LOG For 1910 – Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class, Neal R. Edwards, USS Charleston, CA-22 In China

Description

“LOG For 1910” – NEAL RICHARD EDWARDS, CARPENTER’S MATE 3RD CLASS  ON BOARD THE USS CHARLESTON, CA-22,

Almost 100 pages long, with every page used describing his and the goings on aboard the USS Charleston while serving on the flagship of the 3rd Squadron, Pacific Fleet,  The log begins on May 1, 1910 at Woosung, China.  I will record highlights and offer a few photos of the log and his seaman’s papers.

• May 1st.  Caught a train at Shanghai , for Woosung Fort, arrived aboard ship at 8-45 AM.  English warship passed at 3-30 and gave salute to both the fort and our ship.   May 4th,  The USS New Orleans came in…17 guns for the admiral.  May 5th.  Shellac’d gun deck forward to aft….7th.  Heard King Edward died today…8th.  Uniform dress blues and white hats liberty party…repairs on my dity box…May 10.  German man o war came in at 12-20PM..Everything ready for the Admiral inspection…..May 11. …worked in warrant officers room. Had fire and abandon ship drill. Went on liberty…for Shanghai, was told to get a hair cut..a $1.00 for a hair cut…$1.00 for a seat at the American theater…;May 12.   The USS Cleveland and Chattanooga put up their homeward bound pennants at 10-AM and..under way for Manila P.I.  May 13th.   All flags are at half mast in honor of King Edward…May 16.  Cleaned Shellac pots. Hammock inspection;;worked in paint locker.  shellac all decks and cleaned evert hing for Admiral’s Inspection….May 18.  Clear ship for action by 7-30 AM. General Quarters..landing force and 2nd general quarters.  One English, German, and French men o war came in this AM. Rig ship this PM…May 20.  The King of England was buried today, the war ships gave 68 guns in his honor.   May 24.  worked on life bouy…on quarter deck for to hear two court marshells read off. Overhauled anchor chain today, and we will get under way…tomorrow…Uniform undress whites & hats.    May 25.  (left Woosung)  At Sea.. Uniforms Sailors whites and marines blues for the day.   May 26.  At Sea…made 19 knots… May 28. Yokohoma Japan..   May 30.  Decoration Day.  A holiday no work today.  Rig ship for coaling..liberty..a party went ashore to decorate the graves of the American sailors and marines this PM.  May 31.  Coal ship….500 ton…carpenters finished the marine lockers…June 1. Yokohoma. All hands for to hear a court marshell read of chinaman on board as mess alterat/1st Class for having opian on his person.  June 6. …court marshel read off….June 7….worked all day on the race boat..the M at A. are busy looking for smokers all day for to get them…to chip the wash room…Up anchor at 9AM & under way for Kobi, Japan..colision & fire drill.   June 13.  Changed the Admirals barge from starboard to port side….changed hammocks and washed them…Ships coming and going all day…  June 14.   worked on 2nd cutter, C.C.M. was drunk, church service on main deck.   Typhoon signal is up this PM.    June 18.  At Inland Sea…worked on forward crane…Have three pilots aboard…June 19.  Nagasaki Japan….USS Supply & the USAT (US Army Transport) Shearden (Sheridan) is in the bay….  June 20.  The American Council came aboard …received 7 guns…USAT (Sheridan) coaling.   June 21. ..made a paddie knife..worked on W.T.(water tight?) door on main deck …Sheridan left for the USA, the USN Nanshan (coal ship) come in from Cavite with coal…..A. Pargee, man o war came in & exchanged 13 guns with our ship…..June 25.  At Sea…..  June 27.   Chefoo, China, American Councilmen cam aboard.    June 29…helped to make some sand boxes and clean out top side lumber pile…went ashore and took a walk from wall to wall in the city.  Found Chinese quarters very dirty & miserable.  Plenty of white people, lives in quarters to themselves…..Ship up anchor at 5-30PM.   June 30,  Provisions to shore on Kentucky Island.  June 1.   gang was busy all day, some finished targets, others made a stage for 4th July, shellac birth. deck….some marines came in from Peaken (Peking)…. July 4th.  