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.

28 June 1859

June 28. A notice was put on the cow house that we should be off the Western Islands tomorrow when Mr Hughes, a saloon passenger, would go ashore in a boat and would be glad to post any letters or undertake commissions to purchase oranges etc. Many set about writing but it turned out a hoax. The “Tornado Times” and “Tornado Telegraph” published weekly brought to an end by the Captain tearing down one of the manuscripts from the cow house. The passengers all displeased at him as a good deal of amusement was got from the Lolograph Press.

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

 28th. As we turned out from our berths we were welcomed by a fine morning after having been well rocked all night but our speed is good having run it is said 14 or 15 knots or miles per hour and today about 12. It is worth remark that some of the sailors say they never went so far into the Atlantic without having to reef sail but this time our ship as carried all the sail she could put up about 30 in all. We see how a special providence has attended us, The Lord graciously answering the earnest heartfelt and believing prayers of our dear friends who have besaught him on our behalf. What but god's blessing could enable us who were unaccustomed to seafaring life to bear so well all the changes of diet, air, food etc connected with a voyage across the Atlantic and especially Friend Manners who could never in his past life endure the shortest sea voyage without being sick nearly all the way has not up to this time had a days sickness. Indeed the whole ship is a marvel and proved ever since we came on board. The weather has been all favorable. For the first fortnight we had fine sunny days with steady and pleasant breeze. Stronger breeze came at god's bidding, filling our sails and bearing us on with double the speed we had run before. Again has we approach the Tropical region where it is exceptionally hot God curtains the heavens with clouds and fans us with stronger breezes thus ruling the elements and making all conducive to our health and comfort. May we never forget his mercy and goodness.

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.