P.W. Johnson Diary

3

List of Officers Attached to and on board the USS Thetis at the time of leaving Navy yard Brooklyn the 1st of May during a cruese in the Arctick Seas

Name	Rank
W.S. Schley	Commander
U. Sebree	Lieutenant C.
E.H. Taunt	Lieutenant
L C Lemly	Lieutenant (junior
W J Chambers	Ensign
C.H. Harlow	Ensign
G W Melville	Chief Engineer
E H Green	P A Surgeon

W J Chambers Ensign was transferred from the Thetis in St Johns Newfoundland on the 11th of May to take command of the Coal Steamer Loch Garry

5 Complement of Petty Officers and Seaman Belonging to the USS Thetis at the time of leaving Navy yard Brooklyn May 1st 1884 and during a cruse in the Arctick Seas in Search of Greely and party

Name	Rate	Remarks
W. Norman	Ice Pilote
J W Power	yeo.
W.A. Coffin	BoMate	S. C. Bate
G. Harey	B M
J. Mitre	C O T
J. Crass	L M
J. Mannin	C O T
J Mc Leod	L M
C Polsen	Captn[]
E W Walker	B M	acting L. M
W Boothe	1st C Mach
J Francis	1st C Mach
A [Steff]	B Smith
W. G. Fisher	1st C Fir
W Griffen	1st C Fir
F W Tayler	Sea
P W Johnson	Sea
M Hickey	Sea
B Cook	Sea
W Baggesen	Sea
J McDonald	Sea
G WE Yeuell	Sea
T H Malloney	Sea	acting Ships Cook
C Wasdon	Sea
C H Tong Sing	Cabin St
M Tyren	C Cook
G von Sprechelsen	3d e Mast	enlisted in St[Joh]
H B Neat	1 st C F

H B Neat sent back from St Johns not being competent in performing the duty as a 1st C Fireman

May 1^st 1884

Left Navy yard Brooklyn at 2.30 pm the Navy yard was crowded with spectators and the U.S.R.S. Corlorados Band was playing different nationall airs cheers after cheers was given by the people on shore and from the Rercruts on board the R Ship Colorada likewise the crew of the Arctic Steamer Alert maned the rigging giving us three cheer the same was returned from the Ship and also every man belonging to this Ship throw his Cap overboard going down the River Ferry boats Tugboats and other Steam vessels blew their whistles it was allmost imposible to hear your own words Colers being dipped from vessels of different Nasionalety and from Hous tops on shore The Brooklyn Bridge and all the Wharfs both on Brooklyn and Newyork side was lined with spectaters Leaving the Navy yard a salute of seven guns was fired from the saluting Battery Governers Island Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth firing a salute of 21 guns each. The Talleposa with the Secretary of the Navy Secretarry of War General Hancock and other high Officials and Ladis on board following as down the river and outside of Sandy Hook Before leaving the Navy yard All hands were called to muster forming in too ranks on the quarter deck and the Secretary W. Chandler of the Navy and Secretary of War Lincoln came through the lines shaking hands with every man going on the Expedition wishing os a God speed and safe return No better send off the the Thetis got could not be exspected the people did everything to show there best and hearthy wishes for our undertaking

May 7th

Weather clear cool and pleacent Engenes working slowly on account of shooking off boiler tubes Port Log at Noon 901 Mile long Esterly swell Aboutt 10 P M passed an Iceberg to the Soutward Port Log Midnight 9,56 Miles May 8th

Long swell from N^d or E^d at 950 A M sighted Land 3 points? on port bow changed course to N.E. by E 3/4 E, At Noon past 9. large Ice bergs one on each beam farther passed one large Ice berg and several large pices of Ice Cape Race bearing at noon N.E by E Signalled Ships Name to Signal Station on Cape Race and recived answer back again God speed "About 5 pm got anchor ready for letting go At 6 PM Hans Cars light bore N.NE 1/2 E Cape Race W S W Port Log reading 1061 miles Bright Moonlight during night off 10,90 sighted Cape Spear light, Long Esterly Swell Port Log at 12 oklook reading 1096,

May 9th

Running for St Johns Harbor from 12 A M Ship rolling deeply but easely by the long swell from the Northward At 3,35 A M Anchord in St. Johns Harbor with Port anchor in 8 1/2 fathoms of Water and banked Fires, Port Log rating at time of anchorage 1104 miles Ships head W.N.W During morning made preparations for coaling Ship The American Consul M Molloy

him 1^st Fireman from this day overcast out and very foggy during day Exchanged frequent Signals with Loch Garry by means of steam whistle From 4, to 6 PM passed a number of hummock Ice and one larg Ice berg

May 13^th

Weather overcast and cloudy during day wind blowing moderate gale Ship rolling deeply taking water over rails at deepest rolls Port Log 131 Miles out noon At 12.15 PM changed Course to N by E from 8 to 12 PM sea rough but moderating ships rolling easely take in seas occasionally overcast and mistly Loch Garry in position on St^d quarter Port Log reading 213 miles

May 14^th

Overcast and foggy first part of day from 4. to 8 A M Ship had bearly steerage wavy on acount of low steam Port Log 234, Course during day from N1/2 E to N by E Skys rolling easely to rough Sea Loch Garry in position on St^d quarter Port Log 319 miles

May 15^th

Overcast but pleasant Skys Course N E 3/4 N Port Log reading 4,28 miles At &, PM changed Course to N E by N Loch Gerry in position on St^d quarter

