Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.
Monday, August 5, 2013
22 July 1859
July 22. The former part of this day was fine. Afterwards showers
came, the wind strong and the sea running high. A sail was seen early
this morning as far as the eye could see but not being in our course,
we did not see it again.
21 July 1859
July 21. A fine morning with a strong and steady though contrary wind
which continued all day. Some of us rose very tired this morning
having been rolled around all night.
Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.
20 July 1859
Saw the South American Coast (said to be about Paraiba), in the distance.
July 20. A very dull day with heavy showers of rain and a rough sea. We are kept very near the western coast, the south east trade winds bear us over that way. We sighted land again about noon about 70 miles off then turned the ship the other side to the wind and went out to sea again.
Our Voyage to New Zealand Per the Tornado (by a Glasgow Emigrant) Glasgow Herald December 19, 1859
July 20. A very dull day with heavy showers of rain and a rough sea. We are kept very near the western coast, the south east trade winds bear us over that way. We sighted land again about noon about 70 miles off then turned the ship the other side to the wind and went out to sea again.
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.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
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.
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.
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.
17 July 1859
Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
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