The Wreck of the Tornado

The Tornado was very fortunate to avoid being wrecked on its passage to New Zealand. Her quick thinking Chief Mate, James Carmichael, clearly thought better of having another voyage with Captain Aitken and found alternative employment:

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1268, 11 November 1859

The Tornado sailed from Auckland to Callao on October 31, 1859, with Captain Aitken still in charge.

Daily Southern Cross 28 November 1859_Tornado

 She was apparently meant to pick up a cargo of guano from Callao and then, in October 1860, take passengers from Galsgow to Otago (according to this advertisement in August).

Falkirk Herald August 02 1860

Luck wasn't with her on the return voyage though. She was wrecked in the Straits of Magellan, her crew rescued by HMS Mutine.

Stirling Observer August 23 1860

News of her loss eventually filtered back to New Zealand in October 1860. Perhaps some of her passengers weren't entirely surprised at her fate!

Daily Southern Cross 26 October 1860

12 September 1859

September 12. £52 raised for presentation to the mate.

Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50.

12th. A rather dull morning but proved to be a fine day with very little wind in the morning and the little we had died away before noon. The sun was warm rendering our calm pleasant. After sunset we had some signs of coming wind which increased into a fine stiff breeze after bedtime.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

9 September 1859

9th. A very fine morning but a dead calm prevails. Going very slowly all day but after sunset we had a cheerful breeze. Testimonial was got up by the passengers (for the chief mate) expressing their satisfaction with his conduct but chiefly as an efficient officer of the ship. The subscription of the passengers amounted to about £50. Now that we are thwarted by apparent improvidences we look to him who holds the winds in his fist and stows them in his treasury at a word and sends them forth at his bidding and our selfish minds are ready to demand of God why this delay? Why this calm in such a place and at such a time as this, just when we are reckoning that in a few more days we will do this or that. Here we are liable to sad mistakes. Our progress may be stayed not to frustrate our plans or disappoint our hopes but until circumstances change for our advantage or until events which require this unexplained Laurentine (?) may ripen for our reception. God does his work in the best way and at the best time though our vision is dim as not to discern his doings. We are slow to learn these lessons of waiting and watching so as to step in when god opens the door. Joseph waited in prison until Pharaoh dreamed and Jacob wept and waited awhile the famine came and drove his sons down to buy corn and Israel made bricks awhile Moses was old enough to go god's errand and Joseph tarried in Egypt until the angel brought him word again. So god often delays his blessing that waiting souls may feel their dependence, may the more gratefully receive, more highly esteem and more richly enjoy the blessing when bestowed.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

7 September 1859

September 7. On a parallel with the Australian mainland. The cow is now better.

 Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50.

7th. A fine spring morning with a fair fresh breeze and a calm sea. Our stern sail being out of repair we did not make the best of the wind. We are said to be off the coast of Australia but hundreds of miles distant. Some time last night the captain was drunk and wanted to stand on his head in the saloon. Afterwards he insulted the Chief mate.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

19 July 1859

July 19. A document made its appearance from the saloon for the passengers’ signature, the purpose of which was to remove the Captain from the charge of the ship. The reasons for this step are fully particularised in my diary. However, the mate persuaded the passengers not to carry it out. One of the 2nd Cabin passengers (male) died this morning. He was consigned to the deep in the afternoon, the funeral service being read by Mr Foster.

Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50

July 19th. A rainy morning but much better after breakfast except the breeze which was light with occasional showers when it came and went with the rain. I am told we got on well last night but have made little progress today.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

16 July 1859

We passed close to the reef the next day; it has a very dangerous appearance in the light, is about five miles long, and has a building on it commemorative of the loss of one of the East India Company's vessels (the George IV), which laden with passengers, was wrecked upon it and only a very few of its crew and passengers saved.

Our Voyage to New Zealand Per the Tornado (by a Glasgow Emigrant) Glasgow Herald December 19, 1859

July 16. Saturday. This morning the deck reminded one of the Exchange flags, and the sole topic is the proceedings of last night. The rocks on which we were so nearly on were the “Rocus Reefs” coast of South America. Today at 12 we passed them again.

  Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50

July 16th. A fine morning after a very eventful night. About midnight there was a strange bustle on the main deck and a cry of LAND AHEAD, BREAKERS AHEAD, we shall be on them in five minutes was confusedly uttered by many voices and at once the whole ship was one scene of mild confusion. Some dressed, others half dressed and many in their nightclothes were seen making to the main deck to prove the truth of the above statements just made (viz Breakers Ahead) and truth more ghastly we never seen. Though the weather had been dull god had given us a fine night and the full clear moon showed the bleached heads of a massive reef of rocks standing out above the sea against which the white spray could be seen dashing and foaming with awful force. To us it was indescribably awful. It had been said several times lately that the sight of land would be quite a treat but how mistaken. The sight was terrible in the extreme. To think that in a few minutes it might be to us and our families and a great host of prayerless sinners the very jaws of death. The captain (who it is said was drunk in bed) came on deck and I suppose he thought there was no chance of escape ordered the ship to be put round head foremost on the rocks but the chief mate (who is a thoughtful and clever seaman) countermanded his orders and no sooner had he given the word than the crew and passengers fell to the ropes and the ship literally spun around. We appeared so near the rocks that she was expected every moment to strike but life and death before us amid hopes and fears, the greatest possible effort was made and away we went back again to sea and passed in sight of the rocks today about ten o'clock but very little could be seen even by the aid of the glass. It is Cape St. Rogue coast of Brazil, South America. Nearly all appeared to own god's hand in our deliverance. May we all be more mindful of devine goodness saying with David praise The Lord o my soul and forget not all his benefits.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

