FY
CHOW - Voyage to the Far East 1864-65 with severe disciplinary breakdown
The following
is a transcription of all entries in a particularly serious case of
disciplinary problems on one voyage. I have tried to keep the spirit of the
masters writing and so all the apparent spelling errors (standardised
spellings not having been enforced until much later in the 19th
century) and actual grammatical errors I have left uncommented on. Mr. Matthews
writing is difficult to make out in places and so there may be slight errors of
mine in transcription. Also, for the seamen (especially navigators) among this
readership, I have used a generally recognised form in noting positions -
something that Mr. Matthews did not always do. But, I have not attempted to
correct his very obvious errors in any way. I just hope that his deck log was
more accurate than his official ships log! And, his way of recording times was
also less than consistent. Finally, for the sake of brevity I have not noted
that all loggings were to be read out to the defaulter(s).
Source: PRO: BT
99/226
p.8
Monday January 4th
1864
at anchor Greenhithe
James Hull
reported by the chief officer for putting on the Cuddy table for the officers +
Pilots dinner a piece of raw beef just as it came out of the harness cask it
had not even been washed, he also reported that the man was Stupid either from
drink or some other cause + almost always in bed when wanted and that he would
not do anything, this report was made to me at Gravesend the ship under weigh at the time.
p.9
Thursday noon
January 7th 1864
off Dungeness
James Hull Steward
very stupid and useless totally unfit for his duty he complains of having a bad
Cold. I do not see any Symtoms of a cold I suspect it
is caused by hard drinking as he has been stupid with drink ever since he
joined the Ship
Friday 6 a m January 8th
off the Isle of Wight
James Hull steward
off duty sick caused by hard drinking I suspect him of embezzling the ships
stores
p.10
Saturday noon
January 9th off Scilly Isles
James Hull Steward
still off duty sick
Sunday noon
January 10th
Lat.
48° 10N Long. 10° 15W
James Hull off
duty sick
Tuesday January 12th
1864 at 10 h 40 m PM
Lat.
47° 12 N Long. 11° 11 W
On going on deck
at 10 h 10 m PM found Mr Laurance the officer of the
watch sound asleep on the skylight. I walked about close to him for some time,
five bells were struck on the poop but he still slept on let him sleep to 10 h
40 m when woke him up, he having just slept 1/2 an hour while I was there, he
was very rude and impertinent to me and swore positively that he had not been
asleep, when I pointed out to him the mischief he might do by his neglect and
told him that I considered it the most blackguard action an officer could be
guilty of, he said he was a gentleman and would make me prove my words and
stated an untruth by saying that he had been 30 hours on deck without even
getting sleep. I sent him to bed & kept the watch myself. I have had to find
fault with this man several times for neglect in trimming sail and yesterday
from neglecting to have the hen coops lashed as ordered by me when one of them
broke adrift and nearly broke my leg as it was hurt me very much
Copy of letter
written to me 13th January 1864 [written in the margin of the log]
Captain Mathews
Sir
I now see my fault
by last nights behaviour which was wrong in the extreme. I do not try to ?screen? myself in any way as I
am now well aware that I must have been asleep but you took me so suddenly that
I do not know at the time what I was saying. I now tender my humblest appology for anything I said or did and hope you will
forgive me for this time and allow me to return to my duty which I will
endeavour for the future to discharge to the best of my ability. In the meantime awaiting your commands.
I Remain
Sir
your humble Servant
J Laurance
p.11
Wednesday January
113th at 8 h 0 m
Lat. 46° 20 N
Long.10° 20 W
Caught the Steward
with half a tumblerful of gin which he had taken out
of the locker asked him what he was doing to do with it he said it was for
himself told him that if I ever caught him at it again I would throw him out of
the cuddy he promised never to take any more
Friday January 15th
Noon
Lat.
44° 40 N Long. 18° 20 W
Missed some brandy
charged the Steward James Hull with having taken it he admitted having taken
one glass. I have missed about a bottle in the past two days Took the Keys from
him.
p.12
Friday January 22nd
5 h PM
Lat.
36° 54 N Long. 17° 44 W
Ralph Johnston AB
for making use of bad and disgusting language on deck + abusing one of the boys
fine him two days pay
Ralph Johnston AB
for insolent + rude language to me when spoken to about it fine 2 days pay
Monday January 25th
1 h 50 m AM
Lat.
