An Unhappy Passenger

As will be obvious from reading the posts on this blog, many passengers were unhappy on board. According to an article in the Daily Southern Cross, problems may have continued once they arrived in Auckland (this article was useful to put names to some of the Tornado's crew):

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th.

Captain Aitken, of the "Tornado" appeared to answer the charge of George Anderson, a passenger, for a breach of the stipulations contained in his contract ticket, by neglecting to supply him with provisions, etc, as per said contract ticket.

George Anderson, sworn— l was a passenger by the "Tornado," from Liverpool to Auckland; but I am bound to Wellington; that is the contract ticket; it is in the same condition as when I received it. On Saturday, 24th September, we arrived in Auckland. I still occupy my berth on board. On the following Wednesday, about 2 o'clock, we were served with a tin of preserved meat and some potatoes, for 61/2 adults. On Thursday, we received nothing from the ship but a piece of raw pork. My family consists of myself and wife and two children. On the Friday we had the same piece of pork, and on Saturday we had nothing served out. We had neither peas nor rice during the week. We had flour, which should have been served out on Monday, but was not served out till Saturday. There were several things not supplied to us. I complained to the Captain, who told me that he himself had difficulty in getting his own provisions. The Captain was sober. I was obliged on several occasions to purchase provisions on shore. I spent at least one pound.

Cross-examined by Mr. Russell I understood the Captain to say he could not get his provisions cooked or uncooked. I was told the Cook was drunk but I did not see him. The word Wellington was inserted in the contract -ticket before it was signed. The bulk of my luggage is marked passenger for Wellington.

Thomas White Young deposed— l am a passenger by the "Tornado," about to proceed to Wellington. On Wednesday, there was nothing served out at the proper hour but a little after we had some preserved meat given to us. On Thursday we had a piece of uncooked pork brought down. On Friday the same piece of pork cooked, and on Saturday the remains of Friday's pork.

For the defence Samuel Smythe, Purser of the "-Tornado." Last week I sent for the steerage passengers to get their provisions. Complainant said the steward ought to buy them. Up to last Monday week, Mr. Anderson was in the habit of coming for his provisions. He was offered a passage from Manukau to Wellington in the steamer but he refused, because we would not give him a saloon passage. The reason the provisions were not served out in time was, because up to the last I was negotiating with complainants for their passage to Wellington. The pork was not cooked on Friday, because the cook was drunk. The first irregularity as to the issue of the provisions arose from the idea that the passengers were all going to Wellington by the steamer.

Cross-examined by Mr. Wynn The first Monday after we arrived in Auckland, fresh beef was issued to the Cook, and I suppose the passengers received it, as I heard no complaint. No bread was issued, nor flour, nor oatmeal. On Wednesday I was present, when Mr. Anderson came to the storeroom. He took some of the provisions away, viz., flour, butter, tea, and sugar. I don't know what was issued on Friday. During the voyage the stores were generally served out on Monday's and Tuesday's. During the week in question, salt meat was offered to complainant, and refused - he wanted fresh. This week the provisions were issued altogether. I did not tell complainant the contract ticket was a forgery. I won't swear that I did not make use of the word forgery but I swear that he told me himself that he had nothing to complain of, except the cooking. My duty in the ship is to see that the passengers have their provisions, and are fairly treated. If the cooking is bad, the passengers complain to me and I see it rectified during the week in question. They obtained more of some of the articles than they were entitled to, and during that time Mr. Anderson made no complaint, except as to the cooking.

Alfred Smith Fulljames said— He was assistant purser and passenger on board. It was his duty to attend to the issue of stores. Last week complainant had all the provisions mentioned in the contract ticket, exceept beef, and for that he took pork. The steward for the second cabin obtained salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, rice, and sometimes preserved potatoes, and delivered them out daily. Last Friday the cook got drunk.

Cross-examined He has been drunk several times. There has not been much drunkenness on board. She is a sober ship compared with others. Complainant preferred pork to beef.

Robert Askew was assistant steward for the second cabin Last week the provisions were served out as usual. Complainant refused the salt meat - he wanted fresh. They had fresh beef on Monday, and had it cold on Tuesday. I gave it to them myself. On Wednesday, a tin of preserved meat was issued. On Thursday they had pork, but the cook was drunk.

