STRANGERS TO THE SEA 2
THE ACCOMMODATION
"When the stress of farewells was over the emigrants gradually became aware of their surroundings ― of the billowing sails; the purposeful, agile crew, so unmoved by the departure; the cramped accommodation. The accommodation above all. Between bouts of seasickness it dawned on them that these few square feet of space were to be their home for months of travel, a home that would seldom be still.
Products of their time as they were, it probably did not surprise the emigrants that life on board ship mirrored the class structure of Britain. The masses below deck represented the masses at home."
(Don Charlwood, 1999, The Long Farewell, AD Reid, Kialla Vic, p.91)
5. Excerpts from Henry Mundy's Diary, England to Australia, Abberton, 1844
The Diary was written between 1909 and 1912, a lifetime after 13 yo emigrant Henry Mundy crossed oceans in steerage to reach Port Phillip in 1844. He writes, "I am now in my eightieth year, yet the scenes and events of my youth are as clear and vivid as if they happened yesterday" (p. 59). The relevant parts of his Diary begin with the parish officer delivering young Henry and his family (father, mother, brother) to Deptford Emigration Depot, "where were located about 300 of our destined fellow passengers, men, woman and children, mixed up in a noisy medley". In three days time, after medical inspections and receiving two sets of clothes, they were ferried out to their sailing ship anchored in the Thames.
"The young men were stowed away abaft, young women aft and married people and families amidships. A row of bunks two deep ran on each side of the ship with a wide table running through the middle, divided in the centre to accommodate either side. All the ware for use was tin. Our boxes holding clothes required during the voyage were stowed under the table.
The emigrants were divided into messes, 12 or 14 as the case might be, required cooking was ticketed with the number of the mess and taken to the cook's galley to be boiled or baked ... and as the cook would fish out of his big boiler or extract from his oven, he would call out the number, and each applicant would claim his own."
"... we went to bed and went to sleep. We slept sound enough till near morning when we simultaneously awoke, when my brother said 'how the ship is rolling about'. After a while when daylight came (we had a port in our bunk, a pane of glass about 8 inches square and ½ inch thick) we peeped out. Sometimes we could see out pretty clearly, at other intervals it was darkened with the frothy waves. We tried to dress in the bunk, which was only 3 feet from the upper deck and not being used to such close quarters for dressing, we scrambled down past father's and mother's bunk about 5 feet on to the lower deck; dressed and went up the hatchway to the upper deck to reconnoitre. To our astonishment, there was nothing but water ― 'Water to the right of us, Water to the left of us' ― but not a sign of land in any direction. The little steam tug was gone and the canvas was hoisted; our sole dependence now to the end of the voyage."
"We were destined to call at the 'Cove of Cork' for an additional number of Irish emigrants, so in due time we came to anchor on the coast of Ireland ... In a few days a batch of about 80 strange looking individuals, men, women and children, of all sexes, arrived on board, accompanied with their friends and relatives to bid them a last farewell. It was a motley crowd and picturesque gathering. The men clad in knee breeches, long stockings and nondescript hats. The children and women were mostly barefooted. After two hours or so the parting had to take place and such a scene of hugging, tears, and kissing, I never beheld. This sight, even at the present day, with the elapse of so many years, when I come to recall it, impresses me deeply."
"We went to our bunk one night, little thinking of starting so suddenly. When we went on deck in the morning Ireland had disappeared. The ocean, the wide expanse of water was alone visible. We were now fairly on the voyage. The majority of those who had suffered from seasickness were jubilant and jolly, thanks to the recuperation from our delay at 'Cove of Cork' but this state of affairs was not destined to continue long. 'Mal de mere' soon came on again ... people of both sexes in all kinds of disordered conditions in a 'I don't care a damn what happens' state. The poor Irish, if it was possible, were in a more distracted state than the English. To make things worse, according to the routine of the weekly provender, it happened to be pea soup day ...
[PREVIOUSLY ...
'We were approaching the notorious Bay of Biscay ... The sea got higher before night, and many of the passengers became pale and listless ... There was a good deal of vomiting that night. Next day was very rough. That day was, according to the regime, soup day ― said soup was prepared by the ship's cook (doctor as he was called) in large boilers and served out to applicants at 12 o'clock. The soup consisted of bouilli, peas (yellow peas boiled down to the consistency of paste), and some other mess which I cannot remember the name of. The call on that day, I recollect, was for pea soup principally ... the flavour of which seemed to appeal to the squeamish stomachs of the passengers ... There was consequently a great gorge of pea soup that day, the consequences were disastrous. Men, women, and children were congregated on deck, and all seemed to be unloading pea soup ... Sailors were busily swabbing it up ... Some with more regard to decency held their heads over the bulwarks discharging the yellow fluid into the sea, or oftener down the ship's side, causing streaks of yellow down the vessel's black hull. It is beyond my power to describe the scene of the succeeding night. The bunks were all open in front facing the opposite side and the majority sat on the forms in a comatose state; others in a distressed condition, heaving and lamenting, others cursing the day they ever started for Australia.']"
