| Voyage: 12 November 1879 - 06 May 1880 |
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S. S. Kangaroo
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Introduction
This page concerns John Seymour's 1879 - 1880 voyage, as Master of the SS 'Kangaroo', to Aden, Zanzibar, and then New Zealand. This voyage resulted in the laying of the final 700 miles of the Cape Cable and the laying of a cable, via a Northern route, across Cook Strait, between the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
The work was undertaken by the Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Company (Telcon), based at 38 Old Broad Street, London EC, and 'Kangaroo' was one of the seven ships they had registered in 1880 ('Calabria', 'Edinburgh', 'Indus', 'Kangaroo', 'Scotia', 'Seine', & 'Toowoomba').
Seymour and 'Kangaroo' had, earlier in 1879, laid the first section (Natal - Delagoa Bay) of the Cape Cable (Kangaroo's 08 Apr - 25 Sep 1879 voyage).
'Kangaroo' laid the first portion, out of Aden, of the final segment of the Cape Cable. On 16 December 1879 'Kangaroo' exhausted her cable tanks and moved her electricians and engineers over to 'Scotia'. 'Kangaroo' then travelled in company, taking soundings while Scotia laid the remainder of the cable. On Christmas Day 1879 the final splice of the Cape Cable (Aden - Natal) was made at Zanzibar.
After a few days of further preparation 'Kangaroo' set out for New Zealand and the rather uneventful laying of a cable across Cook Strait between Wanganui (North Island) and Wakapuaka (South Island). That cable was completed on 12 February 1880.
Kangaroo spent the following 10 weeks returning to Gravesend, England via the Southern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The scanned hand-written entries, found throughout this page, are from a "Remark Book of the S. S 'Kangaroo'" and are mostly in the hand-writing of John Seymour.
Question marks [?] denote uncertain transcribed text ... suggestions and explanations are welcomed. Asterisks denote items that are expanded upon, or discussed, in associated notes and footnotes while exclamation marks [!] are used to highlight items of interest.
The ship and her crew
| Ship | Kangaroo. ON 1608. Registered London: 22/1876. |
| Owner | Registered managing owner: William Shuter, 38 Old Broad Street, London, England. |
| A voyage | from "London to Aden and Zanzibar (via Suez Canal) and if required to any ports and places in the India and China Seas & Straits [??] Persian Gulf and Japan, Cape, Australian and New Zealand Colonies, North and South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Unites States of America, West Indies, the Continent of Europe including the Mediterranean, to and fro, for a period not to exceed three years, and back to a final port of discharge in the United Kingdom." |
Ship's crew and personnel |
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| Master | John Seymour (34.778), previously "same ship" 1879. |
| Mate | Robert A Allen (16.940), previously Scotia 1879. |
| 2 mate | Thomas Wm Madge (88.780*), previously "same ship". |
| 3 mate | A E Merrall, previously "same ship". |
| 4 mate | John William Stanley, previously [??] 1879. |
| Surgeon | William D[??] Haslam, previously [??]Eldorado 1874. |
| Carpenter | Thomas Balmer Glazebrook, previously "same ship". |
| Bosun | Edwin Groves, previously "same ship". |
| Lamp Trimmer & Storekeeper | G Margetts, previously "same ship". |
| Other | John Gilham AB, previously "same ship". John Edwards AB, previously "same ship". Joseph[?] Hibbs AB, previously "same ship". [??] Johnson AB, previously "same ship". Frederic Yorke AB, previously "same ship". J[??] Callaghan AB, previously [??] 1879. William [?]Dunfield AB, previously Chiltern 1879. D Powell AB, previously Odessa 1879. John Kennell AB, previously [??] 1879. J[?] Dowsey/Downey AB, previously Seine 1879. Thomas Jameson AB, previously [??] 1879. etc etc etc |
| Notes | Thomas Madge's certificate number, on this agreement, appears inconsistent with that reported on previous voyage. Handwriting suggests it is the same person. Another 'Madge', possibly a brother, is a mate on the crew of other Seymour voyages. |
Agreement and Account of Crew (Foreign-going ship): No 59197
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First two pages of the "Agreement and Account of Crew (Foreign-going ship)" number 59197, for the 12 November 1879 - 06 May 1880 voyage of the cable-ship S S Kangaroo, under Master John Seymour. |
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The voyage
The bulk of this section is a day-by-day description of the voyage. This table summarises the voyage into sections and notable events ... with links to the relevant entries.
