Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Petrel Papers: a weekly magazine issued on board the ship "Parramatta" outward bound from London to Sydney, 1882-1883
MLMSS 2716 / Item 2
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The Petrel Papers, a WEEKLY MAGAZINE issued on board THE SHIP "PARRAMATTA," outward-bound from LONDON to SYDNEY, 1882-'83. EDITOR JOHN MAFFEY, L.R.C.P. Etc
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Preface
The following pages were written during the voyage of the Ship Parramatta from London to Sydney commencing September 28th, 1882, Ending January 1883, thus extending over a period of days. The Journal was pub-lished weekly on Saturday, by being read aloud at the Saloon table during dessert, and then circulated amongst the passengers and crew; it was issued each week from Nov. 4th to Decr 23rd inclusive, excepting on the week ending Decr 9th, owing to my being so much engaged night and day upon my pro-fessional duties during the last week of Mr Read’s life.
The whole of the articles etcetera are supposed to be the original composition of the contributors and with some few exceptions I believe this is the case. The editorial work was placed in my hand’s, with a Committee of three to assist me; from the said Committee I have neither received assistance nor contributions with one exception; – I have thus had my time so fully occupied, that, it has been impossible to provide for the require-ments of my own private correspondence; I now therefore send home the journal for circulation amongst our family and other friends who may be interested in our doings. John Maffey LRCP etc (Editor)
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INDEX
Advice to new settlers in the Colonies, leader on – 85
A Merrie Christmas greeting from old Mother Carey. By J.R.H. – 125
A Tragic Christmas Eve – 120
Bazaar, The, Leading article on, – 17
Boarding the "Mary Blundell" – 14
Burlesque on Supposed political situation in England (leader) – 31
Captain Goddards’ Bazaar [indecipherable] – 51
"Chairs" by "Victor Secundus" – 6, 22
Charades. By I.R.H. – 5, 21
"Christmas at Sea, 1882." Carol by S. Spencer – 100
Christmas Carol, A. By John Maffey, L.R.C.P. Etc – 103
"Chums" By "Victor Secundus" – 80, 95
Correspondence – 3, 66, 84, 106
Court Circular – 66
"Dead Horse." by Wm Murray – 29
Death of Mr Read. – 100
Distances. By Captain Goddard – 28
"Do you love me?" By William Williams – 78
Editorial delights, Leader on – 49
Entertainments. – 10, 24, 43, 65, 67, 98, 124
Equatorial sports. – 38, 44
Facetiae – 47
"Fire!" By J.R.H. – 19
Folk Song. By William Williams – 79
Frontispiece, our – 24
How I spent my first Christmas Day in India. By Victor Secundus. – 111
How old Mrs Bruce saved a Sweep’s fee. By I.R.H. - 90
"I’m thinking of thee". By H.S. Ottewill – 45
Introductory leading article. – 1
"It doesn’t matter." By H.S. Ottewill – 45
John Rousby’s apparition. By John Maffey, L.R.C.P. – 115
"Journeying Home." By H.S. Ottewill – 25
Leading Articles by the Editor – 1, 17, 31, 49, 69, 85, 101
"Man over-board! A." By Wm Murray – 71
My Christmas Gift. By M.M. N. – 105
"No business of mine." By H.S. Ottewill – 64
Notices to Correspondents. – 16, 30, 48, 67, 84, 100, 132
Our frontispiece. – 24
Parramatta Bazaar, The – 9, 47, 53, 58
" " Leading article on – 17
Poetry. – 25, 29, 30, 42, 45, 59, 62, 78
Prize distribution, Equatorial Sports. – 44
Puzzles. – 10, 29
Recollections of a Christmas Eve in Fiji. By J.R.H. – 107
Riddles. – 46
Ship’s Report. By F. I. Shardlow, Chief Officer. – 13, 28, 47, 63, 78, 90, 131
Surmise sketch as to condition of affairs on land, leader on. – 69
"Taming of Bucephalus." – 42
"The [indecipherable] and worries of a dyspeptic man" - By J.R.H. – 62
Tiger Story, A. By Victor Secundus. – 34
Transit of Venus, 1882 – 87
Tristan d’ A Cunah – 50, 60
Valedictory address, leader – 101
"Wife for sale!, a." By J.R.H. – 73
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Contents.
No. 1.
Introductory leading article – 1
Correspondence, Miss Moulton to - 3
" Mr Shardlow – 3
" Mr Shardlow – 4
" to Miss Moulton – 4
Charade, by J.R.H. – 5
Chairs, by "Victor Secundus" – 6
Proposed Bazaar – 9
Entertainments Oct 13th, & 18th – 10
Ship’s Report, by Mr Shardlow – 13
Boarding the ‘Mary Blundell’ – 14
Notices to Correspondents – 16
No. 2
Leading article (our bazaar) – 17
Fire! By J.R.H. – 19
Charades – 21
Chairs (Conclusion) 22
Our frontispiece – 24
Journeying home (original story) – 25
Entertainments – 26
Distances – 28
Ships Report – 28
‘Dead Horse’ – 29
Miscellaneous – 29
Notices to Correspondents – 30
Notice of Birth – Fly leaf
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The Petrel Papers
No. 1. Saturday November 4. 1882
A thousand miles from land are we!
Sailing about on the bright blue Sea.
A long way after.
Barry Cornwall.
Very naturally persons at sea (as in our case, we may say, in more senses than one) are apt to think of the denizens of the "Vasty deep" or its surroundings, when in quest of a name for such a journal as we propose to issue to the inhabitants of the Parramatta ship during her journey to Sydney. Under the banner we hoist at our mast head, we hope, during the few weeks that our lives are cast so intimately into association with each other, no storms may arise, either in the cabins, on the poop or main decks, or in the vast ocean surrounding us; and thus that one of the synonymous names of the "Thallaisdroma Marina", and its old fashioned meaning may not be realised or follow our approach":
"For the mariner curseth the warning bird,
who bringeth him news of the storm unheard"
as we have no wish in any way or sense to be considered a "Stormy Petrel".
We trust that the interest of all concerned in the success of this journal is sufficient
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to lead us to assume with confidence that the contributors to its papers will incessantly flit* between the editor’s bag and all other parts of the ship, that throughout the voyage there will be no lack of the necessary ‘copy’ to keep the office boys going. We commenced our first number to the favourable and kindly criticism of our read-ers; specially do we ask for kindly forbearance with an essay which will manifest much of the ’prentice hand, knowing as we do fully and too well its many shortcomings and imperfections.
The interest with which this journal will be pro-duced by those to whom you have confided its com-pilation is that it may both instruct and amuse all concerned; to this end we shall be delighted to receive anything in the shape of contributions in MS. of an original character referring to any part of the world; for, as the "Mother Carey’s Chicken" is found distributed throughout the seas of the whole of the known World, so we have the presumption to offer a maternal greeting to the literary, scientific, philosophic, mechanical, humourous or other items of information sent to us; – at the same time reserving to ourselves the maternal privilege of scrutinising very closely
* A characteristic with which the Petrel is credited being that it is never known to rest, even on the water, but it would be unfair not to add a curious incident bearing upon this which has come within our knowledge. During a recent voyage of this ship our friend Mr Shard-low and a Mr Logair saw some numbers of the petrel tribe sitting on the water & floating like other water fowl. (Ed.)
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the eggs laid by the chickens and offered for your delectation.
Correspondence
The following correspondence having taken place recently between Miss Moulton, and Mr Shard-low, the Chief Officer, it has been handed to us for publication.
Mr Shardlow, I’m not in fun,
But mind you this order must be done.
The yellowish red tin box in hold
With iron bands so big and bold,
Must forthwith arise without delay
From your old dingy dark hatchway.
"Not wanted on voyage" thereon you’ll find,
Or some such words, unless you’re blind;
Leave rats and mice together to play,
My box must ascend this very day.
No hat have I to wear in the Sun
While you delay and think us in fun,
I warmly clothed the heat must bear
While dresses cool are lying there,
Which I should be so glad to wear,
In these hot days so calm and fair.
The yellow box too of smaller size,
Nearer the top I think it lies,
Would in my cabin give me pleasure
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When standing by my other treasure,
But if much trouble this would give,
I could without the yellow box live.
Now as to "Brownie", let me say,
I will not pass another day
Unless within my cabin small
You place that box against the wall,
Between the two make no mistake
For if you do my heart will break.
Now Sir, look sharp, or else you’ll find
I can be otherwise than kind,
But if into that dismal hold,
You go with steps so true and bold,
No recompense I deem too good
For one who has those rats withstood;
And better still, my wants supplied,
No wish of your’s shall be denied.
This last appeal not made in vain,
I’ll never trouble you again;
But, let you live a life of rest
Without my box upon your chest.
No 13, Saloon Cabin,
21st October, 1882. M.K. Moulton
Many thanks, my dear little lady
For the order so nicely expressed,
But as I told you the other morning
When you were at home, and not dressed.
That box of a colour called Brown
Which by the way is a colour called Common
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So colourless by the distance it’s down
In fact it’s quite down at the bottom.
Now to ease your dear little mind
The mate and three of his Jacks
Will endeavour this day to find
It, in spite of hte heat and sore backs.
Now here’s to the end of my Sonnet
As to your offer – well here to my fate
I really should like your best bonnet
And remain,
Ever your’s,
The Chief Mate.
Parramatta, October 23rd, 1882
We beg to state that we cannot hold ourselves responsi-ble for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. Ed.
Charade.
My first is what Cockney folks call a young maid;
My second’s an article – a:
My third is a herb, most important in trade,
And esteemed on the family tray:
My whole is a creature of classic renown;
And though often seen without stockings or gown,
It’s innocent face was ne’er [occasioned?] with shame
In prose or in rhyme please to tell us its name.
J.R.H.
Replies to be sent to the Editor not later than the 8th hour.
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Chairs
The heading of this article at first might appear to be of a nature frivolous and mild in the extreme; but to the eye of the "old Chum who has sailed across the "herring point more than once, the simple word chair conjures up at once immeasurable visions of the past either pleasurable or otherwise, as his memory carries him back to thoughts of other voyages.
There are as we know various kinds of chairs; the Sedan chair of our great grandfathers, the chair of State, the chair which we all remember having sat in as a baby, that high treacherous edifice which served to elevate us at the table to a level with our Father and Mother and elder brothers or sisters, which constantly overset or divided in the middle just as we thought we had climbed to the summit of our ambition. There is also the Chair of the Local Government or School Board, to the oc-cupation of which at some period or other of his life the average English Townsman generally aspires. In fact there are many kinds of chairs, but the es-pecial chair to which at present I wish to draw your attention is the "Sedile Navalis" or "Nautical Chair" the chief feature of the impedimenta of an outward or homeward bound passenger on a long voyage.
My attention to this momentous subject, as a fitting article for the "Petrel Papers", was drawn into this channel on seeing a heap of chairs after washing the decks last Saturday. There are several varieties of the "Chair Nautical" but for convenience sake I will divide them into two chief species, the com
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fortable, and the uncomfortable. At the head of the former class I will place that large, commodious lounging place constructed of bamboo and cane, in which the owner can lie at full length, the head just raised to the proper height, the lower extremities luxuriously stretched out before him, with room enough to enable him to change their position should they become cramped by long continuance in one attitude. On one side of the arms of this chair of luxury is a square receptacle in which may be placed a book, pipe & tobacco, or if the owner be one of the gentler sex the needle work with which she may happen for the time to be too tired or indisposed to look upon. On the other side is a circular hole in which the Sybarite, for he must be a sybarite to be the owner of this chair, may place his glass of Brandy Punch or Shandy gaff during the intervals of his libations. The owner of this chair is indeed to be envied and he immediately takes up a superior position amongst his fellow passengers. For the first week of the voyage he feels that he fully enjoys the society of his chair to himself; but finds as the days wear on that that familiarity which breeds contempt among his companions is gradually isolating him from the fond object of his love. The first intimation of this change occurs some morning, as after breakfast, he ascends the Companion, his favourite morsel or port in hand, intending to wile away some of the tedium of the long voyage. As he grad-ually nears the usual position of his chair the suspicion dawns upon him that it is already occupied. The fair Mrs Lubra, widow of a recently defunct member of the South Dales Legislature is seen in possession of his property surrounded by her numerous progeny. She had
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just come on deck from the children’s breakfast, and finding so desirable a location unoccupied, had made herself master of the situation. Our Sybarite wanders vaguely an apparently aimlessly around his property for a time; which elicits in due course from the fair Mrs Lubra the simple question "Oh! Mr S. am I in your chair?" and continues in the most innocent tone – "Oh! do take it please." "I am so sorry". Our friend of course denies the simple imputation that he is seeking his chair "Oh, no! I do not want it; pray sit still"; and presently betakes himself to the miseries of a sky light grating, the discomforts of which in a short time sends him wandering again inwardly vowing that he will not be done out of his happy lounging ground in this manner in future. His vow however is destined to be only short-lived. The same afternoon after the exertion of a game of quoits he makes his way once more to his favour-ite, intending to enjoy the solace of a pipe and a "peg" after his hard work. Alas! the best laid plans of men and mice go off agee. Our friend finds to his chagrin the chair in possession of the Right Honour-able Walloby Track, the youngest son of an ex-colonial Governor, who is on his way out expecting to reap some of the laurels which he fancies have been sown for him by his Sire; but which, Alas! for him poor fellow, soon prove themselves to be a delusion and a snare. Our young friend unlike Mrs Lubra takes no notice of our Sybarite who after a minute’s wistful look betakes himself to the nearest vacant seat. He has not been long seated however when the fair owner of the chair in which he has taken his position comes up and says "I think you are sitting upon my work"; - the Sybarite at once rises; but no work is to be seen, this however, does not
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matter, the ruse has been effective, and our friend is once more a helpless wanderer on the deck. We have said the owner of this kind of chair has been envied, but by the end of the voyage he finds that it is a sad mistake to be the possessor of a desirable chair.
There are several other specimens of the order of "Chair Nautical", class "Comfortable" to which I should like to draw the attention of your readers but I am fearful I have trespassed too much on your space Mr Editor. I hope however with your permission to continue the subject in a future issue of your journal.
To be continued. Victor Secundus.
The intended Bazaar during the voyage.
On October 17th the Captain gathered together in the Saloon, the lady passengers, the Chaplain and the doctor and took them into confidence [indecipherable] a Bazaar which it is usual to hold during the voyage, in aid of the funds of the charities for seamen and their families of the Mercantile Marine – everyone was eager to help in so admirable a work. Mrs Bennett, Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Maffey and Mrs Shardlow were then appointed as a Committee to make necessary arrangements & will most gratefully receive all contributions. It is expect-ed that the Bazaar will take place about the end of the present month; and we cannot too strongly urge the claims of these grand benevolent institutions, and we call upon the Passengers, Officers and Crew to vie with each other in out doing the efforts in this direction ever made upon any previous voyage. [Ed. P.P.]
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Entertainments.
The first entertainment after commencing the voyage took place one Friday evening October 13th, and consisted of music, Singing and readings. Dr Maffey in the absence of Captain Goddard took the chair.
The second entertainment was given in the Saloon on the evening of Wednesday October 18th, the chief feature of which was four tableaux [indecipherable], these being interspersed with vocal and instrumental music. The characters in the Tableaux were sustained by the gentlemen & ladies of the passengers, each having adopted some nome de plume. The first representation was that of the classic story of King Pygmalion and his statue of Galatea: the characters being bourne respectively by "The only Nipper (Mr Puiches) and Miss Fanny Smasher (Miss F. Beattie. The curtain rose on Pygmalion in the act of invoking the Gods to endow his handiwork with life! On the curtain rising the second time the statue was seen in the act of shewing that the prayer had been answered. Next followed a scene from Sir Walter Scott’s novel "The fair maid of Perth" the Kiss of S. Valentine’s day; the characters in this being delineated by Miss Smasher (Miss Beattie) ‘The Fair Maid’ and Mr Sawbones (Dr Maffey) ‘Harry o’ the Wynd’. On the curtain first rising Catherine is in the act of imprinting the kiss on the sleeping Armourer. On the second rising of the Curtain, Harry has been aroused by the kiss and is en-
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deavouring to obtain the return kiss; it is to be regretted that the actual struggle in this scene converted the picture into a piece of acting.
Next an effective view of a "Raft from a wreck" was put upon the stage – the characters being taken by Mrs Sly Bacon (Mrs Cunningham) and Messrs Sawbones (Dr Maffey), The only Nipper, (Mr Puiches) Deadly Nightshade, (Mr Atkins) and Queer Fish, (Mr Odling.) the accessories in this tableaux were ad-mirable and it was undoubtedly the strong piece of the evening. In the centre was the figure of an exhausted man, (Mr Odling) into whose mouth one of his companions, (Dr Maffey) was pouring something from a black bottle, in the foreground a man (Mr Atkins) in the garb of a sailor was sitting, looking the picture of dogged despair, a short pipe in his mouth, his elbows upon his knees, supporting his face between his hands; - another sailor is on the look out, and at one end of the raft a woman (Mrs Cunningham) is seated a child clinging to her breast; a spar was rigged with a piece of canvas as a sail and at the top of the spar was a signal of distress. A life buoy, barrel and some pannikins complete the picture.
This was followed by a view of Gipsy Camp life, and was thus presented, in the centre in a reclining position was the Gispy Queen (Miss Beattie) seemingly asleep, she rouses up shortly and sings to a man (Mr Odling), who is standing upon her right "I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls". Standing behind the first man was another (Mr Atkins) whittling a stick; in the foreground, to
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the right of the stage, is a fire with a tripod over it supporting a cauldron in which a girl (Mabel Maffey) was stirring the ingredients of some culinary preparation – on the left of the stage is seen a woman (Mrs Cunningham) and a man (Dr Maffey) playing cards whilst in the background on this side (left) is a hut in the entrance of which a boy (Reggie Maffey) stands. This was the only case in which a departure was made intentionally from the idea of a picture in which every figure should be motionless, and the variation proved an entire success. In all the scenes the dresses were most effective, especially was this so in Pygmalion & Galatea. All the arrange-ments must have considerably taxed the resources and ingenuity of all engaged – in the last tableaux the costumes were remarkably good and strikingly picturesque; this was most prominently brought out in the dresses of the ladies in whom a most thorough trans-formation was produced- One making a most resplendent Queen and the other, naturally fair proving a charming brunette. It is to be wondered, with the limited resources of the ship, and no previous intimation that such dresses might be required, how so telling effects could be arrived at. After the last scene on a call for the performers they appeared in a semicircle and joined the audience in singing "The National Anthem". The Misses Churchward, Cockerill, Edwards and Moulton, with the Revd E.J. Spencer and Mr Seville added much to the enjoyment of a most pleasant evening by contributing the musical part of the programme. Mrs Spencer also explaining, so far as was necessary the tableaux prior to their pro-duction.
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Ship’s Report
Date – Latitude – Longitude – Course – Distnc – Bar – Ther
1882
Octbr 8 – 49°14’N – 5°26’W – S. 39.W – 80.miles – 30.01 – 64
9 – 48°12’ " – 7°20’ " – S. 50.W – 98 " – 30.12. – 59
10 – 47°37’ " – 9°6’ " – S. 64.W – 79 " – 30.00. – 63
11 – 46°45’ " – 9 °9’ " – S. 3.W – 53 " – 30.82. – 60
12 – 43°11’ " – 10°56’ " – S. 20.W – 228 " – 30.06. – 61
13 – 40°6’ " – 12°3’ " – S. 15.W – 192 " – 30.17. – 64
14 – 38°40’ " – 12°44’ " – S. 20.W – 93 " – 30.27. – 64
15 – 37°29’ " – 12°57’ " – S. 7.W – 72 " – 30.26. – 68
16 – 35°6’ " – 13°45’ " – S. 16.W – 149 " – 30.25. – 69
17 – 34°14’ " – 13°58’ " – S. 12.W – 53 " – 30.23. – 73
18 – 34°1’ " – 14°55’ " – S. 14.W – 48 " – 30.24. – 73
19 – 33°26’ " – 15°27’ " – S. 39.W – 45 " – 30.25. – 73
20 – 32°29’ " – 15°0’ " – S. 34.W – 61 " – 30.21. – 73
21 – 30°57’ " – 17°20’ " – S. 51.W – 154 " – 30.27. – 71
22 – 28°23’ " – 19°24’ " – S. 36.W – 183 " – 30.30. – 73
23 – 26°24’ " – 20°50’ " – S. 31.W – 151 " – 30.28. – 75
24 – 24°34’ " – 22°12’ " – S. 36.W – 137 " – 30.25. – 75
25 – 21°57’ " – 23°32’ " – S. 25.W – 174 " – 30.24. – 76
26 – 19°16’ " – 25°12’ " – S. 30.W – 186 " – 30.19. – 76
27 – 16°16’ " – 25°52’ " – S. 13.W – 185 " – 30.12. – 80
28 – 14°2’ " – 25°36’ " – S. 7.E – 135 " – 30.10. – 80
29 – 12°43’ " – 25°27’ " – S. 7.E – 80 " – 30.08. – 82
30 – 10°10’ " – 24°46’ " – S. 15.E – 159 " – 30.04. – 84
31 – 9°15’ " – 24°40’ " – S. 6.E – 55 " – 30.04. – 75
Novbr 1 – 8°46’ " – 24°37’ " – S. 6.E – 30 " – 30.04. – 84
2 – 7°32’ " – 24°48’ " – S. 9.W – 75 " – 30.01. – 83
3 – 5°25’ " – 25°6’ " – S. 8.E – 139 " – 30.00. – 80
October 7th Left Plymouth
13 Passed Russian barque "Ada Rega", from
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October
Lisbon, bound North, asked to be reported.
20th Spoke ship L.K.G.F. from Liverpool to Bombay, 13 days out.
22nd Passed Tyburnia from London to Shanghai, 20 days out.
25th Spoke German ship R.D.E.G. from Cardiff to Hong Kong, 20 days out.
26th Sighted the island of San Antonio.
November 1st. Boarded the iron barque Mary Blundell from Valparaiso to Liverpool; sent letters home by sea.
Dear Sir,
The above is the daily run of the ship since leaving Plymouth with other particulars, and I hope Sin-cerely we may like the title of your papers be ever on the move. Faithfully your’s, Frank O. Shardlow. Chief Offr.
