Monday, February 3, 2025

Introduction to the 1899 Ship's Logbook of the USS Badger and glossary of names contained within:

Note: Expand for glossary of names. Please use search feature to find the name in the text.

The USS Badger Log came into our possession through my husband's family. Over the course of a century, it traveled from the East Coast, around the tip of South America, and into the Pacific, eventually settling in San Francisco. After the Spanish-American War, it returned to Connecticut with John Klinger, where it was passed down through generations to his great-great-nephew. Now, in our care here in California, we feel a responsibility to share this remarkable piece of history with others.

The time has come to publish it for all to enjoy.

The following is a transcription of the ship's logbook from the U.S.S. Badger during the period of 02/01/1899 to 08/06/1899.

The ensign responsible for recording the daily activities was John William Klinger (1875-1933), who is an ancestor of our family. We have in our possession of the actual ship's log. I feel it is important to transcribe the document and share it with the other descendants of the people mentioned in the log. 

John William Klinger was born on 7/1/1875 and died 8/3/1933. He was the son of William Walhelm Klinger and Louisa Reese. He spent his childhood in New York City and his adult life in Stamford, Connecticut. He was married to Jennie F Cahill in 1898, before he left for the Spanish American War and his time on the USS Badger. Throughout the log you will see where he made the notation "Wrote to J", J being his wife Jennie.


Jack (John) Klinger and Jennie (Cahill) Klinger

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Page 1

John W. Klinger

Yeoman

USN

International Code of Signals

February 1st 1899



Saturday, February 1, 2025

Page 2

 



By US Navy - Image NH 67514 from history.navy.mil, cropped to remove the caption. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, Corte Madera, CA, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph., 

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5680566.

The USS Badger is a large converted cruiser, originally being the Ward line steamer "Yumuri". Her battery consists of 6.5" Rapid Fire, Fletcher Mechanism and 6 Semi Automatic Nordenfelt 3 pounders. Engines triple expansion; vertical engines, and operating a single screw.

John W. Klinger
February 1st, 1899
Norfolk VA    
USN


Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Page 27

Abridged log of the USS Badger.

Making passage from

Norfolk, Virginia to San Francisco, California.

Via the straits of Magellan

Stopping at

Lat 13° S. Bahia, Brazil

Lat 34° S. Montevideo, Uruguay.

Lat 51° S. Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Lat 33° S. Valparaiso, Chile.

Lat 12° S. Callao, Peru and

Lat 37° N San Francisco.


Left Norfolk, Va (Lat, 36° 50’ N)

February 1, 1899

Arrived San Francisco April 15, 1899 – 8:30 p.m.

Left San Francisco April 26, 1899 for Honolulu.

Left Honolulu May 13, 1899 for Samoa.

John W Klinger Geoman

USS Badger.

Crew 175

Marines 25.


Commander.

James M Miller

J. B. Milton Ex. Officer

T. D. Griffin, Navigator

Yates Sterling Ensign

JRY. Blakely Ensign

RR Belknap Ensign

O.D. Norton

Howard Ash Asst Paymaster

R. S. Paul Ch. Engineer 

N. H. Hall 2nd Lieutenant Marines

-. A. Cooper Boatswain

J. A. O’Connor Carpenter

C. Larson Mate 

W. A. Hipkins Pay clerk

F Morrison Naval Cadet 

J. T. Bowers Naval Cadet 

J. B. Gilmer Naval Cadet

C. C. Block Naval Cadet

E. J. Saddler Naval Cadet




Sunday, January 5, 2025

Page 29

February 1, 1899. At 2:05 PM – got underway and started to swing ship. Finished at 3:58 and went ahead full speed. At 4:36 took departure. Made ships number "K.G.T.R." passing Cape Henry; number was repeated. Passed several steamers bound North. Course SE (psc) Bar. falling. Moon rose at 11 PM. Wrote to J.

February 2, 1899 – Cloudy and overcast. Raining. At 6 AM, stopped engines for repairs, having found a broken follower bolt in high-pressure piston. At 10:43 the repairs having been completed to engine, went ahead slow. At 11 o'clock increased a full speed, set clock ahead 12 minutes at 11:25. Sailing vessel in sight at 12:03 on starboard bow. Course SE irregular sea. 

Lat 34° 53' N at noon DR 

Long 73° 23’ W at noon DR

Wrote to J. Finished reading "The Wreck of the Grosvenor”


February 3, 1899 – Generally clear and pleasant. Heavy dew. Moderate sea. Gentle breeze. Sighted 3 masted schooner standing to S’d. Set clock ahead 8 minutes at 11:30. At Meridian (12 noon) changed course to S. E. 1/4 S.(PSC) 

Lat. 31° 37’

Long. 69° 05’

Distance made good 304 miles. Wrote to J.


February 4, 1899 – Clear and pleasant weather. Sea smooth. The Captain awarded several punishments to different men during the day. Gentle breeze from SSW at 7:05 PM sighted a steamer on starboard bow, bound on a N’ly course. Hull down at 8 PM. Course S.E.1/4S.

Lat.28° 56’N - at noon DR

Long 65° 17’W - at noon DR

Distance made good 285 miles. Wrote to J.


February 5, 1899 – Partly cloudy - pleasant. Long swell from E’d. Captain inspected ship and crew. Changed course to S.E.3/4 S. At 1:30 sighted a steamer going E’d. At 8:22 PM again changed course to S.E.1/4 S.

Lat. 25°15’ N - at noon DR

Long 61°40’ W - at noon DR 

Distance made good since noon February 4th - 294 miles. Wrote to J.




Saturday, January 4, 2025

Page 30

February 6, 1899, Cloudy and pleasant. Course changed at noon to S.E. Crew mustered at quarters. Exercised at "setting up" drill. Tested search light and found it in unsatisfactory order. Electric control and automatic feed were out of order. 

Lat 21° 42' N - at noon DR 

Long 58° 01' W - at noon DR

Distance traveled since noon February 5, 299 miles. Wrote to J


February 7, 1899, clear and pleasant. Fresh breeze to E.N.E On course. S.E.(psc) At 9:30 AM, mustered at quarters. Battalion organized. At 10:20 sail was sighted. Choppy sea. Shifting coal from forehold to bunker. Secured out hammocks. Light showers from passing clouds between 7 and 8 PM – I was today given instructions, that during action, fire or collision drill, general quarters, clear ship for action. I was to act as messenger on the bridge for the navigator, at all times, and at all drills. I said to myself, "This is a cinch"

Lat 18° 20' N at noon DR 

Long 54° 07' W at noon DR 

distance covered since noon February 6 312.4 miles. 

Wrote to J. Reading "Three Guardsmen"


February 8, 1899, cloudy and pleasant with a fresh breeze from N. Epy E on course SE until noon, when changed to S.E. 1/2S.


Barometer falling slowly. Exercised at fire quarters, collision, drill, and abandon ship. 

Lat 15° 32' N at noon DR 

Long 50° 37' W at noon DR 

Distance covered since noon February 7 280.3 miles. 

Wrote to J.