Details
[MARITIME]. Manuscript document, Log of the ship Typhoon, J. S. Salter, commander, carrying cotton from Bombay to Liverpool, 30 July 1860 to 29 May 1861, and with later entries. Folio, bound in marbled boards, 55 leaves, writing on rectos and versos, three pages torn, a few pages foxed, spine broken, upper cover detached.
"JOHN COIL WAS INSOLENT AND SAUCY USING THREATENING LANGUAGE AND REFUSING TO DO ANNY MORE WORK"
Log of a long, at times tempestuous journey of an American captain carrying a cargo of cotton on the long voyage from India to England, via Cape Horn. The winds and seas were moderate, but the crew seemed to endure great hardship. Countless entries contain the comment "one man laid up," "two men laid up," "one white man laid up." Discontent nearly erupted into mutiny, as the Captain's rough prose recounts: 9 April 1861: "At 8 a.m. turning watch...Several of them coming Aft and refusing to turn to unless they had more bread. They having 365 lbs only lasting 9 days, it being allowed to them to last 12 days [for] 27 men, it Being nearlay 1½ [pounds] per man per day for 9 days. Still of them being asked to go to work several times refused were put in Irons. John Coil was Insolent and saucy using threatening Language and refusing to do Anny more work while on Board was kept in Irons the other two willing to go to work were released and went about there Duty. 2 men released 1/29 A.M. offered Cask of Bread give to men for 12 days Allowance 340 lbs." The log for this journey breaks off at 22 May 1861. Voyages to Newport and Newport in the spring of 1863 are recorded in a different hand.
"JOHN COIL WAS INSOLENT AND SAUCY USING THREATENING LANGUAGE AND REFUSING TO DO ANNY MORE WORK"
Log of a long, at times tempestuous journey of an American captain carrying a cargo of cotton on the long voyage from India to England, via Cape Horn. The winds and seas were moderate, but the crew seemed to endure great hardship. Countless entries contain the comment "one man laid up," "two men laid up," "one white man laid up." Discontent nearly erupted into mutiny, as the Captain's rough prose recounts: 9 April 1861: "At 8 a.m. turning watch...Several of them coming Aft and refusing to turn to unless they had more bread. They having 365 lbs only lasting 9 days, it being allowed to them to last 12 days [for] 27 men, it Being nearlay 1½ [pounds] per man per day for 9 days. Still of them being asked to go to work several times refused were put in Irons. John Coil was Insolent and saucy using threatening Language and refusing to do Anny more work while on Board was kept in Irons the other two willing to go to work were released and went about there Duty. 2 men released 1/29 A.M. offered Cask of Bread give to men for 12 days Allowance 340 lbs." The log for this journey breaks off at 22 May 1861. Voyages to Newport and Newport in the spring of 1863 are recorded in a different hand.