To the Editor of "The Petrel Papers"
Boarding the Mary Blundell
1882
November 1st. Early this morning every one was on the qui vive as we were reported to have a homeward bound vessel in sight – Notice was given that the mail would close about 10a.m. and all having letters for home were eager in getting them ready for dispatch. About 10.30.a.m. a boat was lowered with four of the crew, into this boat stepped Mr Shardlow and took command, accompanying him being Mr Atkins, Mr D’Arcy Goddard, Mr Puiches and Dr Maffey, having a four miles pull before them under a blazing sun. As we pulled away from the Parramatta she presented a magnificent spectacle and one
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which we wish every passenger on board the ship could have beheld. Her form was splendid as she rode upon the water; one thing that struck the beholder was the great rise & fall of the immense ship as she moved along. Soon after we got away from the ship Mr Atkins took the bow oar & pulled the rest of the way. The boat let in a fair quantity of water which Mr Goddard, Mr Puiches and the Doctor bailed out – when about half way between the two ships we came across a belt of what appeared to be fungoid growth floating on the surface of the water, this on closer examination proved to be a button like substance fringed with a disproportionately long blue beard – it varied in size from a pins head to a shilling. There was so much of this that the belt seemed almost as if the "milky way" had been dropped into the ocean & very probably had it been night time would have been quite as brilliant with phosphorescence. This was I suppose the spawn or early stage of some kind of jelly-fish. About this time we noticed that the British Ensign was flying at the stern of the vessel we were approaching this was received with a shout in which all joined. On nearing her we made out the ship’s name to be "Mary Blundell" and from so well known a Lancashire name the Doctor at once gave his opinion she would prove a Liverpool ship. We were soon on board and received a cordial welcome from Captain Hore, he was 80 days out from Valparaiso carrying grain to Liverpool, they had had very bad weather round Cape Horn and were 14 days from the line. We handed the mail bag together with a bundle of newspapers and illustrated periodicals to the Captain and after a stay of a few moments (10 to 15) bid him adieu
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mutually wishing each other a pleasant time for the remainder of the voyage. The captain told us that he was a life long total abstainer & that his two brothers who are in command of steamers are so likewise – he certainly is a jolly specimen of a water drinker - tale & tor stout to be pleasant in the temperature we are in at present. The ship was an iron barque, beautifully clean & fitted with handsome polished teak furniture. We were soon back on the Parramatta she having followed the course we had taken & we had short of a mile to pull back; on stepping on board again on our return of course all were eager to learn what had transpired during our visit which must be the excuse for why it is intruded with this issue of the "P.P." rather out of its due place. [Ed. "P.P."]
Notices to Correspondents.
Communications have been received from Messrs. Bowler, Ethel, Houlding, Michael, Moulton, Read, "Sam Smash", Shardlow, & X.Y.Z. and Miss Moulton whose pardon we crave for placing her name last instead of first.
Replies to Correspondents.
Messrs Ethel, Bowler & Sam Smash crossed out or reserved for circulation.
X.Y.Z. We cannot undertake to insert anonymous contributions.
To all our correspondents we would return our thanks, at the same time ever asking that "the merciful man is beautiful to his beast" Verbum satis sapienti. [Ed P.P.]
Published on board the Parramatta this sixth day of November 1882 in the broad Atlantic Lat 4° N Long 26 W or thereabouts
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Contents.
Notice of birth – Fly leaf
Leader (our bazaar) – 17
Fire! By I.R.H. – 19
Charades – 21
Chairs (Conclusion) – 22
Our frontispiece – 24
Journeying home (original) – 25
Entertainments – 26
Distances – 28
Ship’s Report – 28
‘Dead Horse’ – 29
Miscellaneous – 29
Notices to correspondents – 30
Received too late for Classification.
Birth.
Hatched, in Mr Huiton’s menagerie at the fore, a couple of Antwerp pidgeons – one since dead, its mother having most inconsiderately kicked it out of the nest; it is supposed on account of its extreme beauty, this event took place on the 6th Instant.
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The Petrel Papers
No.2 Saturday November, 11. 1882
We thought good last week to briefly draw attention to the Bazaar proposed to be held during the present voyage; and will now do so more fully. Nothing succeeds like success, is a hackneyed, but at the same time, a very trite saying. We know numbers of people who prima faciae object to ba-zaars; but often, as a legitimate means to accomp-lish a much to be desired end, are constrained to acknowledge, that as a mode of extracting money, or work from certain persons, whose sympathy and help would never be obtained in any other manner, they are amongst the best, if not the very best method that can be adopted. This same holds good with the objection which comes to the foreground as to the employment of lotteries, or raffles, for the getting rid of the goods, otherwise difficult of sale, during a Fancy-fair. There are lotteries and lotteries – and to say that a person at a Bazaar, in aid of a Charity, who puts money into a raffle does so in a gambling spirit, is, in nine cases out of every ten, a proposition which it would not require the aid of our old friend Euclid – to demonstrate as a ‘reductio ad absurdium’. Most people who enter for their share in a contract of this kind have no idea of gambling; but do so simply with the object in view of helping on the good work for which the sale is being held, caring very little whether they win or not – perhaps feeling pleased if they gain
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the prize but not infrequently speaking as from our own experience getting an article which would be the variant ‘White Elephant’, making its winner only too pleased to hand it back to the bazaar managers for diplomatic discretion for the sake of example, fancy a confirmed old bachelor winning an elaborately fitted up bassinette – or equally confirmed old maid, thus obtaining a handsome meershaum pipe. We know another class of people who will never go near a Bazaar; or contribute to the funds of a charity through any such channel, but they willingly help any such deserving object by a subscription direct to its funds, in accordance with their means, or inclination; - should therefore any of our readers be of this frame of mind, it will afford us pleasure to hand his or her contribution over to the object directed, and we would impress upon them the Latin proverb "Bis dat, qui cito dat". With reference to the especial funds to be bluefitted by this bazaar, we have already expressed the hope that it may prove the most successful of the series held under the auspices of our worthy Commander. The bazaar for which we are now preparing will be the thirty-third of this series, held during the past sixteen years. Fourteen of which were held at sea, and two in Sydney harbour on board the ‘La Hogue’; Fifteen at sea, and one in Sydney harbour, on board the ‘Parramatta’. The sum realized at sea by the twenty-nine Bazaars has been £1138, whilst the three in Sydney harbour have produced £658, making a grand total of £1796. The largest sum ever netted, on the occasion at sea, was during
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the outward voyage in November of last year; viz: £55. We commenced the present effort again to the warmest consideration of our readers. Such noble charities as "The Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamens’ Institute", "The Merchant Seamens’ Orphan Asylum", and "The Seamens’ Hospital, Greenwich, (late "The Dreadnought") need no commendation at our hands. Captain Goddard has been the means of contributing a magnificent sum to their funds, we can do no better work than strengthen his hands.
Fire! By I.R.H.
The good ship ‘Harmony’ was sailing along, one moonlight evening, with a north east trade wind. Most of her passengers were singing or chatting pleasurably in little social groups on her poop or main decks, when suddenly loud cries of ‘fire!’ were heard, and smoke began to ascend through the saloon sky lights. The Captain and officers rushed below, but their efforts to extinguish the fire were in vain, it spread with resistless fury, being fed by the light wood work of the state-rooms. With all possible speed the boats were launched, and the passengers and the crew got into them, much concerned, no doubt, at having to leave all they possessed on board the burning ship, for the boats were not able to carry any personal luggage. Fortunately the weather was fine, and the shipwrecked ones safely landed on one of the Cape de Verde islands.
The official enquiry which was soon afterwards held, failed to discover the cause of the fire, and it remained a mystery to all but one passenger, who, before he died,
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confessed that on the evening of the disaster he had been smoking on the poop, and had thoughtlessly thrown away the burning end of the cigar, to windward. He had no doubt that the firebrand had been blown through one of the open ports of a saloon cabin, and falling on something inflammable – perhaps a bed – had set the ship on fire.
I need not apologise to the readers of the ‘Petrel’ for touching on a matter of such general interest as the foregoing little story suggests; nor will I stay to explain whether the story is a fact or fiction. (I do not often write on so dry a subject.) It certainly is true enough that smokers are sometimes rather careless in knocking the ashes from their pipes, or disposing of the smouldering ends of their cigars; and would kindly advise more caution, especially in tropical latitudes, where everything about the ship is dry and would easily ignite. Our Captain and his officers and crew, would doubtless do their duty in any emergency; but if a fire should gain an ascendency in a wooden ship, the bravest men afloat would be powerless as infants to control their fiery master.
May our good ship be spared the fate of the Harmony and may all who are now on board land in Sydney in robust health, and with rejoicing hearts! Long may the Parramatta keep her reputation as a safe and sound ship; and when her useful career at sea is ended, let some of her venerated old oaken timbers be made into money-boxes for the "Dreadnought Hospital" and into easy-chairs for the "Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamens’ home", London, in grateful remembrance of the valuable help she has long rendered to those excellent institutions. I.R.H.
Ship Parramatta
7, Novr., 1882
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Charades
Replies to original charades which appeared in our issue of the 4th Instant. The following were accurate:
A Cockney talking to his "Pal"
Will often call his little maid a "Gal"
The term you’ll hear beyond old Bow Bell’s sound,
Yet here, I think, your "First" I’ve found.
I’ll take your "Second", simply as you state it,
And call it "A" – sounded as in ate it.
When looking for your "Third" I see
That Chinese Herb which we name tea.
I’ve said some name it "Tea",
An Irishman would call it "Tay".
It’s only on a Yorkshire table tray
I ever heard it called te-ah (te-a)
If I thus far have guessed alright,
Tis only in the Classic garb I’d wish to see her,
That cold unblushing beauty – Galatea.
Novr 6th, 1882 "Nauticus"
Also Mrs Ethel, & Miss Ellis.
My first is a beast, and without it I trow,
Our toast would eat dry as old sticks;
The murmurs of pussy my second will show,
When her jacket she leisurely licks,
My whole is the name of a world renowned poet;
And some of our readers will certainly know it. I. R. H.
Replies to be sent to the Editor not later than Novr. 15th, 1882
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Chairs (continued from our last)
Another specimen of the comfortable chair is that belonging to our Anglo-Indian friend, Mr Chutney Wallah. It is a long low seductive looking chair made of light teak-wood, and a woven cane bottom and back, in which the owner can quietly stretch himself with his legs and feet on a level with his head. This is a chair greatly to be desired but though our lady friends, are, from the shape of its arms debarred from using it, this chair is in great demand among the male members of the company, and consequently to be avoided by anyone desirous of your chasing a chair for a sea voyage.
Next in order of comfort come, I think, the simple canvas backed chair which is generally a home made production, but for all that one of the best companions of its kind you can provide yourself with. It is simply a strip of canvas, stretched over two stout trestles, one of which is grooved for the back support to slip into. This is one of the most comfortable of the genus "Nautical Chair" and from a constant persistency on its part to convert itself into a puzzle in the hands of the Tyro who is [indecipherable] to take possession of it, one of the most desirable of all chairs to a man who has an idea of keeping his own property and using it.
Next in order come the various members of folding chairs with rests for the legs and feet, but which from an unconquerable will in the past of the hinges to break and convert themselves into a simple seat or something worse before the end of the voyage, often prove themselves most unsatisfactory.
Having endeavoured to give a short account of the chair comfortable, I shall now confine myself
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to a definition of the chair uncomfortable.
At the head of the genus uncomfortable chair, I must place that which is generally to be found in the possession of the young spinster or greenhorn, who is making the voyage for the first time. I mean that gridiron-like substitute for a chair composed of thin laths of wood which if they do not succeed in tilting us on to our face when we rise at least generally make us feel as if we had been severe-ly flagellated about the lower portion of our body, after having resigned ourselves to them for a very short time. This specimen of chair I am happy to say quickly resolves itself with its original elements, and is consigned to the Galley fire or to the Davy Jones’ locker before many weeks of the voyage is over.
Next in order come those productions of the cheap outfitting shops, made of a light frame work of pitch pine and a carpet seat. These are most se-ductive looking articles of ship furniture; but soon symptoms of their treacherous nature begin to show themselves. The tacks which confine the seat to the woodwork begin to come away, this horror is a slight ailment which is easily re-paired; ere long more serious signs of dissolution appear in the shape of splitting of the wood-work of the seat, and a general weakness of the rather numerous joints, service a desire on the part of the chair to let its owner down on one side, in fact it only requires a few weeks, if not less before the owners hitherto firm belief in its durability is con-siderably shaken; if luckily the worse does not happen to suffer in too confidently entrusting himself to its dubiously inviting embraces.
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There is another specimen of nautical chair I suppose the chair which has already made one or more voyages. This chair when it first comes on board wears a cheerfully confiding and inviting look, but soon symptoms of its inherent weakness and previous ill treatment begin to evince themselves. Lashings of rope yarn or twine may now be seen and its owner who formerly was always to be seen occupying it, is now invariably lounging on the bulwarks and sky light or wandering about on the look out for some empty chair whose owner has temporarily left it.
The genus uncomfortable chair is immeasurable and I might discant upon them ad infinitum but I fear Mr Editor that I have already trespassed too much upon your space, so will conclude by a simple word of warning to the happy possessor or intending owner of a nautical chair. Do not leave your property about the decks after dusk, and you have gone below for the night, for the British Tar has an unconquerable desire to con-sign the subjects of this article to the safe custom of the fishes, especially if he unluckily happens to knock his to shins against one in the dark.
"Victor Secundus"
(concluded)
Our Frontispiece
We would call attention to the Frontispiece adorning the cover of our Journal, at the same time we wish to express our thanks to "our" "special artist" Mrs Edmonds for designing and executing the same; it is a propos, very clever and has been greatly admired. (Ed. P.P.)
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Journeying home.
Original song by H.S. Otterwill
I am journeying home today, to my cottage far away,
Where I left my old woman years ago,
It seems it was my lot, to leave the dear old spot,
"Cause the Massa used to ship des nigger so,
My bosom heaved a sigh, as I wished them all goodbye,
I parted with them at the cottage door,
My heart was filled with pain, for I never might again,
See my dear wife and children anymore.
Chorus
So I’m journeying home today, to my cottage far away,
To my home on the Mississippi shore,
And if the strength I’ve got, to reach that dear old spot,
I’ll never leave my children any more.
Children when their work was oer, used to gather round the door
In the evening when the sun was getting low,
They would dance & they would sing, & make that banjo ring
But that is now some twenty years ago.
Many changes in that time, I quite expect to find,
May be some have finished here below.
But I never will dispair, I’ll wait till I get there,
In hopes I find them as in years ago.
Repeat chorus.
Now ever since the war, I am a slave no more,
My freedom has been bought by hard fighting.
Altho’ I’m old & grey, I hope to see the day
When, as war there will ne’er be an such thing.
Ever since I have been free, Oh! how I’ve longed to see
My cottage on the Mississippi shore
And if I once get there, to you I do declare,
My wife & home I’ll never leave any more.
Repeat chorus.
Herbert S. Ottewill.
The accompanying song sung in character at the entertainment on the evening of the Prince of Wales’ birthday by Mr Ottewill, we have been permitted to publish for the first time; Mr Ottewill also having kindly promised that we shall have the use of his topical song given on the same occasion for one of our future inserts. [Ed. P.P.]
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Entertainments
A short entertainment took place on the evening of Wednesday October 25th consisting of music and readings. Captain Goddard who kindly occupied the chair supplementing and materially helping out a too short programme by reading Ingoldsby’s legend "The Knight and the Lady".
On Friday Octr 27th took place the usual ceremony of Selling by auction and then burying the "Seamen’s Dead-Horse." The following is a verbatim et literative copy of the Poster announcing the same.
"V armorial design. R. NUATISS, 2 B. Soled bye Publick Hockshun hat thee "Mart" "Quarter deck Plaice" thee splendid Harrab stede "FLYING SCUD." The sail is ficksed to taik plaice on Fryder thee 27 Instr Hat 7 Pee Hem. Hocksheneer, Mr Tom Smash. Hall rites rezurved. Bi Horder."
This of course proved a novel entertainment to those making their first outward bound voyage. The result of the sale was a Sum of £6.2.0. being realised. We hope on some future occasion to be able to present our readers with the words of the songs sung on the occasion. On Wednesday November 1st a concert was given in which each piece therein presented was sung in character; this was a most pleasing evening. The entertainment was presided over by our respected friend Mr Houlding who in his usual genial
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manner introduced the several artistes. On Thursday evening November 9th, the Anni-versary of the birth of the Prince of Wales which certainly proved one of the most enjoyable even–ings of the kind as have had during the voyage. Where all was well done as usual by an amateur company it is almost invidious to particularise but we must mention one or two items contained in the programme. Miss Ellis’ Serenade with guitar accompaniment was rendered very sweetly, we hope next time she favours she will have overcome somewhat the timidity evinced on this occasion. Miss Gillam’s treatment of the pathetic song "The Little Hero" left little to be desired, and we would here observe that her masterly accompaniment of the other performers throughout the evening was a treat we now tender her our thanks for. Miss Vintner’s violin solo was a graceful contribution to the programme and realised a well deserved encore. We refrain from any criticism of Mr Ottewill’s delineation of negro character, it must be seen to be appreciated. We are pleased to be able to say we hope to present to our readers in forthcoming numbers his original songs – having already [indecipherable] & in-serted one of the same in the present issue. We have thus briefly summarised the entertainments from the 25th [indecipherable] up to the present time, as we find they were accumulating so rapidly that our original intention of one extended notice of each would have made it impossible to get abreast of them, the issue of the journal not having concurrence simultaneously with the voyage.
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Distances
We have so frequently heard the query "How far are we from so & so?" that we think the following table of distances kindly supplied us by Captain Goddard may prove of interest; we would suggest that our friends of an enquiring turn of mind take a copy. (Ed.)
Plymouth to Madiera – 1194 miles
Madiera to Equator – 2065 "
Equator to Trinidada– 1231 "
Trinidada to Tristan d’Acunah – 1110 "
Tristan d’Acunah to Cape Leeuwin – 6000 "
Cape Leeuwin to Cape Otway – 1490 "
Cape Otway to Sydney about – 600 "
Total distance 13,690 miles
Ship’s Report
Date – Latitude – Longitude – Course – Distnce – Bar – Ther
1882
Nov 4 – 3° 47’N – 26° 19’ W – S.37.W – 123 mls. – 30.01. - 84.
5 – 2° 27’ " – 27° 5’ " – S.30.W – 93 " – 30.00. – 83
6 – 0° 20’ " – 27° 55’ " – S.22.W – 137 " – 30.02. – 83
7 – 2° 28’S – 29° 17’ "– S.22.W – 187 mls. – 30.00. – 80
8 – 3° 47’ " – 30° 0’ "– S.16.W – 197 mls. – 30.05. – 81
9 – 8° 4’ " – 29° 45’ "– S.3.E – 146 mls. – 30.08. – 81
10 – 10° 43’ " – 30° 18’ "– S.12.W – 163 mls. – 30.07. – 81
11 – 13° 42’ " – 30° 21’ "– South – 179 mls. – 30.06. – 80
Signed F.I. Shardlow
C. Officer
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Dead Horse
Old horse, old horse, what brought you here?
You dragged a cart for many a year
From Bantry Bay to Ballyrack,
Where you fell down and broke your back.
Through kicks and thumps and sore abuse
He was salted down for Sailor’s use
Between the main–mast and the pump
You’ll find him there as salt as junk.
The sailors’ do me oft despise,
They turn him up and d-m his eyes
They eat his meat and pick his bones
And send the rest to Davy Jones.
If you doubt it or say it’s not true
Look in that cask and you will find his shoe.
Mr Murray Q.M.
A Puzzle
[mirror writing] How much a man looks like an ass,
Who cannot read without a glass. W. Bowler
Egg sepp shuns
Honnistay iz allwayz thay best polliss C az lawng az yew kant steel without refleckshuns been kast onn yeur morrill karaktur.
A sawft word turnith awai rawth falls threw when yew meat a mad bull in thay middle ov a 10 aker feeld.
Seehowalinelookswithoutspaces. W. Bowler
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When riding o’er the mountain wave
The hardy sailor’s ever brave,
He laughs at danger, smiles at fate,
And risks his life to save his mate.
Sam Smash
We regret that want of space entirely prevents us from noticing the Equatorial sports wh. took place on the 7th instant We hope however to reserve sufficient space for this in one next. [Ed]
Notices to Correspondents
Communications have been received from Captain Goddard – Miss Ellis – Messrs Houlding, Murray, Michael, Williams, Ethel, & Ottewill. Thanks to all.
We do not undertake to return rejected M.S.S.
Since going to press we find an announce-ment has been made that the date fixed for the Bazaar is Friday the 17th Instant; it has our best wishes for its success. (Ed.)
Published on board Messrs Devit & Moore’s ship Parramatta, within the liberties of Captain Goddard, this 11th day of November in the year of our Lord 1882, on the board Atlantic somewhere about Lat. 13° S Long 30° – W by John Sawbones.
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The Petrel Papers
No. 3. Saturday, November 18. 1882
Most of our fellow voyagers must often have felt a longing to know something of what is going on in the great world outside the small one (very small in some respects) in which we live, move and leave our being at present. We therefore propose to give them the benefit of information we have privately received from "our own correspondent", by "Special wire".
Parliament which in August was pro-rogued until October 24th at that date met for business, and Mr Gladstone finding things in Ireland and elsewhere had got so terribly the upperhand of him and his administration, so finding his "huddle and muddle" policy was most unlikely to reduce his state of chaos to anything like order, with his usual superabundant modesty, advised her Majesty to send for the Marquis of Salisbury; - the Right Honourable and most noble lord Knowing full well it was impossible to rule the country with an adverse majority of some-thing under a hundred in the Lower House most respectfully declined to take office and advised her Majesty to recall Mr Gladstone. Mr Gladstone thus resolved to appeal to the country – the country has markedly and
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in the most unmistakable manner condemned his policy, by returning his conservative opponents to power with a majority of from seventy to eighty strong at their back. This being the case her Majesty was again ad-vised to send for the leaders of the Tory party, and it was decided the Right Honourable James Lowther, commonly called the Right Honourable Jimmey, should undertake the formation of a ministry, his former experience as Chief Secretary of Ireland so admirably adapting that sprightly gentleman to the Herculean task of solving the Irish difficulty. Amongst the most important of the Cabinet posts and other offices which Mr Lowther had to fill up in his administration we may note the following the appositeness of most of which will at once be observable. Mr Justice Hawkins having been raised to the peerage as one of those new Law Lords now takes his seat on the woolsack as Lord High Chancellor with the title of Baron Orton, of Wagga Wagga Park, Brixton. Lord Salisbury is made President of the Council – Sir William Hart Dyke who with a peerage as Lord Whip-stock takes the Privy Seal. Right Hon Stuart Worthy goes to the Home Office. Mr Plimsol, First Lord of the Ad-miralty- Lord Elche Secretary of State for War. The Right honourable William Edward Forster having joined the ranks of the Liberal Con-servatives, with which party he has been flirting for years, resumed his office as Chief Secretary for Ireland, from which his late friends, save us from such, allowed him to be hounded. Mr Chaplin the member for Mid-Lincolnshire is to be Master of the Hounds and Lord Wharncliffe Master of the Buck
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hounds.
At the usual banquet to her Majesty’s Min-isters of State, given at the Guildhall, on the evening of November 9th, after the installation of Mr Alderman Figgins, as Lord Mayor, Mr Lowther in replying to the toast of ‘Her Majesty’s Ministers’, departed from the usual custom of a long speech, which committed the speaker to nothing, and took his and aud- ience & the world in general, ourselves in-cluded into his confidence. He declared that it was the instruction of her Majesty’s ministers to forthwith proclaim ‘Martial Law’ throughout Ireland, also that the war in Egypt being over they were enabled to send a large additional force into the country; that the whole of the troops in Egypt save the Indian contingent had been ordered home & to disembark at Queenstown from whence they would be distributed as reinforcements of the troops now occupying Ireland. Lord Tel el Kebir the commander in chief being ordered home overland to consult with the War Office Authorities prior to taking the supreme command of the troops in the Emerald isle.