34° 18 N Long. 18° 56 W
Found 5 of the
watch on deck in the forecastle I Smith, John Smith, Francis Baker, Antonio +
Ralph Johnston All ABs it took 20 minutes to get them out after the Sd Mate went forward to call them Johnston said he would
not come aft and was very insolant I had to go
forward myself he even them would not go aft until I had to threaten him with
using force, he is the greatest ruffian I ever had on board saucy + insolant whenever spoken to.
p.13
Monday February 1st
4 AM
Lat.18°
23 N Long. 25° 8 W
James
Hull Steward very drunk that during dinner time he was staggering and rolling
about holding by the back rails of the cuddy seats and by the end of the table. I called the Attention of the officers to him, on
making inquiry how he could get so drunk, the third + Fourth officers stated
that they had both missed rum out of the can he kept it in and on this day
nearly a pint had been taken away between 1 and 4 o clock.
At 4h 30m he went
to bed this man has been stupid from drink every day since leaving.
p.14
Tuesday February 2nd
7 hr 45 AM
Lat.
16° 12 N Long. 25° 57 W
Locked James Hull
Steward in one of the Cabins, being determined to keep him sober for one day,
at 4 h 20 m PM I released him for dinner and disrated him to be off duty until
further orders gave him order to get his expenditure book filled up and to
bring it to me.
Wednesday February
3rd 10 AM
Lat.
13° 4 N Long. 25° 41 W
After taking stock
and comparing it with the expenditure by his own account we are short 46
bottles of Ale and 13 of porter and 4 of brandy he being charged with
embezzling the stores he admited to have taken the
Ale + Porter but not the spirits except rum several times out of the store room
p.15
Friday January 29th
2 h 20 m AM
Lat.36°
20 N Long. 20° 58 W
John Dalgall John Smith + Alexander January Ralph Johnston +
Francis Barker ABs all asleep forward on the port side contrary to strict
orders and after being separately advised by the Sd
Officer to remain on the Quarter decks we have the greatest trouble with the crew
in getting them to do anything at night and always when wanted have to be
hunted up.
Same day
Lat + Long as
above
William Davis
rated as AB disrated this day totally unfit for AB
Thursday February
4th Noon
Lat.
5° 40 N Long. 24° 26W
In restowing part of the cargo found two cases of sardines and
one case of fruits broken open and more or less pillaged by the port watch
Ralph Johnston was one of the men who broke the cases out I suspect he had a
hand in it as I saw + found fault with him for being forward 3 or 4 times.
p.16
Thursday February
4th 4h 40 m PM
Lat. 9° 6 N 25°
36 W
Ralph Johnston AB
for neglect of his duty this being the 4th time today I had to find
fault with him for being away from his work without a cause ordered him to be
kept up for these afternoon watches he was very insolant
and said he did not care a dam but would sleep on watch.
pp.16-17
Saturday February
5th 4h 30 m PM
Lat.
2° 48 N Long. 23° 40 W
Ralph Johnston AB
when ordered by me not to make a noise at his work was very insolant
and asked if I thought him a slave or convict that he could not speak in the
ship. I told him again to hold his tongue, he didnt to so
but went on using most provoking language and said he would speak in spite of
me or anyone else. I went on to the Quarter deck and again told him to be silent, he still persisted in talking in the most insolant manner. I then ordered him into the cuddy he
refused to go when I had to use force to put him in, he called apon the watch for assistance, locked him up in one of the
cabins and gave him his bed and some water, when in the cabin he was still very
insolant and dared me to strike him, and tried all he
could to provoke me to do so. This man is the most brutal unruly useless and insolant follow I ever saw on board a ship, to be kept on
bread + water for three days or until he promises to behave better I charge him with wilfull and
continued disobedience of Orders and neglect of duty.
p.18
Sunday February 7th
2 h PM
Lat.
2° 12 N Long. 24° 04 W
Ralph Johnston
released from 2 to 4 o clock for exercise on the quarter deck
Monday February 8th
2 h PM
Lat.1°
23 N Long. 24° 30 W
Ralph Johnston
released for exercise from2 H to 4 PM
Tuesday February 9th
noon
Lat.
0° 24 N Long. 36° 30 W
Ralph Johnston
released from confinement on his promise of better behaviour
Tuesday February 9th
from 8 h to 12
Lat.
0° 24 N Long. 26° 30 W
Peter Dix Jacob
Williams John Smith no 2 + John Jones ABs for disobedience of orders Dix Jones
+ Smith Sd offence with insolance
to the officers first + second Jones again refused to obay
my orders when I told him he distinctly told me he would not ?ordered? him 14 days on deck in the afternoon
p.19
Wednesday February
10th 10h 30 m PM
Lat.1° 48 S Long.
