Details
[SHIP'S LOG]. Log of the "Bark Midas of New Bedford," kept by William F. Keyser, 22 March 1861 -- 1 August 1864. 103 pages Folio, written in a large hand in a ledger book of 62 leaves of blue ruled paper (one blank partially torn away), contemporary half black roan and marbled paper boards, quite worn, spine chipped, spine gilt-lettered "Seamen's Journal." Pasted to front-pastedown is a large printed label of John Kehew of New Bedford, a vendor of charts, navigational equipment, etc.; interspersed in the text are a number of small whale stamps in brown ink.
A relatively late log of a whaler apparently taken as a prize by the famous Confederate raider The Alabama. The Midas, captain Henry A. Howland, sailed to the "Western Grounds" in search of whales, crossed the Indian Ocean and spent some months off New Zealand, in the South and Central Pacific and as far north as the Sea of Okhotsk. Her catches do not appear to have been numerous. Keyser interrupts his matter-of-fact log entries occasionally to add verses and shanties; one, of five stanzas, entitled "The Whaleman's song, by one of them."
Accompanying Keyser's lengthy log is a printed document signed by the Collector of New Bedford, Lawrence Grinnell, 11 May 1861, one page, 4to, stained, certifying that William F. Keyser (who is described), is a citizen of the United States. Another inserted manuscript, of later date, records that "William F. Keyser was a Cooper by trade and was engaged on board the Bark Midas, a whaler, which was seized by the Alabama, and for which indemnity has been paid."
A relatively late log of a whaler apparently taken as a prize by the famous Confederate raider The Alabama. The Midas, captain Henry A. Howland, sailed to the "Western Grounds" in search of whales, crossed the Indian Ocean and spent some months off New Zealand, in the South and Central Pacific and as far north as the Sea of Okhotsk. Her catches do not appear to have been numerous. Keyser interrupts his matter-of-fact log entries occasionally to add verses and shanties; one, of five stanzas, entitled "The Whaleman's song, by one of them."
Accompanying Keyser's lengthy log is a printed document signed by the Collector of New Bedford, Lawrence Grinnell, 11 May 1861, one page, 4to, stained, certifying that William F. Keyser (who is described), is a citizen of the United States. Another inserted manuscript, of later date, records that "William F. Keyser was a Cooper by trade and was engaged on board the Bark Midas, a whaler, which was seized by the Alabama, and for which indemnity has been paid."