Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History Ship Histories

Majestic Sails Despite Strikers

Three Other Steamers Get Crews and Leave

Photo of RMS Majestic, a three-funneled ocean liner.

London, Sept. 2 (AP)—The situation in British home ports resulting from the official strike of seamen against a wage reduction was somewhat eased today by the sailing of the While Star liner Majestic from Southampton and the news that three steamers at Hull had finally obtained crews and would leave on time.

On the other hand there was little diminution in the seriousness of the situation in dominion ports as reflected in advices reaching London.

Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History

Preserve The “Bear”

Coast Guard cutter USS Bear, in the ice. It is captioned "U.S.S. Bear - Pt. Barrow Alaska - August 21, 1922. The bear is a 3 masted ship with a funnel between the first two masts.

Now that the historic Bear is safe again and en route south, let’s revive that former suggestion for preserving the grand old ship for Seattle.

Some time ago the Chamber of Commerce started a movement to bring the ship here after her last voyage as a coast guard cutter, and turn her into a sort of monument-—an embodiment of the spirit of the Northland. That is a worthy idea; it should be carried thru. And what better place for the Bear than Seattle harbor, from which so many tall ships have sailed to the storied lands to the northward?

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

August 1, 1862 – Dispatch from the Gunboat Arkansas

CSS Arkansas running through the Union fleet above Vicksburg, Mississippi, 15 July 1862

The following is the dispatch in the Richmond Whig from the commander of the rebel gunboat Arkansas:

Vicksburg, July 15, 1862.

We engaged today, from six to eight a. m., with the enemy’s fleet above Vicksburg, consisting of four or more iron clad vessels and two heavy sloops-of-war, and four gunboats and seven or eight rams. We drove an iron-clad ashore, with colors down and disabled, blew up a ram, burned one vessel and damaged several others. Our smokestack was so shot to pieces that we lost steam, and could not use our vessel as a ram. We were otherwise cut up as we engaged at close quarters. Lost ten killed and fifteen wounded others with slight wounds.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

July 12, 1862 – A New Man-of-War

Side view of the USS Monongahela.

The New York Times of the 10th says: To-day another new man-of-war will be added to our navy afloat. The new steam frigate Monongahela is to be launched at Philadelphia, and the veteran Commodore Stewart, who has presided at the ‘baptism’ of so many naval vessels, will be one of the chief officers. The Monongahela is one of the six frigates ordered by Congress. The dimensions according to which she was to be constructed were: length over all, 235 feet ; extreme breadth of beam, 33 feet 8 inches depth of hold, 17 feet 10 inches; measurement, 1,600 tons. She may vary a trifle from these figures.

Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History Travelers' Tales

Big Guns Thunder As Explorer Sets Sail

MacMillan Leaves Boston Amid Great Outburst of Enthusiasm

Boston. June 17.—(AP)—The arctic expedition of Lieut. Commander Donald B. MacMillan sailed from the navy yard at Charleston shortly after noon today In the steamship Peary bound for Wiscasset, Me. From Wiscasset the Peary and the schooner Bowdoin will sail on MacMillan’s ninth trip

The big guns on the navy craft thundered farewell as the little steamer slipped away on the first leg of the trip beyond the arctic circle. A navy band on the pier played “Auld Lang Syne.” The crowd which had crammed its way into the navy yard cheered. The harbor echoed with the shrill of marine whistles as craft at anchor joined In the parting tribute.