Old Weather Forum

Boatswain's Mate J. Connell lost his "call" overboard in rescuing T. F. Campbell (Lds) who had fallen overboard opposite Ship House No. 3 Navy Yard.

Word having been sent to the Chief Engineer that the ship would soon come to anchor, fires had been allowed to run down and speed slackened to about 4 knots. At 6:20, without any perceptible shock and with no warning from the leads in the chains, the ship was found to be aground. The Engines were reversed at once and orders given to get up fires. The crew were sent aft and called from side to side. Perceptible list to port. Crew were then sent aft and ordered to jump up and down. The motion of the ship indicated her to be aground about abaft the main mast. Hand leads forw^d gave a quarter less three and aft three fathoms. A boat with officer was dispatched to the light house to make inquiries concerning tides etc. Another boat with officer was sent to sound about the ship. Deep water was found astern and off the starboard quarter. Stream Anchor was got up from the fore hold, 1st Cutter and Sailing launch lowered and Stream anchor planted with Seven inch Hemp hawser about a ship's length off the starboard quarter in 17 fathoms of water. Report from shore was that the tide was falling, low water about 8. Ship listed considerably to port. Stopped engines owing to danger of getting sand through injection valve. Hoisted stay and peak lights, got up and secured all boats except the Sailing Launch and awaited rise of tide.

At 10:05 tide having risen about 41/2feet, hove ship out to Stream Anchor. Hove Stream Anchor up to quarter, and backed ship into deeper water. At 10:25 let go port anchor in 15 fathoms water, veering to 60 fathoms chain. Long Island Lt brg NW1/2N. Hoisted Sailing Launch. Heavy banked fires.

At 8:00 half masted colors, as token of respect to the memory of the late General U. S. Grant U.S.A. (retired)

At 9:45 Called All Hands up anchor for China!

Michael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:59 pm Here's Swatara rigged for mourning General Grant.

At 12:45 ran down to a Norwegian Barque which was making signals of distress, her colors being half masted and inverted. On nearing her, a boat came alongside and reported her Captain to be sick and in need of medical attendance. At 1:15 lowered 1^st whale boat and sent Junior Surgeon on board of bark. On his return he reported her to be the S^t. Olof of Christiansund bound from Martinique with a cargo of sugar and rum to Bordeaux. Her Captain was found to be suffering from Yellow fever. Medicine was sent on board and at 1:30 started on our course again.

Discovered that the 7 in hemp hawser that constituted the Starboard stem fast lead had been cut, and a section about one fathom in length removed. Brought in the end of the hawser and secured the remainder.

At 6:20 discovered light smoke and evidences of fire, in the vicinity of the fire-room hatch. At 6:40 stopped the ship, covered Engine room hatches, and brailed up main trysail. On investigation, the fire was apparently due to the heat of the after starboard boilers, melting the pitch form a pitch pine beam overhead, the pitch dropping on the boiler and igniting. Turned the hose on top of boiler. t 7:30 started ahead and set prt trysail.