"A Medium in Which I Seek Relief": Manuscripts of American Sailors 1919-1940

Newport Logbook Sample

The Newport logbooks, housed in the SUNY Maritime Archives, were used to record information such as weather, location, daily activities, and drills. Taken as a whole, they are a rich source of data regarding the history of nautical education and cadet shipping in the 1920s. While the information stored in the logs is technical in nature, occasionally a human interest story slips in. This entry from January 1st, 1925 (which I stumbled upon while browsing the archives) is more eventful than most. The Newport was docked at Bedloe's Island (home of the Statue of Liberty and now known as Liberty Island) when Second Machinist John D. Cameron was found dead. Probable cause: acute alcoholism. His body was removed from the ship with the flag flying at half mast; two days later J. Cox came aboard as the new second machinist. It is a sad story, reported without fanfare. It would be nice to know more about Cameron, or how the crew reacted to his death, but that sort of emotive detail is not the terrain of logbooks. The entry is as dry as a police report. 

Transcription of entry:

6.00 a.m. - Quartermaster W.G. O'Grady, making hourly rounds, noticed light in Second Machinist John D. Cameron's room. On investigation, O'Grady found Cameron clothed in working clothes, lying on the deck face down and head underneath bunk. Two bottles of alcoholic contents, labeled “McDonald's Scotch whiskey”, each about half empty, were found on the chair. O'Grady turned the body on its back, and noticing no breathing, called the officer of the Deck, Mr. S.B. Wetmore, and the Surgeon, Dr. S.F. Kelley. Dr. Kelley examined the body at once in presence of O'Grady, the Master-at-Arms J.J. O'Brien, and Mr. Wetmore; pronounced him dead, probable cause acute alcoholism; and stated him dead about an hour. Body was placed in sick bay and two bottles of liquor seized for safekeeping and evidence. No other suspicious evidence found. Machinist Cameron was last seen shortly after 3 a.m. by Oiler-Watertender S. Sonneburn on watch in the fire room. Cameron's father was notified by telegraph at 7 Park Avenue, Mount Vernon, N.Y., at 6:30 a.m. (Western Union operator 51). The following were notified by telephone: Lt. Davidson, N.Y.C. police, Marine Dept. Station 71. Comdr. J.H. Boesch, acting commanding officer, at this home. Lt. C.E. Davidson, chief engineer, at this home. Knights of Pythias Lodge, Yonkers, of which Cameron was a member.

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