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March 16, 1899, Arose at 3:30 AM. All hands were called at 4:00 and at 4:20 called "up anchor". Clear and cold. At 4:45 got underway. Course was E. 5°  N  – then changed it to S. 21° E. At 8:00 we were in Broad Reach. About 8:30 started to get overcast and cloudy, with heavy squalls. Until 9:19 had course set at S.W. 1/2S. And at 9:20 changed course to W 1/2 N. Having reached the most southern point of the main land, Cape Froward. Passed through English Crooked and Long Reaches and came to anchor in Field anchorage at 4 o'clock, with 30 fathoms of chain on starboard anchor. Island very near anchorage, in which signs of all descriptions were nailed on trees and painted on rocks. I was told to paint one like this “March 16, 1899, USS Badger” which I did in 5 foot letters, so that it could be read from anchorage. Several of us went to the island and nailed it to the top most branch of the tree. We then went to mainland and cut ice from the glaciers at the foot of the Andes. Had axes and fire arms. Met several Patagonians’, who were entirely nude. They weren't hungry it seemed, otherwise I could have seen our finish. Came back with over 500 pounds of ice. The Andes mountains are covered with snow – saw these suice leaving Sandy Point. Beautiful sight. Came back to the ship about 5:45 and started writing to J. I wish I could tell more definitely what the Andes look like, but were I a master of golden speech or honeyed phrase, I could, but as I am not, I can't.

Lat by cross bearings 53° 47' S.

Long by cross bearings 70° 54





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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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Page 30

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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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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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