Name/Title
Log Book Star of India, Volume 17, 10 Apr. 1909 -- 4 Sept. 1911Entry/Object ID
A0245.1.16Scope and Content
Title on Official Log: Log Book: Barkque Star of India, dated 1909, April 10 through 1911, September 4
One volume of the Star of India vessel log prepared by Captain Christensen and 1st Mate John Johnson (144 pages), includes handwritten entries on a daily basis. Entries begin on April 10, 1909 and end on September 4, 1911.
Log Entry Summary: On April 10, 1909, Star of India is taken in tow by the tugboat Sea Witch and leaves Filbert Street Wharf, San Francisco, California bound for the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska with a cargo of cannery supplies and fishermen.
On April 11, 1909, Star of India encounters a strong gale, heavy winds and high seas just off the coast of California. The force of the wind carries away the forward royal back stay and forward sail. On April 22 and 23, 1909, Star of India encounters another strong gale with fog, rain and high winds about 500 miles south of the Aleutian Islands. The force of the wind splits the forward royal sail. The crew drops the sail to the deck and completes the repair by noon.
On April 28, 1909 the crew sights Sanak Island on the Alaskan Peninsula as the Star of India approaches Unimak Pass. On April 29, 1909 the crew sights Scotch Cap lighthouse on Unimak Island. On April 29 and 30, 1909, Star of India passes through Unimak Pass into the Bering Sea.
On May 4 and 5, 1909, Star of India sails north up the Alaskan Peninsula, the crew sights large ice flows and several vessels including the barkentine St. Daniel, steamer Kvichak and barkentine Star of Iceland. May 6 through 9, 1909, Star of India encounters numerous ice flows and heavy, constant snow. The crew makes contact with the sailing ship Berlin and barkentine Star of Italy and sights several vessels moving in the Nushagak Bay channel including the steamer Kvichak, plus 8 unknown steamers and barkentines.
On May 13, 1909 the crew sights land and the Star of India arrives in Bristol Bay, Alaska. On May 14 and 15, 1909, Star of India encounters hard squalls and strong gales. On May 16, 1909, Star of India anchors near Nichols Hill, Alaska about 10 miles south of the Nushagak River on the west shore of Nushagak Bay.
On May 17, 1909, Star of India is at anchor, the Captain sends 11 men ashore to the NC Cannery at Clark's Point, Alaska. Heavy ice flows coming down the Nashagak River require the Star of India and Star of Iceland to move to a safer anchorage. May 19 through 22, 1909, Star of India encounters terrific squalls, strong gales, high winds and seas. On May 22, 1909, with the storm clearing the Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Nushagak and arrives at the NC Cannery at Clarke's Point, Alaska in the early evening. The crew rigs the cargo gear and the fishermen and Chinese go ashore, 18 crew members stay aboard to unload cargo.
May 24 through 31, 1909 the crew dries the sails and unloads shooks and barrels onto a lighter. The steamer Nushagak comes along side the Star of India and helps the crew shift the mooring and provides fresh water for the donkey engine. On June 1, 1909 the cook and 16 crew members go ashore and the 1st and 2nd Mates remain onboard. August 3 through 20, 1909 several crew members return to the Star of India. The crew unloads 2,400 empty barrels onto the schooner Premier, 181 tons of coal onto another lighter and cleans the ship including all holds. The crew loads 73,220 cases of salmon from the NC (Clark's Point) and PHJ (Nushagak) Canneries.
On August 21, 1909, Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Nushagak and leaves Clark's Point, Alaska bound for San Francisco, California. The crew sights Cape Constantine on the southern tip of Nushagak Peninsula as the Star of India sails south down the Alaskan Peninsula. On August 26, 1909 the crew sights the entrance to Unimak Pass and the crew sights Scotch Cape lighthouse as the Star of India leaves the Pass and enters the North Pacific Ocean.