Over his years of knocking about in the Colony of Victoria, first as shepherd with his father and then through adulthood as a carrier, gold miner, etc., Henry has obviously developed a capacity for telling a good yarn. His use of language is also well beyond what we would expect from the son of near-illiterate parents. But this older (self-)educated working man seems to have been an observant and intelligent boy. Elements of what he reports of his experience onboard are often found in other emigrants' letters, although in less polished writing. While his Diary is not strictly a 'firsthand' or 'as it happened' account, Henry still qualifies as a credible 'eyewitness'. His empathy for the other immigrants in the powerless 'black hole' of steerage is reflected in the following section:
"About this time ['the crossing of the Equator'], we experienced a number of calm days, rocking and rolling with all sails set ... After a week or so the weather altogether changed, intermittent squalls, and then came for days and nights, winds enough to take away your breath, roaring through the bare shrouds. Oft-times, nothing but the main or mizzen sheet were hoisted ... Very few went on deck in this weather ... One night rougher than usual, an extra heavy wave boarded us, and a ton or two of it came down the main hatch just opposite our bunk and continued pouring down for several seconds ... Screeching, howling, praying. Tin ware was fling in all directions; what a sensation it was. All of us thought the ship was filling with water and our latter end had come. When the wave had ceased coming down, the doctor made his appearance down the hatchway, to reassure us that there was no danger. Pooh-Poohed the idea of any danger whatever; such an occurrence which had happened was nothing; talked cheerfully and laughed at the terrors of us land people for being so scared at so trifling a thing as a drop of water coming down the hatchway. When he went up, he, however, ordered a tarpaulin to be extended over the hatch."
(Henry Mundy, 1999, The Land of their adoption: 'Henry Mundy's Diary' from England to Australia 1838-1857, AD Reid, Kialla Vic, pp. 57-69).
DETAILS OF VOYAGE:
'List of Immigrants per Ship Abberton
Contractor Messrs Carter & Bonns
Surgeon Superintendent Edward John Waring
Master John Campbell
Arrived at Port Phillip on the 22nd September 1844'
pp 103-4 , No. 27, Munday George, 38 yo, Buckinghamshire, Protestant, Reads, Labourer,
Mary, 38 yo, wife,
Henry, 13 yo, son,
John, 9 yo, son
Immigrant numbers: 45 Married Couples and 95 Children, 24 Unmarried Females, 31 Unmarried Males (English 99 adults & 69 children, Scottish 3 adults, Irish 42 adults & 26 children), total 237 souls, equal to 186 statute adults
6 deaths and 4 deaths occurred during the voyage
(New South Wales Assisted Immigrants Digital Shipping Lists, Item No [4/4815], Ship: Abberton, Series NRS-5316, Reel No 2144)
6. Two Letters from David Atkinson to his family from Emigrant Ship, 4 March 1851
This emigrant wrote two letters from the ship on this date, one to his 'Father and Mother' (letter (a)), and the other to his 'Brother' (letter (b)). The second letter largely reproduces the information in the first but with some less sanguine additions. When addressing his parents he seems anxious to convince them of his piety and to assure them of his excellent spirits and health. This careful style slips a bit when communicating with his brother. The same 'news' is interrupted by terse expressions of David's discontent.
In addition, it needs to be noted that both of these letters only cover the events from leaving the Emigrants Depot at Deptford on "Satur-day Febry 15th" and the sailing ship Emperor at Sea from Plymouth reaching the "the Equinoctial line" around the time of writing ("March 4th 1851"); that is to say, the first month of Atkinson's emigrant experience in steerage. There are no surviving manuscripts describing the remainder of his trip to Sydney, although it is evident from scraps of his correspondence in later years that he arrived there safely, eventually marrying and and prospering (modestly).
" ... as we expect daily to meet with a homeward bound Vessel I have taken the present opportunity of addressing these lines to you which I earnestly hope will find you in possession of Good Health which I am happy to state through the mercy of God I still enjoy ...
... we had a side wind for some days which caused such violent motion of the Vessel that nearly every Emigrant on board were sick but I am happy to say I was not among the number I have not felt any Sickness at present I keep on Deck chief part of the Day with the exception of meal-times which I think is most beneficial for my health ...
... our living is very good it consists of good Beef and Pork, Pea Soup, Flour and Raisins and Oatmeal for making Plum Puddings and Cakes, we have also Biscuits Butter Pickles Treacle Sugar Cocoa and Tea, all I have to complain about is we are not allowed sufficient Biscuit but we must expect to have something to put up wherever we go ..."