Driver and interpenter and a complate of Cothing outfitt was given to him The men from this Ship went on shore and attended dance with the Esquimause Ladys the music was the the best that could be attained and the Ballroom was an old broken down Warehouse with barely any floor in it on account of no darknes prevailing the dance was kept up during the entire Night and by all appearance the Natives enjoyed themselfs splendidly

May 24^th

Overcast and snowing during early part of day, At .3. A M the Wind shifted to the N.W. and the pack Ice drifted from the outside into the harbor again made preparation for leaving, and at 9 AM left Disco Harber working through heavy belt of ice lying off its mouth for a distance of about 2 Miles Ship behaving well breacking through or shoving with but little difficulty, At 10,20 AM reached open water Beacon Hill bearing S.E. distant about 3 Miles set our course N.N,W, At 12:03 course was changed to N.N.E. and the clock was set back 15 minuts From 12.4 P M Course being no good on account of setting in around as were Compelled to steam around and through a quantity of Ice Fields and large Ice bergs During day got up 6 days Proavisions for each boat to be used only in case of abandoning Ship consiting of 600 lbs Pemmican 200 lb Bread 15 lb Tea 80 lbs Sugar 12 lbs Beef Tea and 4 lbs salt and secured all abreast of each Boat At 4,00 Poll stowed down Engenes to

examine the ice for a lead steaming back and forth along edge of flow untill 6.45 PM when the ship was forced into the ice pack unable to move either one way or the other layed all night in the ice pack the commencing to snow and looked very threatening. The Loch Garry remaining in oben Water steaming back and forth all night.

May 25th

Overcast and snowing ship set in ice pack At 11 AM signalled Loch Garry return to Disco and await E^ley Wind will not sink you into the ice she hoisting her colers dipping the same three times and then shaping her course back to Disco. Started our Engines ahead shaping our Course as nearly as the ice would permit for the North End of Hare Island A 10 AM Commanding officer held divine service a number of large icebergs in sight the pack ice being about 12 feet thick At 11.30 PM finding the Ice from 4.7 feet in thickness and heavily packed we were unable to work our way through stopped the Engines lying in ice pack the Easterly point of Hare Island bearing SSE Wind blowing in gentle breeze from S.e. - W.

May 31^st

Bright sunny and warm weather Sent Esquimaus Danielsen to top of Mountain to look for open water he coming back reporting very little open water in anny direction The Ice Pilot and Oatie went and reported the same and that 4, Whaling Ships where lying out side made fast to Ice floe Ensign Harlan went to Native village with Photograph Machine and took several Photos of one Family living in King took the entire number of Natives living the were 9 Persons all told the men from the Sheps enjoyed themselfs by sleding down a steep Mountain on Snowshoes and Tobaggen Sledges Gunning Partys left the ships in Steam launch returning with a number of Ducks

June 1^th

Weather overcast and squally and snowing hard At 3. AM the Arctick broke her moorings and drifted down us and the Bear we had to cast of our lines to get clear no damage was done Apperently the Arctiek left Harbor At 8, AM cast off our lines and left Harbor followed by the Bear and made fast to floe outside along with the other Ships A 10.50 AM we got under way At 2.40 PM reached solid ice and made fast again the Bear and the Thrasher doing the same exept the Arctick with made fast under the land At 2.50 PM the Bear asked permission to go ahead and try instead lead permission was granted and both

The boat returning shortly afterwards and reported it to be a Beacon nothing in it A 2.15 PM made fast to ice flowe not being able to move or force our way through the Bear doing the same At 8 PM sell 3 Natives sledge team came down from Setlement from Nward and reporting no open Water in sight

June 4^th

Clear and beautifull weather severall spotted Narwahl seen near Ships in the morning at 1. PM got under way and stood in for Tessunak Harbor Accompanied by The Bear and at 8.30 PM made fast to the ice off Governors House. Sighthed the whalers steaming to the North apparently in clear and open water Bought from the Governor 12 tanned Sealskins for Booth repair eschanged 1. Labrador Dog and got to Exquimaus Dogs in return Got under way at 6.30 PM steaming through narrow leads close to numerous Ice bergs and frequently finding the leads closed in and requiring the ship to be backed and drived through At 10.30 PM in endeavering to free a lead the Ship stuck fast and could neither be fereed ahead or astern the Bear came up and parted Lou Hausers in trying to to tow us off but of no avail we planted 5 Gun powder Torpedos in line alread about 15 feet apart sank 6 feet in in the ice through 2 layers 18 feet thick in all the results of explosion was a crack and considerable fracksure reaching open water beyond but not sufficient to ease the ship from

swell and strong breeze she parted again and when the Hawser parted the Mate of the Loch Garry was injured the Wind increasing to heavy Gale the Captain gave order for the Alert to Steam depending on her self. At 4 PM changed Course to SSW and at 5pm to S by W. and at 8 PM to South the Ship pitching easily Loosing sight of the Alert last seen at 11.30 PM the wind blowing in heavy squalls passing a number of large Ice bergs

July 16^th

Weather overcast and foggy blowing a Moderate Gale and Squalls from S.W. and long swell Keept the fogg whistle a going at intervals of 2. to 3 minuts could not see the Bear or Loch Garry but could hear ther fogg whistle At 8. am changed to SSW3/4 W got up chains for bending At 9.35 lookout on fore top Gallant yard reported white flash light 3 1/2 point on St^d bow At 10.30 changed Course to SW1/4 S the Alert was not seen all day

July 17^th Cloudy weather heavy fogg had to stop Engine at 2.30 am fogg coming down too heavy that we could not see any distance started ahead again at 4 pm keeping our Whistle blowing in order to let the Bear and Loch Garry know our position standing off and on outside the Habor of St Johns A 8.55 took