38° 50 W
William Davis AB
when sent for by me to know the reason of his disobedience of my orders he
stated that he was afraid of his life to do so as he did not know but some of
the crew would throw him overboard if he did not join them in disobedience, as
one of them, (he would not tell the name) had threatened to break his head if
he did do what he was told. I think his statement true as we have about six of
the worst caracters on board I ever sailed with and
they have got up a conspiracy to try and make a disturbance in the ship they
all in the habit of Making use very bad + threatening language.
p.20
Friday February 12th
2 H 20 m AM
Lat. 5° 12 S
Long. 34° 43 W
Squally weather
close in with the Brazillian coast found Louis Victor
Gustave Scammel + William
Davis ABs in the forecastle during their watch on deck contrary to strict
orders I had to call them three times before they came out Victor was very insolant John Jones AB could not be found for some time
after
Friday February 12th
11 H 30 M
Lat. 6° 12 S Long.
34° 43 W
At 11 H 30 watch
required to pump the ship Ralph Johnston AB not to be found anywhere about the
ship nor was he found during his watch ordered him 7 afternoon watches on deck
this is the Sd time he has
been missed in his watch
p.21
Saturday February
13th 6 PM
Lat. 7° 9 S Long.
34° 48 W
The Chief officer reported to me that Gustave
Schammel AB when ordered by him to put his broom
away, as he had thrown it down on to the deck. He was very insolant
and shook his fist in his face and threatened to murder him and repeated it
several times letting him that if ever he lifted his hand to him (the Mate) was
or would be a dead man this took place on the Main deck at 6H PM Thursday 11th
February 1864 Probable Morgan Cuddy servant was present at this time.
Saturday February
13th 10 h PM
Louis Victor AB
coming to the wheel very dirty and insolant when
spoken to about it 2 days pay for first offence
2 days pay 2d
offence
p.22
Sunday February 14th
11 H 30 AM
Lat. 9° 19 S
Long. 34° 36 W
Peter Dix + John
Jones ABs absent from muster 3d time
pp.22-23
Tuesday February
14th 1864 at 4 h PM
Lat. 15° 8 S
Long. 33° 58 W
Ralph Johnston AB
when ordered to go to work by the Sd officer refused
to do so the Sd officer went into the forecastle to
bring him out and when he Johnson said if you shove me I will beat your bloody
head, I was on the quarter deck at the time when the third mate came running
aft and reported to me that one of the men was beating the sd
mate I went forward saw two of the apprentices pulling the man off the top of
the sd officer who was covered with blood. I took the
man aft who made a great deal of resistance and I had a great deal of trouble
to get him into one of the cabins he is one of the ????
troublesome men we have got and I can make nothing of him locked him up as
before the other mens names all are Peter Dix Louis
Victor Jacob Williams John Smith John Jones and Gustav Schammel
all of who behave badly.
p.23
Thursday February
19th 6 h 45 m AM
Lat. 21° 39S Long. 33° 57 W
Peter Dix for
using brutal and bad language to the mate on the main top gallant yard swearing
and saying he did not care a dam for him or anyone in the ship he made use of
the most brutal language
p.24
Thursday February
18th 7 h 30m PM
Lat. 21° 39 S
Long. 33° 57 W
Peter Dix Gustav Schammel John Jones Louis Victor and William Williams also
John Smith all ABs came aft and demanded to see me they had a pretended
complaint to make against the Mate it ended in their demanding the release of
the man Johnston, they were very insolant and tried
to frighten me into releasing this man and told me they would all go in boat if
I did not release him, they tried all they could to intimidate myself and the
official I pointed out to them the danger and consequence of a mutiny and sent
them forward to reconsider the matter they abused the remainder of the crew for
not joining them.
p.25
Friday February 19th
5 h PM
Lat. 24° 17 S 34°
31 W
John Jones AB
steering the ship in a most careless manner being the sd
time, yesterday at the same time I found him with the ship 2 points off, to day he had her 1 1/2 points of the wind, sent him from
the wheel and think unfit for an AB ordered him to do O.S. duty for the
remainder of the Voyage he also refused to clean himself before coming to the
wheel.
Saturday February
20th
Lat. 27° 14 S
Long. 34° 32 W
Wednesday Thursday
Friday Saturday Ralph Johnston AB released 2 hours each day for exercise on the
Poop
p.26
Sunday February 21st
8 h PM
Lat. 30° 53 S
Long. 34° 4 W
Ralph Johnston AB
released 3 hours for exercise on the Poop
Monday February 22nd
4 PM
Lat. 33° 13 S
Long. 30° 51 E
Ralph Johnston AB
released from confinement this day on his promise of better behaviour for the
future
p.26
Saturday March 12th
1864 at 1 h 30 m PM
Lat. 41° 42 S
Long. 50° 49 E
Mr Laurance 2nd officer off duty for disobediance (sic) of order & for making a false report
and insolance (sic) this man is most useless and insolant (sic) and totally unfit for an officer, gave the 3rd
Mate change of the watch after being sent to his cabin he sent a most impertinant (sic) message to me by the sd. Steward.
