[Rarebooks] FS: Two handwritten Nautical Logs, New England Coast

[Bob Petrilla]

 Bacon, Charles H. TWO (2) HANDWRITTEN NAUTICAL LOGS KEPT BY C.H. BACON AS
CAPTAIN OF A SCHOONER (1888-1889) AND AS CAPTAIN OF A BARGE (1905-1908) OFF
THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND. . Original manuscripts. Log #1. Approx 100pp,
written in pencil; old leather wallet-style binding, shaken; 5.75" x 3.75".
On front endpaper: "C.H. Bacon / Sch[ooner] H[attie] A. Butler / March 22,
1888 / C.H. Bacon / Tug 206. Ward / Nov 9, 1898 / Perth Amboy, NJ." This
log begins on March 22, 1888, and includes daily entries of wind direction
and speed, storms, squalls, &c. Capt. Bacon names the tugboats that tow his
schooner, and names the companies to which he delivers his loads. Included
are expense accounts for towing, stores, watchman, wharfage, &c. In 1888,
he hauls coal from Perth Amboy to Portland (CT) by way of West Bank (NY)
where "strong winds carried away the Main Boom," then on to Gravesend Bay,
Red Hook, Ricker's [Riker's] Island, New Haven, and Saybrook. He also
carries the stone from Portland to New York which would give the city its
"brownstone" neighborhoods. Also in 1888, Capt. Bacon visits Middletown,
Hempstead Bay, Whitestone, Bay Ridge, Coney Island, Harlem, Norwalk,
Gowanus Creek, Port Johnson, &c., until December 19 when he "finished
laying the Sch up for the winter and came home to Middletown." He starts
his 1889 work year on March 18, heading up to New Haven "to start the
schooner. Shipped the crew and bent sails ...hauled out to the end of Long
Dock...got underway...." Once again, he is hauling coal and stone, visiting
Jersey Flats, Elizabeth Port, Hammon Flats, Hortons Point, Middle Haddam,
Higganum, &c. He lays up the schooner on Dec. 17, 1889 and hopes that his
business will improve next year. On June 16, 1890 he is back hauling coal
and stone, details his expenses, and includes 17pp of paid accounts. //
Log#2. Approx. 160pp, written in pencil; bound in cloth with "Memoranda"
printed on the cover, binding stained and lightly worn; 6" x 3.75". This
log begins May 22, 1905. Bacon is now Captain of the Barge "Alice." His
loads are coal which he delivers to Hartford, Naubuc, Middletown Asylum,
Rocky Hill, &c. By 1906, he is taking on water pipe at Elizabeth Port and
Port Reading, then delivering it to Newport, Providence, and New London. In
October, he goes back to hauling coal from New Jersey ports to Hartford,
Middletown, Naubuc and Pawtucket.  Laying up is delayed until Jan. 3, 1907,
and the work resumes in March, &c., &c. Good . Hardcover.
Capt. Bacon hailed from Middletown, Connecticut. His schooner, the Hattie
A. Butler, is on the list of vessels lost or damaged in the catastrophic
Portland Gale of November, 1898, when she was in Vineyard Sound off
Massachusetts. She was wrecked near Angelica Point, Buzzards Bay,
Massachusetts, with the loss of one crew member.    $250.00


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