Telegraph Whaling Log, 1834-1836

Ship Telegraph Telegraph bound to Port St [...]

Friday Sept 11th 1835 Commences with fresh gales from the Southward and squally attended with rain Took in the Top Gallant sails and double reefed the Top sails. Middle & latter hours close reefed the Top sails Took in the Jib Set the Spencers So ends this day Steering by the wind to the S.S.W 3 men off duty Long [LONGITUDE] by Chronometer 76..30 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36..36

Saturday Sept 12th 1835 Commences with strong gales from the Southward Steering by the wind to the Eastward Middle & latter hours more moderate Set whole Top sails & Top Gallant sails This day saw several Sperm whales Lowered Chaised [CHASED] but could not fasten. So ends this day Employed in boiling I man off duty. Longitude by Chron. [CHRONOMETER] 77..10 Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36..37 South

Sunday Sept 13th 1835 Commences with moderate breezes from the Northward Steering by the wind to the Westward. Middle & latter hours calm At 4 A.M finished boiling So ends this day. Longitude by Chronometer 78..02 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36..46

Monday Sept 14th 1835 Commences with light breezes from the Southward Steering by the wind to the Westward. Middle & latter hours the wind hauling to the Northward Steered S. by E. This day coopered and filled our oil amounting to 36 bbls Set it down in the Fore Hatch. So ends Hands employed in repairing the Fore sail Longitude by Chronometer 77..51 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 37..17 Sou [SOUTH]

Ship Telegraph bound to Port St. Carlos

Tuesday Sept 15th 1835 All of these 24 hours strong breezes from the Northward and fair weather Steering S.S.E untill [UNTIL] 8 P.M Steered off S.E. by E. untill [UNTIL] 8 A.M. Hauled up S. by E. Saw naught but one finback whale this day All hands employed in repairing a spare Mizen [MIZZEN] Top sail. So ends. 2 men off. Longitude by Chronometer 77..50 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 38..17 South

Wednesday Sept 16th 1835 Commences with fresh gales from the Northward and squally Steering S by E At 4 P.M. the wind hauling to the West Heading off S.E. by S. At Meridian steered off E.N.E untill [UNTIL] 8 A.M Hauled by the wind to the Southward. At 4 AM saw one Right whale Lowered Chaised [CHASED] but could not fasten. The water blue and a plenty of birds of all kinds So ends employed in repairing a spare Main Top sail 3 men off duty. Longitude by Chronometer 76..22 W. Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 41..43 Sou [SOUTH]

Thursday Sept 17th 1835 All of these 24 hours strong breezes from the NW and clear Steering off East At 8 P.M spoke ship John Wells New York 600 bbls One more ship in sight This day saw a plenty of whales but did not chaise [CHASE] Find them jest [JUST] on the edge of green water and a large quanty [QUANTITY] of birds of all kinds. Hands employed in repairing a spare Main Top sail So ends this day 3 men off duty. Longitude by Chronometer 76.00. West. Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..10 South

Ship Telegraph bound to Port St. Carlos

Friday Sept 18th 1835 Commences with strong breezes and squally Wind N.N.W Laying with the Main yard aback Heading to the S. & W Waiting for daylight to make the land. At 5 P.M. Point Quilan bore E. by N Dist [DISTANCE] 25 miles. Middle & latter hours fresh gales attended with rain At 6 do. [DITTO = P.M.] braced forward steering by the wind to the S. & W So ends this day. 4 men off duty. Longitude by Acc [ACCOUNT] 74..20 West. Sun obscure Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Acc [ACCOUNT] 44..00

Saturday Sept 19th 1835 Commences with strong gales from the Westward Steering by the wind to the S. & W. At 8 P.M. the wind hauled sudenly [SUDDENLY] to the Southward Tacked ship to the N. & W. At 9 do. [DITTO = P.M.] strong gales Took in the Fore & Mizen [MIZZEN] Top sails. Set the Main Spencer Hands employed in repairing the Main Top sail So ends 2 men off duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 75..20 W. Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 42 10 Sou [SOUTH]

Sunday Sept 20th 1835 Commences with strong breezes from the Southward Heading to the Westward At 4 P.M. the wind hauled to the Westward. At 6 do. [DITTO = P.M.] made sail steering off E. by N. At 8 do. [DITTO = P.M.] the wind hauled to the NW. At 9 do. [DITTO = P.M.] Point Quilan bore E.NE. Dist [DITANCE] 10 miles. At 10 do. [DITTO = P.M.] hauled our wind to the Northward for Point St. Carlos At Meridian bent the cables. At sunset tacked ship offshore 2 men off duty. Longitude by Chronometer 74..40 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..14 Sou [SOUTH]

Ship Telegraph bound to St. Carlos

Monday Sept 21th [21ST] 1835 All of these 24 hours pleasant breezes from the Westward Steering by the wind to the Northward untill [UNTIL] 5 P.M. Steered off E. by S. Point Lucay [LACUY] bearing E.S.E Dist [DISTANCE] 25 miles. At 10 do. [DITTO = P.M.] abreast of the Peninsula At 12 do. [DITTO = P.M.] abreast of English bank At 3 A.M. passed Fort Agua [AGUI]. At 4 do. [DITTO = A.M.] came to on the West side of the harbor with our best bower ahead in 5 fathoms water Muddy bottom. Latter hours squally attended with rain. 1 man off duty. So ends.

Tuesday Sept 22th [22ND] 1835 Commences with light breezes from the Westward attended with rain At 3 P.M. the wind hauled to the Southward At 8 do. [DITTO = P.M.] I went on shore and during my stay 2 men deserted Zacheriah [ZACHARIAH] Lester Charles Smith Had 2 men on shore in persuit [PURSUIT] of them At 4 AM. returned having no news of them nor of the lost boats or men. So ends this day.

Wednesday Sept 23dth 1835 All of these 24 hours fresh breezes and cloudy Wind West At 3 AM got underweigh for Sea At 4 do. [DITTO = A.M.] passed Fort Aqua [AGUI] At 5 do. [DITTO = A.M.] the weather having every appearance of a strong run in again and hove to with our best bower anchor ahead in 5 fathoms water The flagstaff on Fort Agua [AGUI] bearing N.W. by N. 1 mile Dist [DISTANT]. So ends. 1 man off duty.

Ship Telegraph Lying in the Port of St. Carlos

Thursday Sept 24th 1835 Commences with strong gales from the Northward and squally attended with rain. Middle & latter hours more moderate The carpenter repairing an old boat The blacksmith doing various jobs. So ends this day.

Friday Sept 25th 1835 Commences with light breezes from the Southward and cloudy. Middle & latter hours fresh breezes from the Westward. At 11 P.M. got underweigh and beat out of the harbor. At 4 AM Point Lucay [LACUY] bore East Dist [DISTANCE] 5 miles This day shipped 3 Spaniar[D]s for the cruise at 170 Lay 3$ advances[?] At sunset the peninsula of Lucay [LACUY] bore ENE Dist [DISTANCE] 25 miles So ends this day. 2 men off duty.

Saturday Sept 26 1835 Commences with light breezes from the Westward Steering by the wind to the Southward Middle & latter hours strong breezes The wind hauling to the Southward Tacked ship to the Westward Took in the Top Gallant sails and double reefed the Top sails So ends this day. 1 man off duty. Longitude by Chronometer 74..51 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..08 So [SOUTH]

Sunday Sept 27th 1835 All of these 24 hours light breezes from the Westward and squally Steering by the wind to the Westward. One ship in sight Saw no Right whales this day So ends this day. One man off duty. Longitude by Chronometer 76..40 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 41..57 South