part of October is compete.

After a brief stopover in Cadiz, Spain, the fleet sailed together to Tangier, Morocco.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

November 2
Tangier, Morocco

The log makes no mention of the name "Morocco". It records the location as "Tangiers, Africa".

11:00 The Governor of Tangiers visited the ship and was saluted with 11 guns Moorish flag at the fore.
11:30 Tried to stop the steamer bound to Gibralter by firing a gun English flag at fore in order to send
communication to Admiral Alden
Meridian The ship was visited by the Sheriff of Woazan in whose honor a salute of 13 guns was fired with the
Moorish flag at the fore.

"Woazan" appears likely to be Ouazzane, a city about 60 km south of Tangier. Wazzan is an alternate spelling for the city.

No further information about trying to stop a steamer to get communication to Admiral Alden.

Wondering why a sheriff would warrant more guns than a governor.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-024.JPG

[Randi]

Maybe he was really a sharif?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif

Ouazzane, also spelled Wazzān, city, north-central Morocco. It lies at the southwestern edge of the Rif Mountains. Ouazzane is situated on the northern slope of Mount Bouhelal, at an elevation of 1,066 feet (325 metres). It was founded in 1727 as a religious community on the site of a village named Dechra Jabal al-Rīḥān (“Village of the Mount of Myrtles”) by the Sharif Mawlāy ʿAbd Allāh, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through the line of Idrīs II. ʿAbd Allāh was venerated as a saint, and after his death his tomb became a site of pilgrimage, a centre for the teaching of Sufi doctrines, and a sanctuary. The Sharifs of Ouazzane were among the most powerful religious figures in pre-Protectorate Morocco. They owned extensive lands around the town and were exempted from paying taxes. Cereals and cattle are raised in the vicinity of Ouazzane, and the city also serves as a local market centre. Pop. (2004) 57,972.

The Sharif of Ouazzane

[ggordon]

That would make sense. But now I'm wondering how they determined the appropriate number of guns for a sharif.

[ggordon]

November 14 in the Mediterranean north of Algeria:

7:45 AM

observed a large water spout bearing SE distant about four miles.

4:30 PM

heavy fall of hail

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-036.JPG

[Randi]

The hail must have been pretty miserable for the crew.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

November 15, about 30 miles NW of Cape Caxine, Algieria:

Midnight to 4 AM

Observed a number of meteors during the watch

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-037.JPG

[ggordon]

November 27, NE of Tunis, Tunisia:

4PM to 8PM

During watch a great show of Meteors could be seen in the sky.

8PM to Midnight

observed a large number of stars falling in all directions

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-050.JPG

[Randi]

[ggordon]

November 28
Sailing between Tunis, Tunisia and Malta, near the Island of Pantelleria, Sicily:

Midnight to 4AM

A large number of falling stars during watch generally in an easterly direction

4AM to 8AM

Moderate display of Meteors first part of watch.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-051.JPG

[Michael]

Wow!

[ggordon]

November is complete.

The month began in Tangier, Morocco, then they sailed along the coast of Algeria, on to Tunis, Tunisia, and ended the month at Malta.

Other than the meteor showers described above, the month was uneventful.

[Randi]

[Michael]

[ggordon]

December 2 at Valletta, Malta

Someone attempted to desert TO the Shenandoah!!!

11:30 AM

inspected ship at quarters to see if any English deserters were secreted on board.

Meridian

Searched the vessel for deserters from English Army. Found one deserter & delivered him over to proper authorities
on shore.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-055.JPG

[Randi]

Nothing immediately obvious. Maybe they just didn't like army life?

In 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta officially became a part of the British Empire and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. After the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Malta's position halfway between the Strait of Gibraltar and Egypt proved to be its main asset, and it was considered an important stop on the way to India, a central trade route for the British.

[Michael]

It sounds like a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire...

[ggordon]

December 5 in the Mediterranean between Malta and Greece:

Meridian to 4PM

Found the following men stowed away in the ship from Malta, Wm O'Brien, David Carroll, Francis O'Reilly,
Wm Donohue, John Howley & Wm Cruikshank supposed to be deserters from the British Army.

4PM

By order of Commdg Officer placed Wm Robinson (osEx) in double irons for harbouring English deserters.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 24-057.JPG

Also, look at the pressure column. I don't know whether we have any examples of pressure logged with a dash instead of a decimal. I transcribed it with a decimal. A new log keeper a few days back has been using the dashes.