Omaha (1890): 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/169764005	January February March April May (1-11)	Japan
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/169764235	May (12-31) June July August September October November (1-19)	Japan Korea Japan
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/169764453	November (20-30) December	Japan China

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On the weather page, please enter: date, locations, distances (nautical miles and tenths), courses, and all the weather data in the columns outlined in red in the spreadsheet.
It is not necessary to record State of the Sea.
However, ice mentioned in the weather grid should be transcribed using the magenta Sea column.

On the events page please enter: ice, location information, and sailing information.
Aurorae, volcanic, and seismic activity should be reported in the forum.
The names of US Navy and Coast Guard ships met should be noted. This gives the science team a chance to compare weather readings. You can include all ships mentioned in a single entry without a time or any additional data.
Other events are optional.

One person can do both weather and events (Stream 1), but the system also allows one person to do the weather page (Stream 1) and a second person to do the events page (Stream 3).
Unlike in OW3, where three transcriptions were required for each page, we are doing only one transcription per page.

Every transcriber needs to enter the date.
The date is used to organize the pages.

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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.

See Transcribing Guide to learn how to transcribe the data.
Post in Ask Questions Here or this topic if you have questions.

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[Michael]

January 16
Yokohama, Japan.

The USS Swatara entered the harbor. She will become the flagship in October.

[Michael]

27 February
Yokohama, Japan.

Officer returned from English ship John McLeod and reported that the U.S. flag had been hoisted below English Jack by a mistake; while drying bunting. The mistake was immediately corrected.

[Michael]

March 18
Yokohama

I had a shock when I went to transcribe this page:

[Randi]

I see 2 Silicate Log Slates on your list.

From past comments in our logs and information elsewhere, I suspect that these slates served as the deck logs that were then copied into the log book at the end of the day.

SAILOR'S WORD-BOOK, 1867 [Royal Navy]

LOG-BOARD. Two boards shutting together like a book, and divided into several columns, in which to record, through the hours of the day and night, the direction of the wind and the course of the ship, with all the material occurrences, together with the latitude by observation. From this table the officers work the ship's way, and compile their journals. The whole being written by the mate of the watch with chalk, is rubbed out every day at noon. Now a slate is more generally used.

LOG-BOOK. Mostly called the log, is a journal into which the log-board is daily transcribed, together with any other circumstance deserving notice. The intermediate divisions or watches are usually signed by the commanding officer. It is also divided into harbour-log and sea-log.

Antique 1867 Silicate Book Co. SCHOOL BOOK SLATE w/org Chalk Writing 9.75"

Antique Pocket 1868 CALENDAR & BOOK SLATE New York Silicate Slate Co.

[Michael]

Yes, it was interesting, once I figured out why the page was upside-down! I opened the image in irfanView just to see what was going on, and then I could see the flipped over sheet at the bottom.

[Michael]

March 29
8 AM : Lat 34° 26' 30"N, Long 137° 37' 00"E

W. W. Shane (Sea) was reported missing this morning at 7:00.

At 9.15 mustered at quarters and found that Wm. Shane (Sea) was unaccounted for, as far as could be learned by investigation Shane was washed overboard from starboard Cat head between 9:40 and 10 P.M. on the 28^th during heavy squalls.

RIP William Shane, Seaman.

[Randi]

cat-head, cathead (heavy wooden beam projecting out sideways from the bow to help with anchoring and weighing anchor. Often had the face of a lion or cat carved on the end)

[Michael]

April 13
Kobe, Japan.

There have been many warships in the harbor for the past few days. This may be why...

At 1015 Major Gen. M^cNeal of the staff of the Duke of Connaught called on the Comdr-in-Chief.
1330 The Comdr-in-Chief made and official call on the Colonel & Aide de Camp of the Duke of Connaught on board the P&O SS Ancona.

At 8:30 noticed that the vessels of the Japanese Squadron were hoisting position lights at their peaks. At 9:00 a rocket was sent up in the lower bay. We answered with a green Very's light and hoisted our distinguishing lights.

At 10:30 heard cheering at the P&O Cos. wharf. At 10:45 the P&O Steamer Ancona with their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught on board, left the wharf. Our band, by order of the Comdr-in-Chief, played God Save the Queen, Home Sweet Home, and Auld Lang Syne as the Ancona crossed our bows in leaving the harbor.

Following their visit to Japan, the Duke and Duchess sailed to Victoria and then on to Vancouver. After a one day stay, they took the CPR Railway to Montreal and, from there, on to England. The long article in the Vancouver Sun is quite interesting. This was the first visit by a member of the British Royal family to Vancouver.


This photo shows the arrival of the Duke and Duchess.