[letter (a)]
Immediately we strike a major point of difference between the letter to his parents and that to his brother. There is the same striving to impress with how well he is coping in his new circumstances, but here it is leavened with how he really feels. There is a strong sense of grievance about provisions in particular.
" ... ours is not a Government Ship in that I am disappointed as we should have better order and better allowances our living is very good because they are Government Stores but as its not a Government Vessel, but only a hired Vessel supplied with Government Stores for the Emigrants the less they allow as the more they will have to spare at the end of the voyage when they can sell or do as they like with them we have plenty of good meet Beef one Day Pork another and Plum Pudding every other Day made of flour and Oatmeal mixed together, Pickles, tea and Sugar but they give us very short allowance of Flour, Rice, Potatoes, and Biscuit, if the Emigration Officers in Port Knew it they pull them over the Coals a bit, and we shall be sure to report them when we reach Sydney. we were well treated at the Emigrants Depot at Deptford and Plymouth they told us to eat all we could, but there we are under the constant inspection of the Emigration Officers ..."
[letter (b)]
In the letter to his brother Atkinson makes brief mention that "nearly 3 hundred Emigrants on board are Irish", but somehow manages to loosely associate this observation with sickness and disorder ― "nearly all the Emigrants on board (with the exception of about 7 or 8 persons, who escaped I amongst the number but those of us that were well had to attend to the Sick" [letter (b)]. However in his more restrained letter to his mother and father he is able to relate the numbers of Irishmen without criticism.
" ... we have seen a great number of Curious Fish we have also seen several French and american as well as English Ships. a French ship came close alongside of us last Friday Febry 28th ― Captain went on board there were [ ...?] Roman Catholic Priests on board, they came on board our Ship to attend to the Irish Emigrants all of us English were ordered on Deck time the Priest was attending to the Irish there is a few of the Irish are Protestants they of Course went up on Deck with us, there is close to 3 hundred Emigrants on board but I think the greater part are Irish ... "
[letter (a)]
It is interesting that both letters express the important religious side of life on the Emperor at Sea in similar terms. The Sunday Service seems satisfactory but the funeral service for a child is disturbing. It is worth comparing these two accounts side by side so that the nuances of satisfaction and shock in each version are not lost.
"Sunday last Divine Service was performd on Deck the Captain read prayers and the Surgeon was Clerk. Sunday night a Child died it was sewed up in canvas yesterday Monday with a heavy weight attached and thrown overboard ..."
[letter (a)]
"Last Sunday Divine Service was performd on Deck by the Captain the Surgeon Officiating as Clerk the Union Jack was spread on the Capstan which served as pulpit, Sunday night a Child died it was thrown overboard on Monday ..."
[letter (b)]
(Letters by David Atkinson, 1851, [microfilm copy], LTM AJCP M436, State Library Of Victoria Manuscripts Collection)
DETAILS OF VOYAGE:
'List of Immigrants per Ship Emperor Arrived at Sydney on Sixth day of June 1851'.
Entered under 'Single Males not being Members of Families':
No. 2, Atkinson David, 28 yo, Laborer, Salpick [?] Lincolnshire, Ch of England, Read & Write.
'Recapitulation' for vessel: 66 Adults Married (32 M, 34 F), 132 Adults Single (76 M, 56 F), 42 Children (15 M, 27 F), 4 infants; Total 198 Adults and 46 Children, 'Equal to 219 Statute Adults'.
(New South Wales Assisted Immigrants Digitised Shipping Lists 1828-1896, Reel 2136 [4/4790] p73; Reel 2462 [4/4920] pp 80,82)
7. Diary of Walter Dutton Written Onboard the 'Sarah Dixon': 1858
Fourteen page diary divided into daily accounts by number and drawn line. The voyage of Sarah Dixon on which Walter Dutton travelled departed Liverpool 29 August and arrived Port of Melbourne 6 December 1858. The ship was carrying 9 first class passengers and 186 intermediate and steerage passengers (including 25 children) and a cargo of railway iron and steam engines.
Walter was 33 yo and married, but left his wife and 2 children in West Yorkshire to seek his (and their) fortune on the Victorian goldfields. He must have been an awkward member of the passenger group, possessed of strict moral standards concerning drinking alcohol, swearing, fighting, gambling, adultery, and very critical of those who did not obey those rules. Nevertheless, his constant complaints expose an aspect of shipboard life that does not often get recognised ― the problem of personal safety. As his diary shows, this was a major issue for passengers and crew, male and female.
"-8- Fair wind, we had a row on board last night amongst the crew, they broke into the ship's stores and stole 4 [...?] of wine & 2 barrels of ale and all refused to work -
-9- The crew are all right today, but we have very little wind ...
-21- ... we had a regular row on board today the Carpenter was going to strike the black cook with his axe but the sailors set upon him & nearly killed him - there is very little wind ...
