Bounty Logbook Remarks with Google map, Dec. 27, 1787

Dec. 26, 1787 Home Logbook Remarks GM Dec. 28, 1787

Revised May 20 2021

Bounty Logbook Remarks, Dec. 27, 1787

Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1787

1:00 pm Very hard Gales and high Sea with Severe Squalls.

2:00 pm In 4th Reef Main Topsail and handed Fore Topsail.

6:00 pm A Storm of Wind with most Violent Squalls. Handed the Main Topsail and Scudded under the Fore Sail.

8:00 pm Ditto with Rain and Sleet.

Thursday, Dec. 27, 1787

12:00 am Obliged to Scud the Sea too high to venture to heave to, Shiped much Water, but the Ship Scuds very well.

3:00 am Shiped a very heavy Sea which broke the foremost Chock of the Boats to pieces and Stove all the Boats that it was with the utmost difficulty and Risk that they were saved from being Washed Overboard, the Waist Boards on both Sides were Washed away and we were an entire Sea on Deck.

7:00 am Another heavy Sea Struck us on the Starboard Quarter which carried away a Spare Topsail Yard, Top Gallant Yard & a Sweep out of the Main Chains and drew out all the Bolts they were lashed to.

10:00 am At ½ past 8 a Sea Struck us in the Stern and Stove it all to pieces between the Cabbin Windows where the Sham Window is, which making a fair breach into the Cabbin it was with difficulty the Time Keeper & my Instruments were saved. One Azimuth Compass was broke all to pieces.

12:00 pm At Noon Ditto Weather passed a Ship lying too Head to the Northward. Obliged Still to Scud. Seven Half Hogsheads of Beer were lost.
No Observation.

Remarks

The Gale encreased with such fury on us that I could not with any safety attempt to bring the Ship too, and therefore anxiously waited for a few Minutes abatement of the Gale to accomplish it, which as it did not take place we had no alternative but to keep before the Sea. The Situation in the Morning was of a very serious Nature, but fortunately no sea Struck us while we were repairing the damage, which was owing to a want of firmness in the Joiners Work in the Middle part of the Stern opposite the Coating of the Rudder. The badness of the Weather only admits us to secure ourselves and Boats, without knowing the absolute deffects. Our Bread I apprehend is much damaged altho we used our utmost to clear the Water out of the Cabbin; but so much was in it, that it required some time to carry it clear off. At Noon no Alteration in the Weather and Still Scudding under the Foresail before the Sea. Not daring to keep our Course. The great hardship in small Ships such Weather as this is that we cannot light a fire to dress Victuals, and which it has been our Case today. I therefore Ordered Grog to the People in addition to their Beer to make up for their Wet uncomfortale Situation. Seven of our half Hogsheads of Beer all of which were full were Washed Overboard.