We may state here that Lieut. General Sir Garnett Wollesley has been promoted to the rank of General in the army; and also has been raised to the peerage under the title of Baron Tel-el-Kebir, and so far as Ireland is concerned we hope he’ll Kebir (keep her) in order with a strong hand.
The results of some of the Parliamentary and Municipal elections which have taken place recently, & may be interesting to some on board,
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we hope to communicate to our readers in a future number should space permit.
A Tiger Story.
In the cold weather of 187- I had my first adventure with a tiger in India; of which a few notes may prove interesting to some of the readers of the ‘Petrel Papers’. One fine cool evening as I was sitting in the verandah of my Bungalow – enjoying the fragrance of my cheroot & a Pug after the fatigues of the day, and just thinking of dinner also perhaps of "Old England" and friends at Home, when my reverie was broken by the cries of an old "Buster Wallah" (villager), one of my Ryots, who came rushing into the compound & up to the verandah steps, threw himself on his knees howling and shouting "Dawai Sabib, Dawai!" ("Mercy Sabib, Mercy!") After a little trouble I ascertained from the excited old fellow, that one of his cows had been killed by a tiger that afternoon. This had happened on the ground where the cows of the neighbourhood were daily turned out to graze, under the care of a couple of cowherds, whose care of these charge usually consisted in smoking the everlasting "hubble-bubble" chewing "p?n" and sleeping.
I asked my old friend if this tiger had carried off the carcass and on his telling me that it had not done so as yet, and as it was then almost dark and too late to get a shot at the beast that evening, I comforted his heart by telling him that I could try and pot the maurauder in the morning. A tiger having killed a cow nearly always leaves it
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on the ground where the deed has been com-mitted until dusk when it returns to drag the body off to its lair in the recesses of the jungle, and enjoys his repast at leisure. I found that the cow in question had been killed close to the edge of a dense "EKor" (reed) jungle; in the midst of which Master "Bagh" probably had his midday retreat. I immediately formed my plans for having a pot at "Stripes" the next morn-ing and arranged with the old "Buster Wallah" to meet me near the site of the foul deed next day at the very first streak of day light.
My elephant at the time being ill and unfit to work, there was nothing for it but to go after the tiger on foot, track him up in the hope of finding him engaged on his morning repast. I promptly sent off a "chit" (note) to young A...... one of my assistants, telling what was on the tapis, asking him to come and dine with me, and arrange our programme for the morning. Dinner over we looked over our rifles, cleaned them thoroughly and got our ammunition ready, then turned in early so as to be fresh as possible in the morning.
At 5 o’clock next morning my ‘bearer’ awoke us and after partaking of "Chola Hazell", consisting of a cup of tea and an egg, we mounted our ponies and started for the scene of the previous day’s slaughter. We were accompanied by four "Cacharses", hill-men, each armed with a sharp "dhao" or long, broad-bladed knife to cut the jungle with if necessary; they also carried a stout bamboo, slung to this
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latter we hoped to bring back our friend "Stripes".
On reaching the grazing ground we found the old "Buster Wallah" awaiting us, armed with a rusty old flack-gun, the barrel tied to the stick with strips of cane, and looking all-together as being much more likely to injure the confiding individual using it than the game or enemy against whom it might be discharged.
On examining the ground, we found some of the cow’s blood, also the track made by the tiger in dragging away the carcass of his victim. This led us up to the edge of the "Ekor" jungle direct, as I had expected, and which I had before said bordered the grazing ground. Reed jungle in India is not like Reed waste in England, but an almost impenetrable mass of reeds from eight to ten feet high, interlaced and matted together so as to be quite impassable excepting by cutting a pathway through it.
Young A..... and I dismounted, each being armed with a good rifle; I had a "Westley Richard’s Martini Henri", and my friend a very good sporting Suider thoroughly to be depended upon. We found that the tiger had crushed down the jungle, in his passage with the dead cow, so much that by stooping down we could follow the track pretty easily, tough of course in a very constrained position. Old "Cacharers" followed us and now and again removed with their "dhoas" any obstacle that was impeding us more than usual. After a slow and tedious search or earlier crawl of about a mile we began to find the track more beaten, from which we judged we must be nearing the lair of the tiger, and therefore advanced more cautiously. I was leading, A..... following close to me, the "Carachas"
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Headed by the old "Buster Wallah" with his antiquated gun bringing up the rear. After going on very cautiously for about two hundred yards we came to a rather open space on which the "EKor" was considerably broken down and flattened all round, the space being probably twenty yards across. On the further side of this space we saw "Stripes", tearing away at the carcass of the unfortunate cow with an occasional growl. Our presence was not long in being discerned by the tiger, who looking up uttered an enormous growl, no doubt wondering who we were thus disturbing him in his morning meal.
I had previously arranged with A..... in the case of our falling in with the tiger that I being in advance should fire first, and he should reserve his shot until he saw the result of my fire. Accordingly I let drive at the animal at about fifteen yards distance with my "Martini-Henri" and had the satisfaction of seeing "Stripes" bound half a leap forward, and fall over the carcass of the cow. The brute gave one or two convulsive movements, then all was perfectly quiet. Fearing that the tiger although motionless might yet not be quite dead I asked A..... to give him the content of his Suider, which he did by quietly walking up to "Stripes" , and firing at him behind the ear. My followers the "Carachers" and the "Buster Wallah" who had, for the short time this was going on, been quite quiet, now broke out into loud shouting and yelling at the top of their voices reviled the tiger in the choicest terms the Hindustaner language could supply, and it is rather good at that sort of thing, especially becalling the tiger’s female relatives by the most
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opprobious names they could think of. In the twinkling of an eye they had pulled its whiskers out, and appropriated them to be placed in a silver amulet or charm to be worn on the arm or round the neck.
Upon examining the carcass we found my bullet had penetrated the lungs and heart from behind the shoulder so that death must have been almost instantaneous, and probably rendered A’s shot unnecessary. We soon has "Stripes" slung to the Bam-boo and made quite a triumphant party as we slowly returned to my Bungalow followed by an admiring crowd of men, wo-men and children, all yelling at the top of their voices. So ended my first day’s experience with a tiger. I may mention that the animal turned out to be a young tigress measuring 9 feet 3 inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. The skin was a very perfect one, very well marked; I had it preserved & subsequently sent it home to one of my friends in England.
"Victor Secundus"
Parramatta
14 Novr 1802
The Equatorial Sports.
Having crossed the line on Monday afternoon of the 6th of November, the usual Equatorial Sports were held on the main deck the following day, presenting some novel features to the landsmen and others making their first voyage. A start was made about 2 p.m. Mr Shardlow our indefatigable Chief Officer acting as Starter, Messrs Michael and
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Odling being umpires.
The first event was The high Jump, for this there were 14 entries. The competition com-menced at 3 ft 6 in at which there were 3 or 4 failures – at 3ft 8in again came two mishaps. At 3ft 10 in four failures more reduced the contest to Messrs Puiches, Goddard, Field Ottewill, Leonard and Atkins. On the jump being raised to 4ft Ottewill failed and in two other attempts, misfortune still dogged him. 4 ft 1 in was then essayed. Atkins and Goddard here came to grief, but the latter on a renewed effort chased the ribbon pluckily. Puiches Ottewill, Leonard and Goddard all came to grief on the first attempt at 4ft 3in. On again coming up to the barrier Puiches balked & in a third effort carried the line away; then Field Leonard & Goddard each broke it down; but on a 3rd fly Field chased it in a magnificent force. Goddard again failing, Leonard then had a final chance & barefooted chased it in fine style taking the first prize. Longden & Deven then competed for Second place which the latter secured.
Hand over hand up a rope is an essentially sailor’s feat and requires a nautical training to perform it was not therefore to be wondered that few of the passengers were "in it" The first prize was taken by Crooks the Second by Neil Anderson. We ought to mention Deadly Night-shade (Mr Atkins) made a good third in this.
Foot to foot pull is another decidedly sailor-like affair, where the contest took place between fairly matched men a great deal of excitement was manifest-ed and much amusement – such was the case with Simmonds and Vincent who were very equally balanced, in the end Vincent however got the advantage & twice landed his opponent on the adverse side. Mr Baker & Mr Ottewill shewed some fine pulling. It seems to us that in settling the final heats however much more
[Page 45]
depends upon the fortuitous entry of the competition rather than actual strength – Surely some more approved plan could be adopted. Peterson secured the first prize and Houghton the second.
The Sack Race caused the usual amount of fun but the risk of accident from a tumble must be greatly enhanced then when such a contest takes place upon a greensward as on land.
Ottewill secured first place, Vincent 2nd and Peterson 3rd.
Long jump standing Mr Baker started this by an apparently easy jump without much effort but it took a lot of beating, finally the result was Leonard first 8ft 10in. Burton second 8 feet, Devan making a plucky effort for a little fellow however only came third.
Deck chalking was the next item in the programme, this was another of the peculiarly nautical games. A rope was attached to the lifeboat & hung to within about a foot of the deck where a good sized loop was made, with this loop the feet of the competitor are hitched, he thus supporting himself face downwards & by the aid of his hands, the feat is then to pro-pel the body by the aid of the hands until it gets as nearly in a perpendicular position as possible head downwards & supporting yourself with an hand to make a chalk mark with the other as far from the point of starting as possible and then to recover the horizontal position at starting. This latter seems the great difficulty of the feat as there is always the tendency of the body to swing round with tension of the rope. We must mention that two of the boys Tommy Dodd and Peter Merreyfield made plucky efforts in this event made the latter eventually taking first place. Mr Ottewill one of the passengers, whom we learn had never tried the feat before, making a very good second, and Deven third.
The Greasy Pole Climbing elicted the fun to be expected. The boy Merrefield who took the [indecipherable]
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from the top of the pole seemed to have a very good idea of what he was about from the first, we understand he has taken it twice previously. Leonard was second in this.
Three legged race
In this Messrs Houghton & Goddard were first. Messrs Simmons & Legg second the former being 11 seconds the latter 12. Mr Spencer & Mr Seville tied the first but stood out that the others might take the prize.
Dipping for Coppers caused a great deal of fun & not a little discomfort to those engaged in it we should think. Tommy Dodd came out first having recovered 12 browns from the bottom of the tub & Legg scored with 11.
Wheel-barrow race In this Mr D’Arcy Goddard came to grief falling & severely bruising his right eye – this was the only accident of the day. Leonard & Smith were 1st Vincent & Simmonds second.
Cock-fighting Peterson 1st Simmonds 2nd
The Tug of War took place in the Poop between the Port and Starboard watched respectively under the Command of the Chief Mate & Mr Smith, Captain Goddard acting as starter. In this the Port watch completely ran away with their opponents.
The bucket of water race in this the competition ran in heats each carrying the bucket filled to a certain height with water, the task being to spill as little as possible and get in first. The one who is loosing usually managing when he finds this is the case to deluge the other who is before him with the contents of his bucket- poor Vincent came in for a large share of this. Bennis on first, Vincent second.
Race over the Mast Head this was confined to the boys only – Vincent and Andrews started at the foot of the Main mast & Dodd and the Warspite boy at the foot of the fore-mast – the course was up the mast & down again – then up the other mast & down again – Vincent and Andrews won this very [indecipherable] coming in first & second respectively going up by the rattlings and sliding down the last back-stays.
[Page 47]
The taming of Bucephalus
A new version of an old story.
In the Kingdom of Greece there once lived a queer horse
Whose head was so large and whose tail was so coarse,
That they called him "Bous", which, an ox means d’yr see?
To which name they added the Greek Cephale.
Now this horse was so wild, that ‘tis said, none was able,
To mount, nor to make him go into a stable.
But "Sandy the Big" vowed by rain, fire and thunder,
And the Delphic Oracle, I’ll make him knock under.
So, on one day, when the people assembled,
The horse was brought out and the multitude trembled,
For he kicked and he shied, and he played such mad tricks,
As made the men stare – sent the women in fits.
Appelles came out with his brush in his hand,
"Why he’ll never make such a vicious beast stand",
And [indecipherable] exclaimed, as he twanged at his lute,
"Well! I never saw such a wild skittish brute!"
King Phillip alarmed, cried, "Jupiter Ammon"!
"Dont mount him my boy, or you’re dead as a salmon,
"You Mother, no doubt, would make a great row,
"And my life, Jesu help me! Is bad enough now.
Alexander the Great, paid no heed to their cries,
Nor yet to the savage beasts plunges and shies,
With one sudden spring he leaped on his back,
And spurred with his heels and hit him a whack.
And away they both fly with the speed of the wind
Till the King and his courtiers are left far behind,
King Phillip exclaims as he chuckles with glee,
"The like of my son, you’ll none of you see."
Classicus
The writer of the foregoing has overlooked the main feature of this incident. Alexander observing that the animal was frightened by his own shadow, took advantage of his knowledge of the fact, turned the hack’s head to the sun, leapt upon his back and urging him in a direction that he could not see his own reflection, subdued the animal which was then tamed.
[Ed. P.P.]
[Page 48]
Children’s Entertainment etc.
The children, on the afternoon of Wednesday the 8th November, assisted by the Misses Moulton & Brookes got up a small entertainment amongst themselves, in which they presented a series of "Tableau Vivants" which they designated "Waxworks". A space was screened off by the side of the lifeboat & a drop curtain managed by Messrs Sloper and Longdon shut off the space. Four scenes were given. The first representing their R.H’s the Princess Alice and Prince Leopold who were presented by Mabel and Reggie Maffey respectively. Next came "Sleeping Beauty" Renie Cunningham being the beauty and very lovely the little lady looked. Gertrude Brookes and Mabel Maffey being the Mother & old woman of the scene. This was followed by the Children in the Wood where they are surprised by the bear. Gertrude & May Brooks and Mabel Maffey being the children, & Reggie Maffey covered with a skin rug being the bear. The piece de resistance followed this, was a representation of the Royal Family of England. Gertrude Brookes bore the role of Her gracious Majesty wearing a diadem & holding a sceptre, the other children being the different members. Mabel Maffey as the princess Royal, Reggie Maffey the Prince of Wales, May Brookes the Princess of Wales whilst the others viz Renie & Sidney Cunningham & Edith Stalivass & Frieda Maffey filled up the remaining figures. The little folks sustained their parts admirably & fully maintained their parts throughout, seemingly much im-pressed with their dignity.
On the conclusion of the entertainment Captain Goddard kindly set the youngsters to go through a series of athletic sports to their great delight & amusement, subsequently giving
[Page 49]
the little competitors prizes, consisting of toys, the captains own photographs, books & sweets, these latter were kindly handed to the small folk by Mr Houlding with a few genial and appropriate remarks to each.
Equatorial Sports prize distribution.
On the evening of the 8th of November the prizes gained during the Equatorial sports of the day previously were gracefully distributed by Miss Moulton to the successful competitors. Her Majesty in future was seated at a small table covered with the Union Jack & placed upon the Poop. The details of the competitors we have given elsewhere, the amount distributed being upwards of £7. The whole of sum went to the members of the Crew as though several of the passengers were successful in the contests they each stood on one side the prize going to the next best man if one of the Sailors.
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"It doesn’t matter".
Original topical song by
Herbert S. Ottewill.
I’ll sing you a song tonight
Aboard the "Parramatta",
If it’s wrong, or if it’s right,
Of course you’ll find out later;
If there are some I do offend
Or others I do flatter,
To give insult I don’t intend,
If so – "It doesn’t matter".
We have young maids up to a lark,
A very fine selection,
Their tricks are always in the dark,
And baffle all detection.
I think some matches will be made
But ‘twill not do to patter,
Of some I should be sore afraid,
But then "I does’nt matter".
Some queer ducks aboard are found,
Whose names I dare not mention,
They are so funny I’ll be bound
That they’re a late invention,
A swell has lately had a crop.
His hair to the wind did scatter,
His head looks like a worn out mop,
But still – "It doesn’t matter".
Some old maids aboard this ship,
Rather long hair tarried
So help my boots I’d take a dip,
Sooner than get married.
But still I wish them all good cheer,
As o’er the world they scatter,
To this I hope you’ll say "Hear! Hear!"
If not – "It doesn’t matter".
A doctor for your ailments queer
Is journeying for his health’s sake,
An Editor and a doctor dear
In him there is no mistake,
[Page 51]
What e’er he says ‘tis well to do,
Concerning physic or papel,
If not some day you’ll surely rue,
But then – "it doesn’t matter."
A preacher here both young and bold
Who gives you consolation
He’s looking for work, so I’ve been told,
Or some light situation (?)
"Your feelings go up and down", says he
The darlint innocent crater
Wish him success across the sea
If not – "It doesn’t matter".
The Captain is a right good sort,
His Chief a jolly good fellow,
Altho’ at times when at his work,
He’s liable to bellow.
And now a word before I go,
And before you scatter,
If to you, my song is low,
To me – "It doesn’t matter".
14 Novr, 1882 H.S.O.
Parramatta
Riddles
Why is a ragged coat like the roof of a Workhouse?
I have a number of sheep feeding in a field, If
I had as many more, half as many more,
And two sheep and a half, I should have
First a score. How many sheep are there
Feeding in the field?
A man was in prison for debt and a boy
Brought his food to him. One day his creditor
Said, "if you’ll tell me what relation the boy
Is to you, you shall go free. He answered,
Brothers and sisters have I none,
But the boy’s Father was my Father’s son.
What relation was the boy to him?
W.C.B.
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Egg sepp shuns
M. T. vessils maik moast sound iz a verrer hold saying, but eye think an Eyerishman fill’d with whiskee iz an eggseppshun to this bootyfool rool.
Hay roallin stoan gethers no maws, but thee man who mayd it hiz bizness to foller the stoan to prove hit mite have staid hat hoam hand konduckted his filly-soppy-kill eggsperrymentz on a sitting won with more benny-fishul rayzulty tew hymself.
W.C.B.
Ship’s Report
Date – Latitude – Longitude – Course – Distnc – Bar – Ther
Novr 12 – 16°34’S – 29°34’W – S. 15.E – 172.miles – 30.04 – 78
" 13 – 19°20’ " – 29°8’ " – S. 8.E – 167 " – 30.10. – 67
" 14 – 21°16’ " – 28°28’ " – S. 18.E – 122 " – 30.19. – 77
" 15 – 23°54’ " – 28°9’ " – S. 7.E – 160 " – 30.20. – 75
" 16 – 26°28’ " – 26°48’ " – S. 26.E – 172 "
" 17 – 29°12’ " – 24°1’ " – S. 42.E – 221 " – 30.08. –71
" 18 – 31°26’ " – 21°1’ " – S. 49.E – 207 " – 30.12. – 70
Signed F.I. Shardlow, Chief Officer
The Bazaar
The usual bazaar held each voyage upon the Parramatta took place yesterday (Friday) and was we believe equally successful with any other that has previously taken place. The sum realized amounting to £50. During the Evening the Parramatta Corps dramatique put " Turn him out" on the Stage in very good style. Subsequently Captain Goddard enter-tained all who had taken part in the Bazaar at a recherché banquet in the saloon. We
[Page 53]
hope to give an extended report of these events in our next issue which is impossible today having gone to press with most of our matter prior to their taking place. [Ed.]
Notices to Correspondents
Communications have been received from Mrs Gillam, Mr Michael, Mr Ottewill, Miss Ellis, Mrs Shooter, Mr Houlding, Mr Bowler, Mr Shardlow. Thanks to all.
Correct replies to the charade which appeared in our last were received from Miss Ellis and one of the men in the crew whose name we have not obtained. The answer should have been "Cowper".
We do not undertake to return rejected M.S.S.
[Page 54]
The Petrel Papers
No. 4.
November 25th, 1882
[Page 55]
No. 4.
CONTENTS.
Leading article - 49
Tristan d’Acunha - 50
The Parramatta Bazaar - 53
Captain Goddard’s Statement - 59
Ballad, by H.S. Ottewill - 59
Poetry, by I.R.H. - 62
Ship’s Report - 63
"No business of Mine" Song by H.S. Ottewill - 64
Entertainments - 65
Court Circular - 66
Correspondence - 66
Notices to Correspondents - 67
[Page 56]
The Petrel Papers
No. 4. Saturday November 25, 1882
We once upon a time had visions of the delights of sitting in the editorial chair, burning the midnight farthing rushlight, and going home with the milk in the morn-ing, but our "P.D’s" views on this important subject are being rapidly absorbed into our own mind. His views upon the dignitaries of the editorial staff being somewhat of the following order. The Editor to the outer world is bos, with the big "we", but as no man is a hero to his own Valet, so to the "P.D." the big "we" becomes the man who drinks whiskey beer & c, smokes a dirty clay pipe and plays skittles. The chief of the supporting staff is the boss of his depart-ment and specially is this the case at public meetings, lectures and entertainments with people burning to make indifferent speeches and get flamingly good reports there of given in his particular half-penny rag. At home, or rather at the office, he is looked upon by the "P.D." as the nigger-driver of the establishment whose eternal whip is to elicit "copy" from the subs. and which the "P.D" has to manipulate between his room and that of the Editor and thence to the compositors usually elevated surroundings. The primary step to the Editor’s chair is usually to attain the position of Sub-Editor of some smaller rag than he ultimately aspires to pull the wires of, then to the Editor’s chair of the smaller rag, and eventually to look
[Page 57]
out for a vacancy, amongst the Sub-Editors of the halfpenny "Morning Thunder" or the "Evening Whisperer". In this position his chief duty consists of using scissors and paste; and in writing short leaderets mostly prigged from the latest issues of the metro-politan press with slight verbal alterations to disguise their origin. "Sic transit gloria mundi".
Tristan d’Acunha
LAT.37°2’ 8°S LONG. 12°18’ 30°W.
There was a great deal of excitement this afternoon of Wednesday November 22nd when after dinner the Captain pointed out the island of Tristan d’Acunha in sight some 65 miles distant on the lee bow of the vessel, almost every one was called at 4 a.m. on the following morning to find the island right abeam to leeward about 10 miles away. The following illustration giving a very good idea of what was there to be seen.
[illustration]
Tristan d’Acunha is one of a group of three islands in the south Atlantic some 1500 miles nearly west from the Cape of Good Hope. It was discovered in 1506 by the Portuguese and named after the commander of the expedition. It is a precipitous, rocky island, rugged in the extreme, about 21 miles in circumference and five miles across, in the centre is a lofty mountain, the highest peak of which is 8,300 feet above the sea level.
[Page 58]
The summit of the peak is the crater of an extinct volcano, now an extensive lake, but which [indecipherable] does not contain fish. On the southeast end of the island is a small settlement consisting of rather over a dozen houses, with about 100 inhabitants, there are gardens, orchards and extensive grazing lands, several thousand acres. The village has at its back cliffs rising about 1500 feet surmounted by a table land from which abruptly rises the central peak. A short distance from the village is Falmouth Bay where ships can anchor, but with no very great safety from the exposed position. The settlement is chiefly English. In 1817 when Napoleon was confined in the island of St Helene, the English fearing that the French might make the island the basis of operations for the relief of Napoleon, decided to occupy this island with a detachment artillery. At his (Napoleon’s) death in 1821 the detachment was withdrawn, but one of the force, a Corporal Glass, together with a couple of seamen wishing to remain facilities were given for them to do so and a pension accorded to the Corporal; these managed to obtain wives by some means and some whaling men have also joined them, having married their daughters, the present population has resulted. When the Saloon put in here on Friday 24th Novr 1876 Corporal Glass was still living a patriarch of 90 years #. The islanders are long lived and one man who came off on that occasion was the son of a man who had lived to the age of 105.