Written in margin
He was very insolant to me yesterday when found fault with for marking
the logs slate wrong course one day and a wrong date the next this is about the
50th time he has done so since leaving
p.27
Monday March 13th
4 h AM
Lat. 41° 24 S
Long. 56° 31 E
Mustered the Watch
Peter Dix did not answer came aft 27M after his time
+ said he was in the forecastle and was very insolant
as he always is I will be compelled to put him in confinement if he dose not behave better.
Tuesday March 15th
5 h 45 AM
Lat. 41° 1 S
Long. 62° 36 E
Peter Dix
answering improperly when spoken to at the wheel and insolance
to me
Thursday March 17th
5 h AM
Lat.
41° 14 N Long. 71° 03 E
Louis Victor AB
asleep rolled up in a studding sail during his lookout the sd time he has been found neglecting to keep a
lookout this week.
p.28
Thursday 17th
March 17th 4 h 30 m PM
Lat. 41° 14 S
Long. 71° 3 E
Ralph Johnston AB
asleep rolled up in a studding sail during his lookout this is another of our
men that I can make nothing of.
Friday March 18th
Lat. 40° 42 S
Long. 76° 24 E
Louis Victor AB
found in the forecastle when he out to have been on the forecastle keepin a lookout and for using insolant
and brutal language to the 3d officer when spoken to this is the 3d time this
week that this man has been found neglecting his duty as regards the lookout I
have promised him bread and water for 7 days for the next offence.
p.29
Monday March 21st
1864 Noon
Lat. 36° 59 S
Long. 91° 1 E
Mr
Laurance this day at his duty after being off for
nine days. I am sorry to add that
he shows no regret for his bad behaviour I have told him his next offence will
compel me to disrate him for good.
Monday March 21st
1864 7 h PM
Lat. 36° 59 S
Long. 91° 1 E
This day received
paper signed by the Chief second third & fourth officers together with the
Boatswain & Carpenter complaining of the bad behaviour of Peter Dix Gustav Schamel Louis Victor Ralph Johnston John Jones John Smith
and William Williams all ABs stating that the did not
think it safe to enter the china sea with all those men at large and asking to
have a careful watch kept on them
I have therefore
placed two officers in each watch together with the Boswain
in the Starboard Watch in which five of those men are with a strict order to be
called on the first symptoms of an outbreak amongst them as one of them has
already threatened to murder the Chief Mate I myself have seen how things have
been going on for the Past Month and have always kept ready for a disturbance
during the night, and must state that these men are the worst lot I ever had on
board a ship and that I think the are capable of
anything.
p.30
Thursday March 24th
10 h 35 m PM
Lat. 30° 44 S
Long. 99° 51 E
Squally with rain
and threatening appearance found Peter Dix + Gustav Schamel
AB asleep on the studding sails on the forecastle during their watch on deck
contrary to strict orders as we did not know the moment they might be wanted to
shorten sail.
Friday March 25th
6 h 15 m AM
Lat.
28° 28 Long. 100° 25 E
Peter Dix AB when
ordered by Mr Laurance 2nd officer for the
3rd time was very insolant telling him not
to make a noise and that he did not known whether he would work or not and
commenced with his usual brutal and beastly language which is fearful to listen
to. He after some time went about what he was ordered Louis Victor and Gustave Schamel were also
reported for bad behaviour.
p.31
Friday March 25th
noon
Lat. 28° 28 S
Long. 100° 25 E
Sent for Peter Dix
AB aft into the Cuddy when spoken to about his bad behaviour in the morning he
was most insolant and made use of such language as I
could not put up with stating that I might do as I liked in the most coarse and
disgusting language and telling me to look out for myself. As his time would
come yet, had to put him in one of the cabins during which time he made use of vilant insulting and threatening language I inted to keep this man in close confinement with + guard
over him until our arrival at Shanghai as I have every reason to believe that
he is the ringleader of the others, Schamel and
Victor indeed to be kept up in the Afternoon until further orders.
p.32
Saturday March 26th
11 h PM
Lat. 25° 3 S
Long.100° 54 E
Louis Victor
neglect of duty and disobedience of orders for laying down on the studding
sails during his lookout. Wm Laurance 2d officer for
neglect of duty for not seeing the lookout properly placed
Sunday March 27th
2 h 30 m AM
Lat. 21° 29 S
Long.101° 53 E
Gustav Schamel AB neglect of duty and disobedience of orders in
being Asleep on the studdingsails during his lookout and not striking the bell.