-24- Going about 10 knots, we have had another fight today between one of the crew who is a Scotchman and one of the steerage passengers who is an Irishman ..
-7- We have had two fights today & the Captain has stopped half their rations as a punishment - I will just say a word about our passengers, they are a rum lot, especially the women. There is one in our Cabin who is a disgrace to her sex, and which makes the matter worse she is a married woman going out to join her husband, poor devil he has been kuckled [sic] some hundreds of times already ...
-13- The wind still on the same quarter, we have row today, some of the Sailors got beastly drunk and one of them went up to the Captain & told him if he refused him to put [...?] in irons he would stab him & he flourished his knife about to the terror of the passengers, with a little persuasion the Captain got him to his own place without him carrying his threat into execution, three or four of the crew are desperate villains and the Captain is afraid of them ...
-14- We have crossed the line today after a long dreary passage of 47 days from L'pool, there was some fine sport with the sailors shaving & other sports; most of the passengers paid 1/- each to the sailors for drink & they kept the sports up until a late hour this morning, but I did not take any part in the proceedings, and it passed off without any serious row ...
-17- ... dressing up today and attended divine service, prayers read by the Captain, although he was slightly elevated with liquor last night - the wind still in our favor ...
-19- ... going 9 knots an hour one of the sailors slept with a woman last night, of course she was married, going out to join her husband. the married women are ten times worse than the single women ...
-22- We are going along very well. we have had 2 fights today ...
-30- A young man on getting up this yesterday morning found himself without his Coat waistcoat, watch & chain & a deal of searching among the people in steerage, which has occasioned a few rows - we are indeed among a lot of rouges and thieves, & robberies take place continually one young man has had a pair of top boots stolen, another a gold ring, while our mess is continually having its few things borrowed by some prigs [sic] who never return them ...
-6- ... this morning there has been a fight between the Second and Third Cabins under stewards, They fought very ferociously for some minutes the one being backed by the Storekeeper and the other by his intended fathers-in-law, while his sweet heart encouraged him with her smiles, and told him to 'mind he not get hurt' - We have had two more fights today, there is some rum goings on on board, Card playing, dice, dominoes and indeed gambling of every description, hard drink - one young man, a Scotchman, has spent above 30 pounds since he came on board ... The Captain is much to blame for selling drink to such an extent, no matter to whom it is, whether passengers or crew, they can have drink for money - Last night the second mate was drunk, but I am happy to say that I have not troubled them once. Nearly all the grog is now sold, and all the tobacco. I have had my share of that and no mistake ...
-7- ... the wind is very strong and it is awfully cold. two men have staked some money to fight for a wager as soon as the anchor is dropped in Hobson's Bay, the one is Irish and the other comes from London. There are a great many Cockneys on board ...
-9- The weather very misty & windy - last night the same sailor who committed the excesses and used his knife a short time ago came into the next room to mine & threatened to stab somebody at the same time he was brandishing his open knife; it was with difficulty that he was taken away - This morning the Captain offers to keep him in irons, if any of the passengers will be witness against him when at Melbourne -however it would not be policy to do any such thing, as they would probably get half killed by the crew who with hardly one exception are a choice lot of ruffians ...
-11- Some of the sailors are drunk again - the Captain is very much to blame in selling them the drink but he derives a profit from the sale of grog and I suppose our lives are not of much consequence ...
-12- Strong winds, many of the passengers are drunk today ...
-13- One of the passengers who was drunk last night was robbed of 2 pounds odd this morning ...
-14- ... we have now been at sea for 78 days and I do assure you that it is long enough, for it is as bad as being in prison with this in your favor you have the chance of being robbed killed or drowned here ... our mess consists of myself, Joe, and those two young men ... and we all four agree very well but I cannot say the same for the two other messes adjoining ours. There is a Mr Walker who is an emaciated Cockney and his wife who is a tall robust and coarse woman - these two scarcely let a night pass over without keeping us awake by there cursing, swearing and abusing each other in all the choice language used in the London dialect, however Mrs Walker generally comes out victorious in these squabbles ... We have another rather out of the way character for a woman who says she is married, a Mrs Barber who is a most disgraceful woman there are indeed some very bad reports about her which I am sorry to think are but too true and when I make the contrast in my own mind with my wife and this wretched creature I am filled with thankfulness - It is very terrible to think of the drunkenness and wickedness which is going on especially when I consider there is only a plank between us and eternity ...
-15- Fair wind, going 12 knots. some of the passengers got very drunk and kicked up a great disturbance last night, Sunday that it was - the Captain is very much to blame for selling his spirits especially on Sundays ...