Few vessels now visit the island as the supply of seal-skins, and oil from the sea-elephant formerly their chief articles of trade has greatly fallen off. To those vessels which approach near enough to the island the inhabitants usually send off a boat with the produce they have to exchange which chiefly consist of sheep, pigs, geese, eggs, fish & salt fish and potatoes, with the beautiful skins
# Another account I have seen says "Corporal Glass the original settler died at 67 of cancer" no date being given.
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of the Albatross, seal, wild cat etc. The islanders are able to grow apples, peaches, grapes and strawberries.
All their possessions seem to be held in common by the inhabitants, and all possessions supplied to a ship are also deemed the property of the community, each family or household taking turn to supply the ships that call, and the proceeds of the sale of clothing or stores are equally divided amongst the families.
Peter Green a native of Rotterdam who was wrecked on the island about forty-five years ago is said to have the greatest influence over the people – this is possibly on account of his superior intelligence, and the respect induced by his age. All are nominally on an equality & there is neither chief, parson, doctor, lawyer nor schoolmaster – if any of them want to marry, they have wait the chance of a ship calling with a clergyman on board.
The Parramatta on the 23rd of October 1880 when about 6 miles from the settlement observed a small boat put off; the Captain hove to and waited for it; they brought off five sheep, 5 pigs, 10 geese and 7 buckets of potatoes; for which they received in exchange a cask of sugar, 112 lbs rice, 20 lbs tea, 50 lbs coffee, and 200 lbs of flour, these being what they said they were most in want of; there were twelve men in the boat, which was one which had been obtained from an Italian barque wrecked on the island. It was a very poor thing and the Captain was very uneasy about their safety in landing, as it had come on to blow a gale, & they however did not seem uneasy on this score, but having to land, as it was getting night time, on the opposite side of the island to their village they would have to remain there all night in the ark - the only method of crossing the island being by scaling the mountain. The pigs were very poor and one of them about the size of terrier so savage that he snapped & barked at every one who was near him; but for this the Captain
Continued on Page 60
[Page 60]
The Parramatta Bazaar
The eventful 17th of November did not dawn with the brilliance one would have wished still the weather was sufficiently fine to allow the bazaar to proceed under comfortable circumstances. During most of the morning our ever active Chief Mate Mr Shardlow with a staff of willing helpers were engaged in working a fairy like transformation scene on the Poop. The forward two-thirds of the Poop being by them roofed and walled in with canvas, and lined with paste-coloured bunting. At 2.30 p.m. all was ready. One staff bedecked with varied colours from the bright needlework and other articles for sale exhibited thereon; a second staff loaded with tempting viands, not least amongst which was "The Cake". These stalls were arranged upon the skylights to the Saloon – the central light bearing an assortment of goods consisting chiefly of needlework, dressed dolls and articles of vertu – prominently amongst these we noticed some photographs of the imposing figure head of our worthy Captain, in ingeniously constructed frames, made from innumerable pieces of cork, the work, we understand, of Mr Houghton. A pretty toy was a small dressed doll sitting at the foot of a tiny cradle, draped in muslin, in which contained or reposed another miniature doll. This article was labelled "The never empty cradle". Some of the needle-work was most exquisitely executed; especially an article which we believe to be technically termed "A splasher", worked in blue silk outlines on a piece of white oatmeal cloth, portraying four storks and some trees and foliage, also an antimacassar done on a piece of satin cloth of the old dead gold colour and worked with "Marguerites". There were many others far too numerous however to particularise.
[Page 61]
The ladies in charge of this stall were the Madames Maffey and Shardlow, and the Misses Churchwood, Maitland and Spencer.
A second staff arranged over the fore-sky-light did duty as the Refreshment Hut. In a prominent position hanging over this was to be seen the tariff of prices of tariffs of viands below for sale, with a cleverly designed heading the work of Mr Bellingham. The most con-spicuous article as before mentioned was "The Cake", elaborately decorated, and surmounted by a pyramidal structure of coloured sugar [indecipherable] carrying a rigged mast on the top of which sat a miniature Jack Tar and two others at either end of the spars, a wonderful production of the con-fectioners art. Fruit, confectionary, tobacco aerated waters &c &c going to make a very tempting show. This stall was presided over by Mrs Hinton, the wife of our worthy Steward, and a staff of young lady assistants.
At the corner of the side of the lifeboat was a screened off space devoted to a fortune-telling gipsy which was adorned with the following grammatically expressed placard "Zingari". The world’s renowned Gipsy Queen".
At the stern side of the Poop on the starboard quarter was an "Aunt Sally", an elegant figurehead of dusky hue with two clay pipes in the mouth, supported upon a pole issuing below from a tub, on which was elaborately chalked as follows: "Mr Atkins, a death’s-head & cross bones, Deadly-nightshade." Our amiable young friend Mr A. comes in for a good deal of this kind of wit & takes it with the utmost good humour. On the opposite quarter of the Poop was a shooting gallery provided with a circular target and 3 or 4 cross bows manufactured by the carpenter and presided over by Mr Smith who handed out bows and arrows at a penny
[Page 62]
per shot to all who cared to indulge in pulling the long-bow for the time being. On the portside of the centre of the poop was arranged a "Wheel of Fortune", all prizes and no blanks. A troop of Christy Minstrels under the direction of our talented friend Mr Ottewill gave selections of Negro music at intervals.
Immediately upon the ringing vigorously of a bell, which announced the opening of the festivities, the Poop was crowded with pleasure seekers in holiday attire with bright and smiling faces. Soon a brisk trade was being done in every direction. The ladies at the stalls doing a pushing business. The Gipsy King vociferously inviting all and every one to step into the tent to hear their destiny foretold. The Misses Moulton, Brookes and Beattie rapidly dispersing the gifts Dame Fortune lavishly bestowed upon all comers for a conversation of three pence. Tommy Doad and Peter Merryfield loudly piping their invitations to take shield at Aunt Sarah at the rate of "Three ?shess? for a penny /each ". And Mrs Smith doing a good business with the cloth yard shafts. The Captain and the Doctor pushed the lottery business the whole afternoon, until we think their patrons must have been some what tired of their importunity.
During the evening "The Royal Parramatta Corps Dramatique" put "Turn him out" on the stage in very good style, with an excellent cast. Mr Fields get up as Eglantine Roseleaf was admirable, & his impersonation of the gay young spark done with much sang-froid. We would suggest that in the "gay" for the future a rather more emphasised drawl of the ‘w’ in the word screwed would be an improvement. Mrs Cunningham went through her cast as
[Page 63]
the maid servant without a hitch . Mr Smith was a capital Niccodemus Nobbs, we think he would have done well to put a little more energy in to earning the "10 bob".
About 10.0p.m. the whole of those en-gaged in the work of the Bazaar and the ‘Corps Dramatique’ sat down in the Saloon to a recherche banquet at the invitation of Captain Goddard, the table resplendent with elegantly prepared viands and a profusion of glass and plants, and the Saloon lighted in addition to the usual lamps by a number of Chinese lanterns presented a brilliant scene filled with a group of pleasant faces.
After ample justice had been done to the tempting culinary and other preparations Captain Goddard at the conclusion of the repast requested that all glasses might be charged with bumpers, he then in a few apposite remarks asked the Company to drink success to the three noble charities for which the work of the past few years had been going on and which had consummated in the day’s pleasure. When at home he is brought into contact with the Committee of the whole of the charities, the number of which are fully aware of what is regularly being done on board the ship under his command it is their wish directly expressed to him that he should convey the thanks of the Managers of the Charities to those who help in the good work. In addition to this Captain Goddard expressed his own personal gratification and thanks to every one who had in any way contributed to the carrying out the object in view. The toast was then very cordially responded to.
[Page 64]
Mr Houlding then rose as the senior passenger to propose the health of Captain Goddard he said he was an old man and an old sailor having in his time travelled in some forty steamers and the sailing ships all ocean going ships and never in this career had it been his lot see a bazaar held on board ship for the benefit of the Seamen and in future expressed his intention to use his influence (not a small one) in this direction – further in his travels he had never seen such a banquet spread on board ship as the one they were then taking part in, and in doing so paid a well deserved tribute to Mr Hinton and his staff of assistants. With a few words as to the Captain’s proverbial call in the navigation of his ship his kindness and courtesy to all with whom he comes in contact, he proposed long life health and prosperity to him. This was most heartily pledged with musical honours and three times three.
Mr Shardlow then asked that "Absent friend" should be remembered especially coupling with the toast the name of Mrs Goddard; speaking in warmly affectionate terms of that lady & of his pleasant reminiscence of making several voyages in her company. This was cordially received, as those who had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Goddard for the few days in our trip from London to Plymouth could easily concur that her presence would have added very much to the pleasure of the present voyage. Captain Goddard replied thanking Mr Shardlow for his kind expression of regard for his wife.
The Revd Mr Spencer then proposed the health of Mr Shardlow and the officers of the ship.
[Page 65]
Mr Seville then proposed "The Ladies" in a humourous maiden speech – to which Mr Field replied "As he said he would, and so he did, upon his sacred honour."
The last toast of the evening was that of health of the "Royal Parramatta Dramatique Corps" was entrusted to Dr Maffey who after speaking warmly of the success of the performance of the evening by that celebrated company went on to say how much all owed to the seamen for the rubs & hard ships incurred on our behalf and that the least we can do is to add our [indecipherable] as all had done that day to help those to whom all owe so much, and so variously indebted, that our aid was asked by one who had taken an active & practical interest in the charities for seamen for a long period & was therefore a competent judge as to whether their administration justified our support - for his part he believed they did & felt that they might congratulate themselves on having contributed to the wants of the orphan, the aged, and the sick in a practical manner.
The toast having been duly honoured Mr Odling briefly responded.
This brought to an end a day which must certainly be looked back to as a red-letter day in the present voyage.
Captain Goddard’s statement.
The following details of your Bazaar will probably be of interest to all on board & I gladly avail myself of the oppor-
[Page 66]
tunity of thanking all concerned for their generous assistance in securing so very satisfactory a result.
£. s .d.
Articles sold at stall - 24.0.0
Wheel of Fortune - 4.2.6
Refreshment stall - 7.18.4
Christy Minstrels’ Troupe - 1.1.0
Archery - 1.7.0
Gipsy Queen - 1.15.0
Shoe-Black - 3.6
Post Office - 2.10.0
Aunt Sally - 14.6
Lotteries - 8.3.0
Cash subn from a gentleman coming down Channel - 10.0
" do day after Bazaar - 1.10.0
Totals £53.15.2
Signed William Goddard
I’m thinking of thee
I’m thinking Nellie dear of thee,
Tho’ we’re so very far apart,
Thy face in visions oft I see
The darling loved one of my heart.
Though winds may blow in fury wild,
That carries me o’er the sea,
Still in such times I see my child,
And thinking Nellie dear of thee.
Chorus
I’ll ne’er forget the kiss you gave
When in deep sorrow we did part
How for my promise you did crave
That I would leave behind my heart,
Then to my darling I’ll be true
Where-ever I may roam,
Yes all my thoughts shall be of you
And those little ones at home.
Chorus
Do you Nellie think of me,
As o’er this world I wander lone?
Do you in your visions see
This wanderer when he’s far from home?
Oh! How I long to see the time,
When together we shall be;
Then happiness it will be mine
For loved one I’ll ne’er part from thee.
Chorus
Chorus
I’m thinking Nellie dear of thee,
I’m thinking Nellie dear of thee,
The winds may blow in fury wild,
Still Nellie dear I think of thee.
Original ballad by Herbert S. Ottewill.
[Page 67]
Tristan d’Acunah
continued from Page 52
would have kept the annual as a curiosity – a trial was then made to serve line up as "Suckling pig", but this proved a failure.
To this brief account of Tristan d’Acunah it may be interesting to add an incident which has some connection with the island, and which has been communicated to me by one of the sufferers who is at this moment on board the Parramatta.
The Filena Vuidslaw a American vessel of 2700 tons burthen carrying a crew of 27 men and a woman as stewardess, laden with coal from Cardiff and bound to Singapore, was wrecked on Gough Island on December 16th 1878. It was during foggy weather the mishap occurred, a current having carried the ship on to the rocks of this desert isle. The boats were launched, three in number, and the ship sank almost as soon as the boats got fairly and safely away from her. All the provisions, instruments etc, in the hurry of leaving, were put on board the long-boat, in which was the Second Mate, in command, and my informant – the Captain and the first Mate taking charge of the two whale-boats, the intention being that the whole should make for Tristan d’Acunah. In the fog the long-boat got separated from the other two, during the following day the first Mate’s boat capsized, luckily the other boat was able to save all in her but then was found to be overweighted, the Captain then determined to put back to Gough Island again; one the third day they fell in with the long-boat as the second mate was rowing round the island to if possible find the other boats which were without provisions. It was now decided to land upon the island fit out
[Page 68]
the long-boat, and for the Captain and part of the crew to go to Tristan d’Acunah in search of aid. The landing being effected on the island, they found a deserted wooden hut, built by the side of a stream, which had been used by whalers who had been upon this island, this was in pretty good repair; they also found some planks of wood & with these raised the gunwale of the long-boat 9 inches, she was fitted with provisions, water, instruments, etc and had some blankets rigged to her for sails. in this boat the Captain with a crew of nine men once again set out, they safely reached Tristan d’Acunah in six days, but every hand in the boat sick from fatigue and exposure. Here they found a Swedish brig the Captain of which at once started to rescue the men in the island. this he successfully accomplished taking them off the rock fifteen days after the wreck on New Year’s Day 1879. During the time the men were on the rock they found plenty of eggs, cabbage growing wild on the place, and there was also fish in abundance which they were able to catch, especially cray-fish. They spent their time chiefly in fishing or egg-hunting; and at times in securing things from the wreck. One day they found a bread tank containing about 2 tins of bread floated from the wreck, but this was too heavy for them to secure on account of a great swell at the time.
The Captain of the Swedish brig landed the crew at East London on the coast of Africa - soon after leaving the island an English vessel was spoken but is Captain refused to take any of the wrecked men on board, on the plea that it would be so long before he could call anywhere to land them. The crew was subsequently taken by a steamer to Cape Town and ultimately came home to their own country. I am told this is the only recorded rescue from shipwreck on this island.
Wm Maffey L.R.C.P., etc.
[Page 69]
The Woes and Worries of a dyspeptic man;
and his perfect cure
Of all the disorders to which man is heir,
Dyspepsia is surely the worst;
Not the body alone but the mind ‘twill impair,
‘Twill make him as surly and cross as a bear,
And think he is specially curst.
Than tell all the worries through which I have been
I’d rather be ducked in a drain,
If I glance at a few perhaps my aim may be seen,
And some woebegone wight, with disease of the spleen,
May feel his hope kindle again.
I once was a strong as an iron-bark log,
But losses, and crosses, and care,
Soon made me as thin as a black-fellow’s dog,
And as bothered as Paddy stuck fast in a bog,
Or a bull in the midst of a fair.
Oft I’d sigh "could I purchase a little green isle,
In midst of the ocean alone;
Then away from the world, with its noise & its guile,
I’d ramble about in a primitive style,
‘Till my features with healthfulness shone.
When at home I’d no rest for my ears or my eyes,
For friends would drop in all the day;
(Good folks, whom, if absent, I really would prize,)
And each one some treatment would kindly advise,
To banish my ailments away.
"Eat no animal food", said a very sage head,
But live upon herbage alone;
"I’d advise just a grilled mutton chop and some bread",
Said another, "and always go early to bed,
For you quite to a shadow have grown."
Another searched "Graham" to find out a cure
For a man who was almost a wreck;
Of mixtures – as nauseous as stuff from a sewer,
And bolusses, powders and pills, I am sure
I took very nearly a peck.
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With quinine and steel drops and valerian too,
My poor groaning system was ground,
‘Till I felt such a fizzing and racking - as though
I’d a whole cutler’s shop in my regions below
And a grindstone was fast whirling around.
But I’ll stay - though my worries might fill {indecipherable] page
As long as the keel of Noah’s Ark;
Than have them return I would rather engage
To catch a grim tiger out of his cage
Or fight with a shovel-nosed shark.
‘Till I went to a doctor - a qualified man,
(My delay I’ve had cause to bewail)
And thanks to his skill and his practical plan,
I soon got as frisky as frogs in a pan,
Or a cat with a bell at her tail.
I then went to work, and with joy and delight
I hailed the return of my peace;
And since my old symptoms have all taken flight
I am cheerful by day and can sleep well at night,
And my body and soul are at ease.
The moral of these rugged rhymes you may see
If you’ll study the stanza below;
And if some poor wretch also from madness would flee
Will follow my plan will soon feel himself free,
And as light as the breezes that blow.
An abundance of work, for both body and mind,
Is the very best cure for the vapours;
And that in the world every seeker may find,
In helping the sick and the lame and the blind,
And a blessing will follow such labours.
J.R.H.
N.B. The foregoing verses (somewhat abridged) were written by me, for my book "Christopher Cockle". J.R.H.
Ship’s Report
Latitude – Longitude – Course – Distance – Bar – Ther – Date
1882
33° 27’S – 17° 48’ W – S.33.E – 205 mls. – 30.14. – 67 – November 19
34° 47’ " – 14° 40’ " – S.68.E – 160 " – 30.14. – 66 – " 20
35° 14’ " – 12° 32’ " – S.70.E – 117 " – 30.18. – 62 – " 21
35° 33’ " – 12° 49’ "– S.37.W – 124 mls. – 30.42. – 66 – " 22
37° 18’ " – 11° 2’ "– S.39.E – 136 mls. – 30.44. – 62 – " 23
38° 14’ " – 7° 22’ "– S.72.E – 182 mls. – 30.31. – 63 – " 24
39° 15’ " – 3° 14’ "– S.72.E – 203 mls. – 30.09. – 61 – " 25
Signed I.F. Shardlow
Chief Officer
[Page 71]
"No business of mine"
Topical song by H.S. Ottewill
I’ll sing you a word, one or two,
Of things that have happened here lately,
Of the passengers and the crew
Whose conduct has been somewhat stately,
My remarks I hope will not offend,
For to friendship I always incline,
If I break any hearts I will [indecipherable],
Altho’ "it’s no business of mine".
Of concerts there’s been three or four,
And I think they all gave satisfaction (?)
When you do your best, you can do no more,
Your applause was a very good action.
"Never empty cradle", it was sung,
By a swell who I’m certain will shine,
If you think I’m right or I’m wrong,
Of course, "it’s no business of mine".
We have lately had a very fine fair,
I’m sure it was very well ‘tended,
The old and the young were all there
The first and the second were blended.
Some ladies were dressed in their best,
With flowers on their shoulders so fine,
I’ll leave you to guess at the rest,
For I’m sure "it’s no business of mine"
We had amusement of every kind
With beautiful "Zuigara the Queen"
And a showman you will rarely find,
Such barmaids never are seen.
Some minstrels were knocking about,
Picking pockets to pass away time
Of their characters there’s not a doubt
But still "it’s no business of mine".
One passenger here wouldn’t give
Not a grout to an object so grand
But if the same man he should live,
For alms he may hold out his hand
I ne’er thought we had such a knave
To such charities wouldn’t incline
In his life, he a penny ne’er gave,
But then it’s no business of mine.
In the eve we were near brought to sobs,
We were "pon my sacred honour"
By the acting of Susan and Nobbs,
Julia and Moke – he’s a donor,
[Page 72]
After which why they turned us all out,
To dance for a very short time,
Their object was good I’ve no doubt,
If not, "it’s no business of mine".
The supper I’m thinking about,
I’m sure it must cost some attention,
For the style in which ‘twas laid out,
Great credit is due to Squire Hinton,
Some made the best of the night,
For they stuffed the whole blessed time,
But still if they bursted outright,
I’m sure "it’s no business of mine".
And now Iv’ have finished my soup
I leave without any delay,
For I fear I have kept you too long,
Will appear again some other day,
I suppose I’ve offended a lot,
And subjected myself to a fine,
But whether you get it or not,
I’m sure "it’s o business of mine".
H.S.O.
Entertainments
On the evening of Tuesday 21st instant the juveniles of the company, under the direction of the Misses Moulton and Brookes presented us with a series with a series of eight "tableaux vivants" descriptive of the history of Cinderella. All the characters were most admirably sustained by the little folks. The get up of the Fairy Godmother being in-imitable – the part was sustained by May Brookes, Mabel and Reggie Maffey took the role of Cinderella and the Prince. The scene where Cinderella is found at the washing tub was very fine, as was also that at the wedding, the whole force of them engaged being brought to bear in the latter, making a fairy-like little picture. The remaining characters not already mentioned were borne by Walter and Edith Stallivass , Gertrude Brooks, Sydney Cunningham and Frieda Maffey.
On Friday evening November 24th a Christy Minstrel Entertainment was given in the Saloon by and admirably got up troupe under the direction of Mr Ottewill. Rolling on to Sidney an original song written by Mssrs Michael and Ottewill to the same music as "Jordan is a hard road to travel" was very good, but Mr Michael who sang to Mr Ottewill’s banjo accompaniment refused
Continued on page 67
[Page 73]
Court Circular
On Friday evening the 25th Instant Captain Goddard entertained a select and distinqué party of young ladies and gentlemen at tea. Subsequently some singing and a number of games were in-dulged in up to 8.0.p.m. when the small people’s carriages wafted them away to their respective carriages for the night.
Correspondence
"Parramatta"
21st November 1882
To the Editor of "The "Petrel Papers",
Sir, Allow me to draw your attention to an error in your report of "The Equitorial Sports". In the contest of "Deck Chalking" I took the first place by several inches. Your’s etc ,
H.S. Ottewill
We are very pleased to make this correction which is only due to Mr Ottewill [Ed. P.P.]
On board "The Parramatta" 23rd Novr 1882
To the Editor of "The Petrel Papers",
Sir, Several persons on board have been enquiring whether a ship’s Captain, or Chalain, is legally qualified to solemnise matrimony on board the ship; or if it would be necessary to have the ceremony performed again on shore, or in the presence of a Registrar. Any information you can give on this subject would I am led to understand relieve the anxious feelings of many on board this vessel. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, "The sweet little cherub who sits up aloft".
Some three years ago an official notice was issued to Captain’s of the mercantile marine cautioning them against performing marriage ceremonies on board ships under their command; as an adverse decision in the law courts, as to the legality of such marriages had recently been given. What the Chaplains powers are in tis matter we cannot say, but should think, other legal requirements being complied with, a clergyman in Holy Orders could exercise his function in this respect as well on board a ship as elsewhere. (Ed. P.P.)
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.
(Ed. P.P.)
[Page 74]
Notices to Correspondents
Communications have been received from Mrs Stallbross, Mr Wm. Williams, Mr Ottewill, Mr Wm Murray, Mrs Shooter, Mr Houlding & Mr Michael. Thanks to all.