On August 29 and 30, 1909, Star of India encounters heavy squalls, strong gales and high seas with fog and rain about 1000 miles west of Vancouver, British Columbia. The force of the sea carries away the poop deck ladder and damages the force pump handle. On September 1, 1909 a Chinese cannery worker dies onboard the Star of India and is buried at sea, having been sick since leaving Clark's Point, Alaska.
On September 10, 1909, Star of India is approximately 120 miles northwest of San Francisco and the log ends with no further entries for this voyage.
The log entries begin again on April 12, 1910. The Star of India leaves Pier 36 in San Francisco, California and anchors in the stream near the entrance to the ocean and prepares for the upcoming voyage. On April 13, 1910, Star of India is taken in tow by the tugboat Red Stack … [illegible] and leaves San Francisco, California bound for Bristol Bay, Alaska. April 26 through 30, 1910, Star of India encounters heavy fog with rain about 150 miles south of the Alaska Peninsula, which requires constant attention to the foghorn by the crew to alert other vessels.
On May 1 and 2, 1910 the crew sights land and the entrance to Unimak Pass. On May 3, 1910, Star of India encounters adverse winds that will not permit safe travel through Unimak Pass and waits outside the entrance for favorable conditions. The crew sights ice flows and numerous vessels sailing out of Unimak Pass from the north. On May 4, 1910, Star of India passes through Unimak Pass and into the Bering Sea. May 5 through 10, 1910 the crew sights the vessel Star of Peru, numerous ice flows, Point Lagoon and Port Moller as the Star of India moves north along the Alaska Peninsula toward Bristol Bay. May 11 through 15, 1910, Star of India encounters numerous ice flows and dense fog just north of Port Moller that requires constant attention to the foghorn by the crew to alert other vessels.
On May16, 1910, at approximately 4:00 in the morning the crew sights Cape Seniavin and the Star of India anchors just south of the Seal Islands. While at the anchorage the crew sights several fur seals and walruses, plus a cascade of drift ice landing on the nearby beaches. By midday, Star of India sails north toward Bristol Bay, Alaska.
On May 17 and 18, 1910 the crew sights Port Heiden, Ugashik Bay, Cape Constantine and Cape Etolin near the entrance to Nushagak Bay as the Star of India arrives in Bristol Bay, Alaska and anchors off Ekuk Point. On May 19, 1910, the steamer Nushagak comes alongside the Star of India and transports several fishermen up the Nushagak River.
May 20 through 25, 1910, Star of India remains at anchorage off Ekuk Point and the crew sights the Star of Iceland in tow by the steamer Nushagak in route to the cannery. On the evening of May 21, 1910, Star of India while at anchor encounters a strong gale, flood tides and ice flows coming from the mouth of the Nushagak River. The force of the gale, tides and flows is so great the ship begins to drag both anchors causing the port anchor chain to snap. The Star of India finally comes to a stop as the starboard anchor holds fast. On May 26, 1910, Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Nushagak and moves to an anchorage near the NC Cannery at Clark's Point on the Nushagak River.
The Star of India is at anchor at Clark's Point and the log ends with no further entries for this voyage.
The log entries begin again on August 17, 1910. The Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Nushagak and leaves Nushagak, Alaska bound for San Francisco, California.
By late afternoon the crew sights Ugashik Bay as the Star of India sails south along the Alaska Peninsula. August 18 through 27, 1910, Star of India encounters dense fog as it sails south of Ugashik Bay along the Alaska Peninsula, requiring constant attention to the foghorn by the crew to alert other vessels. On August 28, 1910 the crew sights Cape Sarichef on Unimak Island near the north entrance to Unimak Pass. On August 30 and 31, 1910 the crew sights Scotch Cape as the Star of India moves through the Pass and enters the North Pacific Ocean. September 2 and 5, 1910, Star of India encounters dense fog about 1200 miles off the coast of Seattle, Washington that requires constant attention to the foghorn by the crew to alert other vessels.
