USS Badger Spanish American War Ship's Log

 Diagram:

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...

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...

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...

February 9, 1899, Cloudy and damp. Stiff N.E. breeze. Exercised a clear ship for action. Took my station on bridge and acted as directed in capacity of messenger. "Pretty old messenger, I" Barometer falling – Moderate sea from N. E. Tested metallic life buoys and found them in good working order. Hoisted forestay sail and main try sail to steady ship. Toward evening, became very misty about horizon.   On course SE1/2S. Lat 12° 19, N at noon DR   Long 47° 29' W at noon DR Distance made good since noon February 8 270 miles.   Wrote to J.   Read "Son of Porthes" Sequel to the "Three Guardsmen". February 10, 1899, Cloudy and slightly misty. Moderate breeze from N.E Repaired search light - tested same, and found in very good condition. Long rolling sea. Ship rolling about 12°. Very pleasant. On course SE1/2S.   Lat 9° 15' N at noon, DR.   Long 44° 05' W at noon DR Distance made good since noon February 9 - 275 miles. Wrote to J. February 11, 1899 Cl...

February 12, 1899 Cloudy and damp. Gentle breeze from NE by E. Moderate sea on port beam. Steaming on course SSE3/4E until 2 PM when changed course to SSE1/2S. Passing showers at 4:00 PM. Took in and stowed sails at 5:00 PM. Very squally during the evening, and toward midnight heavy rainstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. Lat 1° 59’ N at noon DR   Long 38° 08’ W at noon DR Wrote to J. Father Neptune paid an official visit to the Captain.   Distance made good since noon February 11: 288 miles. February 13, 1899 Cloudy. Light S.Ely breeze. Course SSE1/2E. At 12:15, steam steering gear broke down, and for about 5 minutes, the ship was two points to the south off her course. It was repaired at 2:30 and connected. At 2:15, passed a sailing vessel hull down, bound north. At 3:00 PM, started to swing the ship for deviation of the compass, and at 4:25, finished and resumed course S1/2E. Exercised at signal drill. Smooth sea. Neptune came aboard and held ceremonies – from 9 AM ...

February 15, 1899, Clear and fine. Gentle SE breeze. Course SW by W1/2W. Sighted several steamers during the forenoon. Had physical exercise, and drilled at fire quarters. All divisions ready in 2 1/2 minutes. Exercised at man overboard, boat in water less than 2 minutes. Buoy picked up in 9 minutes. The patent log was hauled in, owing to this drill, as we were afraid to buoy would get foul of log line. L. Schamberg, Marine, was placed under sentry’s charge to await trial by Summary Court-Martial for leaving post without being regularly relieved. Exchanged colors with the German Steamer "A scension " bound to the N'd and E'd - smooth sea. Blowing a gale latter part of the afternoon. Sea choppy. Stranahan, one week extra duty for disturbing during fire drill. Threw overboard 13 hair and 13 wire mattresses. Bright moonlight. Reduce speed, so as to get our bearings in the morning.   Lat 10 degrees 50’ S at noon DR Long 35° 55’   W at noon DR Distance made good since noon...