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Introduction to the 1899 Ship's Logbook of the USS Badger and glossary of names contained within:

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  Note: Expand for glossary of names. Please use search feature to find the name in the text. The  USS Badger  Log came into our possession through my husband's family. Over the course of a century, it traveled from the East Coast, around the tip of South America, and into the Pacific, eventually settling in San Francisco. After the Spanish-American War, it returned to Connecticut with John Klinger, where it was passed down through generations to his great-great-nephew. Now, in our care here in California, we feel a responsibility to share this remarkable piece of history with others. The time has come to publish it for all to enjoy. The following is a transcription of the ship's logbook from the U.S.S. Badger during the period of 02/01/1899 to 08/06/1899. The ensign responsible for recording the daily activities was John William Klinger (1875-1933), who is an ancestor of our family. We have in our possession of the actual ship's log. I feel it is important to transcribe ...
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John W. Klinger Yeoman USN International Code of Signals February 1st 1899
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Page 2

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  By US Navy - Image NH 67514 from history.navy.mil, cropped to remove the caption. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, Corte Madera, CA, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.,  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5680566. The USS Badger is a large converted cruiser, originally being the Ward line steamer "Yumuri". Her battery consists of 6.5" Rapid Fire, Fletcher Mechanism and 6 Semi Automatic Nordenfelt 3 pounders. Engines triple expansion; vertical engines, and operating a single screw. John W. Klinger February 1st, 1899 Norfolk VA     USN
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Page 3 (Pages 4 - 26 are blank)

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 Diagram:
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Page 27

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Abridged log of the USS Badger. Making passage from Norfolk, Virginia to San Francisco, California. Via the straits of Magellan Stopping at Lat 13° S. Bahia, Brazil Lat 34° S. Montevideo, Uruguay. Lat 51° S. Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Lat 33° S. Valparaiso, Chile. Lat 12° S. Callao, Peru and Lat 37° N San Francisco. Left Norfolk, Va (Lat, 36° 50’ N) February 1, 1899 Arrived San Francisco April 15, 1899 – 8:30 p.m. Left San Francisco April 26, 1899 for Honolulu. Left Honolulu May 13, 1899 for Samoa. John W Klinger Geoman USS Badger. Crew 175 Marines 25. Commander. James M Miller J. B. Milton Ex. Officer T. D. Griffin, Navigator Yates Sterling Ensign JRY. Blakely Ensign RR Belknap Ensign O.D. Norton Howard Ash Asst Paymaster R. S. Paul Ch. Engineer   N. H. Hall 2nd Lieutenant Marines -. A. Cooper Boatswain J. A. O’Connor Carpenter C. Larson Mate   W. A. Hipkins Pay clerk F Morrison Naval Cadet   J. T. Bowers Naval Cadet   J. B. Gilmer Naval Cadet C. C. Block Naval...
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Page 29

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February 1, 1899. At 2:05 PM – got underway and started to swing ship. Finished at 3:58 and went ahead full speed. At 4:36 took departure. Made ships number "K.G.T.R." passing Cape Henry; number was repeated. Passed several steamers bound North. Course SE (psc) Bar. falling. Moon rose at 11 PM. Wrote to J. February 2, 1899 – Cloudy and overcast. Raining. At 6 AM, stopped engines for repairs, having found a broken follower bolt in high-pressure piston. At 10:43 the repairs having been completed to engine, went ahead slow. At 11 o'clock increased a full speed, set clock ahead 12 minutes at 11:25. Sailing vessel in sight at 12:03 on starboard bow. Course SE irregular sea.   Lat 34° 53' N at noon DR   Long 73° 23’ W at noon DR Wrote to J. Finished reading "The Wreck of the Grosvenor” February 3, 1899 – Generally clear and pleasant. Heavy dew. Moderate sea. Gentle breeze. Sighted 3 masted schooner standing to S’d. Set clock ahead 8 minutes at 11:30. At Meridian (12 no...
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February 6, 1899, Cloudy and pleasant. Course changed at noon to S.E. Crew mustered at quarters. Exercised at "setting up" drill. Tested search light and found it in unsatisfactory order. Electric control and automatic feed were out of order.   Lat 21° 42' N - at noon DR   Long 58° 01' W - at noon DR Distance traveled since noon February 5, 299 miles. Wrote to J February 7, 1899, clear and pleasant. Fresh breeze to E.N.E On course. S.E.(psc) At 9:30 AM, mustered at quarters. Battalion organized. At 10:20 sail was sighted. Choppy sea. Shifting coal from forehold to bunker. Secured out hammocks. Light showers from passing clouds between 7 and 8 PM – I was today given instructions, that during action, fire or collision drill, general quarters, clear ship for action. I was to act as messenger on the bridge for the navigator, at all times, and at all drills. I said to myself, "This is a cinch" Lat 18° 20' N at noon DR   Long 54° 07' W at noon DR   distanc...
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