The great length to which our present issue has extended has still not supplied us with sufficient room for some contributions we would gladly have inserted under other circumstances; others are held over for future con-sideration.
Published this year of grace one thousand, eight hundred and eighty-two on the twenty-fifth day of November.
Entertainments continued from page 65.
an encore. "The Music" by Mr Bowler followed which has a good telling chorus. The followed some amusing nigger patter between Bones and the conductor. Bones struck us as speaking his part in this a little too rapidly. Mr David then followed with "Where my blue eyed darling sleeps" in a fine tenor, this was exquisitely [indecipherable] sung and was heartily encored. The Country Lad followed from Mr Hayter – this has a rattling good chorus which goes with fine effect. Patter followed by Bones on a tambourine in which each [indecipherable] is for an exaggeration of what the other said. "Mamma’s in the cold, cold ground" by Mr Michael has a very sweet chorus . "Old King Cole" by Mr Bellingham fairly brought down the house, especially in the last verse referring to the Captain – the chorus in this was very fine. Patter between Bones & the conductor was the next item and was succeeded by Mr Taylor’s song "Down by the river side I strayed" certainly one of the sweetest things rendered during the evening & which received a very warm encore. "What an afternoon" followed from Mr Bush with a good chorus. Mr Ottewill’s original ballad "I am thinking of thee" is a very pretty thing of a sentimental style – it received a well deserved encore. The first part of an interesting programme was brought to an
[Page 75]
by Bones persuasive attempt to tell his brothers the history of his friend Brown’s horse – in which he managed to not only to take all his colleagues off the stage but also some of the chairs took themselves away.
The second part of the performance was opened by Mr Taylor with the only failure of the [indecipherable] a dance song Mr T-s memory having failed him. We didn’t get the song "Massa" but the heel and toe jig was very well done. Mr Houghton’s Mulligan friends was very amusing - the enormous length of the Commander & the [indecipherable] of his squad fairly earning them a hearty encore. The patter following between the distressed banjo instructor and his visitor was very well sustained indeed. Me Ottewill then followed with another original topical song which deservedly received quite an ovation throughout. We must congratulate Mr Ottewill on the prolific manner his facile pen turned out these negro melodics & humourous sketches as well as upon his training of the troup assisting him. The National Anthem thus brought to a close one of the most successful entertainments we have had during the voyage – the company all round being a very strong one.
[Page 76]
The Petrel Papers.
No. 5 Saturday, December 2, 1882
Some three months must lapse from the tie this ship & its living freight left England, before we are again a living moving part of this world on terra firma; and so far as sorry ninety-nine out of the hundred of us may be concerned, this three months must pose a blank in our lives. We, for our own past, are not in the least likely to rummage the piles of newspapers to ascertain what has taken place in the daily life of the world during this time; and shall, we expect in common with most of our co-voyagers, be content to take second-hand from some friend, a brief resumé of the events; and unless something very stratling takes place in the polity of Europe, or elsewhere, we shall be content to let the history of this period drop into comparative oblivion.
We thought good in one of our recent issues to make a burlesque of what might be supposed to have taken place in connection with English Parliamentary affairs; but as the idea therein was both misunderstood & misinterpreted, it would have been worse than folly to continue any articles in a similar strain; still we think these can be no harm done, at all events no bones will be broken, in writing as a pure question of sur-mise, or speculation, as to what may have transpired.
It is no great stretch of the imagination to fancy, some of the Irish party in the House of
[Page 77]
Commons, being, ere this more than once in tolerably hot water. Mr Biggar, with his coarse vulgarity, defying the ruling of the Speaker and being forcibly removed from the house by its officers to be subsequently confined in the base of the clock-tower. Healey, with scarce more refinement, being suspended for the remainder of the session. Redmond, the Whilom Government office clerk, with his blatant tongue, only wanting another black mark against his name to relegate him to the same shady retreat.
Has the Czar of all the Russias oft post-poned coronation taken place; or has that por wretch, who so vividly illustrates the old adage "that uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" had to make further indefinite post-ponements, of the ususally eagerly looked forward to ceremony, by those entitled to wear such a coronet as falls to his lot? Or, has he evinced the tenacity that no one seemed to give him credit for, and rushed boldly on the cannon’s mouth – or going tremblingly through the ceremony has he in returning to his Palace been assassinated in some dastardly manner similar to the shocking act which put an end to his Father’s life? Would to heaven, if only for his own sake, he could see that a liberal policy, with measures to secure an enlightened education to his people, can be the only means of protecting his own life against the spirit evoked by ages of grinding poverty and slavery, which is, and had been, the lot of his people.
How has the war in Egypt terminated, or has it ended? Has the Sultan with his usual wiliness turned the tables upon us in the end; has that arch fiend and puppet of his, Arabi Pacha, got his deserts? 10 feet of rope with a slip-knot at the end, slung over a beam – or is he now revelling in the delights of court life at the Golden Horn? Have we again, secured against all comers, M. de Lesseps protests not with-
[Page 78]
standing, our highway to India; or, has Russia stepped in to complicate the Egyptian question by her interference? Or, if not meddling with the Suez Canal, has she been still pushing her way in Central Asia, nearer and nearer to our northern Indian frontier, and there provoked rebellion and discontent in our eastern territories?
Nearer home, have the French come to terms with us about a new treaty? They are very foolish if they have not; for, so long as they put a high tariff upon our goods, the veriest schoolboy would tell them, if he could only grasp one or two small facts, that it is their own people, and not ours, who have to pay the extra charges they thus levy, and that they are the losers in the long run.
Have the Americans, with the mighty influence of public opinion, frowned down the Finian filibustering rascality, talked so blatantly by that undiluted piece of [scoundrelism] O’Donovan Rossa, and his midnight assassins and mutilators of dumb animals.
The solution of these matters we must leave to time, and in the hands of that high power to whom all must bow.
"A Man Over-board"
The following story of a man over-board, is told by an eye witness of this terrible incident of a sea-faring life. The ship Penelope, about the middle of October 187-, was in Latitude 38° South; Longitude 2° West; on her way from London to Melbourne; with the wind on her port quarter, blowing a half gale – she was staggering along under top gallant sails, with the main sail and smaller sails furled. The second officer was on deck in charge of the forenoon watch, the men being variously employed. The watch below were some in their bunks asleep
[Page 79]
dreaming of home and the girls they had left behind them, or perhaps of their last ship; one was making a model of a ship, another mending hid dungaree pants on the forecastle; the latter suddenly gives the alarm to the watch below, that, a man is over-board. Two men had been work-ing about the head gear, and one of them had slipped and fallen into the water. A shout from the fore-part of the ship of "A man over-board!" spreads the news fore and aft with electric speed. Repeated cries from one and another amongst the passengers, creates a scene of appalling confusion, but the Second officer, cool and collected, quickly makes his way aft, and giving his order "Hard down with the helm", grasps a life-buoy and heaves it towards the man, this misses him, another life-buoy follows with a like result. At this moment the commander comes on deck, and orders the starboard quarter boat to be cleared; at this instant one of the seamen is seen to be going up the main top mast head. The crew rush off; some bare footed, others bare headed, and mostly half only half dressed; eager to do their best, some to risking their own lives, in an effort to save that of a fellow creature. The Captain orders "Cast off the lashings" – these then foul – the Captain cries "Cut away!" – the boat falls some how; but thank heavens rights herself. Four men scramble with her, and the Second officer jumps after them to take command. The boat pulls away from the ship’s side. Everyone breathes "God speed the life-boat".
The Captain shouts to the men aloft "Hullo! Do you see the man?" "Aye Aye! Broad off the [indecipherable] Sir!" comes the reply.
The first officer goes forward and gives the order "Brace up the fore yard". A voice "The lower fore top sail sheet’s carried away Sir!" The first officer shouts "Then clew up the sail, my men!"
In the meanwhile the excitement amongst the passengers is terrible. Telescopes, binoculars and eyeglasses are brought to bear, in trying to get a view of the poor fellow in the distance; or in watching
[Page 80]
the movements of the boat. The ship is worked and trimmed under the direction of the Captain so as to near the boat . A few more moments of suspense, and the joyful cry comes from the mast head "They have got him Sir, all right!" Cheers seem to burst simultaneously from very lip – the boat soon returns to the ship, and is hoisted up with the half drowned man in it. The boat is secured, the life-buoys returned to their places and the man is handed over to the Doctor. An extra watch below and proper treatment result in the man appearing the following day very little worse for his immersion. There is no more heart rending cry ever heard on board ship than that of "Fire!" or "A man over-board!"
Wm Murray
"A Wife for Sale"
An aged couple were having a wrangle over their breakfast table one morning. It originated in some paltry matter not worth a dry bone, but from snarling words they soon got up to almost fighting pitch, or to throwing cups and saucers at each other’s head. Suddenly the old man jumped up in a rage, and vowed, with an emphatic thump on the table, that if his wife dared to utter another word, good or bad, he would put a halter round her neck and sell her in the market-place – a proceeding which he believed the law of the land fully warrant-ed. If the wife had had a grain of prudence she would have been silent after that outburst – at any rate she would have restrained her tongue until her husband’s wrathful fit had subsided, and would not have forced him to the alternative of either break-ing his vow or carrying out his savage threat. But long practice as a nagger had made Nanny very reckless of her words and she seldom weighed them til they were uttered and she felt the force of their rebound. Though she had suffered times out of number for not keeping a prudent control over her "unruly member", she could not, in the present brawl, resist the desire to have the
[Page 81]
last word, as she said in an angry tone, "I know you have the heart to do any cruel thing, but I defy you, John Rodd, to halter me like a horse or a donkey. Yes, I defy you to do it - Yah!" she uttered "Yah!" with her hands on her hips.
"Defy me, do you?" "I’ll soon let you see that I am not to be scared by a snappish old vixen. Ah! You may grin at me but I mean it ". He then went into the stable, took a halter from his horse’s head, and returning to the house put it round his wife’s neck. "Now then, old scratch cat, get up! I’ll get rid of you before I eat another meal in this house, for I’m almost [indecipherable] to death by you obstreperous tongue. Come, no kicking missis, or I’ll get the whip!"
"Oho! Never fear, I’ll go without whipping, and glad enough I shall be to get away from such a brute as you. It will be a lucky sell for me, no doubt, for I cannot fall into the hands of a worse master, even if old Nick himself should but me."
He won’t buy you, so don’t pride yourself on that. He knows he’ll get you for nothing by-and-by. Come, look sharp."
"Don’t pull my head off before I start, you cruel monster! Can’t you let me put on my bonnet and shawl?"
The old man suffered her to dress to her fancy, and then he again put the halter over her head and led her away to the market-place. On the way thither he continued to scold him for his brutality, but he took no notice of her taunting words, and walked away with the end of the halter in his hand, and she followed with a tripping step, to indicate her delight at the change that awaited her. At length he took his stand by the side of the nearest pump, doubtless looking ashamed of the heathenish job he had undertaken. But his wife had fiercely defied him to do it, so he was resolved to sell her to the first bidder, no matter what the price was, if only to prove that he was master, and that a British man can do what he likes with his own. John Rodd was not a good hand at a bargain, either as a buyer or seller, and except when arguing with
[Page 82]
his wife was a man of few words. When selling a prime fat pig to a butcher he never said half as much in praise of the animal as some men would say over a miserable lean pig. His embarr-assment at his present bargaining increased as he saw a crowd of idlers hurrying to see the strange sight, and he was about to propose to Nanny that as it was a dull day on the market they should go home and come again on Saturday; but at that unlucky moment she tauntingly said "Are you going to keep me here standing by the pump to be stared at all day long? Why don’t you sell me, if you are not ashamed to do it?
Thus encouraged John began to shout out "A wife for sale! A wife for sale!"
"Yes, and a very good wife too" cried Nanny in a sharp, shrill key; to which John replied by an equivo-cal grunt. Perhaps he was afraid to say she was not a good wife but he should not sell her, and like a good man selling a bad horse he could not say a word which might hurt his conscience. At any rate John only gave a grunt, and left the bystand-ers to guess what it meant. Grunts are intelligible enough in some circles, where they are usually the only media of communication. After standing half an hour or more without effecting a sale, John began to be really sorry that he had been so foolish as to come to market on such a disreputable errand. His anger was cooled down. His wife’s temper was also subdued. Still neither of them sufficiently softened to make the first advance towards a reconciliation. John contin-ued to shout now and then "A wife for sale!" but his voice was growing husky and once or twice he could not prevent a tear from rolling down his face, but he hoped his wife did not see it. "A wife for sale!" cried John; but in his heart he hoped he might not find a buyer. "A wife for sale! A wife for sale!"
"Yes, and I have been a good wife to you for forty years, and you can’t say I haven’t" appealed Nanny in a whining tone.
"Hum–ar– yes– so– she–has. That’s true enough, and I don’t deny it. A good wife for sale! Who’ll buy her?"
"Oh dear, dear, dear! What do you want to sell me for, Johnny?| cried the poor old woman who was melted
[Page 83]
at once by her husband’s admission that she was a good wife. "Ah Johnny! Who will you get to rub your lumbago if you part with me? boo-hoo-hoo! Nanny’s grief was now beyond restraint, and she sobbed aloud.
"I won’t part with you for any money Nan!" exclaimed Rodd, taking the halter from her neck and throwing it away in disgust. Come along old sweetheart, I’m sorry enough we came out to make fools of our-selves, and set the whole town talking about us. Be whipp-ed if I’d sell you for a bushel of sovereigns and a new wife into the bargain.
The rhinocerous has its tender part, and so had John Rodd, rough as he was when roused to anger. Nanny’s soft appeal "What do you want to sell me for, Johnny?" touched his tender feeling in a moment, and a responsive outburst of kindness was the result; on the universal principle that "like begets like". The remembrance of a thousand little acts of his wife, in times of sickness, rushed into his mind all at once, and salved over the stinging effects of her hasty tongue, and John would sooner have put the halter around his own neck and hanged himself to the market pump than he would have sold his dear old Nanny, or ever wounded her heart afresh by a single harsh word. As they jogged homeward, arm in arm together, they mutually resolved that in future they would keep a [indecipherable] watch on their words and be as careful to study each other’s feelings as they were before reckless in wounding them.
This is only a fanciful story, but it may perhaps remind some persons of wrangling scenes in their houses, and of conjugal discontent in their own heart. True, a man may never have gone to the contemptible length of putting a halter over his wife’s neck for the purpose of selling her; but has he not in his secret heart wished he could untie the nuptial knot by a process less vulgar than a public sale in a market-place? And is there not some wife in the land who, like Mrs Rodd, is ever tenacious of having the last word, though she knows it will lead to a brawl?
It is a curious study, though not a very cheering one, to observe an old married pair of the early sort, in the midst of a select company of visitors at their own home. To notice how polite and affable Mr Jakes is to all the guests, but how stiff and raspy he when he approaches his own wife, and how amiable Mrs
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Jakes is to everybody present except her husband – for whom she shows cold contempt – or something very like it. How she laughs at the twaddle of old Mr Featherhead, or listens with wondering awe to the misty talk of Young Gruider about pre-historic creation! But if her lawful partner should give expression to the concentrated pith of three week’s reflection on some matter of vital interest socially she would affect total indifference, and perhaps talk to her nearest guest about muffs. Or if he were to let off a genuine joke, which roused the company like tickle, she would look as serious as a monkey eating a lemon, and perhaps ask audibly, "What did Mr Jakes say?"
If a man were seen digging a deep trench beside the foundation of his house he would be justly be considered a fool or a madman, and his friends would rush to stop him from tumbling his house around his ears. But many a man is wilfully engaged day after day in grubbing away the moral foundations of his house with the pickaxe and mattock of hard words and unprinc-ipled acts; and his wife, instead of trying to stop the work of demolition by softening means, which most women know how to use, she goes to work "hammer and tongs (to use a common phrase denoting utter recklessness) and soon great will be the fall of that house".
The causes of domestic jars and jangles, ad in finitum is lack of love. There is no doubt of that. If the cause of a physical ailment was as clear to a doctor, he would not have much difficulty in treat-ing his patient. I will copy a prescription from a book of truth which if honestly applied, effectually cure family feuds in the worst households in the world. "Love one another". That is the remedy if possible, and I wish I could induce everybody to try it. Some unhappy ones may perhaps exclaim in the misery of their help-lessness "Oh! we can’t do that, for the devil is in our home!" Then I would say "try prayer and fasting," and I reverently assert on the highest authority, that the devil will soon flee out of the house, and peace will enter in and dwell there.
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"Do you love me?"
Do you love me? Tell me truly,
The deep meaning of that smile,
Does it mean that I am dearest,
Or but friendly all the while;
Like the stars that softly glisten.
Over all beneath their ray.
Or a beacon brightly burning,
Safely guides me on my way?
Do you love me, is the pressure
Of your hand, that sends a thrill
To my heart, when e’er I clasp it
Given without thought of ill,
So is it but your joyous nature,
Making all round you bright,
Free to all who court it’s favours,
From your heart of heart’s so light?
Do you love me, are the glances,
That I cherish from those eyes,
Granted freely to all comers
Or what I alone may prize:
Say you love me, once for ever,
Tell you love me e’er we part,
Tell me this, Oh! Tell me daring,
I’m the loved one of your heart?
W. Williams
Ship’s Report
Date – Latitude – Longitd – Course – Distnc – Bar – Ther
November 26 – 39°36’S – 0°10’E – S. 82°E – 153.miles – 30.05 – 58
27 – 39°51’ " – 1°58’ " – N. 86°E – 85 " – 30.08. – 58
28 – 40°23’ " – 6°8’ " – S. 75°E – 198 " – 29.91. – 59
29 – 40°31’ " – 10 °48’ " – S. 78°E – 214 " – 29.91. – 59
30 – 40°59’ " – 16°31’ " – S. 84°E – 260 " – 29.91. – 61½
December 1 – 40°42’ "– 20°35E – N. 85°E – 185 " – 30.14 – 63
2 – 41°4’ – 21°41’ " – S. 66°E – 55.miles – 29.90 – 62
Signed I.F. Shardlow
Chief Officer
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Folk Song from the forecastle
Fare you well I wish you well
Chorus to be repeated after every line
Hurrah sing fare you well
To London town we have bid adieu,
And to our friends so kind and true,
So down the Channel we did steer,
And the Eddystone light did soon appear,
For Plymouth town we then did steer,
And some of our passengers felt very queer,
When the steamboat came to give us a tow
We stripped off her muslin to let her go,
But something gave way in his hold below,
And the brute he let our hawser go,
Which made the sailors pray you know,
But we got in that harbour safe and sound,
And dropped our anchor on the ground
And there we laid for four long days,
And when the Captain came on board,
Heave up the anchor he did say,
And from Plymouth harbour we sailed that day,
And down the Channel again did steer,
Till the Land’s End did disappear,
Hurrah my boys be of good cheer,
For she’s an English ship with an English crew,
And an English Captain and officers too,
So we are bound away round the Cape,
And from strong gales we have got to escape,
Then to the Eastward we will steer,
So let the winds blow high or low,
The Parramatta has got to go,
So shake her up from the hold below,
For up aloft that yard must go,
So now my song is nearly done,
And I hope that I have offended none,
But just as good friends as when I began
So fare you well, I wish you well.
W. Williams
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Chums
In my former article on Chairs I mentioned that word "Chums" an appellation which to some of us may sound somewhat strange & peculiar and as we are all likely to be included in that generic term before long, if we are not so already, I intend now to say a word or two on this subject.
"Chum" is derived from the French "Chambre" and is applied generally in England to your boon companion or most literally to the person who lives in the same room with you. In Calcutta nearly all the young unmarried men live together in conjeries of firs or sif and their swelling is called a "Chummery" which is really the French "Chambrée" and consequently the users themselves are "chums" with one another. In Australia the term is most universally applied and all are either "old" or "New chums" as the case may be. A man who has resided in the Colony for some time is an "old chum" and a greenhorn [griffin indecipherable’] or new arrival is dubbed a "new chum".
I shall confine myself in this article to the Genus Homo "old chum". There are several varieties of the species of a pleasing and other of an anything but agreeable nature. One of the best specimens of "old chums" is the man who has resided in the Colonies for some years, knocked about among all classes of society there and in other parts of the world as well & perhaps made one or more voyages to and from the "Old country".
He may generally be spotted by his quiet steady demeanour not unmixed with a little of that "bonhomie" which a man always
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always acquires in knocking about the world.
On board ship you will find that he has soon settled himself down in his berth and fallen into the routine of to life at sea. As a rule there is nothing peculiar in his attire to mark him as an "old chum" but there is a general air or appearance about him which stamps him at once as one who has been abroad before. If he is a smoker you will nearly always find him doing a constitutional up and down the deck after breakfast and enjoying his pipe or "reed" at the same time or between meals ensconced in some quiet work reading or conversing quietly with some fellow voyagers with whom he has made acquaintance. This species of "old chum" may readily be recognised by the quiet tone of his conversation and the simple unostentatious manner in which he replies to any query put to him about the colonies or his former voyages.
If he is a young man he generally enters early on the voyage into any of the little games or amusements which may be got up on board or if most advanced in life may at times be found playing a game at chess or draughts on deck or enjoying a quiet rubber of whist in the Saloon in the evening.
This is one of the best specimens of "old chums" and is a man whose acquaintance I would advise all new to a sea voyage or the colonies to cultivate as one from whom a great fund of amusement and information may be obtained.
Having given a short description of the genus "old chums" agreeable I have now come to the less pleasing part of my work and describe the "old chum" disagreeable among "old chums".
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I think you will nearly always find the "chum agreeable" predominate but this does not prevent the other variety from finding his way on board ship.
The "old chum" I am now about to endeavour to delineate, has one thing in common with his most genial brother, that is in settling himself down at once in the quarters allotted to him, this however he generally manages to do in a manner which brings out pre-dominant point of his character to the fore.
If he happens to have a luckless greenhorn in the same berth with him the luckless one is sent to go to the wall. The best bunk and positions for placing boxes or small articles are certain to be appropriated by the "old chum" regardless of the comforts of the "new chum" so long as his own wants and conveniences are satisfactorily settled.
Another peculiarity by which this specimen of "old chum" may be known is his never failing appearance at mealtimes. He always secures a seat next the spot on which some good joint or dish is generally placed, tho’ he takes good care to avoid the office of carver or helper of the said viand. He will be certain to secure at once the best of everything on the table for himself and if he happens to be a "happy father" or mother, for the genus has a female representative as well as a male, the articles placed on the table for dessert are soon to disappear quickly in a most mysterious manner. There is another feature by which this kind of "old chum" may be known and that is by his conversation. No matter in what part of the ship, below or on deck, at meal times or during recreation hours his voice is certain to be predominant. No matter whether you wish to listen or not, his anything but dulcet tones always rise above the surrounding voices. He is happiest when he has a select company
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of new chums around him asking but certainly not answering questions. He is always eager to give information and that not always of the most correct nature; this however is not of the least con-sequence to him for he has got into such a constant habit of telling yarns about himself & his doings that he has at length got himself & believe what he at time thought timorously of as putting forward a fact. Accounts of his former doings either on board some ship, in which he has sailed or often adventures or life in the Colonies come floating along the air wherever you happen to be in thin earshot of him. As regards the dress of this "old chum" there is nothing very striking to distinguish him from the "old chum agreeable", but if this should be anything peculiar in this way it is in a general air of [indecipherable pulp] which pervades his attire.