Made three target screens…plenty of visitors on board for all day, & eat dinner with us. Dinner was a big one, there was minstral to night ^ there is a lot of people from shore…..show started at 8PM..6 French officers. lemomade and tea cakes was served after the show to the crew, cigars was served through the show.  July 6.  …went to naval YMCA then we visited Mrs. Gilbert’s home & spend tow pleasant hours. She is a missionary . Arthur and I picked out 83 dozen post cards for himself. July 8.   A firing party was sent of Kentucky Island. Ever body is crazy a bout – the Jefferies & Johnson fight tonight…..Jul 11….some sisters was visiting this afternoon….we made a target raft for field guns.  July 12.  The USS New Orleans came in.  July 13.   Coaled today USN Nanshan…July 16.  The officers had a dance today on quarter deck.  Getting ready to sail at midnight.    July 20.  Liberty for Port Arthur and Dalny.  July 22.  Darien.   July 23.  Chang Wangtou,. China.  Got under way with New Orleans.    July 26.   A party of about 20 men visit three temples in the AM & we seen how the Chinese worship which is called Chin-Chins.  Seen a god 75 feet high..at the 2nd temple there was about 200 gods of different things and the 3rd temple was called the 18 hells & it was fierce.    July 29.  At Sea…New Orleans following…work on admiral’s barge & and finished it by 3PM….We are going to Korea Chemufpo, distance 384 miles.  passed a French man o war…exchanged 7 guns…..July 31.  Liberty at Chemufpo.   August 2.  The ball team from the Charleston & New Orleans went to Soul for to play the Europeans today.  August 4.   Started a rifle rack…under way again….August 6. ..detailed for to bring stores aboard from Pomfry which came in early AM…..August 7.  Tiensten, China.   We had oodles of German sailors visiting today, most stayed for dinner & supper.  The torpedo boats came in…. August 11.  At Sea..The Pompy & Namshan underway at 7AM.     August 14.  Ship has the small pox.   August 15.  Yokohoma, Japan.  Yellow flag at the formast…5th division stood by with their bags & hammocks  for to go to the guarantine station…ship fumigated,   our bedding & clothes are in a mess. The long look for the USS New York. Came in ..saluted 19 guns.    August 17..no liberty as the ship is in quarantine 21 days.  There was a collection taken today for the relife of the poor & starving Japs who is cought in the famine & flood near here.  August 22.  The N.Y. coaled ship & the N.O. painted the Charleston Crew & Officers, had 3 pictures taken..At 11-30 AM by orders I am ready for to be transferred. The flag office was torn out & sent over to the N.Y. today.     August 23.  The Charleston crew said to night for us N.Y. sailors to eat enough supper as we would  never get another one, ….August 24.  About 200 men transferred to the N.Y.  August 25th.  Admiral changed his flag from the Charleston to the N.Y…..The Charleston put up her home ward bound pennant after taking down the flag & let it fly…when it was taken down a commission pennant was put up in place.  August 26.  worked for the admiral all day..put up shelfs, hooks & hung pictures.   August 29.   Yokohoma.  The USS Charleston sailed today, homeward bound pennant flying at the main mast & a silk ensign at the forestay & Uncle Sam in the Crow’s nest.  The bank played home sweet home & Old Aunt Zion, with the National Air.  The N.Y. Crew gave three cheers for the Charleston, which was answered, then up went good by from all ships & three cheers from all hands.  The Charleston was a good ship & hope to fine the N.Y, as good……August 31.  …The crown prince of China came aboard this PM & had ever body chasing around.     Sept. 1.  Yokohoma,   USS Albany came in…Jap cruisers went out….the Rainbow sailed for Kobi, and torpedo boat followed.     Sept. 2nd.   At Sea  N.Y. under way, Albany stayed behind to coal…   Sept. 4th.   At Sea.  No work. Eating on deck all day. In sight of land this afternoon,  Sea awful rough, Ship rolling 27 degrees.  I feel only well.   End.