-25- Last night the people in our cabin had a sort of party. We had 3 bottles of rum besides ale, I was asked to join them, but refused ... There were present a married couple from the deck house. she is a very haughty one and I always took her to be a decent woman, but I am sorry to say that she was along with the other female who was with them [...?] beastly drunk - The wife of the Londoner who sleeps in the next berth to ours was also far gone in drink. She kept us awake for a long time after the party had broken up with the most earnest and long-winded protestations of love and friendship, the grog had evidently opened her heart & made her talkative. She likewise offered to share her last farthing with me ...
-5- Sunday morning - at about 3 oclock this morning, the man on the lookout called out 'light on the lee bow' and the [...?] gun was discharged off immedity [sic] so I got up out of my bunk and went on deck and there sure enough was the lighthouse seen. It was a very joyful sight I can tell you. and this forenoon at about 11 oclock we got the Pilot on board - and we shall cast anchor this afternoon after a passage of 99 days ... they have been round with a testimonial for us passengers to sign in favor of Captn Salt and his crew but I have refused to sign on pure conciontous [sic] grounds as this vessel has been nothing more or less than a floating House of ill in my eyes, even after he had been repeatedly told of it ..."
Dutton was a fairly unforgiving man, but he had a point. Unfortunately, however, he seems to have taken his unbending personality onto land, and it may not have served him well. He concludes his last daily entry by notifying his wife and children of his plans.
" ... the Government Inspectors will come on board tomorrow morning, after which we shall leave the vessel and its many grievances forever - I shall not stay in Melbourne more than 1 day but shall set off to the Ovens, which is distanced 197 miles from here - I shall post this as soon as I get on shore, and write again when I arrive at my destination: I hope this long epistle will find you all well. as for myself, I was never better ... your affectionate husband & father - Walter Dutton."
They would never hear from him again. It was believed he landed in Melbourne and made his way to the diggings, where he prospected with a partner and even made a strike. But what really happened to Walter after leaving the ship is unknown. One story was that his skeleton was discovered in a remote location, identified by initials on a personal item. The inference is that he was the victim of foul play.
A contrasting element to Walter's obsession with the behaviour of his fellow passengers is the awareness of his own humanity. In that small congested space in the vastness of the ocean, he feels the aloneness of the Sarah Dixon (and himself). He is therefore sensitive to signs of life beyond the confines of the vessel and records the sighting of whales, the passing of ships, the shared night sky, the mood of religious services, and the pathos of funerals.
"-5- Light breeze, killed another sheep & passed the 'John & Lucy' that left the Mersey [..?] days before us ...
-21- Got up this morning to look at the Comet it was very plain to be seen ...
-29- We have had a storm today accompanied by thunder lightning ... One of the sailors has had a misfortune, by falling from the Main Yard, and is seriously ill in the back, he is a Portuguese & is a favorite with all the passengers, & a very sharp & active young man, We have Spoke with two Homeward Bound vessels today
-7- We can see the Comet tonight very plainly It looks to be about half the size of a Rainbow - I wonder if you can see it at home ...
-12- ... we can see the Comet plain tonight ...
-21- ... we had a death last night - a little boy about the same age as our Earle, and he was buried today, the Captain read the funeral service & the affair was very impressive, the people standing with their heads uncovered, & the body was launched overboard and sunk immediately as it was weighted - I don't want to see another burial at sea ...
-26- We have had one more passenger today, the wife of a Dutchman (who is an Englishwoman) having given birth to a little girl, both are doing well ...
-27- Calm - Cape pigeons in sight today, we have now been at sea 60 days and have not yet got to the Cape. Our vessel requires as much wind as it takes to move a castle ...
-30- ... We are now opposite the Cape We had a birth yesterday, an Englishwoman, her husband is a German. the woman has been ailing since she came on board ...
-1- We have had another death today, the child that was born last, and they have interred it this afternoon, it was sewed up in canvas, and it floated like a cork ...
-5- Smart breeze and very cold... saw a ship at daylight this morning ...
-6- The weather the same, last night we saw a ship which is supposed to be the 'William Jackson' which signalled with blue lights which we answered ...
-7- Sunday morning - no service on board on account of the weather, the wind is very strong and it is awfully cold ...
-11- ... This morning 2 large whales were seen about a quarter of a mile off & spouting water into the air - I forgot to mention on Sunday the ship that we saw the 'William Jackson' which left Bristol the same time or nearly so that we did Liverpool, she came very near alongside, but in consequence of the wind howling we were not able to speak by mouth so we hoisted the name of our ship and in a moment after they hoisted theirs - which convinced us that it was the 'William Jackson' -we the hoisted our Mizzen Royal, and they hoisted their Spanker sail, and then commenced a race and we went through the water at the rate of 13 or 14 knots an hour - in about an hour we left her behind, and as if ashamed of being beaten she changed her course and went astern of us and was soon lost in the fog - Although too far from each other to speak or exchange any greetings the passengers on both ships raised their hats and cheered each other as long as they could, and altogether it was the most pleasing little incident that has taken place since I have been on board ...
