Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History

The Dramatic Artist and the Terrible Marine Monster

The Semaphore of December 22 says:

While the steam packet Le Claire was on its way from Marseilles to Algiers, with 400 passengers on board, it encountered a strong gale from the south-west. In the middle of the night a tremendous sea struck the ship, swept the deck, penetrated into the cabins and engine room, and threw every thing into the greatest confusion. In the midst of the general panic, while the crew were making every exertion to rid the interior of the boat of the superfluous element, a terrific cry was heard from the second cabin: “Help! help! the shark is gnawing me!” screamed, in a voice half-suffocated with terror, an unfortunate dramatic artist, who, awaking in a cold bath, had found in his arms a sheep, which had been precipitated into the cabin through an opening made to let off the water.

Posted inAviation Maritime & Naval History

U.S. Warships Are Rushed to Help Dirigible

Royal Navy Dirigible R-34 landed at a field on Long Island, NY.

WASHINGTON, July s.—(United Press.)— Encountering head winds over Nova Scotia and with the petrol supply rapidly becoming exhausted, the huge British dirigible R-34 today wirelessed the navy department for help. The navy immediately responded by ordering the Fatilla, a fast steam yacht in government service, and two destroyers to rush to the assistance of the airship.

The R-34 appears to have been so severely buffeted by unexpected gales that she has been unable to make the progress expected, and with the gasoline dangerously low, was believed in peril of becoming practically a derelict of the air, at the mercy of the wind.

Posted inBiographical Maritime & Naval History US Civil War

July 5, 1861 – Death of Commander Ward

The death, by a ball from a rebel rifle, of Commander James H. Ward, of the U. S. Navy, made a mournful impress upon the faces of our citizens, yesterday. He was a native of this city and son of the late Col. James H. Ward, and well known to many of our older residents. He was commander of the Thomas Freeborn, a government steamer on the Potomac, and had superintended an expedition from his own vessel to erect a battery, when the rebels, in large numbers, suddenly emerged from the woods, and poured in a volley. Capt. Ward covered the retreat of his men, so far us possible, with his guns, and was shot through the breast with a rifle ball while in the act of discharging one of his pieces. He died an hour later, falling on the deck of Ins own vessel while discharging his whole duty lo his country.

Posted inBlack History Connected Points Maritime & Naval History

Connected Points Ep. 1 – Winter Storms and Abolition

History is generally thought of as a narrative of our past, but it’s also an infinite series of interconnected points. Disparate people, places, things, and events are all connected through a vast network of relationships spanning time and place. Shoes, ships, candle wax, cabbages and kings are all connected points, once you abandon a linear narrative and dive down the rabbit holes of history.

In this issue, what does a series of violent winter storms have to do with opium and a famous abolitionist? Let’s connect the dots.

Between December 14th and 27th, 1839, a series of three severe winter storms blew ashore  on the New England Coast. These storms caused the loss of more than 200 vessels, around 200 deaths, and damage to hundreds of other ships and port facilities. Loss in commercial shipping alone was estimated at $1,000,000, a 2024 equivalent of over $30 million. The storms also inspired at least two poets, but those are connections for another time.