Maritime Experiences Told First Hand

When people write down their stories, it captures the past. The museum and archive collections of the San Francisco Maritime contain many personal accounts in the form of journals, logbooks, and letters. When we read these personal accounts, we can imagine what life was like traveling on the world's oceans from the days of the Gold Rush to the recent past. Featured below are three of these first-hand experiences from the park's archives.

The Log of the Ship Apollo, 1849

This rough log was neatly written in pencil by Joseph Perkins Beach, the son of the owner of the Apollo. He kept a daily record from January 16, 1849 to November 12, 1849 during his Gold Rush voyage from New York to San Francisco.

Sketches in the log include fish seen and caught, including sharks and a "double headed sun fish." The entry for August 1, 1849 reads: "Commenced with light winds and pleasant weather. Through the night, rainy & light breezes. Latter part light airs and pleasant weather. It is equal to a play to see the vain endeavors our passengers make to sleep on deck. Tormented by ten thousand fleas. They are still further annoyed by the wakefuls who fasten strings to their feet..."

Detail of illustrations in Henry A. Butters' journal aboard the Drummuir, 1911

NPS/G.Bardi

A Journal of Events Made on a Voyage in the Four-masted Bark Drummuir, 1911

Henry A. Butters, an Englishman, arrived in 1906 to attend the University of California at Berkeley. Before commencing his studies, Butters became ill with pneumonia. Typical of the times, his doctor advised him to go to sea to improve his health. He boarded the Drummiur in Port Townsend, WA for his first sea voyage.

Butters assembled the journal after his voyage, and included his sketches, photographs, and letters he had sent to his parents during the voyage. He describes the food: ". . . I am getting used to the fare, which helps out immensely. The coffee, which at first disgusted me, I now imbibe with much gusto; the canned fish, whose odor formerly repelled me, I look forward to as a rare delicacy and I can even go [at] the canned meat like a porterhouse steak."

A Personal Letter from a Survivor of the Hospital Ship Benevolence Disaster, 1950

In 1946, the Benevolence provided medical support at the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. In 1950, conflict in Korea caused many reserve ships, like the Benevolence, to be restored to active service. Prior to deployment, she was on a trial run in dense fog off San Francisco. About four miles off the Golden Gate, the merchant ship Mary Luckenbach hit the Benevolence, and she sank in 15 minutes. Hundreds were saved, but some civilian and naval personnel were lost.

Among the survivors was Irvin T. McGuire. He wrote a letter to his wife recounting his experience. "I saw a high swell coming so I started swimming at an angle from the bow as I thought she was about to nose dive to her grave & did not want to get caught in the suction. I swam hard for a little while & cleared her then I looked back & could see her under the water & the top of the turned over lifeboat. I was alone in the fog."

Learn more at the Maritime Research Center

These and other suspenseful, and delightful, stories of our maritime past are available for discovery at the park's Maritime Research Center. To learn more, please make an appointment to visit the Maritime Research Center by calling [phone]. If you would like to view any of these accounts, ask for the Apollo log (HDC 29 SAFR 13575), the Butter's journal (HDC 108 SAFR 14315) and the Benevolence letter (HDC 1099 SAFR 14649).