-14- Sunday morning - no service - being storm ...
-19- This morning at ½ past 1 oclock, the poor Englishwoman who is the wife of the German, has as I expected followed the little child, her husband has been very attentive and kind, and nobody could be more tender. She was buried this afternoon at about three oclock - the Ship's bell tolled, and the British flag was hoisted half mast high, and the body was sewn in canvas wrapped around with the Union Jack and carried out of the hospital on a plank. The Captain read the formal service over it, and her husband was very much affected. The Corpse was lowered into the sea in 115 south latitude and about 68 east longitude, a little to the north of Kerguelen Land or the Island of Desolation and in the middle of the great Southern Ocean ...
-21- Sunday morning - we had service on deck, read by Captn Salt, it is pleasant to have service because it brings up old associations in my mind ...
-25- Yesterday a large whale was seen spouting up at about four miles distance ...
-28- No service - Sunday - it is always a disappointment when we have no service, as it helps to do away with the sameness and causes Sunday to appear more like the Sabbath - just imagine how you at home would feel, if you were 13 weeks and no Sunday ...
-29- The wind is against us, so that we can form no idea when we shall be at Melbourne - they are hauling up the chain cable as if in anticipation of soon being there, God speed the time - the other night we saw several whales spouting up - and last night we saw a fogbank, which looked exactly like land ...
-5- ... We have heard from the Pilot that the 'Wm Jackson' and the 'John & Lucy' have not yet arrived but the 'White Star' which left the Mersey 8 days before us got in 3 weeks ago ... We have now cast anchor 6 oclock P.M. and are within sight of Melbourne, Williamstown Sandridge and St Kilda. It is beautiful weather and we are in the middle of the Bay ... and may that God who watches over the land as well as the sea, guide and protect you all, my dear Wife and Children ..."
(Item HT 23918, 'Diary - Walter Dutton, Liverpool to Melbourne, Onboard Ship "Sarah Dixon", 1858', Museums Victoria Collections (Immigration Museum), online copies <https://collectionsmuseumsvictoria.com.au/items/1485417>, 14 pp)
DETAILS OF VOYAGE:
There is some ambiguity about Dutton's accommodation status as he uses terms like cabins, berths, mess, deck, intermediate, to refer to his quarters. Some entries suggest he viewed steerage to be a separate category. However the passenger list signed by Captain Salt and the Emigration Officer in Liverpool indicates he was just one among many registered as steerage passengers.
"Dated 28 August 1858 at Liverpool:
Sarah Dixon Master Wm Salt 1,468 tons 244 Statute Adults Bound for Melbourne.
No 2109 Walter Dutton 33yo Adult Male Labourer Englishman
Married Adults 19M 19F; Single Adults 109M 13F; Children/Infants 10M 15F; Total 186."
"Dated December 6 at Melbourne:
Passengers List of [Statute] Adults -Cabin 7½ -Steerage 171 -Joint 178½."
(Public Record Office Victoria, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, Record Series Number VPRS 947, Oct-Dec 1858, Images 216-223/290, North Melbourne Online, <prov.vic.gov.au/archive>)
8. Diary of Michael O'Shea Written Onboard the 'Eastern City': 1857
Irish Catholic emigrant 'M.P. O'Shea' travelled to Melbourne from Liverpool in company with his sister Ann O'Shea and friend James Ladden (and Mrs Ladden). He departed Castlecomen in County Kilkenny on 5th May, 1857, arrived in Liverpool 8th May, departed on Eastern City on 9th May, and arrived at Sandridge, Melbourne on 10 August 1857. Michael was quickly alerted to conditions on the vessel. Irishness seemed to be an issue from the outset, or at least it appeared so to this diarist.
"Saturday 9th [May]- Doctor came into the ladies berth quite intoxicated and behaved most ungentlemanly - ordered him out of their berths - he was very insolent. Said he would keep an eye on me - asked my name and took out a card to write it upon but was not able to do so. He subsequently went down to the steerage and attempted to enter a berth where were four Irish women - The men turned out and thrashed him most unmercifully - He cried and roared like an old woman - Great confusion followed the Irishmen all rushed on board in a most exerted state, and it required the utmost influence of the Captain and the officers to quell the commotion. A quarter of an hour afterwards there was another row in consequence of a drunken sailor being found among the women ...
Sunday 11th [May]- ... Armstrong the Constable 'tween deck got 'young Charley' to read evening prayers from a Protestant prayer book. I interfered to prevent it and had a long dispute with him and other Protestants. He finally promised there should be no recurrence of it as I threatened to go to the Captain ...
