Shenandoah (1886): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[Michael]

USS Concord had that many in a day, not a month.

[espross]

Wow, really? What a grind that must have been.

(Do you mean HMS Grafton?)

[Michael]

Sorry. HMS Grafton had the worst writing. USS Concord had the worst discipline...

I was on both of them...

[espross]

Uh oh, I've worked my way to March 3, 1886, and already there's a new list of disciplinary incidents. Here are a few notable entries.

• M.S. Magnussen, O.S. No Knife Lanyard
• H. Johanssen, OS Stowing himself away
• D. J. Hagan, App. Late for lookout
• D. J. Hagan, App. Profane + obscene language
• J. McCann, 2c F. Soiling paint work
• F. J. O'Connell, CH; F. Gregory, Lds, G Wilson O.S., W. Nicholas, OS. Knocking out berth deck ventilators
• C. Bowren, Oiler Soldiering on duty
• T. Allen, PM Falsehood
• W.H. Burns, PM Lying
• W. Winfield, PM Carelessness
• H. Wittel, CT. Gross carelessness

There are 25 total this day, with only one (D. J. Hagan) getting in trouble twice.

• C. Bowren, the lazy oiler, got a full month of extra duty
• The team that knocked out the berth deck ventilators got a week of extra duty (I wonder if that's different from an extra week of duty)

[Michael]

[espross]

By late April 1886, discipline does not seem to be improving aboard USS Shenandoah (though they did get a new captain, Byron Wilson, on April 1). There is another insert for April 21 containing a list of Punishments Adjudged by the Commanding Officer. Among the 27 offenses recorded, here are a few.

• T. Clein, sea Gross carelessness
• 13 crew members, including the infamous D.J. Hagan, App. Not bringing his hammock on deck at 4 am
• E. Bennett, Lds Not coming below to wait on the wardroom table
• E. Bennett, Lds. Insolence
• H.W. Smith, Lds. Having steerage boy's trousers in his possession
• E Steilberger, Sea., J. Wilson, O.S., T. Freeman, Sea were all Out of Uniform
• A. Frank, Sea. Not obeying orders and using obscene language to sentry

I do wonder what "Gross carelessness" entailed: How gross was it, really? The 13 crew members not bringing their hammocks on deck sounds like a minor mutiny. And I will leave it to others to speculate about H.W. Smith, Lds.

[Randi]

You have a pretty mild crew compared to what Michael and Stuart had on Concord....

[espross]

I looked at the 1905-1906 transcription and whoa, it looks like complete chaos aboard USS Concord. Imagine being an officer with all that going on!

One term that came up in Shenandoah 1886 is “Cardiff Coal.” The term appears again in the log of USS Concord (for 29 Sept 1905). Does anyone know how Cardiff coal was different from other types?

[Randi]

https://britishheritage.com/the-life-an ... uth-wales/

Initially, Welsh coal was merely a part of the Welsh iron industry, but it didn’t remain that way. The coal measures near the iron mines had seams of bituminous coal, well suited for making the coke required by iron furnaces. Some distance farther down, geologically older strata contained harder coal, with a greater energy value per ton and fewer of the chemicals that caused so much smoke. Not that anyone cared about pollution, but the Royal Navy cared very much about not having thick smoke plumes that revealed its positions, as well as having to carry less coal for the same amount of energy. That South Wales was close to the great naval yards was a bonus. By the 1860s, the Royal Navy used only “steam coal” from South Wales to fuel its engines. In vain did other collieries protest that their product was nearly as good, and a lot cheaper. Welsh steam coal had become the quality standard for the world. King Coal was born.

[Michael]

Some coals burned hotter than others. I have also seen Wellington coals (from Vancouver Island) and a couple others mentioned. But, what their specific properties were, I have no idea.

[espross]

Thanks to both of you for the helpful explanations. Not knowing much about it, I think it's interesting that there were essentially "brands" of coal that would mean something to the logkeepers.

The navies' need for low-smoke, energy-dense fuels must be what they were referring to.