| Dates | Voyage segments and events. | ||
| 13 Nov | Outbound: Gravesend, England to Natal, Cape Colony. | ||
| 15 Nov | Navigators journal entry. | ||
| 16 Nov | Ushant Island. | ||
| 20 Nov | Gibraltar. | ||
| 25 Nov | Malta. | ||
| 29 Nov | Port Said. | ||
| 30 Nov | Suez Canal. | ||
| 06 Dec | Jebel Zukur (Yemen). | ||
| 07 Dec | "S S Seine passed steering to the Southward." | ||
| 08 Dec | Aden. Cable-ships S S "Scotia" and"Seine" in port. | ||
| 09 - 25 Dec | Cable laying: Aden - Zanzibar. | ||
| 09 Dec | Splicing between tanks & getting buoys ready. | ||
| 10 Dec | Spliced to (Aden) buoy cable-end & proceeded paying out. Cable fault identified. Cut and buoyed and anchored at Aden. | ||
| 11 Dec | Picking up cable to recover fault. | ||
| 12 Dec | Found and repaired fault. Then cable jammed & parted between sheave & guard. Cable grappled, recovered, and rejoined. Recommenced slow paying out of cable. | ||
| 13 Dec | Paid out another fault. Picked up and repaired. | ||
| 15 Dec | Changed from cable tank #1 to #2. | ||
| 16 Dec | Changed form cable tank #2 to #3, and exhausted #3. Moved electrical and engineering crew to S S "Scotia". Scotia picked up & spliced to cable and commenced paying out. Kangaroo proceeded with Scotia. | ||
| 17 - 24 Dec | In company with Scotia, doing soundings. | ||
| 25 Dec | In company with Scotia. Arrive Zanzibar. "7pm Scotia slipped final bight, and the Cape Cable from Aden to Natal was finished." | ||
| 28 Dec - 07 Feb | Relocation: Zanzibar - New Zealand | ||
| 29 Jan - 01 Feb | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. | ||
| 05 Feb | "Speechless calm" and zodiacal lights. | ||
| 07 Feb | Wellington, New Zealand. | ||
| 08 - 12 Feb | Cable laying: South Island - North Island,New Zealand. | ||
| 09 Feb | Relocate from Wellington to Wakapuaka. | ||
| 10 Feb | Landed shore end of cable at Wakapuaka. Relocate to Wanganui. | ||
| 11 Feb | Land shore end of cable at Wanganui. Commence paying out cable back towards Wakapuaka. | ||
| 12 Feb | Splice cable to Wakapuaka shore end, and uncomplimentary press coverage of our hero. | ||
| 13 Feb | Testing of cable function. | ||
| 14 Feb | Wellington harbour. | ||
| 24 Feb - 06 May | Return: New Zealand to Gravesend, England. | ||
| 23 Feb | Crew getting ship ready for sea. | ||
| 24 Feb | Depart Wellington. | ||
| 26 Feb x 2 | Crossing 180th parallel in South Pacific Ocean. | ||
| 03 May | Ushant Island. | ||
| 06 May | Gravesend, England. | ||
11 - 13 November 1879
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"S. S.'Kangaroo' Aden, Zanzibar, and New Zealand Expedition 1879 & 80. Left Gravesend at 11.40 am Nov 13th 1879".
November 11th: Chronometer "A.1140" fast of G.M.T. 0.0.33" & gaining 0.1 6/10 daily.
Thursday, 13 November 1879
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Moving down the Thames for the English Channel.
Passed Mucking light at 0.45 PM. Made sail / PM passed Chapman light. Engines going badly, New pins in Slide Valve Quadrant tight. Anchored.
Friday, 14 November 1879
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Continuing down the Thames. 1.35pm dropped the pilot off at Dover.
Saturday, 15 November 1879
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"Clear brilliant weather with smooth water."
The figures on the right side are a navigator's journal including a Noon Sight and its calculation. When the sun hits its zenith, this is true midday. The altitude gives the Latitude. It is impossible to note the exact second at which the sun touches it's zenith, hence no Longitude. The bottom line of the calculation reads Lat. Noon: Latitude at Noon (noon being the astronomical noon).
"Barom[eter] 30.45 rising, a very high glass with the wind so far South at this time of the year."
Sunday, 16 November 1879
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Fine clear weather. Off Ushant Island (French: Ouessant. At the Western tip of France's Bretagne region, marking the SW entrance / exit of the english Channel. Located at 48°28′N, 5°5′W) at 2.15am.