There is one more peculiarity which I may mention as appertaining to the "old chum" disagreeable and that is his studied pertinacity in keeping himself away from all kinds of amusements on board ship. He is not a gregarious being except when he can find flattering listeners to his long winded yarns or is occupied in making himself disagreeable to his fellow passengers in some way or another.
However much this kind of "old chum" may be courted & followed during the early part of the voyage, you will find that he is left considerably to himself by the time it is half over except by a few who being either like himself fulfil the old proverb "Birds of a feather flock together" or are too simple to become cognisant of the habits & character of the man with whom they are associating.
Of course this is one of the worse specimens of the "chum old disagreeable" but like the "old chum agreeable there are many varieties of the genus. I do not think I [indecipherable] give new chums any word of advice regarding this variety of the "genus homo" except the old motto "Verbum sat sapienti".
I intend Mr Editor with your permission, next week, to devote myself to the genus "New Chum".
Victor Secundus.
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Correspondence
"Parramatta"
29.11.82
To the Editor of the Petrel Papers"
Sir, In you report of the entertainment given last Friday, you mentioned that Mr Michael "refused an encore" for which I most certainly take the blame, it being entirely my fault that the gentleman did not respond to the kind & hearty applause of the audience.
Trusting this will receive your favour and consideration.
I am, Your’s respectfully,
Herbert S. Ottewill
Notices to correspondents
Communication has been received from Messrs Houlding, Shardlow, Michael Ottewill
"Justice" Your letter is of so personal a character, and the charges it contains so utterly without foundation, that, it would more appropriately have been signed "Injustice" or "Prejudice"; under these circumstances, we do not think it wise it should be inserted, certainly not unless it bears your signature. For the future we have arranged that those responsible for getting up the enter-tainments on board, see that we are furnished with reports of the same; then perhaps you will be satisfied.
Marking the Paper. We protest emphatically against the repetition of what has occurred in no 4 of the issue of these papers. Alterations, erasures and [indecipherable]dations have been made without even the courtesy of having been initialled. For the future, if inaccuracies occur, as will most probably inavoidably be the case, we shall be pleased to be informed of the same, in writing, in the usual manner, either for publication or not as may be deemed advisable; but we cannot assent to the marking of any of our copies.
Published on Decr 2nd, 1882
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The Petrel Papers
No. 6 Saturday, December 16, 1882.
A month hence where shall we all be? By "We" is meant all those on board the ship Parramatta journeying to Sydney. Most of us scattered, few perhaps to meet again. To some the separation will come as a relief to the tedium of the voyage; by others, but these will be in the minor-ity we presume, some regret will be felt at leav-ing their home of the past three months.
Some of our co-voyagers are returning to their Southern homes after having paid a visit to the land of their nativity; which with the perversity of human nature they will persist in calling "home". Others native of the South have been with parents to visit "The Old Countrie", for the first time and are returning to what they will ever feel is home, no matter what the parent may think or feel. To these we shall wish a hearty God-speed and look forward possibly to some pleasing friendly intercourse in the future.
The bulk however of the passengers and many of the crew go out to settle in the Colonies – all hoping, we presume, to do well in these prosperous lands, the children of the Mother Country. To these latter we would, we hope without being considered pre-sumptuous, offer a little kindly advice and counsel. To some these colonies may now appear to be an El Dorado. To many we hope it may prove such; and that with riches well used they may be greatly blessed.
Success in any new land requires a few special qualifications for its attainment, amongst these, will be found will be found in the first rank, energy and
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perseverance; but we may remind fresh settlers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, or elsewhere in Australia, that thought they cannot do without these special qualities, they still must re-member they owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the earlier pioneers of these colonies who have made the path of the recent settlers a comparatively smooth one. Few who know what the early struggle was in New South Wales will gainsay this; they, the early pioneers, fought their way through poverty and hardships of every kind, including famine, finally elevating the colony to its present highly prosperous condition. In addition to energy and perseverence, of primary importance is Sobriety and steadiness of character. The bane of the otherwise successful young colonists often is the intemperate habits and bad example of those with whom he is brought into contact by his business or otherwise. We should not wish it to be thought that we are here simply advocating total abstinence principles; but we may say, that, the man, or woman either, who never drinks can never become intemperate. The usually fast life of the average colonial youth is the main cause of the marring of so many bright young lives, that might possibly have otherwise have proved shining examples of success. Do not for heaven’s sake accept the dictum of the young sot who thinks it is the correct thing to drink his bottles of ardent spirit per deim, and acts upon what he thinks. It may appear large and loud to be able to brag you can do this; but it lays the seed of disease and is a fruitful cause of early death; when should not his occur, the habit may grow upon you, as it invariably does; the result being loss of position, character and every-thing the undegraded human being holds most dear. We can assure you this is no over-drawn picture, for there are thousands of young fellows in the colonies ruining both body and soul by the immoderations of spirits. If not total
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total abstainers let us pray you to be very moderate in your drinking habits, and especially in the use of spirituous liquors, which are more baneful in a hot climate than in colder regions. Then as to steadiness, this seems to us to include all the other qualities that go to make up the successful business or professional man, punctuality, energy, per-severence, honesty, sobriety, and the hundred and one other minor attributes must be involved in this and without the possession of which no man can be a really good citizen of the world.
Finally, a childlike trust in, and a regular appeal to the Fountain of all Good-ness for help and daily guidance is the only means of combining true happiness with the success we hope all may attain.
The Transit of Venus 1882
We thought good on Tues 5th Inst to post notices about the ship of which the following is a copy.
"Transit of Venus"
"It may be of interest to some on board the Parrra-matta to know that the by no means frequent occurrence of the Transit of the Planet Venus across the Sun’s disc will take place tomorrow (December 6th) and that it is possible it may be visible from the position the ship is then in." "Calculating the time from the position of the ship at noon today, the external contact of ingress will take place about 4.30p.m., the internal contact of ingress being completed in about 21 minutes later. The entire passage will occupy six hours and sixteen minutes, it will therefore not terminate until near-upon 11.0p.m.; of course this is some hours after the Sun will have set; therefore the latter part of the passage and the egress will not be seen in this
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part of the world; but under favourable circum-stances it may be viewed from the time of in-gress until sun-down.
"We think well to caution all those who attempt to make observations that the unpro-tected eye should not on any account be used for this purpose or disastrous results may ensue." Ed P.P.
Petrel Papers Office
Decr 5th 1882.
The Transit
When in Latitude 40° 12’S Longitude 41° 48’E on the afternoon of the 6th of December 1882, great interest was shown by almost everyone on board turning out after dinner to witness what could be seen of the Transit of Venus. We first observed that contact had taken place at 5.5p.m. when the appearance of the phenomenon was thus
The Planet very slowly passed on to the face of the Sun and was splendidly visible for an hour and a half to two hours; but unfortun-ately when the Sun got down to within an hour and a half of setting the horizon became very cloudy, and the remaining position of the transit which might have been visible to us during daylight became obscured. From the great interest then evinced a few par-ticulars as to what this phenomenon meant may be of some slight interest to our readers.
The first question which will be asked is naturally; why are observers sent vast distances at immense cost, with such elaborate scientific apparatus, to different points of advantage to observe this phenomenon? It is because these
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Transits of Venus are of the greatest value to astronomers for the means they afford of de-termining the Sun’s distance from the Earth. Observations are made from various points placing the Sun at a certain angle to different ob-servers – the time is accurately noted at which from these places of observation the contact is seen to take place; then accurate calculation is made is made as to the exact angle at which ingress or egress takes place: from the different angles of impingement further calculations can be made as to the distance of the planets involved – this is technically termed Parallactic displace-ment, which may be explained in simple language by the following illustration.
"When two bodies at different distances are seen on the same straight line the nearer appears to be shifted relatively to the other by a shift in the spectator’s position, but in the opposite direction. If each body be moved twice its distance from the spectator, thus keeping the distances in the same proportion, the amount of the shift will be halved, whilst if they be each brought to half their original distances it will be doubled. If then the proportion of these distances be known, the shift or parallactic displacement will enable us to determine both the distances."
There have been during the last 251 years the following Transits of Venus which always take place in June or December"- viz: Decr 1631 – Decr 1639 – June 1761 – June 1769 – Decr 1874 – Decr 1882. The next two will occur in December of 2004 and 2012 respectively.
The Transit of 1874 crossed the northern part of the Sun’s face in a north-westerly dir-ection; that of 1882 was also in a north-west direction but over the south part of the Sun’s
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face.
Valuable information will have been perman-ently recorded in the recent transit by the means of Photography as pictures will have been taken of the Sun with Venus as a black spot on his face. These will be taken at the different stations of observation and will be made use of for comparison and from which very accurate measurements can be obtained. The great advantage of these photo-graphs will be that they can be examined with great care afterwards. Ed. P.P.
How old Mrs Bruce saved a sweep’s fee.
"I never did see such a fidget as you are about fire" said Mrs Bruce to her husband, when he warned of the risk of shaking a flickering candle-end [indecipherable] the burning grate. "We have lived in this home five years or more, and have never been burnt out; and yet you are continually cautioning me, as if I did not know that fat would flare up".
"Nothing like being careful Jane. Though we have happily escaped fire thus far, we might be burnt out tis very night. Accidental fires usually come unexpectedly. It is our duty to be watchful you know".
"Poogh! That is what you are always preaching to me I am sure we might as well have saved the pounds and pounds we have paid the insurance company for above thirty years. We never had a mishap with fire; so all that policy money, as you call it, is as good as thrown away. Ugh! Bad policy that, I think!"
‘Well, my dear, the comfort we have had all these years, in knowing that we were insured against loss, is worth something, anyway. And now let me remind you again, Jane, that this parlour flue wants sweeping."
"I am sure you are mistaken there John. I[t] was swept only at the beginning of last winter, and the horrid sweep charged me three shillings for doing it. Merely half an hour’s work! I did grudge the money uncommonly".
"Sweeping a chimney is a dirty job, Jane and I think a man ought to be paid pretty well for it. It is my opinion that a flue ought to be swept every winter; [indecipherable] of [indecipherable]
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where there is a coal fire in the grate every day! Better be sure than sorry! Is a good old maxim. Shall I call as I go into town, and tell the sweep to come tomorrow morning early, and clear out all the flues in the home that are in use?"
"No, indeed John! That would cost seventeen and sixpence. I have a better use for the money than pay-ing it to a sweep."
"Excuse me for saying that I do not think your system of economy is altogether a safe one, Jane".
"You can’t teach me economy, Bruce, for you never had any practice. But I do wish you would leave all these little, petty domestic matters to me. I will get the flues swept when they want it, never fear. I don’t see why Sarah cannot sweep the down with a long-hand-led broom."
"I should be sorry for you to ask the girl to do such a smutty job, Jane. If you did she would very likely give you notice to leave, and I should not blame her either. Sweeping flues is not girl’s work."
"Well, don’t you bother your head about the flues, or about the servant girl, either, Bruce. You go and attend to your own business, like a wise man. If there is one thing I hate more than another it is to see a man fussing and molly-coddling about trumpery things in the house that ought to be above meddling with."
"Very well, very well: do as you like my dear, only if the house should catch fire when I am from home save my writing desk. That is all I ask you to do". Mr Bruce then went into the city, musing as he went on the constitutional firmness of his wife. Notwithstanding his lifelong efforts to make her pliable, she was as unbending as a dry shinbone.
One morning about six weeks after the foregoing col-loquy took place, Mr Bruce was awakened by soon after daybreak by an unusual knocking in the parlour beneath – something like a blacksmith making an iron gate – and he naturally asked his wife what the noise meant.
"Oh, it is only our new maid lighting the parlour fire, John".
"Lighting the fire indeed! Why she is surely hammering the grate to pieces. I never heard a girl make such a row in our house before."
"She is only raking the cinders out of the fire grate with the
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poker. It’s all right, I tell you she must rake the ashes out you know. She will drop the poker in a minute. Lie down, Bruce, and don’t fidget."
Mrs Bruce said this in a peevish tone. The truth is, she was vexed with herself for parting with her old careful servant, Sally; but she did not like to confess that her new girl was stupidly useless, because Mr Bruce had demurred to her sending Sally aware merely because she burnt too much coal in the kitchen. But Betsey was as careless and dirty as Sally was clean and careful, and Mrs Bruce had begun to find out the troublesome difference between a good servant and a bad one. Mr Bruce grumbled at the noisy maid below, and once more his wife curtly bade him lie still and go to sleep.
Presently a peculiarly startling noise was heard like a hurricane on top of the house, and in another minute there was a sharp rapping a the back gate. "What on earth is the matter now?" exclaimed Mr Bruce, jumping out of bed and throwing up his bedroom window. "Hullo! Who is that rapping at my gate?"
"It is I, Mr Bruce, It is Mr Doles. I am sorry to disturb you Sir, but-"
"It is old Mr Doles, next door. What does he want at this time of day?" said Mrs Bruce, sitting up in bed.
"Hist! Hold your tongue, Jane. I can’t hear what the man says. What is it you want, Mr Doles?"
"I am sorry to disturb you Mr Bruce, but are you aware that your parlour chimney is on fire?"
"Hey! What? Fire! Bless my soul! Jane, jump up! Confound it all! Where’s my shirt? Bah! What are you screaming for woman? Find me my dressing-gown. Quick! Quick! Quick!"
At that moment Betsy shouted from the foot of the stairs "The chimney’s afire mum!"
To describe the fright of Mr & Mrs Bruce would be no easy task, and it is perhaps best not to report all their excited sayings, or to notice the ludicrous exchange of garments they made, in their frantic haste to get coverings of some kind. Downstairs they raced as nimbly as if the house was on fire upstairs, and looking any-thing but pretty figures.
"Fetch me a wet mop Betsy! Run, girl, run! said Mr Bruce, the moment he entered the parlour. The ter-rified girl rushed out of the room, and tumbled
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over a policeman who was rushing in; but she soon got up again, and hastened back with a mop and a bucket of water. Mr Bruce then began to mop up the lumps of red hot soot that had fallen down the flue on to the floor, and Mrs Bruce began to cry because her hearthrug and carpet were being ruined. Just then a man with a paper cap on darted up stairs, and through the back attic window on to the roof, and began to tear the shingles off the roof with furious zeal. No doubt some of the shingles had caught fire, but he was evidently bent on stripping the house-top, by the determined way he worked at it; but he accidentally fell down the roof and hurt his knee against the parapet wall, so he limped downstairs again disabled. In the meantime a crowd of loafers and larrikins gathered in the front garden, all anxious to begin to save the household effects; but they were checked in their advances by the batons of three police-men. Just as the fire was dulling down for lack of soot, a fireman arrived in a cab with a hand engine, and he soon extinguished the last spark. Two engines arrived shortly afterwards, one drawn by four horses, and the other by about fifty men and boys; but they were not needed – the fire was out.
When Mr Bruce could with safety leave the parlour, he went out and sternly rebuked the mob in front for trespassing on his garden, and treading down all his choice flowers and shrubs. If he had been clad in his usual out-of-doors dress, his appearance in his own verandah might have had a restraining influence on the noisy rabble; but he could scarcely expect a respectful hearing from them, arrayed as he was in his flannel drawers and his wife’s red mantle, with his face and his nightcap begrimed with soot, and a wet mop in his grasp. The mob roared with delight at his clownish look, and Mr Bruce was ex-tremely wrath. The policemen were tickled, but they manfully kept their laughter from bursting out.
The outside excitement was all over in about an hour, but there was disorder enough inside the house to keep Mrs Bruce excited for the whole day. Silly Betsey confessed that she had used Kerosene to light up the fire, but she did not mean to set the flue blazing. Betsey got notice to leave the home instantly. She demurred to going away without a week’s wages, so the money was paid to her, and she departed to seek some other family who were in want of a "good general servant." It is to be hoped that the family who hired her have their furniture insured, and that they will keep their kerosene under lock and key.
It was a fortnight before the loss of that mishap could be estimated, for the carpenter (who, by the way, was the son of the man with the paper cap) made a long job of repairing the shingles on the roof, and the mason
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was longer than he needed to be in fixing a new chimney-pot and doing sundry repairs to ceiling plaster which had been dislodged by water from the hand engine. The back attic sash had also to be replaced by a new one, besides two panes of glass in the parlour French light which Mrs Bruce broke with the mop handle. At length the sum total of damage seen to be £21.11s.4d . That account in-cluded the fee, or fine, for the fire engines, but it was exclusive of damage to the parlour carpet and the chimney ornaments. The damage to the flower gar-den could not be ascertained by any monetary gauge, and it is not likely that any of the valuable pot-plants stolen by the larrikins will ever be brought back again. It is not easy to satisfy the man who hurt his knee by sliding down the roof, but Mr Bruce hopes to do so without going to law. It is thus far clear that, independently of collateral or contingent damages, the cost of that petty fire was not small, and even Mrs Bruce herself admits that it would have been much cheaper to employ a sweep to clean the parlour flue out, though he had charged her three shillings for the job.
Some incredulous housewives may possibly say that this is only a fancy sketch of mine. I would not stop to argue that point with them, but I certainly would advise them to take basic warning of the costly experience of Mrs Bruce; for, as a rule, they will find it more economical, and far safer, to get their chimneys properly swept than to burn the soot out of them.
J.R.H.
Ship’s Report
Date Latitude – Longitude – Course – Distnce – Bar – Ther
December 3 41° 8’S – 25° 9’ E – East – 157 – 29.60 – 54
" 4 40° 19’ – 30° 39’ " – N.79.E – 254 – 29.65. – 54
" 5 40° 3’ " – 36° 0’ " – N.86.E – 247 " – 29.94. – 56
" 6 40° 12’ " – 40° 48’ "– S.88.E – 222 mls. – 29.74. – 57
" 7 40° 15’ " – 45° 18’ "– East – 203 mls. – 29.86. – 58
" 8 40° 27’ " – 49° 34’ "– S.86.E – 201 mls. – 29.90. – 52
" 9 40° 40’ " – 53° 44’ "– S.85.E – 190 mls. – 30.09. – 57
" 10 41° 8’ " – 56° 14’ "– S.77.E – 116 mls. – 29.80. – 49
" 11 40° 35’ " – 60° 16’ "– N.80.E – 186 mls. – 30.15. – 52
" 12 40° 59’ " – 65° 19’ "– S.84.E – 231 mls. – 30.14. – 59
" 13 41° 13’ " – 70° 48’ "– S.87.E – 246 mls. – 29.85. – 55
" 14 40° 48’ " – 76° 9’ "– N.84.E – 248 mls. – 29.96. – 52
" 15 41° 4’ " – 80° 14’ "– S.85.E – 186 mls. – 29.95. – 59
" 16 41° 10’ " – 84° 15’ "– S.88.E – 183 mls. – 30.02. – 52
Signed
F.I. Shardlow
Chief Officer
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"Chums" (continued).
In my last article I devoted myself to giving the readers of "The Petrel Papers" a description of the "genus homo" "Old Chum" and today I intend to endeavour to depict for you the other phrase I mentioned "New Chums", which may, like the other species, be divided into two classes, agreeable and disagreeable. In an outward bound ship, you will find both kinds pretty freely distributed about the vessel, and it will perhaps be rather difficult to say which of the two kinds pre-dominates, but I think if the census were taken the latter would carry off the palm.
I shall begin my subject as before with the "New Chum agreeable". It is perhaps not an easy matter to spot this species immediately on his coming on board, but if you are at all of an observant nature, you will soon find him out. At first he keeps himself pretty much to himself, and if he happens to be quartered with an "Old Chum" leaves his berth and luggage to the disposal or arrangement of his companion; and acquiesces quietly to any suggestion he may make as to their final settlement. His attire is as a rule new, and from this his character may be quickly inferred. It is unobtrusive and free from those new fangled fads which untravelled men are so often fond of. He will at the early stage of the voyage be found sitting or lounging [indecipherable] about the deck, and if by any chance he finds his way on to the forecastle from the poop before the vessel has left the Channel you may at once know him by his not pestering the Pilot by numerous inane questions regarding the weather and the position of the ship. Many and numerous are the longing looks he casts towards the receding shores of old England leaning over the rail as the vessel finally leaves the land; that is if by this time he has recovered from the effects of that horror of all voyagers new to the sea – I mean mal de mer" or as it is more vulgarly called sea-sickness. From this he generally does recover soon, for he has the good sense to know it is of no use to over load the stomach with food until the brain has become accustom-ed to the erratic movements of the ship. A little biscuit or food of the simplest kind usually satisfies him until he finds his se appetite and in a measure his sea legs. Gradually as that feeling of [indecipherable] which we all must have experienced more or less, leaves him, he
[Page 103]
begins to enter into conversation with his fellow passengers and the amusements common on board ship; and though he must be in a measure new to most of the latter, his quiet observance of how, when and where to do a thing, enables him to become pro-ficient in most of the games long before many of his "New Chum" companions have ever got an inkling of what has to be done. By the time the vessel has been a couple of weeks from London, he will have quickly settled himself down to the mode of life at sea, and except from his quietly enquiring now and again concerning something nautical, or the progress of the voyage, you might not know that he has never been on a long voyage before. He soon becomes a favourite with all on board from the Captain to the ship’s boy amongst the crew, and from the Right Honourable Mr Red-Tape Sealing Wax to Timothy Anything-more-for-you-today-marm among the passengers. If there were more of this kind of "New Chum" and of the "Old Chum agreeable" on board ship, how very different would be a long sea voyage from what it frequently is; many of the jars and disagreeables that always crop up on ship board might be avoided, and the unavoidable tedium and monotony of such a voyage relieved and the happiness and contentment of officers, passengers amp;amp; crew greatly en-hanced. But I am moralising I find so must return to my subject. I now come to speaking of the other specimen of "New Chum" I mean the species "disagreeable". There is no trouble in dis-cerning him, for even the Tyre on board ship can easily make him out. As soon as he comes on board, even before the vessel has left the dock, his habits & mode of going about betray the individual. If you happen by ill chance to be quartered in the same berth with him, I am sorry for you. He immediately takes possession if he can of the best berth & position for his cases and [indecipherable] and of these he has not a few. Any suggestion you may make, as to the disposition of your own or his luggage & belongings are seen to be met with his disapproval or at least some other suggestion for their final adjustment, and you may esteem yourself particularly fortunate if your quarters are not turned into a slop clothier’s or a ship chandler’s shop, before
[Page 104]
you have had time to fairly turn yourself round. On deck he soon makes himself particularly agreeable to the Captain and officers by his numerous questions regarding the vessel, her course, and the probable or improbable state of the weather. One of the easiest traits by which you may know him is his undivid-ing attention to the pleasures of the table and thus inevitable consequence on first coming to sea. As soon as the vessel gets into roughish water, the demon of the sea seizes him and after each meal and at various intervals between he is in the throes of sea sickness; the period of which is greatly prolonged by his rigidly disregarding the care of our friend New Chum agreeable as regards the quantity of food that he takes. You are not safe in your berth for at all times and all seasons the door is likely to be violently burst open and he launches himself and the contents of his irritated stomach in, upon, and over you with ardour which is certainly the reverse of agreeable. Even on deck you are not free from this kind of persecution, for, if he happens to be taken suddenly ill there, he invariably rushes to the weather side of the rail, with consequences disastrous to his own clothing; and of any unfortunate passenger who may be standing near. This kind of new chum may also be known by his dress which is often of the most outré description. His caps and hats are [indecipherable] and as for pockets their [indecipherable] is legion; and on getting into the tropics his attire and head-gear make him resemble a mounteback or travelling juggler rather than a decent Englishman at sea. His pockets are a perfect museum of appliances for use at sea or in the bush as he fondly imagines. Another peculiarity of this kind of New Chum is his intense eagerness to be prime mover in any kind of amuse-ment that may be proposed in the way of concert or theatre performance utterly regardless of his fitness or otherwise for so onerous and delicate a post. His suggestions on this head are never advanced quietly or modestly; but his word is to be law if people will submit to it, which is fortunately not often the case. Another weakness of his is an incurable habit he has of coming and seating himself down beside you, or looking over your shoulder when you are occupied in any work, either sketching, painting or writing, and his remarks thereon are always made with a freedom which would be highly commensurable
[Page 105]
were they not so generally objectionable and ignorant a nature. He also has a trait in common with his friend "Old Chum disagreeable", which is his strident voice which may always be heard either on deck or below, high above those of the surrounding conversers and his opinions are always advanced as incontroversable. A further peculiarity, distinctive of this New Chum is a constant tendency to enquire impertinent questions about yourself, station on life, or forebears, which if you [indecipherable] in the least is sure to cause him to take great umbrage thereat, & should he not succeed in obtaining the required information about you, he will go ferreting about the ship until he manages to worm it out of some friend who has been unwary enough to be taken off his guard. I fancy the reason he is so delighted in this sort of thing is that he is never as happy as when he is confiding to some poor unfortunate the whole story of his life, marriage, illnesses, petty escapades or in fact anything that may happen to crop up about himself in conversation.