I suspect that in far-flung ports, one didn't always know what kinds of coal would be available. For a time during the 1880s, traders in the newly-built Coal Exchange in Cardiff set the world's coal prices. Not only was the cartel of companies around South Wales mining, shipping and managing the coal market, they were also processing coal from elsewhere--so "Cardiff Coal" must have been a mark of quality rather than original source.

And to elaborate on what Michael said, there are different grades of coal that are useful for different activities. Some coals are better for iron and steel production* because they can be processed into "coke," while others are more suitable for powering steam engines or heating as they contain more energy and leave less residue. Today, for example, the US employs a system that classifies coals according to calorific content, volatile matter and fixed carbon (just waiting to be released into the atmosphere).

Ships' logs today don't refer to "Cardiff Coal" at all, as it's all bunker oil or diesel. But we still refer to fuel grades by their sources, as in "West Texas Intermediate," "Brent" (one of several oilfields in the North Sea), and "Dubai/Oman."

* Apparently 95% of BC coal is for metallurgical purposes...so it could be that they were getting a type of coal they didn't want!

[espross]

Further disciplinary problems aboard USS Shenandoah as she came to anchor in Payta (Paita), Peru, on 1886-04-29. Nothing too serious (lots of lost station billets and some haphazard hammock handling), but...

• T. Clein, Sea was cited for Not turning out for watch - 2 reports, for which he spent 5 days in solitary confinement on bread and water

• T. Clein, Sea was also cited for Gross Insolence

• W. Quirk, P.M. was punished for Allowing prisoners to wash clothes with fresh water; 3 days double irons.

• H.W. Smith, Lds, was charged with Prevaricating, for which he had to serve 1 Midwatch at lee wheel

• J.C. Alejandres, Lds.; J. Johnson, Std.; and D. Riordan, Lds. were charged with Using Steerage Water for washing. Punishment? 3 midwatches at drift lead

[Randi]

Shades of the Concord!
Like Michael, you seem to attract trouble makers

Concord -- Discussion: Questions and Comments
Concord -- Crew Lists

[Michael]

The U.S.C.G. used coal from Vancouver Island. Those mines have been closed for years. The metallurgical coal is obtained from mines the the Rocky Mountains. Those mines are still active.

[espross]

Having returned a bit Tight + dirty after liberty myself, I'm back to attending quarters aboard USS Shenandoah, which on May 24, 1886 continues to float in the bay at Payta (Paita), Peru.

Punishments adjudged by the Commanding Officer, 8.am. to M., May 24, 1886.

J. P. McMay, Bugler, "Drunk" returning from liberty, Reduced from 1st to 2nd Conduct class
A. Hughes, Lds, 13 1/2 hours over time, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
H.C. Thorne, Sea. "Tight" from liberty, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
W. E. Cahill, 2cF., 5 1/2 hours over liberty (bruised), Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
Theo. Olsson, O.S. 24 hours over liberty, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
J. Kent, Sea, Unfit for duty, Reduced from 3d to 4th do
W. S. Bertron, Appr., same, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
G. W. Edens, P.M., same, Reduced from 2d to 3d do
H. Gallagher, Sea, 3 1/2 days over liberty, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
J. Aldersea, Sea, Tight + dirty + unable to attend qrs after liberty, Reduced from 1st to 2nd do
F. Gregory, Lds, 4 1/2 days over liberty, Reduced from 3d to 4th do
F. J. Burr, P.M., 28 hours over liberty, 1 month Extra duty + mo. money stopped 2 months. Reduced from 3d to 4th class.
W. F. Moran, P.M., 28 hours over liberty, Reduced from 2d to 3d do
J. Nine, Lds, Unable to attend quarters after returning from liberty, One week extra duty
S. Henrico, Lds, "Tight" from liberty, 1/4 of monthly money Stopped.
A. Burmester, O.S., Not at station furling sail, 2 days Extra duty.
Fred H. Gaynor, Appr., same, 2 " do

[Michael]

Shades of the Concord. It got easier to list the people who weren't being charged!