"8am. Strong breeze SSE & fine clear bracing weather, all fore and aft sails set, Ship travelling very fairly, Engines working well".
Noon position (latitude by observation and longitude by "chron" chronometer): N 47° 18' 04" W 06° 43' 51", approximately 175km SW of Ushant Island, and 975km NNE of Lisbon, Portugal.
Monday, 17 November 1879
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Further fine weather.
Noon position (latitude by observation and longitude by "chron" chronometer): N 43° 56' 48" W 08° 46' 21", approximately 590km N of Lisbon, Portugal, and 60km from the NW tip of the Spanish coast.
"All possible sail set. 1.30(pm) & sighted Spanish land on the Port bow." "8.55pm Cape Finisterre Light abeam".
Cape Finisterre is an Atlantic cape on the northwest coast of Spain, in the province of La Coruña. It is the most westerly point in Spain, and its (current) lighthouse is visible to vessels from a distance of 80 km/50 mi. The name "Finisterre" appears to be a European analogue to England's "Lands End".
Tuesday, 18 November 1879
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Fine and clear. "Wind falling light and southing in all sail".
Noon position (latitude by observation and longitude by "chron" chronometer): N 40° 41' 15" W 09° 36' 51", approximately 225km N of Lisbon, Portugal, and 75km from the Portugese coast.
Wednesday, 19 November 1879
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Fine clear weather with a light breeze.
Noon position: N 37° 13' 52" W 09° 08' 03", approximately 165km S of Lisbon, Portugal, 20km from the Portugese coast and sailing South to round Cape St Vincent, at the SW tip of Portugal.
At 1.40pm the St Vincent lighthouse is abeam. 2pm signalled to station on Sagres Point, no answer. 2.15pm Engines stopped, bolts of starting valves broken. 3.15pm Engines ahead again, shaped course for centre of Gibraltar Straits.
Thursday, 20 November 1879
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Friday, 21 November 1879
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Saturday, 22 November 1879
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Sunday, 23 November 1879
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Monday, 24 November 1879
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Tuesday, 25 November 1879
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Wednesday, 26 November 1879
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Thursday, 27 November 1879
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Friday, 28 November 1879
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Saturday, 29 November 1879
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Sunday, 30 November 1879
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Monday, 01 December 1879
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Tuesday, 02 December 1879
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Wednesday, 03 December 1879
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Thursday, 04 December 1879
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Friday, 05 December 1879
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Saturday, 06 December 1879
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Sunday, 07 December 1879
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Tuesday, 09 December 1879
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Wednesday, 10 December 1879
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Thursday, 11 December 1879
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Friday, 12 December 1879
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Saturday, 13 December 1879
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Sunday, 14 December 1879
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Tuesday, 16 December 1879
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Wednesday, 17 December 1879
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Thursday, 18 December 1879
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Friday, 19 December 1879
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Saturday, 20 December 1879
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Sunday, 21 December 1879
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Tuesday, 23 December 1879
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Wednesday, 24 December 1879
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Thursday, 25 December 1879
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"AM Light Northerly airs, & cloudy, 1.20 Sounded in 365 fathoms. Proceeding full speed, unable to keep up with Scotia, owing to the strong NEly (North-Easterly) current, 6.30 Sounded in 219 fathoms, Scotia abam. 9.45am Scotia signalled to proceed to position, weather very hazy, main land visible, Pemba Island barely visible, Set topsails, Noon Moderate NW wind and very hazy weather. Lat by obs 5° 12' 1" South, Long by chron 39° 22' 43" E. Course and distance [?] S35W 155kts. Very strong NEly current throughout the 24 hours. Bar 29.94 Air 82 Surface 80. 1.40pm Sighted mark buoy, In sails. 1.50 Sighted cable buoy. 2.20 Stopped close to cable buoy and hoisted Ensign at the Main, to indicate position for Scotia to steer towards, 3pm Sent boat to clear cable buoy 5 Boat returned, Scotia having hoisted buoy onboard, Steamed to Mark Buoy and put two Lights on it, 6.30pm Boat returned and hoisted up, Keeping position by Mark Buoy, 7pm Scotia slipped final bight, and the Cape Cable from Aden to Natal was finished, 9.30 Mark buoy abt S10W distance 1' when both lights went suddenly out, steamed dead slow S50E till midnight, then stopped engines, and let the ship [?]drive, Gentle NE wind & fine weather, Bar 29.93 Air 81 Surface 79.5."
