1925 - 36 Merchant Marine Calder Marquette MI Handwritten Diary Documents Sun Oil
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:431180 | Modified Item: No |
WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES: Upfor auction today is a group of documents, photos and a handwrittendiary that belonged to George Calder Jr. who was a merchant marineand all of the items have to do with his time in the service. BeforeI get to the items in this lot I want to give you a little backgroundon George. Hewas born on March 15th, 1902 in Marquette Michigan to the parents of George and Belle(Cameron) Calder. I don’t believe he ever married. Sadly he wasonly 40 years old when... he passed away. His death certificate said hedied of Mastoiditis which is an inflammation or infection of themastoid bone, which is a portion of the temporal bone behind andunder the ear. Then Meningitis set in which is an inflammation of themembranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord. Whenhe died he was a Quartermaster on the M/V Pennsylvania Sun and workedfor the Sun Oil Company. He died in the US Marine Hospital in NorfolkVirginia. Thereare two photos both of which are written on the back. The one showingthe ship in the background says, “I am not superstitious buthere’s another one so to make 14. Balboa Bay. U.S.S.Rochester.” The other one says, “You never washere…piloting a schooner over the bar. No not one but several. Ha!Ha!” Thenhis service record booklet. This piece is very stained and looks likeit had some water damage, especially on the cover and first page. Infact the first page is a bit tough to read because of it. Then hisSeaman’s Certificate with his photo. This document is torn on theseams and almost coming apart but all pieces are accounted for. Thenthere’s a 1925 document also with his photo and it’s his seaman’spaper for the S.S. Satartia which also has tears on the seams. Andfinally 18 loose handwritten manuscripts that look like they might befrom his time at seaman’s school or something like that. Finallythere is the 1936 diary which has entries from January 1stto March 14th.On the front of the diary is written, “George Calder Jr.S/S Sapinero. NewOrleans.” Then onthe first page of the diary he has written, “GeorgeCalder, Jr. 305, 20th, Street. Galveston, Texas.”It looks like the S.S.Sapinero was later named the S.S. Vineland and was sunk in 1942during WWII. Here are afew example excerpts…..1936“January1st, Houston. Dep. 6 A.M. for Lisbon, aboard S. S. Sapinero. 8 to 12watch. From Anderson, Clayton’s, Long Reach Wharf. Batten hatches, lower booms, secure ship for sea. Drop pilot at bar, 2:30 P.M. HealdBk. L/S. a bm. 5:10 P.M.” “January5th, At sea, 8-12 watch. Wh.-L.O. No work today. One hour relief fromlookout, 9 to 10 P.M.”“January20th, Lisbon, Arrived 8:45 P.M. at anchor. Wheel 8 to 10 A.M. 8 to 8:45P.M. Rig #4 & # 5 booms. Repair St’bd. B. DK Ladder. Unwedge #2& #4. Stow pilot gear For’d. Secure bridge dodger, slop chest, $6.62. No draw here.” “January23rd, Lisbon, at anchor. Suji Muji Midship House and Top Bridge. Setwatches at noon. 8 to 12 watch. Wheel and Look Out P.M. Depart Lisbon4 P.M. Cool, windy, rainy.”(They anchor at Oporto on January 24thand then pull out January 28th)“January28th, Oproto at anchor(he draws a little anchor instead of using the word).Dep. 5 P.M. Br’k w’t’r. 8-12 Sc. & Pt. O.H. #1. T. Dk.Wiset at 12. 3-5 secure ship for sea. 8-12 P.M. wh. L.o. Bail outsquare. Rain, heavy swells. Rolling and pitching, 1stuse of oilskins, after repairs.”(Arrived at Bilbao, then Pasajes, then Santander.)“February8th, Santander, at dock. Sc. & pt. B’l’k. Port bow and side.Telegram from M.R. 9:30 A.M. At ship 10 A.M. Supper together. Room atPension Carmencita, $7.50 per day. Clear and cold.”“February9th, Santander. At dock, now work. M.R. and Joe and I together at CaféTeran, Café Espanol, Cruz Blanca and dinner at Carmencita. Georgeand M. supper at P. Carm’cita. Promenade on Ramblas. Cool, dry, windy.” (At seaon February 15th)“February26th, At sea. Sick with a cold today. ½ gal. castor oil. No smokes ormeals today. In bed 3 hours. Wind and sea, rolling, windy, cool, sunny, rain.” Theyarrive at Beaumont on March 9thand then Freeport on the 12thand Galveston on the 14thand this is where the diary entries stop. Allin all a great group that deserves further research.