[Randi]

I joined to help climate researchers, but I stayed because of the events pages and my fellow transcribers

[Michael]

April 18
Kobe Japan.

H.I.J.M., the Emperor, came afloat flying the royal standard and went on board the Takachiho, hoisting the royal standard at the main. We manned yards, paraded the guard and band and fired a salute of 21 guns in his honor and the Russian vessels in port did the same. At 10.35 the Takachiho, flying the royal standard, got under way and proceeded to pass through the Japanese fleet, all vessels of which manned yards or rail and fired a salute of 21 guns. We again manned yard and paraded guard and band. At 11.50 the Takachiho came to anchor near the Russian flag ship.

I won't mention all the various ships saluting the various admirals and each other etc etc. There were 12 Japanese warships taking part in the activities and, eventually, the Emperor left for Tokyo on board the Takachiho along with many of the Japanese ships.

[Michael]

June 14
Nagasaki, Japan

File this under try, try, try again. Also,

Do or do not, there is no try.

By order of the Comdg. Officer placed C. Enstrom (OS) under sentry's charge for attempting to jump overboard, he being under influence of liquor. At 7.30 while being policed he jumped overboard but was picked up by the dinghy, and by order of Comdg. Officer, was placed in single irons for safe keeping.

[Michael]

15 June
Nagasaki, Japan.

No good deed goes unrewarded...

At 9.30 had preliminary inspection at quarters and at 9.45 mustered and inspected at quarters after which called all hands to muster and delivered to D. Shea (C. Qr. Mr.) two good conduct badges, and the Comdg. Officer complimented M. Foley (O.S.) and H. Forkin (1^c F) and put them in the 1^st class for meritorious conduct in jumping overboard to rescue a shipmate from drowning.

[Randi]

[Michael]

July 4
Yokohama

At 12.00 we fired a national salute of 21 guns in honor of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. The following vessels and the fort on shore also firing 21 guns: English men-of-war Imperieuse, Alacrity, Caroline, Severn and Leander; Japanese Takachiho, Takeo, Fuso and Yanator; French man-of-war Villars; and, Turkish man-of-war Estougrul.

This is the second time this year we've seen a Turkish man-of-war. I don't remember seeing any others since I was on the HMS Grafton in WW I, fighting the Turkish and German navies in the eastern Med.

At 6:58 hauled down the colors and flags followed by the other vessels that dressed ship with us this morning. At 7:45 dressed ship, rainbow with incandescent electric lights.

The lights are a first!!!

[Randi]

[Michael]

30 July
Noon : Lat 34° 34' 00"N, Long 137° 18' 00"E

At 3:50 a premature discharge took place in No 5 gun while loading it, killing C. Emanuelson (Sea) and J. E. Kirk (Sea), the body of the latter being blown overboard, and not recovered although the ship was stopped and backed and search made.

At 5:25 hoisted colors. Sewed up the remains of C. Emanuelson (Sea) in canvas; secured his effects and those of John E. Kirk (Sea) and turned them over to the charge of the Paymaster.

At 6:05 called "all hands bury the dead" and committed the remains of C. Emanuelson (Sea) to the deep, Lieutenant Miller reading the burial service; stopped the engine and half masted the colors during the service.

RIP C. Emanuelson and John E. Kirk.

[Michael]

Yokohama
August 8
Yokohama


The USS Alliance sails into the harbor.

[Michael]

21 August
Yokohama

I was puzzled by the fact that the admiral and some of the officers were left behind, and by all the comings and goings of all the Health Officials. This was why...

At 1215 AM J. A. Wilson (2^c F) died n board of epidemic cholera.

This was their day:

• At 2:10 they started fires under Nos. 3 & 4 boilers
• At 7:34 they got underway;
• Rear Admiral Belknap, Lt Reamy, Pay M. McDaniel, Lt Murdock, P. Asst. Engr Zane, 1^st Lieut. W. C. Turner and the steam barge and crew and the servants of the comdr-in-Chief were left on shore;
• They proceeded to 35 34N 139 38E;
• At 11.20 called "all hands bury the dead", stopped Engine and half masted colors;
• At 11.29 consigned the body of J. Wilson (2^c F) to the sea;
• At 11.32 hoisted colors and started ahead at 11.33;
• At 2.41 stopped engines. Health officer from Quarantine Ship came on board;
• At 3.22 went ahead and stood into anchorage;
• At 3.45 anchored (Yokosuka);
• At 4.15 Health Officer from the Quarantine Station at Yokosuka came on board;
• At 4.30 got underway;
• At 6.20 anchored (Yokohama). Dr. Eldridge Health Officer of Yokohama came on board and ordered that no communication be held with the shore for five days.

[Randi]

RIP J. A. Wilson (2c F)