p.33
Tuesday March 29th
3 h PM
Lat. 14° 00 S
Long. 104° 47 E
At 1 h PM Gustav Schamel AB when ordered by the Sd officer to go to his duty refused to do so. he
came aft to me to
know the reason, I told him it was for sleeping on his lookout and for general
bad conduct and ordered him to his work he refused to do any duty I gave him
one hour to think of it. At 2 h PM the Sd officer
again ordered him to his duty he posetivly refused
and was brought aft when I again ordered him to his work he said he would not
work he would rather die than go to his duty this man had been ordered to be
kept up in the afternoon for sleeping on his lookout and during his watch he is
one of the three Ringleaders who have tried to get up a disturbance in the Ship
I Mathews Master locked him in one of the Cabins.
p.34
Wednesday March 30th
Noon
Lat. 10° 22 S
Long. 105° 13 E
Gustav Schamel AB still refused duty and in confinement 2d day
Thursday March 31st
Noon
Lat. 9° 20 S
Long. 105° 8 E
Gustave Schamel still refuses duty
and in confinement the 3d day
Friday April 1st
Noon
Lat. 8° 7 S Long.
105° 19 E
Gustave Schamel still refuses duty
and in confinement 4th day
Saturday April 2nd
2 h PM
Lat. 7° 3 S Long.
105° 44 E
Released Gustav Schamel AB on his consenting to go to his duty and behave
better in future he has been five clear days off duty and continued in daily
refusal of duty
p.35
Saturday April 2nd
2 h PM
Lat. 7° 3 S Long.
105° 44 E
Released Peter Dix
AB after 8 days confinement for insolance on his
promise of better behaviour in future, on his being released he stated that the
reason that the would not work in the Starboard watch
was that the had a spite against the sd mate. I shifted him into the Port Watch.
Wednesday April 6th
4 h 20 m AM
At anchor off Shoal ?Walin? Island, Java Sea
George Howell AB
for using insolant language to me when spoken to
cautioned him about repeating the offence
Thursday April 7th
0 h 50 m AM
At anchor in
Gasper Strait
Went on deck,
found no watch on deck on calling Mr Molison found
that he had called Mr Laurance at 11 h PM on the 6th
and that he had gone to sleep on the after hatch. leaving
the ship without anyone in charge for nearly 2 hours with a short range of
cable the orders given were that the officer of the watch was to remain on the
Poop and call me if any change took place this man cannot be trusted in any
shape.
p.36
Friday April 8th
3 h 30 m AM
In Gasper Strait
After trimming the
yards missed John Smith AB found him asleep on the studding sails on the
forecastle, and on calling him he was very insolant
and swore he was not asleep
Saturday April 9th
4 h 30 m PM
In Gasper Strait
George Howell AB
with the ship fall aback with his arms clasped round the spokes of the wheel,
when spoken to by me he was very insolant and said
that the helm was hand up, found it about two or three spokes up, he was
sometime before he moved the wheel after I ordered him to put the helm up
Monday April 11th
Midnight
Lat.
1° 13 N Long. 105° 59 E
In mustering the
watch Louis Victor AB not to be found neglect of duty
p.37
Friday April 15th
4 h 15 m
Lat.
2° 00 N Long. 104° 57 E
John Smith Peter
Dix and Ralph Johnston ABs not at muster found some time after in their bunk in
the forecastle, we have the greatest trouble with these men at night and can
hardly find one of them when there is anything to do.
Thursday April 10th
5 h AM
Lat.
00° 3 N Long. 107° 00 E
Went on the
forecastle found George Howell AB on the lookout sitting down with his back to
the ships head, and not keeping a lookout we were running through amongst the
shoals at the time and might have run apon one of
them at any time as we had been underweigh all night
with light variable airs and squalls and did not know the exact position of the
ship
p.38
Monday April 18th
0 h 15 m PM
Lat.
6° 51 N Long. 104° 53 E
John Jones AB for
using bad and disgusting language while at work and for insolance
to me the Master
Monday April 11th
0 h 48 m PM
Lat. 6° 51 N
Long.104° 53 E
John Jones AB
brought aft by the Chief Officer for insolance to the
sd officer and for striking
him and trying to throw him down, when I spoke to him he admitted having struck
him and also that he tried to throw him down. He purposly
threw down a pot of tar on the deck, ordered him to be kept on deck in the
afternoon watch for the remainder of the passage for waisting
the tar, reserving his punishment for the assault on the sd mate to the arrival in Port
p.39
Monday April 18th
8 h 40 m PM
Lat.
6° 51 N Long. 104° 53 E
I went on the poop
saw a ship standing towards us and not reported by the lookout Ralph Johnston
AB, on going forward found him on the lee side of the forecastle on his knees
scrubbing Clothes and not keeping any lookout, he was insolant
to me when spoken to 10 minutes after sent the 3d officer to know the reason he
did not report the ship he said he had not saw her and replied in a most insolant tone of voyce, and when
told it was time he did see her, he said do you think so, and did not even then
report a ship on the weather bow
p.40
Thursday April 21st
Noon
Lat.