No mention that is was Christmas Day!
Friday, 26 December 1879
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Saturday, 27 December 1879
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Sunday, 28 December 1879
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Tuesday, 30 December 1879
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Wednesday, 31 December 1879
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"And so ends the year of our Lord 1879."
Thursday, 01 January 1880
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Friday, 02 January 1880
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Saturday, 03 January 1880
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Sunday, 04 January 1880
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Tuesday, 06 January 1880
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Wednesday, 07 January 1880
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Thursday, 08 January 1880
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Friday, 09 January 1880
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Saturday, 10 January 1880
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Sunday, 11 January 1880
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Tuesday, 13 January 1880
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Wednesday, 14 January 1880
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Thursday, 15 January 1880
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Friday, 16 January 1880
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Saturday, 17 January 1880
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Sunday, 18 January 1880
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Tuesday, 20 January 1880
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Wednesday, 21 January 1880
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Thursday, 22 January 1880
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Friday, 23 January 1880
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Saturday, 24 January 1880
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Sunday, 25 January 1880
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Tuesday, 27 January 1880
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Wednesday, 28 January 1880
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Thursday, 29 January 1880
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Gets to the Post Office in Hobart. "One letter only"
Commences coaling at Hobart: "... about the slowest work I ever saw, worse than Mauritius."
Friday, 30 January 1880
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Still coaling at Hobart.
Saturday, 31 January 1880
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Still coaling at Hobart. Finished at 8pm, having taken on board 400 tons.
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| Article from the 02 February 1880 edition of the West Coast Times, announcing arrival of CS Kangaroo into Hobart. |
Sunday, 01 February 1880
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Departing Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Position (latitude by bearings and longitude by "Do" ... possibly dead-reckoning): S 43° 17' 20" E 148° 01' 00", just off SE coast of Tasmania.
"North wind & fine clear weather."
Monday, 02 February 1880
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Set square sails ... and later took them in.
Noon position: S 42° 43' 33" E 152° 37' 42", approximately 1/4 of the way across the Tasman Sea, transitting from Tasmania to New Zealand.
Tuesday, 03 February 1880
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Fine, but overcast, with gentle winds.
Noon position: S 41° 14' 46" E 162° 01' 00", in the middle of the Tasman Sea, almost half-way between Tasmania and New Zealand.
Wednesday, 04 February 1880
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Noon position: S 41° 55' 08" E 157° 26' 15", in the middle of the Tasman Sea, a little over half-way between Tasmania and New Zealand.
Thursday, 05 February 1880
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"Speechless calm" [What a lovely term]
At 8.30pm "Observed in the SW part of the heavens a very remarkable strip of pale luminous appearance & perfectly transparent reaching from the horizon to an altitude of about 60°, the lower part narrow, about half a degree wide the upper part bout 1 1/4 degrees wide, it gradually went down with the Western sky getting less distinct as if decreasing in Alt: and at 11pm disappeared" with an inserted note "zodiacal light evidently". [I wonder whether he looked it up in some mariner's reference book and then added that comment afterwards]
Friday, 06 February 1880
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New Zealand land in sight at noon.
Saturday, 07 February 1880
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Arrival in Wellington, New Zealand.
"Mr Sherwin & self went on shore and reported arrival to the Hon John Hall, the present Premier"
"Dr Lemon came on board with letter of introduction from Premier, to act as Govt representative during laying of cable."
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| 09 February 1880 articles from the North Otago Times and the West Coast Times announcing SS Kangaroo's arrival in Wellington ... with the WCT reporting a date at variance with other available information. |
Sunday, 08 February 1880
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Moored in Wellington, New Zealand.
This may have been a day of shore leave for the crew.
Monday, 09 February 1880
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Departing Wellington for Wakapuaka ... near Nelson on the North-western tip of the South Island.
Tuesday, 10 February 1880
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Anchored in Schraeders Mistake Bay and Nelson pilot came on board. Description of manoeuvres to land the shore-end of the cable. Leaves the free end of that cable attached to a buoy. Then at 4.08pm proceeded full speed for Wanganui.
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| Article from 11 February 1880 issue of Tuapeka Times. Note reference to "new" cable. This was the third submarine telegraph cable to be laid between the North and South (formerly Middle) Islands of New Zealand. |
Wednesday, 11 February 1880
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"5.27 am anchored off Wanganui Cable house ..."