If space would allow I might enter into many other peculiarities of this genus of chum but I fear I must draw to a close. Before finishing I may say that however ob-jectionable our friend may be on his first voyage he almost invariably tones down and becomes a more rational member of society after a few years residing in the colonies.
Victor Secundus
Entertainment
An entertainment took place on the 30th [indecipherable] and was like all the previous efforts of our kind fellow passengers to give us a pleasant evenings amusement a decided success.
It being S. Andrew’s day, as some lady or gentleman of Scotch proclivities had remembered, the music of the evening was devoted to that nation, followed by Burn’s poem "Tam O’Shanter" read by Captain Goddard, and illustrated by a series of five tableaux.
An Overture of Scotch airs having been efficiently rendered by Mr Olding, Mrs Cunningham gave the first song on the Programme "When the kye came home" which was encored, the [indecipherable] "Ye Banks and Braes". Miss Gillam and Mr Michael then gave the duet "Hunting Tours" with very good dramatic effect and received a well deserved encore.
[Page 106]
Miss Cockerill was to have sung "Robin Adair" but she begged to be excused. Mr Michael followed with " The B{indecipherable] o’ the door". He was encored and repeated the last verse. Miss Horsfall then sang " The Keel row". The last song "Scotts wha’ hae wi’ Wallace bled" was given by the Revd E.J. Spencer. This was also encored. A few Scotch airs on the violin by Miss Vintner finished the first part of the entertain-ment.
Then came Captain Goddard’s Reading of "Tam O’Shanter", and the tableaux illustrating it. Tab: I "Tam’s cottage" in which appeared Miss Cockerill as "Our sulky sullen dame". She looked the character & was heartily applauded. Tab: II. "The Alehouse". Characters "Tam O’Shanter" (Mr Michael) – "Souter Johnnie" (Mr Seville) – "Landlord" (Mr D’Arcy Goddard) – "Landlady" (Miss Edwardes). This scene was very well got up and received a very loud call for a second rise of the curtain which was complied with.
Tab: III. "Kirk Alloway" – Characters "Old Nick" (Mr Ottiwill)- "Tam O’Shanter" (Mr Michael) – "Witches" (Miss Churchgard and Mrs Cunningham) "Warlocks" (Messrs Firth, Olding and Treglown). The audience were rather startled by the get up of the Witches and Warlocks; but when that wore off the tableaux got the applause it so well merited. Tab:IV "Kirk Alloway" – Tab:V "The Brig O’Doon" Miss Gillam appeared in these two scenes as "Nannie" the other characters being represented as before. Miss Gillam’s clever step dance was the chief feature of these two scenes and in the latter she exhibited the trophy of "Tam’s" mares tails she fairly brought down the house.
The programme was brought to a conclusion by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" by the whole company. As there was still a little time to spare before the carriages were due Captain Goddard kindly filled up the gap by reading Burn’s "Cotter’s Saturday night" in fine style.
This entertainment was one of the best we have had. We would suggest that if the ladies would stand in the centre of the stage when singing it would be an improvement. We must not omit to mention Miss Moulton’s kindness in accompanying all the songs which was highly appreciated.
"Excalibur"
[Page 107]
Notices to Correspondents
Communications have been received from the following Messrs Bryant, Shardlow, Houlding & Michael.
NB. We have to announce, that all being well, the number of these papers to be published on December 23rd next, will be our "Christmas number", for which we shall be please to receive appropriate contributions – at the same we have to state, that, the said number will conclude the issue of this publication.
Ed. P.P.
Death
We regret to announce the death of Mr Wm. M Read one of the saloon passengers which took place on December 9th, 1882, at 2.15 p.m. from phthisis pulmonalis; his remains were interred during the afternoon of the same day.
We were compelled from press of duties to forgo the publication of a number of their papers on the 9th instant.
Ed. P.P.
Published on board the ship Parramatta this 16th day of December 1882.
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The Christmas Number of the Petrel Papers
No.7. Saturday, December 23, 1882
We are to spend Christmas at sea; most possibly the New Year will also find us upon the waters. At this joyous Christmas tide, we, with the kindly feelings that should always be more than usually prominent at this time if the year, deem it the most seasonable opportunity to bid our readers fare well, with every good wish for their welfare and happiness in the future.
We have to thank a few of our co-voyagers for the cordial and ready help they have ever accorded to us, in response to the appeal issued in the first number of these papers; we regret that thus help, how ever, has been confined to so few, and that those from whom we might reasonably have expected material assistance have been rather behindhand in affording it. Throughout we have striven to keep the magazine en-tirely free from personalities, and we believe this aim has been fully realized.
We should we think be considered remiss, and be lacking in point of duty if we were not to name specially some of our contributors in this expression of our thanks. To the gentleman who under the initials of his name, J.H.R., has been so regular a contributor to these pages we are deeply indebted. Only one of our issues has been made up without some help from his pen. We look upon this as somewhat a compliment, for we are betraying a confidence in saying, that, J.H.R. is no other than "Old Boomerang", a colonial author of considerable repute, and it is under his "nom de plume" that our talented and genial friend Mr Houlding, has placed his writings before the literary world for years past. Next to Mr Houlding, to "Victor Secundus" we owe our hearty thanks, for his most ready help whenever appealed to for the same; his contributions have been highly interesting and singularly a propos to such a publication as
[Page 109]
these papers; we regret we are not at liberty to reveal the author’s name, as no one who can thus write need be ashamed of the child of his pen.
From Captain Goddard we have ever received the most ready and courteous assistance and it must not be forgotten that he has supplied us with the paper upon which the journal has been transcribed. To Mr Shardlow we tender our best thanks for the official report regularly supplied to us as to the ship’s pro-gress. To several of the members of the crew, are due our warmest thanks for their contributions which always appear to have been furnished to us with so hearty a good-will that we have felt the obligation thus conferred upon us to have been considerable.
Mr Ottewill has kindly handed in the manuscripts of his original songs etcetera, which from their insertion on these pages have we opine added considerably to the pleasure of our readers. Lastly though not least we are pleased to acknowledge a paper contributed to the present member by our old friend Mr Cudworth who, as he is travelling for the benefit of his health, we have felt constrained not to tax in tis direction; but as a very well known contributor to the press of the West Riding of Yorkshire and the author of several books of great local value in that district, as well as having a vast knowledge of the "Folk-Lore" of the great county of York, we had always felt that could his pen have been laid under contribution for the budget of "The Petrel Papers" it would have been an immense gain to his readers. The Christmas Story he now contributes is but the skeleton of what it would otherwise have been had we not limited its length from the lack of space.
The production of these papers has entailed a great deal of labour, and it would often have been much pleasanter and more congenial to our [indecipherable] to have spent the time devoted to their production on the poop joining in the recreation to be had on board ship or enjoying the sunshine of our pleasant voyage, rather than striving or broiling in the stern cabin, where at times writing has been anything but an agreeable or easy task. Some days our chair has had to be lashed close to the table, and whilst writing with one hand we have had to hold on with the other. This will account at times for the extraordinary callagraphic productions in parts of the papers and for which we need make no further apology than to say that at times writing has
[Page 110]
been almost an impossibility. However, if we have in any way contributed to the amusement of our fellow travellers, or tended to relieve the tedium of the voyage, we are satisfied – for, as we said at first, we hoped for kindly forbearance and charitable criticism od a production teeming with imperfections as amateurs we have done our best, and from this stand point hope we may be judged. Wishing each and all, contributors and readers – officers, passengers, and crew a Merry Christmas, and a happy and bright New-year with much such to follow. Adieu.
A Christmas Carol.
Near nineteen hundred years ago
In a lowly stable
A child was born in Bethlehem
Manger for his cradle.
The angelic voices this proclaim
To shepherds in the fields
A thousand trumpets aid the strain
And fear to reason yields.
A brilliant star shines out afar
To shepherds points the way
In Bethlehem they straight arrive
Their homage due to pay.
To God in the Highest, Glory be,
So Sang the heavenly Host,
On earth be peace, good will to men,
From God the Holy Ghost.
Wise Magi thru their offerings bring,
Gold, frankincense and myrrh,
Also by that star they’re guided
From eastern lands afar.
This wondrous child was Jesus Christ,
A Prophet, Priest and King,
Born both a Prince and Saviour too
To him your praises bring.
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To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
To the blest God head – three in one,
Rise praise from every host.
Decr 19 1882 John Maffey, L.R.C.P., etc.
Christmas at Sea 1882
Once more the Holy Season
Of Christmas-tide is here,
Telling the old sweet story
Of a Saviour’s love so dear.
In the manger bed at Bethlehem
The infant Christ doth lie;
And the humble shepherds worship
With wondering loving eye.
No room for the lowly infant
In the world he came to save:
But He, the willing gift
Of our heart’s love doth crave.
Welcome, thrice welcome,
Though far from our home,
The news is the same
A Saviour has come.
No Church bells’ joyous ringing
Can gladden us today,
Sailing across the Ocean,
From land to far away.
But we can add new praises
To our glad Christmas song,
As nearing now the Harbour
For which we used to long.
We thank our loving Father
For mercies fresh and new;
As we sing the Christmas story,
Of love so rich and true.
[Page 112]
Far from our friends so loving,
Their hearts still with ours meet,
Bringing us nearer together,
This Christmas tide to greet.
Ring joyous bells
We know what you say,
Though your peals cannot reach us
This Christmas day.
December 20th, 1882 S. Spencer.
My Christmas Gift
What’s the best thing I can offer,
As a gift for you today,
Any present I may proffer,
You will value if you say,
That is very sweetly spoken,
Yet however that may be,
I would wish to choose the token,
Carefully – so let us see.
Shall I send a nosegay dearest?
Ah! the Summer flowers are dead
And the leaves are in their [indecipherable],
And the fruit has lost its red.
And brides, the flowers would perish,
Lose their scent, and fade and die,
But a gift for you to cherish
Should be more than petals dry.
Shall I send a pretty present,
Something tasteful, something rare,
Something to the senses pleasant,
Something quaint, or something fair?
Yet perhaps you would not choose it
If the choice could rest with you
And someday perhaps you’d lose it
Or the thing would break in two.
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Shall I send you for your reading
Some loved book of noble thought
Spirit stirring, spirit leading,
Teaching what you would be taught?
Yet perhaps upon the morrow
I might learn ‘twas yours before
Or some day a friend might borrow
To return it never-more.
What if I today should send you
Something of my very own,
No one else can give or lend you
No one ask for on a loan,
Something that still will be waking
When the flowers in dust are strewed
Something far too strong for breaking
And you can’t lose if you would.
"Love" I send you, very tender,
Everlasting – ever true,
That will shew you how the sender
Thinks and cares and feels for you.
And when life is at its dreariest,
Or when outside things look grey
May my fadeless present dearest,
Point you to a brighter day!
Decr 21, 1882 M.M.N. per A. Hornsfall
Correspondence
20th December, 1882
To the Editor of "The Petrel Papers"
Dear Sir,
Our last Christy Minstrel
Entertainment will (D.V.) take place
in the saloon, on the Evening of
December 26th (Boxing-night)
On which occasion we trust our
Humble efforts will be rewarded
with a full house. By inserting
this as a notice in your paper you
will oblige. Yours respectfully,
Herbert S. Ottewill
[Page 114]
Recollections of a Christmas Eve in Fiji,
By J.R.H.
I was a passenger in a brig which was lying windbound in the harbour of Rewa, on the day before Christmas twenty years ago. A vessel laden with cocoa-nut oil and other island produce is seldom very clean, and never pleasantly odoriferous. By going to my cabin I might have escaped the Sun’s tropical glare, but the stench from the cargo in the hold made the atmosphere below decks almost unbearable. There was no probability of the vessel get-ting out of the harbour that day, so I determined to go shell-gathering to the little island of New Kalau, which was about a mile from our anchorage. There was one supply boat lying alongside, which had brought down a load of cocoa-nuts from Matai- Suava, and the owner of the boat kindly offered me the loan of it, and also allowed his native man to accompany me on shore. He told me, however, that the man was not an expert at pulling an oar, though he could paddle his own canoe dextrously.
The boat was a clumsy one, and the oars were long and illshaped; but with the wind [indecipherable] and the tide in favour, I had no difficulty in reaching the island. As my man could not understand more than a word or two of Eng-lish, and I knew only a few words in the Fijian language, he was not very companionable, so I left him in charge of the boat while I rambled round the seaward side of the island, to see if there were any shells worth picking up. I had not gone far beyond sight of the boat when I saw about a dozen native men coming from the scrub towards me. They were all com-pletely naked, and their faces were smeared with black paint. Several of them had clubs in their hands. They looked for-midable enough, still I did not feel the least trepidation. I had recently had several months experience with natives of the Friendly Islands (almost 200 miles to the eastward of Fiji) – had rambled about the rocks and sea shore in perfect freedom, and had not on any occasion been mo-lested or unpleasantly interfered with; on the contrary, I met with such kindness, and more general hospitality than I experienced during my visit to the centre of the world’s civilization, a few years before. It is scarcely necessary to state that Fiji, twenty years ago, was not so popular as it is at the present day, and there were then but very few Europ-eans settled in the neighbourhood of Rewa.
In happy unconsciousness of personal risk, I walked towards the naked men, and said "Sat-laloma". They returned my greeting, and then gathered round me and began to finger parts of my attire that struck them fancy. Still I put it down as child-like simplicity, and was rather amused at the liberties they took with me. My watch guard served to be particularly attractive, so I pulled out my watch
[Page 115]
(which was a repeater) and held it to the ear of one of the men, which set the minutes chiming. My watch had made many Tongan natives elevate their brows and open their eyes with delight and wonder, so I tried its effects on the [indecipherable] Fijians. They expressed their satisfaction by a series of howls, as each man held his ear to be tingled with the sound. After seeing them go through various warlike antics with their clubs, I continued my walk along the beach, followed, however, at a distance by two of the natives, who were dwarfs or manni Kuis, not much more than four feet in height, and of very repulsive features. On my return towards the boat the group again emerged from the scrub, and again they wanted to ear my watch strike; but I was anxious to get back to the ship, as evening was approaching, and the wind had freshened; and as they were becoming too fa-miliar I thought it best to get away from them as fast as I could. I felt rather glad when I was again in sight of the ship.
When I got into the boat, I gave the bow oar to my man, and took the other myself, and pushed off. But I soon per-ceived that my man was not an expert at pulling an oar against the wind and tide. He had strength enough, and was very willing to use it, but he not the practical skill as an oarsman. In putting forth his jerky power, he soon broke the whole pin, and before I could clear the hole out, and put in a new pin the boat had drifted some distance to leeward. "Now pull steadily my boy" I said, as I slipped his oar again. He evidently did not understand my order, or did not know how to pull steadily; at it he went full steam, and the hole pin broke again and went over board. I had no pin to replace it, so I took the end of the painter and made a grummet or loop for the oar to work over one pin. By the time I had accomplished that little manoeuvre and changed places with my man, the boat had drifted still further to leeward, and into rough water. My man made desperate dives with his oar, and caught several "crabs", but there was little or no propelling power in his strokes. I saw that we were not making any headway, and it became an anxious consideration with me what to do for I was in a dangerous situation. Less than a mile to leeward was a coral reef but there appeared to me to be a narrow passage through it to the open sea, and I must either run upon the reef or go to sea. It was not a merry idea to spend my Christ-mas at sea in a crazy old boat, with neither provisions nor water on board, and in company with a gigantic Fijian, who was a cannibal, for ought I knew to the contrary. More-over, he scarcely understood a word I said to him, or did he know how to help me to manage the boat. I had just de-cided in favour of putting to sea in preference to being smashed on the reef, when I saw a boat put off from the ship and pull towards us. I knew that my perilous condition had been observed by my friends on board, so I made my mate lay on his oar, and I put my own oar over the stern and managed
[Page 116]
to keep the boat’s bow to the rough waves until the ship’s boat came up and took me in tow.
I was glad when I felt the deck under my feet again. I then heard from a gentleman on board (who knew a great deal about the nature and habits of Fijians) that I had run a terrible risk of being clubbed and eaten by the group of savage natives on the island. It appear-ed they belonged to one of the heathen tribes along the coast, and had put into the mouth of the harbour through stress of weather.
"If our ship had not been lying close by, or if the wind had been favourable for the natives to have put to sea in their canoe," added my friend, "it is not at all likely that you would ever have heard your enticing watch chime again, or have heard anything else in the world. The fellows knew very well that if you were missing, there would be a speedy search for you by the crew of the ship; and as they could not get away from the island, they would certainly be caught and punished. Civilization has a restraining influence on the cannibal tribes, you see, Sir. It has made Fiji a safer place for visitors than it was a few years ago."
"It seems to me that I have seen a double risk today," Mr Gordon" I said. I was in danger of being clubbed and eaten by the savages on the island, and afterwards of being eaten by this Fijian giant of yours, for his Christmas dinner, if we had been driven to [indecipherable] the boat. I shall not forget this Christmas tide very soon.
"Eaten by the giant!" exclaimed Mr Gordon, with warmth. "No, No! indeed, there was no danger of that, Sir. Though at one time of his life this giant – as you call him – was a ferocious cannibal, he is now as gentle as a little child. He is one of the trophies of Christian missions to this heathen land; and you might see thousands more such as he if you could stay here awhile. Poor Isaac is one of my most faithful servants, and in his humble way he is a useful teacher of the Gospel. You would be as safe with him anywhere as you would be with your mother."
Early next morning the ship was got ready for sea. I went on deck where I heard the windlass a t work, and to my surprise there was Isaac (the giant) sitting on the deck nursing an infant belonging to his old master, who was going to Sydney on the ship.
"Is Isaac going with us, Mr Gordon?" I asked.
"Yes he is determined to go, and I shall be very glad of his services, but it is his own volunteering offer. He said to me just now, "Your wife is ill, Sir, unable to help herself, and you will be sick soon after you get to sea, then what will your baby do? I will go with you."
"Has he ever been to Sydney before?"
"No, he has never been away from his native Fiji. But I believe he would go anywhere in the world with us without a murmur. He sent a message to his wife, by yonder canoe, that he is going to Sydney to nurse the baby. He had not time
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to go on shore for his outfit, or say good-bye to his wife."
"What will the poor woman say to that, think you?"
"She is as kindly disposed towards us as her husband is, and I think, for the baby’s sake, she will be glad he is going with us. She will fret a little for Isaac, no doubt, for they are a loving couple, but she will soon make up her mind that his going away is all for the best."
Soon after the ship got to sea Mr Gordon was prostrated by sea-sickness, and his wife was in her cabin, a helpless invalid. Isaac sat on deck, just [indecipherable] the mainmast, holding the little child between his knees, and singing a buzzing sort of lullaby, which seemed to interest the child amazingly, for it kept its full eyes staring at the nurse. Isaac’s face was worth looking at, black though it was, for it was as placid as if he had not a single care in his breast. Certainly no traveller had less trouble with his luggage than Isaac had, for the shirt on his back was all the personally he owned in that world of water. He had chattels in his house, no doubt, but all that he then had in possession was an old white calico shirt.
Two hours afterwards as I walked the deck, musing on Christmas day subjects, I noticed Isaac still sitting behind the mast with the baby cradled in his enormous hands, fast asleep. I thought if I had any misgiving respecting the power of religion to change the savage human heart, a glance at that man’s happy face would do more to remove my doubts than some volumes of logical evidence would have done. At the same time, I wished that some of those countrymen of mine, who profess to despise the work of Christian missionaries - and especially that distinguished traveller, who some time ago publicly told a London audience, that, "he believed Christianity was a plant which would not flourish off English soil" – I wish they could have seen that converted cannibal nurs-ing the baby so tenderly, and could have heard me tell the incident I had witnessed of his unselfish devotedness to his master – to the man who taught him the way to heaven.
The ship had not sailed twenty miles from land be-fore Isaac stood on the deck dressed like a gentleman. Some hearts had overflowed with Christmas-day kind-ness, and had freely given of their store to their brother in need.
After a few weeks stay in Sydney, Isaac returned to his native home. He doubtless had a rare budget of
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news to carry back to his countrymen, and he also had some material gatherings in the shape of clothing and other presents for his wife and himself.
During his stay in Sydney he was a frequent visitor to my house; and one evening I invited him to meet some guests who were anxious to see him. Before he left I asked him to pray, in order to give my friends an idea of Fijian fluency in extempore worship; but he had no sooner begun than I felt nervous. His power-ful voice seemed to shake the neighbourhood, and I could hear a crowd gathering before my house, all, no doubt, wondering what the unusual noise meant. I tried to stop him, but could not do it; on he went, waxing warmer and louder in his tones, and more vigorous in his action. I could tell that he was praying for me and my guests, as well as every body else in the land, but I did not feel any present comfort, because I was in fidgety expectation of hearing the police rap at the door.
There was a show of mutual sorrow when Isaac and I shook hands for the last time. I shall see his dear, kind, black face again, by and by – but stay – he may not be black then; at any rate, he will stand higher up than some white men, who are very proud and lofty today.
J.R.H.
How I spent my first Christmas Day in India.
