Year by Year
Discover the history of the HMS Cossack from 1854 to 1875.
You can search the ‘year’ and ‘month’ to find a specific date and also ‘click’ on the date itself to reveal any images and moments from that date.
10 May 1871
Longitude 82.25E. Wind WSW force 5 becoming SW by W force 4. Under steam and sail.
0300. Made sail to singe reefed Topsails, Courses and Top gallant sails. Wind SW by S force 2 to 3.
0400. Shortened sail to a heavy squall from westward.
0500 Shortened and furled Square sails. One sail in sight.
0900 Shirted Fore and Main Topsails.. Set Foresail.
Noon. Wind WSW force 5 to 6. Course NW by W ½ W. 1315. Set mainsail. Watch repairing Fore and Main Topsails, making treasure net, mats and grafting ropes etc.
1600 One sail in sight.
1700 Set single reefed Topsails and Top gallant sails. Passed two sails.
2115. Stopped steaming. Wind SW by W force 4. Midnight. Weather squally. In Topgallant sails and second reefs.
11 May 1871
Latitude 12.53N. longitude 80.43E. Wind W by S force 3 becoming southerly force 3.Under steam and sail. Madras Light House N65W 29 nautical miles.
0110. Made sail.
0146. Commenced steaming.
0800. Out reefs.
0920 Shortened and furled sails. Wind W by N force 3 to 4.. fine weather.
1015. Unbent Fore topsail for repair. In Fore and Aft sails.
1130. Course NW.
1140. Sighted land on port bow. Employed making and mending clothes.
1350. Course WNW .
15 45 arrived in Madras Roads. Came to in 6 ½ fathoms with broken bottom and veered to 4 ½ shackles. Anchorage bearings. Light House SW by W. End of pier NW by N
15 May 1871
Wind NNE force 5 to 7 becoming southerly force 2. Barometer 29.80 inches. Maximum temperature 90F.
Crossed Royal yard, loosed sails. Employed cleaning Bread Room.
1315 Furled sails. Down Royal yards. Restowed Bread Room .
1700 Received money for Trincomalee Dockyard.
Remarks
On our way here this time the ship was comparatively still the ground swell being very small allowing the surf boats to land with ease – ships boats of course go to the pier steps on the lee side. There were only about eight European merchant vessels here with several country vessels. The Time Ball at Madras that is spoken about in the Sailing Directions was not seen by us from the ship. A gun is fired from the Fort of St George at 2000 Mean Time. The weather here was totally cool; the SW wind blowing forth, the sea breeze setting in about noon and lasting till about 0700
19 May 1871
Latitude 8.47N. Longitude 81.29E. Wind south westerly force 5 to 6 becoming SW force 4.
Employed fitting upper yards.
1000. Observed land SW.
1130. Altered course to SW.. in Fore and aft sails.
1340. Course3 SW by S.
1500 made number to FORT FREDERICK. Unbent Trysails.
1600 Foul Point light House S47E. Round Island Light House S55W..
1727. Came to with broken bottom in 12 ½ fathoms and veered to 3 ½ shackles.
1745. Out boats. Unbent sails. Down top gallant masts. Sent sails ashore to Dockyard. Anchorage bearings. Admiralty fall staff NE. Round Point W by N ¾ N.
Remarks
We had fine weather and strong SW wind causing heavy sea. Sea breeze setting in during the afternoon. We had a strong northerly current for the first two days. On the morning of the 19th we were about abreast of Palk Straits the wind blew very strong from the SW with a heavy sea; the ship in consequence making less than 3 knots an hour.
