THE JOSEPH STARBUCK
LOG BOOK OF JOSEPH STARBUCK
on a voyage from November 17, 1838 to January 13, 1842
Although the list of topics of interest includes Whalers (Persons), Seafaring life, Whales, Voyages and travels, it makes no mention of anything related to Third Mate Stephen B. Fisher, sadly, another example of the stand out behavior that makes the record while any other crew member’s activities go unnoticed as most routine things do. In this case, Captain Sanford Wilber had to juggle sexual harassment, pedophilia, a knife, the man with it threatening the rest of the crew, and the impact of this on his ship calling for the most expedient and effective way to end a problem.
"Saturday 7th
Commences with Brisk breeses
from the Southard Standing to the Eastward
with all sail out this day The boy
James Chase reported to me that the third
officer Mr. Fisher had conducted himself
very strangely the night before & he
requested me to let him exchange watches
I told him to keep in his watch and if
he Discovered & trying again to let me
know it at 11 PM he came down from
the helm and informed me what he had Done
& his conduct toward him was as it
had been a number of times before such
as trying to kiss him & caress him he told
him to let him alone but he still pursisted
he then saw him take something out of his
pocket & herd it open and he supposed it
to be a raiser then he [?] the
boy & wants him to do something for him
the boys reply was that he was steering
the ship the boy discovered spun yarn a
round hs necklaces he did the night before
the boy then saw him go over th stren
as he did the night before the boy then
left the helm & came to inform me
I immediately together with the Master
went on deck & found Mr Fisher sitting
on a plank facing left. I spoke to him
he immediately left
It was Squaly at the time
press of sail but by this time the cabin
was alarmed & all hands turnd but as we
all could not account for his conduck
whether he ment to take his life or the boys
or to frighten the boy into some heinous
crime I then left the deck dressed my self
and was on the watch I then went on deck
& slept until the boy left the helm satisfied
in my own mind that their was something
serious mean betwixt him and the boy by
this time the watch was all alarmed I then
went below again when
the boy came running down the second time
very much frightened & told me that mister
Fisher had his raizor out on the deck the boy
stated that he cauld him down of the night
[?] where he was stationed for the purpose
of looking [?] as that was his look
The boy came aft & asked him what he wanted
he then began to caress as he had done
before the boy requested to be let alone & went
forward again he, mr Fisher then cauld him aft
again the boy told him it was his look but he
then told the boy to come down he need not
stay their and cauld him to him he as then
standing abrest of the main rigging the boy
then saw him turn back & take out as
We suppose the raizor the boy then ran
from the goblin & Mr. Fisher after him & give
the alarm we then all turndour & I ordered
the master to call him down he came down
in the cabin I then spoke to him & asked
him what he ment by his conduck towards the boy
he Denied Ever charge & sad the hole
was a damned ly & then started for the deck
I ordered him to stop 3 times but he positively
refused then I ordered the officers to
Stop him by force he strugled to git clear & swore
that He would kill somebody then I thought
it my duty to secure him and accordingly
had him put in irons with a guard over him
my officer and cabin company than one
and all protested a gainst him & his
conduck and wished for me to keep him in
clost confinement & put him on shore
as fast as possible which it is my intention
to do. Middle and latter part squally so
ends Standing to the Eastward saw finbacks
& poposes.
I have found my concerning with the boy
to day that Mr. Fishers conduck at times
For this last 2 months has been very strange
And it is not the first time that he has
Neglected the duty of the ship in his conduct
Last night was such as an officer that I
Don’t think him trustworthy on bord of
The ship wether as officer or sailor
I have further found out by his own confession
That he had a raizor on deck & tat when
I ordered him cauld down he threw it overbord”
Mr Fisher is not mentioned in the entries for the next 8 days, so, unlike in the case of Antoine Manuel, we do not know if and how Mr. Fisher confined for that whole time. He was put in irons on the above occasion, and with the crew not happy with an unstable person roaming around a ship, without saying anything, it can be assumed he stayed in irons.
Then.
"Sunday September 15th Commences with
Moderate trades standing in for Tombez
At 6 PM took the irons off the third mate
Put him on shore at Tombez Point at
Half past six came to anchor found 4
Ships lying their”
The rest of the log entry lists the provisions picked up while at anchor and mentions one man deserting.
The voyage continued without Fisher and there were no further complaints from James Chase, the cabin boy.
Of interest would be any further voyages upon which Mr. Fisher sailed to see if there are any notations in those logs relating to Mr. Fisher's continued or abandoned behaviors