Sunday 17th [May]- Beautiful morning. Sea quite calm. Prayers according to the Established form read on the poop at ten o/c a.m. out by the Doctor ... We Catholics assembled on the deck , and all remained praying together for an hour. Oh, Ireland, dear land of my birth, how I glory in thy sons, their sincere and ostentatious devotion ... I could not see even in the old land a finer set of fellows that knelt down together this day ...
Thursday 2nd [July] - Wind fresh and favourable. A great hubbub in the evening in consequence of an Englishmen having mocked the Irish when saying the Rosary. The men all sprung to their feet, but Johny [sic] Bull also took to his heels. However they got a few blows at him, but he succeeded in making his escape into the second cabin and up through the skylight to the poop. Had they caught him ten to one he would have gone overboard as they were dreadfully excited about having their religion insulted. The unfortunate devil himself was fearfully affrighted when he saw the result of his bigotry and ignorance. Though I should be glad to see him well kicked I could not find it in my heart to discover the place of concealment."
Another source of Michael's discontent also emerged early on in the voyage. Provisions were insufficient and badly prepared. This concern grated for the first month but his irritation seems to have disappeared over time.
"Sunday 10th [May] - Got only bully soup not much better than sea water for dinner - could not use it and had potatoes of our own and butter instead - Cook drunk and spoiled everything. A general cry out against the food by all passengers ...
Monday 11th ... Salt beef served out for dinner but the quantity was not sufficient for half that number in the cabin. To make matters worse the old scoundrel of a cook is drunk today again and burned the rice which had to be thrown overboard. Had our own potatoes and butter for dinner ...
Tuesday 12th ... Nothing but [sic] served out today. No rice, flour or anything else. We have a stupid old muff of a Purser who is alternately sick and drunk. He blames the proprietors and cook for all the mismanagement and want of order. The cook and steward blame him, and between all the passengers suffer. The cooking apparatus
and general accommodation is not sufficient for half the number on board 410 souls ...
Wednesday 13th ... This is the fourth day and we have subsisted entirely on our own provisions. Soup brought in for dinner so bad that a number of us went to the Captain to remonstrate against the treatment we were receiving ...
Thursday 14th ... Portion of the provisions were weighed out to us this morning the first mate superintending. Divided ourselves into messes of twelve - Don't think it will work well. One half the cabin to dine first one day, the other half first the next day and so on alternately ...
Tuesday 19th ... Pork and biscuit for dinner sent top [sic] the cook, but he could not dress them for want of water. It was not given to him. Where does the fault lie?
Thursday 21st ... Sent some bacon of our own to the galley to be boiled. The assistant let the water boil off and not only burnt the meat but the saucepan too. James and I went down and after kicking him well flung him out of the cook house.
Sunday 24th ... Bully soup alone for dinner.
Monday 25th ... Salt beef which we could not use, it was so tough and bad, for dinner but no rice ...
Thursday 4th [June] ... No meat served out for dinner and the rice was boiled in salt water, so that it could not be used. Had some ham and potatoes of our own. This was beef day.
Friday 5th ... Weighed 10 st 3 lbs to-day. Sea not disagreeing with me anyhow, as I was 10 st 2 lbs leaving home."
The voyage was not all about an Irishman's experience of slights and indigestion. There were also days of sudden shock (i) and long nights of sheer terror (ii). But sometimes you just had to laugh (iii).
(i)
"Thursday 25th [ a week after crossing the Line ] - A sad accident has occurred to-day. A man named Hynes from Ballinas loe was lost overboard. Whether he fell over accidently or otherwise will forever remain a mistery [sic]. Some suppose that he let himself down intentionally as he uttered no cry and only one or two saw him fall. He swam well however and two life buoys were flung towards. Everything possible was done to save his life. Two boats were instantly lowered and manned, but by the time they were put off he was far as we were going at the rate of nine knots an hour. When last seen he was swimming for one of the buoys and within a few yards of it but suddenly he threw up his hands and sank to rise no more in this world. As a large shark was seen immediately after it is supposed that it devoured him. The boats remained out for an hour, but returned without having got any trace of him. May the Lord have mercy upon his soul. Anne got an awful fright at the time as someone saw it was I that fell over.
Friday 26th - To day poor Hynes's effects were sold and bought the sum of eight pounds some shillings. The clothes were good but would only fit a little boy he was so small. No money was found in his trunk and he was perpetually gambling, it led many to suppose he threw himself purposefully, especially as he had been speaking very incoherently for the past few days."
