I have something intriguing and infuriating in equal measure…..
I have here a very old letter, dated 25/2/92, I am guessing 1892 rather than any earlier. All I knew was that it was regarding a family member from long ago, but nothing more. I sat down to study it properly and copy out what I could, I have never been able to read it due to its very poor condition and the handwriting is a little tricky. I plan on doing something to preserve it, an unknown relative taped it back together decades ago so it was obviously precious to them. I would like to continue that.
Attachment 351063Attachment 351062
Anyway, to the contents. What follows is my transcript, I have [square bracketed] words I am unsure of, sometimes with possible alternatives, dotted areas are lost for whatever reason. Anything (bracketed) like this is done so in the original also.
………………………………………….. ……………………………………in the Official Log of the……………………………………….. ………………………………………….f rom Liverpool to the River Plate.
25/2/92 Lat …………… Long 31 [or 37] W
At 1pm to-day Patrick Murphy (Carpenter) died from sunstroke. Yesterday he was seen by [Mr or Jhon] Scales (cook) to be working for some time without his hat or any head covering while exposed to the sun. He was ……………………………… work for being so foolish, but said it was only for a minute. As he went about his work as usual and made no complaint whatever to anyone on board, noone suspected he was ill until 10am today when he was seen to stagger and go into his room and sit down. He then told the [Captain / Chaplain] that he shaved his head. Shortly after the cook saw him [feverently (sic)] asleep and snoring and snorting loudly.At noon I was told that he was ill and on going to him I found him quite unconscious, with ……. [joulse (sic)], fluttering of the heart and a very …….. snorting breathing. I placed him in an easy chair in the cooler part of the ship, and (as he was quite unable to swallow anything) applied plenty of cold water to his head, neck and chest, but without avail for he died at 1 o’ clock in the presence of Chief Mate Stuart [Lamptrimmer?? this is wrong, possibly a rank and a name together] and myself.
He was 62 years of age, cheerful and apparently in good health, had a good appetite all the time and never complained ……… sickness. He was employed on light jobs of work ……….. from the commencement of the voyage and on account of his age and general willingness to oblige I had allocated him a small quantity of grog daily. I have made strict enquiries among the crew to ascertain truthfully the cause of his very sudden death, and have come to the conclusion that consequence of having (without brains) thought ………….. LOST …………..
And that is all I have. You can imagine my frustration at finishing that! :shok_yikes: Hollywood could not leave a better cliffhanger. I’m guessing the author is a medical officer onboard the ship.
Based on the facts we have; starting in Liverpool, destination the River Plate, the date of 25.2.92, does anyone think there is a chance of finding out the ship? Also as we have the starting point and end point, and the longitude of 31/37 W, can we find old shipping routes and plot exactly where the boat was when the author wrote his log? Hope you guys like it, I enjoyed the process 