Cross examined— There were 25lbs of pork issued that week, and three pieces were boiled on the Friday. The pork was issued on the Thursday morning - that was not the proper day to issue meat but there were some pieces left from the last week. I don't know how much pork the passengers are entitled to. I have cooked meat for the passengers that was brought from the shore by them. I can't swear that Mr. Anderson gave me any to cook for him.

By the Court— l know there were 25 lbs. of pork issued that week, because the purser told me so.

His Worship said that no difficulty would have occurred had the law been complied with, that provisions should be issued daily, and issued cooked. The contract ticket was not in accordance with the law, but that was not the fault of the Captain. The evidence was most contradictory, had it not been so, and a conviction had taken place, he wished it to be distictly understood that the penalty would not have been a light one. Case dismissed.

Advice for Future Emigrants

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

I have given all the particulars of our voyage at all interesting, though very probably they may appear very tame to you; but before concluding, shall make a few remarks which may be useful to other parties coming out; and as the greatest inconvenience, at least as experienced by me, arose from the badness of the water. I shall speak of it first. Parties who had been to sea before said it was not bad considering, but to me it was quite unpalatable, its taste being very bad, and its smell altogether overpowering. We mixed it with lime juice, with spirits, and all we could think of, but whilst we were in the tropics it grew daily worse. During the last three weeks of our voyage, however, we got water which was very good, although much older than what was served out to us at first. Having previously made the voyage between Liverpool and Melbourne and back, but being in iron tanks, it was in a very good state of preservation, and had a fine flavour. It would certainly add much to the comfort of passengers should similar tanks be adopted in all vessels, and if they are not suitable for wooden ships, the chemist who could invent some ingredient to freshen stale water would deserve the heartfelt thanks of all emigrants to the Antipodes. As it was, we felt thirst much, and as ale and porter were one shilling a bottle, those who gratified their appetites with these beverages did so at considerable expense. I would, therefore, advise emigrants to take on board with them a few dozens of ale or porter bottled for export, or table beer, which would be preferable could it be made to keep long enough and stand the heat. Effervescing powders, too, highly flavoured with ginger or other strong aromatics, are of great advantage.

The most of emigrants take with them some money, generally in the shape of a bank order; but one of our fellow passengers told me he had lodged what money he was possessed of with the Oriental Banking Company, who have a branch in Edinburgh, and they allow him 4 per cent on it from the date it was lodged in Edinburgh, until such time as he may wish to lift it in Auckland. This I therefore consider to be the best way of bringing out money, as interest at 4 per cent during a three month voyage comes to something; at all events I would advise all intending emigrants to make inquiry about it. I made all the inquires I could think of in Glasgow as to the best mode, but unfortunately heard nothing of this plan.

There are now three regular lines of ships to New Zealand - two from London and one from Liverpool (the White Star line of Messrs. Wilson and Chambers, by whom the Tornado was sent out), and it is most convenient for parties from the west of Scotland to go from Liverpool; and I must in justice admit that the provisions served out to us were of excellent quality, though the style in which they were cooked was certainly not what it should be, it being often just a destruction of food; and the steward's attendance, also, was far from what might be expected. However, if a little improvement was effected in these particulars, I do not think that emigrants could do better than come by this line; but they should make themselves certain that their passage is secured on terms as favourable at any rate as those obtained by other parties, as I have ascertained that some of the other passengers have got out for £20 (and some for even less it is said), whilst they received the same accommodation and provisions as we did who paid £25 each - so let those who are coming out look sharp in making their bargain. Our family (four in number) came out in the second cabin, and were the purser or mate to sit at the head of the table in the second cabin, and see that things were made as they should be; it might be made a very comfortable place for a family wishing to come out in a moderate way. But were I coming alone, or only with a party of young men, I would certainly go in the steerage, and lay out a little money in buying cheese, ham, a box of Nova Scotia herrings, and I would make myself equally comfortable almost, as well as be a good deal cheaper in the end.

16 September 1859

16th. A very dull morning. Showers of light rain fell through the day. Sailing with a strong side wind, too strong for our canvas, four of our sails having gone to pieces in about twenty hours. (?)izi and gibb fore top sail, fore main stay sail, and mizzen top sail. The friends of the purser (or storekeeper) mouted a testimonial in his favour but did not succeed.

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

26 August 1859

August 26. A fine cow, carried for the use of the saloon passengers, dangerously ill. The purser carries out a sheet with its pedigree and if it lives expects getting £100 for it.

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

26th. We have a fine morning after a heavy night of tossing. Some say it is the worst night we have had and the top sail that went to pieces seems to give evidence in favour of the report. Winter off the Cape appears to consist in sleet, wind and rain. Wind and sea was both heavier at night.