(ii)
"Monday 6th [ a week before passing the Cape of Good Hope 'a thousand mile to the Southward'! ] - Well what a night it has been. Such falling, tumbling, crushing and uproar. Boxes, hat cases, carpet bags, wash-basins, dishes, plates, pans, bottles, knives and forks all rolling and clattering about in the most confounded confusion within. Whist the cries and shouts of the sailors abroad as they take in sail and make all taut to meet the gale add to the general din. Smash goes a lot of crockery in the after cabin pantry, a few unprotected females roll helplessly out of their bunks in the second cabin a berth in steerage gives way precipitating its German occupants on top of their comrades underneath - the women scream the men shout for light and cuff one another heavily in the dark, while the more peaceably inclined cry out for silence and meantime break their shins against prostrate tables and forms. One sagacious individual came on deck with a blanket wrapped around him, and remained all night on the poop watching the Captain in order to escape in the same boat with him when the vessel would go down! ...
Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th - A very heavy gale blowing these days accompanied by rain and squalls. Tis almost impossible to walk or even stand without holding on by something and the decks are continually washed by seas. One sea came with such tremendous force on Saturday as to shake the vessel until every timber in her creaked and the larboard bulwark was stove in amidships and this large and dangerous breach must remain open to the end of the voyage for want of wood to repair it, there not being a spare board in the ship. A passenger was carried with such force against the lee scuppers that he was much injured and in danger of being drowned ... the dinner could not be cooked as the storm extinguished the galley fires. These truly are wretched days and nights, the fortune gained by encountering so much misery is wile [sic] earned."
(iii)
"Wednesday 13th ... A stowaway (Ryan of Mullinavat) was found 'tween decks by the constable to-day. When brought before the Captain and questioned as to how he came to be on board, he replied with the greatest naivete - 'Begorra, I dunna your honour. Sure I got into it and it came away with me.' The Captain had to turn round to conceal his laughter at this excuse ..."
Item HT 15834, 'Diary - M.P. O'Shea, Onboard Clipper Ship 'Eastern City', Liverpool-Melbourne, 1857', Museums Victoria Collections (Immigration Museum), Online <https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1304066>, Copy of transcript supplied by special request via email/attached file on 9 September 2026 (Lucy).
DETAILS OF VOYAGE:
It is also not very clear whether O'Shea was actually a steerage passenger. He uses different terms like 'cabin', berth, 'tween decks', 'on deck', and seems to use 'steerage' or 'steerage passenger' in a separate sense. His sister Anne and Mrs Ladden were clearly in 'second cabin' but Michael and James Ladden were in another section where '9 more were sleeping' and 'in mess of twelve'. Once again, the ship's captain signs off the passenger list with all but First Cabin as 'Steerage'.
"Dated May 9th at Liverpool, 'Eastern City', Master Johnston, 1367 tons, 420 Statute Adults
Married Single Occupation Irish
M F M F Adults
Liverpool B 522, Jas Ladden 32y Smith 1
Marie " 25y Wife 1
Anne OShea 20y Spinste[r] 1
Michl " 22y Colonis[t] 1
RECAPITULATION (Number of Souls)
Married Adults 38M 42F; Single Adults 280M 31F; Children 19M 11F; Infants 9; Total 420
English 144; Scotch 49; Irish 175; Other 62; Total 430"
"Dated August 12th at Melbourne, Master DH Johnston, Eastern City
No. of [Statutory] Adults Cabin 5
ditto Steerage 409½
Total 414½"
(Public Records Office Victoria, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists Jul-Sep 1857, Record Series Number VPRS 947, North Melbourne Online, Images 137-150/342, <prov.vic.gov.au/archive>)
TO BE CONTINUED : A RUNNING COMMENTARY
Don Charlwood is a thoughtful writer and you would expect him to be right much of the time. However, in the first post's introductory quote he suggests that because all the emigrants endured great danger together there was forged in them a sort of survivors' bond. Because their experience was singular and unique, so were they. Like the soldiers who served on the slopes of Gallipoli or in the trenches on the Western Front, the emigrants had undergone a gruelling passage and this had fundamentally changed them as human beings.
The first two examples in the previous post are sufficiently 'off-song' to question the universality of Charlwood's interpretation. For whatever reasons, these letter writers do their best to to minimise the idea that there were any character-defining moments on their respective voyages at all. Their personal style is to reassure, not frighten those at home. A sensible conclusion here is to acknowledge that while (from this distance) the levels of danger appear the same, there was sufficient diversity among steerage passengers to produce very different written responses.
In the quotation used in this post (above), Charlton implies an almost spiritual realisation could be expected among those experiencing the unexpected strangeness of shipboard life. Many people forced together into a small space, surrounded by an immense, 'empty' ocean, certainly did prompt some self-awareness about the frailty of themselves and their vessel. But the last two examples contain very practical concerns ― the realities of drunkenness and violence ― basic elements of society under tension but slightly less ethereal than awed contemplation of the night sky.
Obedience to discipline and the Captain's authority are not comfortable topics, but they were often foremost in many emigrants' minds. Fear about personal safety was not an elitist or 'middle-class' concern. It affected all ranks of society.
Comments
Post a Comment