"6.15 am Steamer Clyde came alongside with lighter, for end of cable ..."
"9 am Lighter left the ship with 1 mile of shore end."
"9.40 am End of cable on shore"
Takes the cable on board and commences, at 5.37pm, to pay out the cable while steering for Wakapuaka.
Thursday, 12 February 1880
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Continues to sail for Wakapuaka. Very hazy conditions making navigation difficult" "... steering more by the conformation of the land, and apparent distance off it, than by bearings".
At 2.25pm sights the cable buoy at Wakapuka. Complicated sounding manoeuvres to get both ends of the cable together, then to test them, and then to joint and splice the cables together. Anchored for the night at Nelson "outer roads".
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| Article from the 12 February 1880 edition of the Wanganui Herald ... and continued the following day. Obviously our hero did not endear himself to this local journo. |
Friday, 13 February 1880
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"5.50 am weighed & proceeded to Wakapuaka [Near Nelson, Northern end of South Island] to land Electrician & Dr Lemon, for final tests, & sent boat on shore ..."
"4.45pm Boats returned to ship, with Electricians, hoisted boats."
Completion of the third successful cable laying between New Zealand North and South Islands, and the first via this northern route.
"4.50pm Proceeded full speed for Wellington." (Anchored in Wellington Harbour 07:36 the next morning)
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Article from the 13 February 1880 edition of the Wanganui Herald ... a continuation of the article from the previous day. |
Saturday, 14 February 1880
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Continuing transit from Wakapuaka back to Wellington.
Change of handwriting. Seymour has possibly passed command to mate for experience, and may be taking some shore leave while in Wellington. New handwriting not inconsistent with that of the first mate, Robert Allen.
Arriving Wellington and making anchor.
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| 16 February 1880 articles from the West Coast Times and the North Otago Times. WCT has the date correct this time. |
Sunday, 15 February 1880
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At anchor at Wellington, New Zealand.
Squalls and gale with rain. Paying out more cable (not yet sure of significance of this ... context suggests it's unloading unused cable): "Payed out to 75 faths cable ...".
Monday, 16 February 1880
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At anchor at Wellington, New Zealand.
"6.30(am) commenced paying out balance of Telegraph cable into [??]".
"3.30pm finished discharging cable into lighter".
"6(pm) two coal hulks alongside (one on each side) for coaling ship".
Tuesday, 17 February 1880
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At anchor at Wellington, New Zealand.
"Commenced coaling from hulks alongside into bunkers."
Wednesday, 18 February 1880
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At anchor at Wellington, New Zealand.
"am. Labourers taking in coals from hulks alongside into tnks room."
"pm. Still coaling into tanks - crew shifted sails, fore & aft."
Thursday, 19 February 1880
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At anchor at Wellington, New Zealand.
am. "Still coaling into tanks".
"3.30pm Finished coaling - having taken on board 760 tons : 240 tons in bunkers; 320 tons in No 1 tank; and 200 tons in main tank."
Friday, 20 February 1880
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"Crew employed during the day cleaning ship down after coaling."
Saturday, 21 February 1880
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Sunday, 22 February 1880
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Monday, 23 February 1880
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Tuesday, 24 February 1880
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Wednesday, 25 February 1880
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Thursday, 26 February 1880 (the first)
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In the South Pacific, near Chatham Islands, and approaching the 180th meridian ... which the modern-day International Date Line generally follows. Note, longitude 179°E.
Thursday, 26 February 1880 (the second)
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In the South Pacific having crossed the 180th meridian. Note, longitude 177°W.
Friday, 27 February 1880
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Saturday, 28 February 1880
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Sunday, 29 February 1880 (Leap Year)
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Monday, 01 March 1880 & Tuesday, 02 March 1880
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Wednesday, 03 March 1880 & Thursday, 04 March 1880
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Friday, 05 March 1880 & Saturday, 06 March 1880
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Sunday, 07 March 1880 & Monday, 08 March 1880
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Tuesday, 09 March 1880
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Crossing the S Pacific from New Zealand towards South America.
"Gentle breeze from WSW. Sky overcast and weather showery - high SW swell, ship rolling heavily at times." "Crew employed during the day shifting coal from No 1 tank into bunker room."
Noon position: S 49° 36'59" W 115° 14' 45", in the middle of the South Pacific ocean, approximately 2/3 of the way from New Zealand to South America..
John Seymour's handwriting resumes after entry of noon position.
