Journal of ship STATE OF MAINE, Captain H.G. Curtis, 1896-1898

Journal of ship STATE OF MAINE, Captain H.G. Curtis, 1896-1898

Journal of ship STATE OF MAINE from September 6, 1896-April 17, 1898 kept by Captain Henry Griffin Curtis. Ports of call: New York, Woosung/ Shanghai, Manila, New York, and Hong Kong. As this is not the official log book, Captain Curtis includes his calculations for latitude and longitude written out and solved on every page. The Captain's personal remarks are often in the verse form.  Opens with ship leaking badly in a gale and not making progress across the equator. His son George and daughter Hope are on board along with a friend, Miss Gordon (may be Grace Gordon, his second wife). During this voyage the Captain celebrated his 46th birthday and Hope her 16th.  He mentions Manila stowaways, sending mail ashore by bumboatmen, the steward confronted mate with a knife, and the women making desserts and being seasick. Vessels mentioned were bark LOCH LONG, ship SUSQUEHANNA, German bark ALBERT RICKMERS, German ship RICHARD RICKMERS, bark EUDORA, and French bark GERS. On 161 day voyage from New York to Woosung passed Ascension Island, Ombay Passage, Banda Sea, Manipa Strait, Gillalo Strait, Geby Island, Catherine Island and Cape Tobo, Pelau Isles, and North Saddle. On 9 day voyage from Shanghai to Manila, in mud ballast, passed Ocksen Island, Dodd Island, Chapel Island, and Capon Island. On 123 day voyage with a cargo of hemp from Manila to New York passed Mindoro Straits, Baselan Channel, Cocos Island, St. Helena, and Fernando Noronha. On voyage from New York to Hong Kong with crew of 20 men, daughter Hope and Miss Gordon (one of whom added notes to the journal), the ship passed Fernando Noronha and the accounts ended before voyage was done at 144 days out.