Old Weather Forum

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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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13 January
Yokohama, Japan

At 1:30 called all hands to muster, and read a letter of thanks for assistance rendered by the crews of this vessel and of the U.S.S. Marion on the occasion of the recent fire ashore at Yokohama.

Yokohama, Japan
15 January, 1887

At 6:45 A.M. the ship gave evidence of the presence of an earthquake in the vicinity. The first sensations were as if the chains were dragging, or being veered. This was following by a pronounced rising and falling. Barometer rose quite rapidly in the succeeding hour.

Yokohama, Japan
26 January

This is a new one to me. Roaming on decks at night! Bad, bad Oscar! I suspect, that after heaving coal for four hours, you probably would want to get outside and breathe fresh air.

Oscar A. Bailey (C.H.) was placed in solitary confinement on bread and water for three days, for continued roaming on decks at night.

True. I can't say that I blame him.

USS Essex joined us in Yokohama on February 7th. Wiki says she was the finest ship in her class.

I don't know about her being "finest ship in her class", but that is an impressive amount of smoke that she is putting out

I thought the same thing.

8 March 1887
Nagasaki

At 11 AM was deposited by me in the Bank of Holme Ringer & Co. Nagasaki, the sum of six hundred thirty six 20/100 Yen, the subscription of the Officers and crew of this ship for the relief of sufferers on the island of Ike Sima, from the explosion of an unexploded shell fired from the Omaha. Said deposit was made payable to Y. Kusaka, Governor of Nagasaki.

Further to this:


On March 11, Captain Thomas O. Selfridge was relieved of his command of the USS Omaha and sent back to the U.S. He was relieved of his command b y one of the Lieutenant Commanders on the Omaha, which prompted me to look him up. His father, Thomas O. Selfridge became a Rear Admiral, as did his son. They were the first two fathers and sons to be admirals in the U. S. Navy.

His postwar service included command of USS Nipsic, USS Enterprise, and USS Omaha – the last two on the Asiatic Station. He was promoted to captain in 1881. While in command of the Omaha in 1887, Selfridge conducted target practice off the coast of the Japanese island of Ikeshima which resulted in the deaths of four Japanese and the wounding of seven others. This created an international incident, but Selfridge was acquitted at a court martial in 1888.

17 April
Nagasaki

Read to the crew a communication from the U.S. Consul J. M. Birch enclosing a letter from the Governor of Nagasaki relative to the distribution of a subscription, raised by this ship for the sufferers from the accident at last target practice.

25 March
Yokohama

Consider this training for the fire of 1890.

At 8:50 P.M. in obedience to signal from flagship, sent fire party on shore. Fire party returned at 11.

19 August 1887
Chemulpo, Korea

15:45

Observed well nigh total eclipse of the sun commencing about 1:30 PM and ending at 3:45 PM L.M.T.

It was a near total eclipse, so you don't need those sun glasses!

27 August
Near 34.7241, 125.601 (34°43'30"N 125°36'00"E)

Observed large waterspout bearing SSE and distant about six to eight miles.

9 September
Nagasaki, Japan

Liberty to the crews of the Omaha and Palos stopped until further orders, some cases of cholera having occurred on shore.

26 November
Nagasaki Harbor, Japan

8 AM to Meridian

It was reported from the shore about 8:30 that the unidentified remains of a man dressed in a sailor's clothes was lying in the water near the shore in charge of local police. A Board of which Surgeon Kershner was senior member & Lt. M^cCarteney & P. Asst. Engr Ramsom were members, was ordered by the Comdg Officer to investigate and report. They visited the shore & reported on their return that the remains were those of one M. Maloney, a Carpenter's Mate on board of this vessel, who has been reported absent without leave since Nov. 21^st.

4 to 8 PM

At 4:15 funeral party with remains of M. Maolney, late Carpenter's Mate of this vessel, left the ship in charge of Ensign Dresel for interment in the cemetery on shore. Fired the usual volleys & half masted colors. Men of war in harbor half masted also. Observed regulations in regard to the colors.

27 November
Nagasaki Harbor, Japan

Meridian to 4 P.M.

At 1:20 the Municipal Police reported that the body of a man, dressed in sailor's clothes, had been found in the lower part of the bay. Sent the master-at-arms and two petty officers, who identified the body as that of Frank Jacobs, late quarter gunner on board the Omaha. The following officers were sent as a board to hold an inquest on the body: Ensign H. G. Dresel, Senior member, Asst. Engr. W. D. Ransom, Asst. Surg J. S. Sayre.

4 to 8 P.M.

Board of Inquest returned. The body was identified as that of Frank Jacobs, quarter gunner, and the opinion of the Board
was that Jacobs was drowned while on liberty.