"Stopped engines to repack glands. 0.40(pm) proceeded full speed."
Wednesday, 10 March 1880
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Crossing the S Pacific from New Zealand towards South America.
"Fresh WSW gail with cloudy squally weather." "ship rolling havily."
Noon position: S 50° 41' 12" W 109° 38' 27", in the middle of nowhere a little further E and S than yesterday.
Thursday, 11 March 1880 & Friday, 12 March 1880
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Saturday, 13 March 1880 & Sunday, 14 March 1880
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Monday, 15 March 1880 &Tuesday, 16 March 1880
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Wednesday, 17 March 1880 & Thursday, 18 March 1880
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Friday, 19 March 1880 & Saturday, 20 March 1880
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Sunday, 21 March 1880 & Monday, 22 March 1880
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Tuesday, 23 March 1880 & Wednesday, 24 March 1880
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Thusday, 25 March 1880 & Friday, 26 March 1880
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Saturday, 27 March 1880, Sunday, 28 March 1880, & Monday, 29 March 1880
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Tuesday, 30 March,Wednesday, 31 March, andThursday, 01 April 1880
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Friday, 02 April 1880
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Saturday, 03 April 1880
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Sunday, 04 April 1880
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Monday, 05 April 1880
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Tuesday, 06 April 1880
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Wednesday, 07 April 1880
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Thursday, 08 April 1880
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Friday, 09 April 1880
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Saturday, 10 April 1880
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Sunday, 11 April 1880
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Monday, 12 April 1880
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Tuesday, 13 April 1880
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Wednesday, 14 April 1880
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Thursday, 15 April 1880
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Friday, 16 April 1880
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Saturday, 17 April 1880
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Sunday, 18 April 1880
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Monday, 19 April 1880
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Tuesday, 20 April 1880
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Wednesday, 21 April 1880
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Thursday, 22 April 1880
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Friday, 23 April 1880
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Saturday, 24 April 1880
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Sunday, 25 April 1880
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Monday, 26 April 1880
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Noon position (latitude by observation & longitude by [??]): N 35° 41' 38" W 14° 47', about 600km SW of Lisbon, Portugal.
Tuesday, 27 April 1880
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Unremarkable sailing.
Noon position: N 37° 42' 39" W 13° 30' 15", about 400km WSW of Lisbon, Portugal.
Wednesday, 28 April 1880
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Strong winds and rain squalls.
Noon position: N 39° 36' 17" W 12° 22' 56", about 300km WNW of Lisbon, Portugal.
Thursday, 29 April 1880
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Strong winds and rain squalls.
Noon position: N 41° 30' 20" W 10° 59' 33", about 350km NNW of Lisbon, Portugal.
Friday, 30 April 1880
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A little weather as they go: "high head sea, ship plunging very heavily, weather cloudy with hurricane squalls accompanied with rain, hail, & vivid lightning in the East".
Noon position: N 43° 12' 09" W 09° 52' 54", about 500km N of Lisbon, Portugal, approximately 20km from the coast.
Saturday, 01 May 1880
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Unremarkable sailing.
Noon position: N 44° 37' 24" W 09° 15' 51"; about 660km N of Lisbon, Portugal.
Sunday, 02 May 1880
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Unremarkable sailing.
Noon position: N 46° 50' 32" W 07° 19' 15"; about 920km NNNW of Lisbon, Portugal.
Monday, 03 May 1880
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Bearings to Ushant Lighthouse noted: "S55°E true 8' dist". Ushant Island (ile d'Ouessant) is just off the Western tip of the Bretagne region of France, and marks the southwestern entrance to the English Channel.
Completely unrelated: Possibly encoding a message back to head office
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Probable message and its coding using the company code. The message reads "Arrived at / Gibraltar / All well / Tuesday // Dec 4th // Waiting / My Orders" and the coded version "4088 / 1565 / 3926 / 588 // 494 // 9190 / 7393".
This entry is found in the remark book facing the 04 May 1880 entry (above). 04 December was a Tuesday in 1872, 1877, 1883, 1888, & 1894 (and other years of course) ... but not 1880. Once I find which of Seymour's voyages involved a Tuesday, 04 December near Gibraltar I will put this item where it belongs. Given the other entries in this journal it seems that this entry relates to 1883.
Tuesday, 04 May 1880 - Wednesday, 05 May 1880
No records available for these days. The 'agreement' records the voyage terminating, at London, on 05 May 1880.
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