Captain Daniel Butler Nye Jr.

Daniel was Captain of the "Fanny" in 1852 and at 37 a veteran of many voyages. When disciplinary problems arose, he tried to avoid violence. For example, a blacksmith would not take the wheel, so a mate struck him. Then Nye talked the blacksmith into obeying. A little later on Nye released the Carpenter from irons on his promise "to behave himself like a man".

Nineteen years later he sailed north of Bering Strait in the whaler "Eugenia". The log of this ship revealed a somewhat sterner command. Several troublemakers in the crew had to be tied up in the rigging for a half hour at a time, and even whipped with a rope's end.

This was the year that "an entire fleet form New Bedford was caught in the Arctic ice pack and crushed" (Boston Glove, Oct. 23, 1932). Capt. Nye's log entries were very casual. He revealed no panic whatsoever. On Sept. 6. he wrote"The ice took a start and squeezed the ship bad, taking a good deal of copper and some sheathing."

Two days later the log revealed that the ice "forced tiller hard a-port, breaking the rudder stock." Then on Sept. 9, he noted that "several vessels' crews are getting out provisions" (in preparation for abandoning ship). Finally, after most of the other crews had set forth, Nye prepared his boats to leave, open water being two miles away at this time.

At 6 pm the "Eugenia's" men started out over the ice, leaving the ensign flying at the mizzen peak.

from: 19th Century Seafarers, Nye, George P Nye, editor; The Nye Family of America Association, Inc. publisher, 1993

---

Capt. Nye was the captain of the "Fanny" in 1852 at 37 years of age. According to the Fanny's log, he was a fun loving fellow but when disciplinary problems arose, he tried to avoid violence. When a blacksmith aboard his ship he talked him into obeying and released him from the irons. The log of the "Eugenia" revealed a more stern command when some of the crew had to be tied up in the rigging for a half hour at a time. or even whipped. That was the year the entire fleet from New Bedford was caught in the Arctic ice pack and crushed. (Boston Globe, Oct 23, 1932). His log revealed no panic and described the force the ship took before the crew prepared to abandon the ship. Luckily they started out over the ice with open water only two miles away.

Nye, George,"19th Century Seafarers", published by The Nye Family of America Association, Inc.1993