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

18 July 1859

18. Very wet and stormy. One of the passengers died today; his body was enclosed in a coffin, and a quantity of iron etc along with it to make it sink. The parson read the funeral service, and when he came to the words "and commit his body to the deep," the coffin was slid down a couple of planks into the sea, when, horrible to relate, the coffin broke, and the body became quite visible, and parted from the coffin. There was a heavy sea running, and the ship rushed on, leaving part of the coffin and the corpse swimming on the surface.

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

July 18th. A dull morning after a rough night. The sea rolls heavy and the wind blowing so strong that we could not have much sail out. At breakfast time it was better for about an hour and then we had it as bad as ever with slight intermissions through the day. It is said that these are land squalls and that we should have better weather if we were more out to sea. It is rumored that we were near land both last night and this morning but not visible. A sail or two appeared this forenoon but was soon shut from our sight by the dense rain which fell in torrents. Today we were near having a mutiny raised against the captain for keeping so much inland as we are in danger of being blown on shore and as no honest (?) information is given explanatory of our position or the cause to which it is attributable, considerable fear and suspicion has been excited in the minds of the passengers generally on this account and we think have been very much strengthened by our captain not speaking with ships we have passed. Two or three of which was so near that he could have done so and why he has not spoken with them has not been explained. Therefore on account of these things some have surmised that the captain must be ashamed of being seen so far out of his course. An elderly man who was a passenger in the second cabin died in the morning about ten o'clock and his remains was nailed up and committed to the deep this afternoon about four o'clock. The clergyman read a service over the corpse after which the tars launched it on the troubled waves and some old iron having been put into the temporary coffin to sink it to the bottom, broke it as soon as it touched the waves, exposing part of the body and somewhat startling the feelings of many who like myself were collected for the first time to witness the burial of a fellow mortal in waves of the greedy sea. The man spoken of only lay about 10 days ill. I am told his name was Mason and that he was a married man and that he came from Maclesfield. He was near 60 and it is said that he had near an hundred pounds which together with his box he left in charge of the purser (or storekeeper). I am told that his wife was much troubled about his coming nor would it comfort her in her bereavement did she but know that on his coming on board he made the worst drinkers his companions and drank hard himself and after his private stock of drink was exhausted , I have seen him get a stock overnight so that he might not have to wait until the store was open. Had he been a sober man I am inclined to think he would not have died at this time. This is another stuck down by the murderous habit of drinking and how awful to think that no drunkard shall enter the kingdom of heaven. How clearly it his proved that a companion of fools shall be destroyed. No (?) his such a fool has the poor drunkard.

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.

15 June 1859

The next day [15th] an American brig passed very near to us, with the stars and stripes flag flying. She was answered with "the flag that's braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze", which was run up, down and up again, when down came the stars and stripes, quick as lightning.

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

15th this morning we are said to be making good headway along the north Atlantic Ocean. A fine steady breeze all day. Today we had some regulations given by the purser about going to him for our stores. Now according to Act of Parliament they are bound to hand them out daily and in a cooked state but instead of this we were once a (..illegible) some(?) part on Monday and the rest on Tuesday. The (...illegible) our rations comes (?) next morning and might (...illegible). Dinners as follows: Monday Preserved beef and peas; Tuesday pork and peas soup; Wednesday beef and rice always boiled; (...illegible) meat and boiled flour pudding with suet and currants in (...illegible) and preserved potatoes. Saturday pork and peas soup and a (...illegible) our cold meat and a boiled flour pudding. The Bas(...illegible) if you ask where did we we get our Barm I can answer after making our bread a piece of the dough was (...illegible) Baking Day we put water to dissolve it and then (...illegible) sugar and carbonate soda. This was our substitute (...illegible).
There appeared on the cow house a manuscript newspaper called the Tornado Times and Midatlantic Advertizer. Edited by two or three fops who appeared as if desirous to convert into nonsense the sayings and doings of most around them but who evidently failed to display anything particular except their own want of manliness and good common sense. But as their was always torn down it soon ceased to be. Another called the Telegraph succeeded it with great personal pretensions but after two or three unsuccessful attempts it disappeared from the stage.
I should have said also that the purser put out a list of things for sale. Bacon (?) ham 1-6 per pound. Bottled ale 1s each. Porter 1s each. Gin 3-6 each. Whiskey 3-6 each.

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