On September 14, 1910 the crew sights Point Reyes Lighthouse under the cover of dense fog approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. By evening the Star of India is taken in tow by an unknown tugboat and arrives in San Francisco, California and anchors near the Presidio. A boat arrives alongside the ship and the doctor comes onboard and examines each man, all were cleared to go ashore. All hands go ashore except the 1st and 2nd Mates.
On September 15, 1910, Star of India is taken in tow by the tugboat Sea Fox … [illegible] and moves to the Mail Dock, Pier 36. September 16 through 19, 1910 the stevedores come onboard and rig the cargo gear and unload the cargo of salmon. On September 20 and 21, 1910, Star of India is taken in tow by two unknown tugboats and moves across the harbor to the Alaska Packers shipyard at Fortman Basin in Alameda, California for the winter. The log ends with no further entries for this voyage.
The log entries begin again on April 12, 1911. The Star of India is taken in tow by the tugboat Defiance and leaves the Harrison Street Dock and moves to an anchorage in San Francisco Harbor. On April 13, 1911, Star of India is taken in tow by the tugboat Sea Rover and leaves San Francisco, California bound for Bristol Bay, Alaska.
On April 16, 1911, P. Olson … [illegible] is sick with inflammation of the bowel, receives treatment aboard ship and takes several days to recovery. On April 18, 1911, A. Lingquist … [illegible] is sick with rheumatism in the left leg and right shoulder, receives treatment aboard ship and takes several days to recovery.
April 28 through 30, 1911, Star of India encounters moderate squalls, high seas and light snow approximately 200 miles south of the Alaska Peninsula. On May 3, 1911 the crew sights Ugamak Island as the Star of India approaches Unimak Island and the entrance to Unimak Pass. On May 4, 1911 the crew sights Scotch Cape and Cape Sarichef as the Star of India moves through the Pass and enters the Bering Sea. On May 6, 1911 the crew sights Port Moller and Cape Seniavin as the Star of India sails north along the Alaska Peninsula. On May 7, 1911 crew member P. Olson dies and the next morning crew buries him at sea.
On May 10, 1911 the crew sights the steamer Kvichak and numerous ice flows about 25 miles north Port Moller as the Star of India sails up the Alaska Peninsula. May 12 through 14, 1911, Star of India encounters dense fog about 50 miles north of Port Moller that requires constant attention to the foghorn by the crew to alert other vessels. On May 17, 1911, at 6:00 a.m. the Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Nushagak, by 11:00 a.m. the crew releases the tow cable from the steamer and the Star of India is under sail again. On May 18, 1911 the crew spoke to the steamer Kvichak approximately 20 miles south of Ugashik Bay.
On May 19, 1911, Star of India is taken in tow the steamer Nushagak and arrives in Bristol Bay, Alaska and anchors at Ekuk Village. On May 20, 1911, Star of India is taken in tow the steamer Nushagak and moves to the anchorage at the Clark's Point Cannery. The log ends with no further entries for this voyage.
The log entries begin again on August 16, 1911. The Star of India is taken in tow by the steamer Kvichak and leaves Bristol Bay, Alaska bound for San Francisco, California. On August 19, 1911 the crew sights Amak Island approximately 10 miles off the coast as the Star of India sails south along the Alaska Peninsula. On August 20, 1911 the crew sights Cape Sarichef on Unimak Island near the north entrance to Unimak Pass. The crew sights Scotch Cap and Ugamak Island as the Star of India moves through the Pass and enters the North Pacific Ocean.
On September 3, 1911 the crew sights North Farallon Island off the coast of California. On September 4, 1911 the crew sights Bonita lighthouse near the entrance to the harbor as the Star of India arrives in San Francisco, California and anchors at the Presidio.
The volume has several blank, unused pages at the end of the document.Collection
Euterpe - Star of India Logbook CollectionLexicon
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Log, Ship'sNomenclature Primary Object Term
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1909 - 1911