4 July 1859

Next evening [4 July] there was another collision between the captain and one of the passengers. During tea in the first cabin, several parties were walking on the quarter-deck and the tramp of their feet had rather annoyed some of the exquisites below. The captain, to oblige them, sent up his compliments, with a request that the walking might be stopped until tea was over. This request one or two refused to comply with. When the captain came up he took them to task about it, and one of them (an Irishman) said he had a right to walk on the quarter-deck when he thought proper, as he had agreed with Messrs. Wilson and Chambers for that privilege.

Our Voyage to New Zealand Per the Tornado (by a Glasgow Emigrant) Glasgow Herald December 19, 1859

July 4. Divine service as usual. Well attended outward attention to the Sabbath in respect to cleanliness and dress much observed.after the forenoon service the children were taken a walk on the poop. Mary Crocker was looking down the ventilator from the intermediate - over balanced herself and fell on the table below, a distance of 20 feet. She was picked up soon and brought to her Mother. The Doctor ordered her to be put in a warm bath and afterwards it could be ascertained if she was internally injured as there was not outward damage done. Fortunately it was afterwards found that she was none the worse for the fall, whilst every person wondered she was not almost killed by such an accident.

 Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50.

4th. The morning is fine but the wind not so favourable, taking us too much to the west. After dinner the cry of sail was heard. From two quarters they are almost like two houses behind the hill as we can see the upper part of their rigging first and the other as we come nearer. I hear it whispered today that in the recent disturbance between the captain and mate, the ship was put in a wrong course (the captain being drunk at the time) and report says we are about a day's sail from South America. (I hear we have made 3,300 and 60 miles).

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

3 July 1859

July 3 - Awakened about eight bells (midnight) by a great uproar on deck. Got up and found it to proceed from the sailors, who had come aft in a body to get their grievances redressed by the captain. The complained of having too much work and getting too little food. They said they would not work any more unless they got more and better food and watch and watch [sic]. The captain ordered them off, and told them to come to him during the day with their complaints. They were after a whilw induced to go away, principally by the exertions of the first mate, who the captain blamed (wrongly, I think) for setting them on. Some of the passengers very foolishly interfered in the quarrel, for on the captain and mate having some words, one of them called out "Three cheers for the first mate" which were duly given. When the captain remonstrated with them for such conduct another called out, "Throw the b___ overboard." The purser then came out, and after considerable exertions managed to get them below, where the was much excitement, some going so far as to say that the captain should be deposed and the mate put in his place. The captain here came down and asked what they had to complain of. After a great deal of talk not much to the point, the captain said he could assure them, that if they would bring a case before him of anything wrong, he would do all he could to rectify it, at the same time saying that it was not in his power to interfere much with them or ill use them in any way, as he had the Act of Parliament to walk up to.

Our Voyage to New Zealand Per the Tornado (by a Glasgow Emigrant) Glasgow Herald December 19, 1859

3rd. This is a fine sabbath morning. The clouds o'erspread the skies to shield us from the heat and a nice breeze with its fanning wings makes our position more pleasant than it has been. The special favors bestowed on our voyage we are not backward to say either in private or public are attributed by us to a praying people and a prayer answering god. We held our class but as our singing was complained of we had reading in the 6th of Romans and the 91 psalm and a fellowships meeting which was acknowledged to be good. The churchman held his morning service on the poop or quarter deck amongst the gents. Poor attendance. He gave the second edition after dinner on the main deck. Worse attendance. In the evening Bro. Manners spoke from Corinthians now are we ambassadors for Christ in which he contrasted the literal and spiritual ambassadors, showed up some of the advantages of reconciliation, explained the terms on which it is proposed and their practicality and urged all to embrace them. Several found great fault with Hayter being so fast as a clarke (?) but in reference to the sermon, some saw one from him was worth more than ten from the clerical man. About noon today a sail appeared in sight and being the first for the last ten days. It caused quite a stir.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

2 July 1859

July 2. Ship making little progress. Weather excessive hot. We often observed great numbers of flying fish - they resemble a herring but have wings and fly especially when pursued by the “Bonito” a fish as large as a grilse a few yards above the water like birds. One flew on the deck and was caught by one of the sailors who cooked it for his lunch.

Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50

July 2nd. A splendid morning with a nice cooling breeze which feels very agreeable as we turn out from our berths. Sometime about midnight some disturbance arose between the captain and his men, it is said of a very disgraceful character. This region is noted on account of calms that prevail between the expiration of the North East and the beginning of the South East trade winds which sometimes detain ships for a week or two. Last week I forgot to note the captain's abuse to the chief mate. He is a quarreling fiend always serpent like, curling up and hissing and spitting his venom at someone. The breeze awoke up after sunset and at bedtime we were going at a cheerful rate.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56