7° 48 N Long. 106° 29 E
Lost this day the
Key for the poop tank which must have been thrown overboard by Jones AB I had
it in my hands at 1H AM and only Jones and Johnston were on the deck before it
was missed the Mate + 3d Mate declare that Johnston could not have done it, we
cannot keep anything belonging to the ship about the decks the other day all the
Keys belonging to the Hatches and chests were taken away by some
one, since then a pricker and sail palm have
disappeared I have every reason to think that John Jones AB is the one that
dose it, indeed I am almost shure that it is him
p.41
Sunday April 24th
Noon
Lat.
9° 30 N Long. 108° 18 E
Mr Conner Chief
officer reported to me of the Keys that had been stolen out of his cabin some
time since had been found in John Jones hand by Mr Goodwin the 4th
Mate, last night on Mr Goodwin telling him it belonged to the ships magazine he
tried to snatch it out of his hand saying that if he had known it had belonged
to the ship he would have thrown it overboard, and said that the loss of it had
been kept very quiet sent the fellow to the mizzenmast head for the afternoon
hardly one of the officers but have lost something
p.42
Monday April 25th
8 h PM
Lat.
10° 7 N Long. 109° 8 E
Mr Laurence
neglect of duty in not taking soundings when ordered by me Mr Connor & Mr Molison heard me give him the order at 20 minutes past six
he said I never ordered him.
Midnight went
below to look at the chart At 0 h 20 m went on deck found the ships head NNE
wind light but steady, and had been so from 8 h PM steering NE found
Mr Laurance the officer of the watch leaning over the
rail either asleep or very near it. The 3rd Mate laying
on the after hatch told the man at the wheel to push the helm down the ship
came up at once to NE by E 1/2 E 3 1/2 points and continued so all the watch.
p.43
Monday May 2nd
Lat.
20° 23 N Long. 115° 54 E
Off the ?Pratas Shoal? In the China
Sea
This day found
that the Sd officer Mr Laurance
had marked the log slate wrong the course he had marked was N.E. sent the chief
officer to ask him about it he then altered the course to NW by W 9 points
different neither of which was the course made, when spoken to about it he said
that one of the deck boys had told him that that was the course made.
Wednesday May 4th
6 h PM
Lat. 23° 2 N Long
116° 54 E
Again found wrong
course marked on the log slate by the Sd Mate when
asked about it he said he had marked the same as the Mate had the course marked
by was NE 1/2 E the course made for the two hours was NE 1/2 N Northerly this
is the sd time he has done so in three days and must
be down with a bad intention as an error of a point in the course might have
run us on shore.
p.44
Wednesday 11th
May 0 h 15 m AM
Lat.
26° 36 N Long. 121° 42 E
John Jones AB posetively refused to obay Mr Laurances orders when ordered to come upon the Poop he said
several time he would not do so
pp.44-45
Wednesday 11th
May 2 h 48 m AM
Position as above
Mr Laurence sd officer reported to me that
John Jones AB had refused to obay his orders. I
called for him (Jones) and told him to come on the Poop he replied in a most insolant tone of voice that he would not come on the Poop
for me or anyone else, and went forward I told the Sd
Mate to let him stay to daylight, at about 5 minutes later the watch required
on the Pool to set the Mizen. Jones did not come up
to assist. On my gong on the Quarter deck saw him standing with the others on
my going near him he threw himself into a fighting attitude, as I supposed he
was about to strike me I took hold of him by his coller
of his jumper and told him to go into the cuddy which he refused, and third to
get forward After a hard struggle I got him inside the cuddy, but had to call
for assistance to put him into one of the cabins after he was in he tried twice
to get out and in the scuffle I got several blows in the face and about the
head at one time he rushed at me with his head and tried to strike me in the
face, and when I got hold of him he made an attempt to bit my hand he had got
my thumb in his mouth I got it out before he could do much harm he left the
marks of his teeth which I showed to the chief officer some time after he was
so very vilont that I was obliged to get the Mate and
3d Mate to put him in Irons at 3h AM.
p.46
Thursday May 12th
Lat.
27° 20 N Long. 121° 55 E
John Jones AB in
confinement on bread and water second day for refusal of duty and assaulting
the master
Friday May 13th
Lat.
28° 20 N Long. 122° 34 E
John Jones in
confinement on bread and water third day
Saturday May 14th
Lat.
28° 42 N Long. 122° 56 E
John Jones still
in confinement 4th day
Sunday May 14th
Lat.