[espross]

...and a couple of days later, on the 28th of May, this happened:

Received eleven bags of sand - The sailing launch, and 2d whaleboat engaged in scrub race with boats from the flagship, and the "Adams" - At about 3.57 the 2d whaleboat capsized and swamped; sent the dinghy and gig to their assistance, and aided by the boats at hand under sail picked up all hands, one man apparently full of water..

[Randi]

[espross]

The quayside bars of Paita, Peru were doing a brisk business serving pisco to the thirsty crew of USS Shenandoah. On May 31, 1886 (just one week after the previous list!) we find yet another catalog of offenses...

May 31, 1886 9a.m. to 12M
Punishments adjudged by the Com'd'g Officer.

Name Rate Offence Punishment.
J. Wilson, o.s. Throwing gear on deck from poop, 3 weeks Extra duty.
G Gibson, Sea, 7 days overtime + insolence to Officer on shore., 5 days Solitary conf't on bread + water
W. H. Devine, Sea, 7 days over time, Disrated from Q.Mr. to Sea.
J. C. Alejandres, Lds, Not asking caterer before getting permission to go on shore., 2 midwatches at drift lead
S. Hansen, Sea, drunk and fighting on shore, Liberty stopped 3 months.
E. Bennett, Lds, Drunk + noisy from liberty, Liberty stopped 2 months.
J. Gallequillo, Lds, 41 hours over time, Liberty stopped 3 months.
D. E. Veliz, Lds, same, Liberty stopped 3 months.
B. Gray, Lds, same, Liberty stopped 3 months.
J. J. Cody, P.M., 3 days over time, 1 Month Extra duty + 2 months monthly money stopped.
J. Sheehan, C.H., 4 hours over time, 2 months liberty stopped.
W. Johnson, sea, Using iron ballast whilst sailing., Disrated from Barber to Sea.
C. Bowren, Oiler, Fight returning from liberty., Liberty stopped 2 months.
J. H. Carbury, P.M., 3 hours over time, 2 weeks Extra duty.
J. Thompson, C.T., 6 1/2 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks.
W. Bearne, sea, 5 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks.
M Woods, CBM, 5 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks.
G.W. Rodgers, Oiler, 5 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks.
J.R. Ford, CHr Striking wrong number of bells, 1 week Extra duty.
M. J. Hennessey, Fifer, Not cleaning his brightwork, 3 days do
J. F. Carney, Lds, 80 hours over time, Liberty stopped 3 months.
D. Nielson, O.S., 27 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks
J. McCann, 2c Fire, 27 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks
W. McKenny, 2c Fire, 27 hours over time, Liberty stopped 6 weeks
J. F. Dunlap, PM, 4 days over time, Liberty stopped 3 months
T. Freeman, sea, 4 1/2 hours over time, Liberty stopped 1 months
J. C. Alejandres, Lds, Loafing on deck., 4 Midwatches at drift lead.
G. W. Rodgers, Oiler, Drunk + disorderly on shore while on duty with battalion, Liberty + monthly money stopped 3 months.
P. J. Kelly, 2cF., Under influence of liquor on shore with battalion., same
Jas Hennessey, Bm'kr, Under influence of liquor ship visiting, Liberty + monthly money stopped 2 months
C. J. Sheehan, CHr., Loafing on forecastle, 2 weeks Extra duty.
E. H. Eycke, Appr., Loafing in head, 2 weeks Extra duty.
J. Hennessey, Bmkr, Trafficking in liquor, 5 days solitary confinement on bread and water.
A. Coughlin, Cox, Gross carelessness dropping hose + nozzle on deck., 1/4 of monthly money stopped.
G. Arrighi, Appr, same, 1 week Extra duty.
F. Christian, sea, drunk while on duty in boat, 2 months.
W. E. Elsey, Appr, same, same.
W. Johnson, sea, Allowing crew of missing [?] boat to drink, 2 weeks Extra duty.
B. Gray, Lds, Not contributing to mess funds, 2 weeks do

[Michael]

They're getting better at being bad!!!