On Oct. 13, 1926, retired seaman Joseph McGinnis wrote to American collector R. W. Gordon about "The Flying Cloud" :

"I learned what I think is the original song in the foc'sle in about 1883 from an old Liverpool Western Ocean sailor and it gives the singer's name as Edward Hollander and it has a very tuneful melody to it....

"I gave Miss J.C. Colcord the words and music... and she published it in her book 'Roll and Go' or Songs of American Sailor-men....

"The name of the man-o-war I gave her was the 'Dungeness.' I thought at the time it was the wrong name. I have come to the conclusion since that it was the 'Diogenes.' As I have reeled off sixty years I am not always too positive about matters that happened years ago. ...

"It was and is a popular song wherever sung and particularly with Sailors."

1883 is, so far, the earliest alleged date for the song. No other collected text includes the name "Diogenes." Sing "Diogenes" and "Dungeness" might have sounded similar when sung (think "Dodge-ness") it's impossible to be sure which name McGinnis heard.