30° 00 N Long. 124° 72 E
John Jones AB
still in confinement 5th day
Friday May 21st
At Anchor at Woosung
This day John
Jones AB released from confinement having been locked up since the 11th
of May for disobediance of orders and assaulting the
Master
p.47
Friday May 20th
4h 30 m PM
At Lower Reach
Shanghai
Smith Dix +
Johnston ABs for insolance and using abusive language
to the Chief Officer while mooring Ship Johnston was swearing at the Mate for sometime and said he did not care a dam for him or any
other Bloody Son of a Bitch in the Ship called him a bugar
several times the chief officer sent him below and off duty Dix + Smith were
very abusive.
Saturday May 21st
At Lower Reach
Shanghai
At about noon John
Jones AB and Ralph Johnston AB deserted from the ship and were brought back in
charge of the Police at 2H 30M this morning. Dix Smith Victor Schamel + Williams refused to got
to work at 5h 40 m the reason that they were required to turn to 20 minutes
before the usual time was that the Powder boats were expected Alongside and I
did not with to detain them they also refused to
clean up deck at 6 h PM.
p.48
Sunday May 22nd
4 h 30 m AM
Lower Reach
Shanghai
Dix Schamel Smith Victor and Williams ABs refused to assist to
move the ship when ordered to go so by the Boatswain and chief officer, and
persisted in their refusal for sometime say 20 minutes to half an hour, causing
us to delay the steamer and pilot much longer than we should have done, by at
least one hour
At 6 h 10 m AM
went into the forecastle found Johnston + Jones ABs in their
?haths? Ordered them to go on deck to assist
in Mooring the ship, the posetively refused several
times, saying that the would not, Jones had been
knocked off duty on the 20th for using abusive language to the Chief
officer.
p.49
Monday May 23rd
9 h 30 m AM
Shanghai
P. Dix, Schamel, Smith Victor Jones, Davis, Johnston ABs refusing
to return to their duty when ordered to do so by the Second Mate, Saying they
wanted to see the Consul. The Mates having told them they should see him as
soon as it was convenient. All the above mentioned men
attempting to leave the ship when ordered by the Master not to do it.
Mr Laurance Sd officer reported
William Davis AB for insolance and using bad language
to him, telling him when he was told to be smart about what he was doing, not
to be in such a hell of a hurry and other words to that purpose.
p.50
Monday May 23rd
Shanghai
Peter Dix William Williams
John Smith Ralph John William Davis Louis Victor John Jones + Gustav Schamel all ABs after refusing to work went on shore contiary to my strict orders thereby delaying the duty of
the ship, the returned on board at 47 M past 12 and went to work sometime after
Williams reported himself sick this morning + I only saw him when he attempted
to leave the Ship with the others.
Tuesday May 24th
Shanghai
Dix, Schamel Williams Jones Johnston Davis Victor + John Smith
ABs all going on with their work in a most careless and slovenly manner and
doing all the can do to provoke me + the officers
Wednesday May 25th
Shanghai
Dix Jones Schamel Johnston Davis Williams Victor + Smith all behaving
badly and and not working as the
should do, John Smith AB when told by me to take his hands out of his pocket
and go to work, he was very insolant and said he was
cold and after about five minutes threw a plank on the deck + came and told me
in a most insolant manner that he would not work that
he was sick, when the Doctor came on board at 11 o clock he the Dr said he was
able to go to his work.
p.52
Certified that by
a naval court assembled by order of H.B.M. Consul at this port on Saturday May
28th 1864 that Peter Dix, Gustav Schammel
John Smith, William Davis John Jones Ralph Johnston + Louis Victor all able
seamen of the Bristol Ship Fy Chow were all + each
sentenced to a fine of two months pay for continued
wilful disobedience of orders + continued wilful neglect of duty and that Jacob
Williams also AB of the above named ship was sentenced to a fine of one months pay for the same offence + that they were ordered to
be discharged from the ship and that the fines were all to be paid over to the
ship + that they have been discharged accordingly this 30th day of
May 1864.
p.53
Sunday June 12th
7 h PM
At Shanghai
Having missed
James Hull out of the Pantry for some considerable time found him laying drunk
in the Carpenters Cabin he has been off and on much the worse of drink ever
since our arrival in Port
Found out after
the above entry was made that this man (when the beer was put on the side board
for dinner) took one bottle of ale into the pantry and drank it he admitted
having done so to be discharged
Monday June 13th
7 h PM
At Shanghai
John Delgal and John Smith AB came on board in a drunken state
and were abusive Delgal threatened to strike the Sd officer and had to be ordered forward three for four
times by me Smith was Very Vialant and refused to
give up to the Sd Mate a bottle of grog he had brought
on board and made use of threatening language and abused the Sd officer for more than an hour calling him everything he
could think of.
