Life on Board the Tornado

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

The voyage to Auckland terminated on the one hundred and sixth day from that of our departure from Liverpool. It is reckoned an average passage, though there is no doubt but it should have been done in much less time when the sailing capabilites of the ship are taken into consideration; but unfortunately we crossed the line far to the westward, and got jammed up on the South American coast. The winds until we got this far were favourable though light; but afterwards  we had seas which caused the vessel to rock considerably. There was nothing, however,  to speak of until we got round the Cape of Good Hope, where we had some weather, which, though considered rough by us passengers, was only termed a smart gale by the Captain and crew. The heat in the tropics was not so great as I expected; and, as the ship was about nine feet between decks, we did not feel it so much as we would have done had the space been less. It was felt most oppressive during the night. However, after crossing the line it gradually diminished, till, when off the Cape and until we rounded Tasmania, the cold was very sharp, and, as during that time there was a good deal of rain falling, with an occasional shower of hail or snow, while the ship rocked often to such an extent that we could scarcely keep our feet on the deck. We were almost debarred from taking the exercise necessary to produce a genial warmth; and as there were no stoves or fires below, we had just to put on as many clothes as possible. When the vessel rolled much, she would often ship huge seas, which rushed along the deck to the depth of six or seven inches.

 There were two newspapers started shortly after we left port, but they both died from inanition - the news being absolutely nil, and the talen necessary to carry them on being but small. In the clear, calm nights, too, there was often a dance on the quarter-deck, to the music of a violin, played by one of the passengers, who was afterwards discovered to be a stowaway, but not until we had been about ten weeks out; and during all this time he had managed not only to elude discovery, but also to get his provisions along with the other steerage passengers. There was also an amusement society formed, to which a small subscription was made by the passengers for prizes, to be awarded to the successful competitors in the different games. They were begun with a cock hunt. In this a cock was let off with its wings clipped, and the competitors chased it round the decks with their hands tied behind their backs and to the one who first caught it with his teeth the prize was awarded. Then there was potato picking. In this, twenty five potatoes were placed in a row along the deck, the first at the distance of five yards from the starting point, and the others farther on, two feet separate. The party who picks them up runs from the starting point, lifts the one near it, runs back and drops it into a basket placed to receive them at the starting point, he runs again for the next , and returns with it and continues to do so with the others, always running from the starting point and coming back to it with each potato singly. The shortest time in which it was done was three minutes and twelve seconds. Sack races followed, which gave great amusement; the sailers were capital at them. The proceedings were wound up by diving for money thrown into a large tub.

14 August 1859

August 14. Another stowaway discovered. His history is amusing.

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

 14th. A dull morning with light hazing rain. The breeze not so brisk yet doing well making about 10 knots per hour. In the evening it was fine though cool and a Wesleyan was to preach to us but he thinking it too cold went to his bunk (or bed) instead of preaching to us. At bedtime our way was lit up by the clear light of the full moon which has it travelled forth in majestic splendor cheerfully hailed us in our lonely way and while the little angry waves leap and toss and foam in wild confusion like the disordered passions of depraved nature, the Queen of the night with all her orderly retinue attired in silvery splendor look on all the confusion beneath and with calmness and serenity which appears peculiar to things above would seem to beckon our attention and hearts from the disquietude of our present pilgrimage as if to suggest that upward lies the land of rest and that we are while in our present dwelling far too low for the engagement of undisturbed peace. Today we are said to pass the antipodes of Greenwich about noon.

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

13 August 1859

13th. A cloudy morning with a cool and strong but fair wind. The sea still remaining high but going with us. We do not feel so much of its agitation and what we get in rocking and rolling about is taken the more cheerful as we are making good headway out of it. The clouds dispersed in the forenoon and the day forward was fine. This is fine sailing. I hear we have run at the rate of 12 knots per hour for the last forty eight hours. The evening is dull and it is said there is an eclipse of the moon. Yesterday I should have noticed that the Irish stowaway was called to account for himself and I am told his strange confession was to this effect that he came on board in drink and that he fell asleep and that when he awoke the steam tug had left us so he resolved to make the best of it (that's his own account) yet it appears evident that him and his Irish mates had agreed that one of them should get booked on two mess cards to obtain rations for his supporters.

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

12 August 1859

12th. About two this morning another stern sail boom broke. But the morning was fine though cloudy with a strong breeze in the right direction which blew up a few light showers during the day. The juvenile and female passengers do not appear as much on deck as usual on account of the rain, the cool wind and having not shelter. Since morning the wind slackened very much. The stern sails are again flying but not doing as much as in the night before they broke. During the day we have had a great deal of company of the winged tribe and although very different to the land birds yet not the most handsome in their appearance yet they appear to fly with great ease being rarely seen to move their wings. Our progress today has been very good. The clouds cleared off after sun set making it more pleasant on deck. Gibson the stowaway was struck on the face this afternoon without provocation by the captain.

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

11 August 1859

11th. A cloudy morning with light rain. The wind varied a little in our favour during the day and on the whole we kept up a good speed. 2 stern sail booms has broken this afternoon which was replaced. Another stowaway was discovered today who had been concealed amongst a large family of Irish and who was ordered to work amongst the crew next day.

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

14 June 1859

On the 14th we spoke the Old Dominion of Richmond. We bore dow on her, and our captain hailed her with "Ship ahoy! What ship is that?" "The Old Dominion." "Where are you for?" "The Bristol Channel; what ship are you?" "The Tornado; will you be good enough to report the Tornado from Liverpool for New Zealand?" "Yes." "Thank you" - and with this, the ships separated.

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

 June 14. Spoke the “Old Dominion” for the Bristol Channel.Two stowaways discovered among the sails. Captain set them to work.

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

14th This morning the wind is still good. The rolling of the ship has made some passengers look rather sickly but nothing we expected it to be. About one o'clock we passed a ship, the Old Dominion bound for the Bristol Channel. Who engaged to report our ship. The main was rather unsteady but improved again the the evening so we got safely over the Bay of Biscay with nothing worse than being rocked about a little.

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

13 June 1859

Two stowaways were found; they had hid themselves in some corner of the ship, with a view of obtaining a free passage.

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

June 13. Purser put up the following notice as to provisions, cooking etc. Monday. Preserved meat & pres. potatoes. Tuesday. Pork and pea soup. Etc.etc.etc

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

13th. The morning is fine but the breeze is very light so we make slow progress. We saw the cape clear and sailed out of the Irish channel into the Bay of Biscay about 6.30. The wind came merrily and continued at a good rate.

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