p.54
Tuesday June 14th
At Shanghai
Smith Delgal Stratten + Howell AB
refused to go to work when ordered. I sent for Stratten
+ Howell for the sd time the
refused to come aft on going forward found that the
were all drunk Howell was Very insolant to me and
said he would not work. and about half an hour after he came aft and demanded
his discharge in a most insolant manner he again
refused his duty and dared me to strike him he was told by me several times to
go forward but would not and used very provoking language
Wednesday June 15th
At Shanghai
George Howell AB
this morning was again insolant to me when I spoke to
him about his conduct yesterday
p.55
Saturday June 25th
Noon
At Shanghai
Henry Stewart Cook
off duty drunk
Monday June 27th
Noon
At Shanghai
Henry Stewart Cook
off duty drunk
Tuesday June 29th
Noon
At Shanghai
Henry Stewart Cook
off duty drunk
Tuesday July 4th
Noon
At Shanghai
George Burt AB off
duty drunk
Thursday July 7th
Noon
At Shanghai
Discharged William
Richardson Boatswain and John Smith AB both for drunkness
and bad conduct
Saturday July 9th
Noon
At Shanghai
Michael Falkner AB
off duty drunk
p.56
Saturday July 16th
11 h 45 m PM
Lat. 30° 19 S
Long. 12° 17 E
Michael Falkner AB
found asleep on the Port side of the Forecastle on his lookout
Friday July 22nd
3 h PM
Lat.18° 33 S
Long. 122° 41 E
Joseph Wilson AB
found asleep on his look out thick squally weather
Friday July 29th
0 h 30 m AM
Lat. 12° 4 S 127°
17 E
Joseph Wilson AB
found asleep on his lookout sd
time
Mr Laurance neglect of duty in not seeing a lookout kept in
his watch and also for making a wrong course on the slate out 4 points
Tuesday 9th
August 9th 2 h 10 m AM
Lat.1°
39 N Long. 129° 19 E
James Stratten AB for making use of insolant
and insulting language to the 3 officer while in discharge of his duty
p.57 (hand
constructed from there on)
Friday August 12th
11 h 30 m
Lat. 00° 50 S
Long. 128° 53 E
Joseph Wilson AB
not to be found during his watch on deck when required the 2d time during the
watch
Saturday August 13th
Midnight
Lat. 1° 50 S
Long. 128° 50 E
George Howell AB
for making use of foul and bad language at the top of his voice while working
ship
Saturday August 21st
4 h PM
Lat. 9° 23 S
Long. 123° 44 E
George Howell
knocked off duty for swearing and talking while working Ship and for insolance to the master off one day
Saturday August 21st
6 h PM
Lat. 9° 23 S
Long. 123° 44 E
Found out that
Robert Morgan Acting Steward has been making away with nearly a gallon of
spirit every week since leaving Shanghai
Friday September
23rd 11 h 10 m PM
Lat. 34° 8 S
Long. 25° 54 E
Found Mr Laurance officer of the watch sitting on the after skylight
with his head rolled up in his oil cloth coat asleep it blowing a heavy gale at
the time with every appearance of a sudden shift of wind I had only left the
deck to change myself Beans at the wheel
p.58
Saturday September
24th 4 h 20 m PM
Lat. 34° 0 S
Long. 25° 52 E
Again found Mr
Laurence sitting on the after companion not paying the least attention to the
ship so near asleep that he did not hear me when I opened the companion close
to him
Same day 6 PM
had to knock Mr Laurance Sd officer off duty +
send him to his cabin as he would not do anything, and for disobedience of
orders and disrespectful behaviour, and not attending to the orders that I gave
in waring ship with a very heavy sea running, and in
making sail took the 3d officer into the watch and have taken charge of it
myself
Monday September
26th 5 h 30 m AM
Lat. 34° 2 S
Long. 22° 43 E
William Matheson +
Robert McCune both AB for being very abusive to the 3d officer while setting
studding sails Matheson very insolant and violant to the Master when spoken to about it he is a very
bad man and requires a great deal of looking after
p.59 blank
p.60
Tuesday October 11th
8 h 45 m AM
St. Helena
Anchorage
Francis Baker AB
aged 41 years belonging to Spain did this day decese
not known supposed inflamation of the Chest and lungs
brought on by a severe cold
Effects left one Bag clothing
3 deck ?Flocks? 10 pair (illegible due to large ink blot)
1 vest 2 pair
drawers 4 (illegible due to large ink blot) 1 pair
mitts 3 pairs Stockings 1 Cap 1 hat
2 jackets 2 pieces
of Soap and 1 small
boqs
containing ????? buttons combs +
pipes all the above are very bad and
of no value the bedding consisted of one
old blanket the bed filled with shavings
both throwen overboard after
inspection
Tuesday 11th
October 11th Noon
St. Helena
Discharged John
Frank AB to Hospital, Sick Rheumatism