In the later end of the year 186- my friend S--- had gone down to Calcutta for a change to recruit his health, and had left me in charge of his Plantation during his absence. The season’s operations were wellnigh finished when he left so that I had not much to do in the way of manufacture ex-cept sort and pack up the last ch?llau or invoice of tea and send it down the river on which my friends Garden was situated to Sylhet on the River Koosi?ree one of the branches of the Brama-pootra where it would have to be re-shipped on a River-steamer by which it would be taken down to Calcutta. At the time of which I write the manufacture was in a very primitive state and it was drawing very near to Christmas before I had all the chests ready to place in the quaint looking river-boats which were to take them down to Sylhet. At last, the day before Christmas Day, all was ready and the tea amounting in all to some ninety chests were put on board three boats, on the largest of which, containing about forty chests, I intended taking up my quarters until the boats were safely out of the tortuous and rapid River Kutta Kh?ll and fairly on the broad waters of the Koosi?ree, where I should leave them and return to my friends garden overland on horse, or rather pony back.
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The reason that I accompanied the boats was because the rain had ceased, and the river haven fallen, the Kutta Kh?ll was in a very dangerous state for navigation, being full of churrs (mud banks partly covered with water) and rapids; the latter all tolerably swift, and all dangerous to heavily laden boats, such as mine were. Early in the morn-ing of the day before Christmas Day we set off, the strength of the current carrying us onward at a rate of about 6 miles an hour. The day passed over without any incident worthy of note, the river during this part of the journey being fairly broad and deep, free from rapids and shoal water. Sun-down (5.0.p.m.) found us underneath my friends 73----‘s bungalow at Coochelah. I saw the boat safely fastened for the night in a deep and still bend of the river, and leaving my men engaged in making their evening meal of curried fish and rice, strolled up to the bungalow, where I was warmly welcomed by B---- and his wife. We had a quiet yarn and a pipe before dinner, which was put on the table at half past seven. After a very pleasant re-past we spent an agreeable evening in playing at cards, singing and preparing for the next day’s festivities, and as is usual in India retired early to bed. B--- and his wife endeavoured, next morning, at Chota Hazree (little breakfast) to persuade me to spend Christmas Day with them, but steamer having to leave Sylhet on a fixed day, and the time in which my tea had to reach it leaving me rather close run, I was constrained to refuse their very pressing invitation. By 7.0.a.m. I and my men and were on board my boats again, and now began the really difficult part of the navigation of the river, the churrs were very numerous, as were also the rapids, and at the foot of each rapid the churrs were pretty freely distributed. All went well until about 3 in the afternoon, my boat was last, as being the largest and most heavily laden I was the better able to steer her down the rapids and narrow channels after watching the smaller boats pro-gress, than I would have been had I been in advance. About this time (3.0.p.m.) we came to a very long, straight, narrow and deep rapid, down which the two leading boats passed in safely. I watched their passage from a mud bank on one side of the rapid, in order to note the difficulties of the place more fully and then jumped into my own boat and ordered the boatmen to go-ahead. We passed the rapid in safety, but just as we reached the wide part of the river once more the boat unfortunately struck the edge of an unseen churr lying a couple of feet beneath the water. The force of the current drove the boat onto the bank, and the gunwall being forced over she
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she rapidly began to fill and sink. I immediately gave the M?ngee (steersman) the order to run the boat ashore which fortunately owing to the force of the current he was easily enabled to do; but not before the boat had overturned and thrown us all in the river; from which all soon scrambled ashore with no more hurt than a good ducking. The tea chests being securely locked were not thrown out of the boat but lay with it slightly be-low the surface of the water. The men in the boats ahead hearing our shouts were soon ashore assisting us to haul into a shallower part of the stream. We took out the chests of tea most of which were saturated with water. We unshipped all the tea drained it as much as possible, baled out and dried the boat as much as we could and then reshipped our freight. By this time it was close upon 6.p.m. and quite dark, so that it would not be safe to take the boats any further down the river that evening. I had intended to stay that night at Bernie Braes the garden of my friend P---, where my boatmen would have been happy among some their friends, and I myself have eaten my first Christmas dinner in India. As this could not be I set out to see if there was a village on the banks of the river near us where my men could food and shelter for the night; as the boats being filled with tea-chests there was no covering for them on board, and the nights were very cold in India at this time of the year. I found a village a little below where our mishap had occurred, where my men found all that they required. On enquiry I ascertained that we were seven miles by and from Bernie Braes my friends garden, to which I immediately made up my mind to walk, but was informed there was no road to it. The villagers told me that my best route would be by following the sinuosities of the river; but as I deemed this would make my tramp rather longer than I wanted I managed by liberal promises of b?cksheeth to get a native to guide me by a more direct track across country than I should have been able to find by myself. Leaving my men with strict orders to the Jemadorr in charge, to come on to Bernie Braes as soon as it was daylight next morning, I set off for my friends garden, with my friendly villager trotting along in front of me.
After a pretty severe walk through jungle and mud for over two hours I found myself in the verandah of P----‘s bungalow, and in answer to my loud shout of "Qui hye?" literally "Is anyone in waiting?" but the usual form of summoning a servant or watchman in India, I heard the cheery voice of P--- himself asking what was the matter
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telling me to come in. He was considerably astonished to find who it was, as he had long before given up expect-ing me that evening, knowing well tat my boats could not travel in the dark, and it was then nearly three hours after sundown. He was the more eager to wel-come me as they were just about to sit down to their Christmas dinner with a party of thirteen, which I fancy it need scarcely be mentioned it deemed a very unlucky number; it being held that should such a party sit down the number of the mess of one of them will be vacant before the expiration of twelvemonths. I soon got off my wet and mud stained clothes, and rigged out in a shirt of P---‘s regardless of fit, enjoyed what I yet think my best as well as my first Christmas dinner in India. This dinner has been somewhat forcibly brought to my mind on board this ship. One plum pudding on that occasion was made by an amateur in the culinary art, and on asking each other the next morning how we were, each and every one answered that he felt as if he had a cannon ball in his stomach. This feeling was attributed to the plum pudding; and I must say I have had a feeling some-what akin to the one I felt on that day after partaking of some of our Cook’s famous plum-duff only perhaps rather worse in the present case.
My boats arrived at midday next day, and my kind friend P--- having placed his tea-house at my dis-posal I was enabled to unpack, re-dry and re-pack the damaged tea, and fortunately, by working hard, so quickly that it reached the steamer before she left Sylhet and arrived at Calcutta in due course.
Such was the manner in which I spent my first Christmas day in India, and if I have, as it may somewhat be the case, in any measure wearied you with what you will probably consider a very prosy story I can only say in apology that I have written with the best intention of hoping to in some degree interest or amuse those on board this ship and therefore trust in judging any short-comings the will be taken for the deed.
Victor Secundus.
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John Rousby’s Apparition
During the month of August, in the year 1839, the Manor house of Hazeldean, in Hampshire, was the scene of many pleasant festivities; for, Mr John Ronsby, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, the son of Squire Ronsby, Lord of the Manor of Hazeldean, was at home with his young wife, for the first time since his marriage. They had been married in the previous April, during a six months leave of absence to the young officer, after a five years cruise in foreign waters, and they were just returned from their honeymoon tour through the south of Europe, for a two or three weeks stay in the old house, prior to his rejoining his ship, in which it was expected he would again have to proceed to a foreign station. His leave of absence was to expire September the first, at which date, he was under orders to rejoin his ship at Portsmouth.
A few evenings earlier than the date fixed for his departure, a family dinner party took place, at which every family member of the rather large family was present, together with one or two only, of the intimate friends of the Squire, including amongst these latter the Rector of the parish.
At dinner it was observed that the company was about to sit down [indecipherable] being exactly thirteen, a number by many people being considered as very unlucky, something was said about this but the hearty old Squire, who was in no way inclined to be superstitious, pooh, poohed the matter; and so the party partook of the meal amidst a great deal of hilarity; but John Ronsby could not fail to notice the unusual silence which had come over his bonny bride, and all he could do did not seem to distract her from some unpleasant thought. The fact being she was inclined to be impressed by the ill omened number of the party just on the eve of her young husband’s departure for a lengthened & possibly dangerous cruise; - as her Father had died during the twelvemonths following a similar gathering when she was quite a child and the fact had made a deep impression upon her mind. She could not shake
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off her fear, and during the next few days the thought clouded her usually bright and happy life, in addition to the trouble she was certain to feel at having soon to part with the husband to whom she had been so recently united. However, she strove her utmost to keep her fears from her husband’s knowledge, and if rallied by him in his usually hearty sailor like manner, she attributed her depression to the anticipation of the near approach of the time of having to part from him. They were most warmly attached to each other and as a matter of course felt the coming enforced separ-ation acutely.
At length the day of departure from the old home came, and it was arranged for Dora to accompany her husband to Portsmouth and there remain in apartments until his ship should be ordered abroad, and when he had left for her to return to Hazeldean Manor & there take up her permanent abode during his absence from England.
This plan was carried out, it being further arranged that until the 18th of September, the date fixed for the sailing of the fleet, she should have rooms at S. Hildred’s Terrace, Southsea, he spending what time he could on shore with her when not on duty.
The fleet sailed punctually at noon on the 18th, the destination thereof being to cruise for an indefinite period in the South Pacific Ocean. John Ronsby this cruise occupied the position of first Lieutenant of the ship carrying the Admiral’s flag.
Christmas Eve 1839. Since her husband’s de-parture Dora has very perceptibly fallen off in health and the usual family gathering at Hazeldean on the eve of Christmas Day finds her pale and wan an far from able to join in the merry making of the season which surrounded her. Everyone of late had noticed this but it had been attributed to the fact that in due time she was likely to become a mother; so no one save herself knew the trouble which was telling upon her health, as she had never breathed to a soul the dread she had that she would never see her loved one again, which had seized her on the evening of the ill omened ed dinner party. Her husband was ever present with her sleeping and wakings and it was simply impossible
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for her to divest herself of the dread feeling she had about him night or day. This it was which was tell-ing so disastrously upon her health, and not her own peculiar condition. She retired to rest at her usual time, somewhat earlier than the rest of the party. She had undressed, without the aid of her maid, and had been laid down some hour or more, and was in that half dreamy state of being neither asleep nor awake, when, she was thoroughly aroused by some noise, having lain awake for a few moments, she noticed the moon was brilliantly lighting up the windows of her room. With that unaccountable restless-ness which now and then prompts people to unusual acts, she arose put on a dressing wrapper and drawing up the blind she stood looking out the win-dow.
Hitherto, I have not described the surroundings of Hazeldean Manor because they scarcely bear upon my story; but to make what I am now about to relate clearer I may say the house was surrounded by a large and beautiful park with a carriage drive through a long avenue of elm trees. The avenue ceased when it approached the house to within some hundred and fifty feet from the hall door, the drive being continued up to the entrance between beds of flowers and shrubs on a well kept lawn.
From the window where Dora was standing, she had a full view of the entrance to the avenue, the intervening space being flooded with moonlight almost as bright as day. As she stood she saw a figure moving up the avenue, which, as it surveyed from the shadows of the now leafless trees, into the brighter moonlight, she instinctively as it were became aware that it bore the form of her husband. He was in mess uniform and her first impulse was to wonder why he should be on shore in uniform instead of as usual [indecipherable]. He had not walked more than fifteen yards across the open lawn when a second figure emerged from behind a tall holly tree just as he had passed it, the shrub having apparently concealed this second figure from him; - this second figure was clad in the garb of a man-o-war’s man, and held in his right hand a sheath-knife, the blade of which she saw distinctly flash in the moon’s rays as he raised his arm and plunged the knife into her husband’s back.
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With a loud shriek for "Help!" which alarmed the whole household, then on the point of retiring to rest, Dora sank insensible to the floor beneath the window; here she was immediately found by Mrs Ronsby and some of the ladies. Restoratives were applied but in her weakened condition it was a long time before consciousness returned, and then only for her to lapse into an uncontrollable fit of hysterical weepings, during the persistence of which no information could be obtained from her. Before the violence of her grief subsided, the family Doctor was in attendance, he having been summoned as soon as she was discovered in the swoon. The Doctor announced to the horror struck mother-in-law that another event expected ere long would occur prematurely from the shock to her nervous system and he urged the utmost caution in approaching the subject of the cause of her present critical condition.
The little one was born before daybreak but was fated only to breathe feebly once or twice; weeks of unconsciousness followed by other weeks of anxious nursing during which the poor stricken one’s life lay trembling in the balance carried the time on to the beginning of March when Dora was once more able to sit up in her own room partly dressed; and it was not until this time that she had felt the strength to relate to anyone the terrible ordeal of the waking vision through which she had passed. This having been confided to Mrs Ronsby, disclosed to that lady, the reason why in the time of her delirium she had so constantly prayed that some one would save her darling - or at other times had shrieked , as on the night of the swoon "Help!". The convalescence was tedious in the extreme; but it had yet to receive another blow, and from this it is almost to be wondered how her reason ever rallied.
On the 14th April, strange to say, the anni-versary of the wedding day, she received an ominous looking letter, a large sized paper with the Admiralty seal affixed thereto, impressed upon black wax. This letter announced officially the death of her husband, which had taken place under the following circumstances on Christmas eve of the year just closed. On December 24th 1839
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Her Majesty’s ship Helicon, having the flag of the Admiralty of the fleet, was in Latitude 41 S and Longitude 75 E. The officers had recently concluded their mess dinner, when first Lieutenant Ronsby, was just leaving for the Ward-room, and was attacked by one of the seamen with a long sheath knife and stabbed in the back; the blade penetrating his left lung and he succumbed from internal haem-orrhage in about twenty minutes after the wound was inflicted, never having been conscious. The assassin eluded every one, though he was seen by three persons to commit the deed, and rushed brandishing the knife to the bulwarks and threw himself overboard; it is believed also stabbing himself in the act of suicide; it was impossible to rescue him as the ship was going ten knots per hour with a heavy sea & the wind blowing almost a gale. It appears the man was not accountable for his actions, for some years previously he had received a blow upon the head from a falling block, since this accident, whenever he imbibed spirits he had always been greatly excited thereby; as a rule he had been a most abstentious man but it being Christmas Eve he in common with his mess mates had taken an extra quantity of grog and without the slightest warning his reason had over balanced, and he attacked the first person whom he had met, this unfortunately being his officer, Mr Ronsby.
There is little more to add than that the poor young widow received the shock more resignedly than could have been expected considering the abrupt-ness with which the news came upon her; but this may be accounted for by the fact ever since her reason had been returned subsequently to the birth of her little one she had said and felt assured that it was only a question of time when her fears as to her husband’s fate would be confirmed. All she said on realizing the contents of the letter was "Thy will O Lord be done". A dazed expression came over her face which it was many months before a brighter look replaced.
The hour at which the murder was committed in the Southern Ocean was about 7 p.m. and exactly corresponds with the time at which she saw the apparition from the bedroom window, or about 11.30 p.m.
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A Tragic Christmas Eve,
By William Cudworth
While the good ship Parramatta is speeding on her journey the thoughts of all on board are probably direct-ed during this "Merry Christmas time" to the Old Country and its seasonable associations. In one respect at least Christmas on board the Parramatta may comprise some features in common with those [indecipherable oblaining?] in dear old England, and among these may be included that of Story-telling. While therefore many a group of English friends have drawn the curtains and ranged themselves around the cheerful fireside, I hold on by the cuddy table, and by the aid of the light of the ventilating shaft, jot down these recollections of a story, the scene of which is laid in North Yorkshire, unmindful of the twofold dan-ger overhead, to wit, the risk of a dousing of salt water, and the certainty of catarrh in some form or another.
Among my fellow voyagers, collected as they are from many corners of old England, there may be some who are acquainted with Wensleydale in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Rich in natural scenery as is the broad expanse of lovely Yorkshire Vale and abounding as it does in objects of historic interest, I refrain from any reference thereto except in tis brief form.
Lying parallel with Wensleydale however, and separated from it by one of the fells or mountain ridges which abound in those parts, there is a smaller valley known as Semerwater, from the existence therein of a lake of considerable extent and depth. Tradition has it, that Semerwater engulphs a village of moderate size, the inhabitants whereof in some bygone age were inhospitable enough to deny food and shelter to a poor old mendicant who had lost his way among the fells, but who it transpired was none other than an angel in disguise, bearing tidings of good import to the villagers. In return for this unfriendly act, the village was doomed to de-struction, and it is said to this day, that, strange and weirdlike moanings may be heard mingling with the soughing of the autumnal wind as it is borne along the bosom of the lake.
However that may be, Semerwater, lying embosom-ed between lofty ridges of hills, presents a scene of solitude and repose not unlikely to attract the attention of
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of any stray tourist who having left the beaten track as it is laid down in guide-books, finds himself within sight of the lake. To such an one, also, even a casual glance at Fellowby Hall, that wruther-hatsu pile looking down upon the still waters of the lake, will be full of interest, should he have fortunately been put in possession of the story connected with it.
Yes, Fellowby Hall has a story, a tragic story as-sociated with it, the leading incidents of which may be briefly narrated as they happened upon a Christ-mas Eve I know not how long ago; but the story is suffi-ciently ancient to have acquired the full flavour attaching to all romances of "ye olden time." Al-though designated by the high standing title of " Hall", the ancient abode of the Fellowbys had little in its appearance distinguishing it from the homesteads of the neighbourhood. Its ample proportions, however, had in former times sheltered from many a wintry blast, a family of some repute in Semerdale, and whose fortunes had suffered seriously from the sad [indecipherable] which happened on the occasion to which reference has previously been made. At that period the household in question comprised four members, namely Old Martin Fellowby his two sons Ruben and Caleb, and his only daughter Deborah. Martin Fellowby was the worthy successor of a line of yeomen or "Statesmen" as they are styled in these parts, who had resided in Severndale and farmed their own lands. His two sons were fine stalwart fellows who undertook the chief management of the extensive holding possessed by their father, while Deborah found sufficient employ-ment in managing the affairs of the household.
Christmas was approaching, and in no district through-out fair England is that festive season welcomed with greater zeal than by the residents of the Yorkshire dales. Especially were the good people of Severndale ready to welcome the glad time and make the most of it. Up-on this festive occasion it was customary in the dale for each household to prepare a Christmas feast, to which the members of the other households were invited, and thus a round of visiting and merry-making was kept up quite in keeping with that spirit of bounteous hospitality which is an especial characteristic of the Yorkshire dale[indecipherable].
By two members of the little household at
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Fellowby Hall, however, the celebration of the Christmas feast was this year looked forward to with feelings of more than ordinary interest. In Ruben and Caleb Fellowby the spirit of hospitality was fervent enough; but if the truth must be told, the expected presence of one guest at the coming feast excited in the two brothers feelings of a character strangely discordant with those which should prevail at Christmas time, namely a deep rooted, deadly hate of each other. Unfortunately, the unwitting subject of this bitter animosity was the bonniest lass in Semerdale, the daughter of a thrifty yeoman named Roger Bruntcliff. To narrate in detail the various stages which had led to such an exhibition of unbrotherliness would require more space than we have at command. Suffice to say that this feeling was not the growth of a month or a year.
Milly Bruntcliff, like her Sire and her Grandsire, was born in the dale, and had developed into beauteous womanhood the near neighbour of the Fellowbys. Many a time had she been "dandled" upon the knee of old Martin Fellowby, while his two sons had with awkward gallantry vied with each other to amuse the budding beauty, their junior by several years. In this wise had sprung up an intimacy, which in later years had developed, on the part of the brothers at least, feelings of passionate regard for the object of their affection, and of intense hatred of each other. Not that Milly Bruntcliff had favoured either one or the other of the rival lovers, although upon Caleb, the younger of the two, she had apparently of late bestowed some of her sweetest smiles, at least as thought Ruben Fellowby.
In this conjuncture of affairs came round the joy-ous Christmas season. It was Christmas Eve, and according to an established custom the first of the social gatherings was in course of being held at Fellowby Hall, Martin Fellowby being by virtue of his position the leading man of the district. Soon after midday the guests had begun to arrive, some on foot, others on horseback, or in the rude vehicles which in those parts served alike the purposes of market-cart, and family coach, and a busy time old Martin had of it welcoming his guests as they were ushered into the spacious apartment common to many of the old-fashioned homesteads in the Yorkshire dales. Bedecked with sougreens and shining brightly after the polishing it had received,
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the old oak panelling with which the room was encased reflected the light of the huge wood fire blazing on the hearth while every piece of furniture, from the ancient delf-case down to the high-backed family chair which occupied the post of honour near the ingle-neuk, added some degree of lustre by reason of the burnishing it had received.
Dinner had been served and the light of the wintry day had waned ere Martin Fellowby pledged his guests in a bumper prior to the tables being cleared for the dancing and rustic games which were to follow. During the pro-gress of the feast, as indeed ever since Milly Bruntcliff had entered the hall with her family, Ruben and Caleb Fellowby had strived, with illdisguised ani-mosity towards each other, to win a smile from the acknowledged beauty of the gathering, and not a little tact was required on the part of Milly in bestow-ing these favours with some degree of impartiality. Not-withstanding, as it appeared to Ruben Fellowby, the rustic attractions of his younger brother were received with greater favour by the fair guest than were his own; and his rage was scarcely controllable as he beheld his brother lead Milly to the top of the room when the first dance was announced.
As the evening progressed, and as Song and dance and rustic game succeeded each other in rapid order, the absence from the room of Caleb and Milly was unobserved except by Ruben Fellowby, whose jealous feelings were once more aroused by the circumstance. It transpired, however, that during the progress of a game of "hide and seek" Caleb had induced Milly to leave the room with him, and without any apology to the remainder of the guests; Ruben at once followed them. At first he searched the various apartments of the old house, but without any trace of the fugitives. He looked around the out-offices which were in a state of bustle, but no trace of Caleb or Milly could he detect. He next looked out of the front entrance. It was a beautiful moonlight night. Snow had fallen during the day and the distant hills and the secluded valley and lake were almost as clearly distinguishable as at noonday. The terrace in front of the old hall was deserted. At first Ruben could not detect even a footstep along its snow covered surface, but looking more
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closely traced not one set of footsteps but two, one of these being evidently the impress of a lady’s boot.
Ruben needed nothing further to convince him he was upon the right track, and he followed it. If more positive evidence were requisite, it was forthcoming, upon the threshold of the wicket leading to one of the approaches to the hall, he picked up a sprig of holly-berries tied with a small ribbon, which in a moment of gallant-ry he had presented to Milly during the evening. He listened, and the sound of laughing voices came floating towards him. Ruben followed the sound which came from the borders of the lake, at no great distance from the hall.
To descend to the side of the lake was therefore the next move on the part of Ruben, and he arrived there to behold his brother Caleb and Milly Bruncliff in conversation which was apparently of an agreeable character, judging by the merry peals of laughter which occasion-ally proceeded from the fair visitor. Entering into the spirit of the game "hide and seek" which all three had left in high swing, Ruben might fairly have pounced upon the pair, and by Milly at least the discovery would have been accepted as a good joke. Ruben Fellowby, how-ever, was in no humour for joking; without even pass-ing a remark to Milly, he grasped his brother firmly by the throat, and a terrific struggle ensued.
The combatants were well matched in physique, and both were adept in wrestling - a favourite di-version in some of the northern counties of England. The encounter took place upon the marque of the lake, which covered with a coating of clear ice, reflected brightly the shining orb above, and as they swayed backwards and forwards, first one brother having an apparent advantage and then the other, the agony of Milly was of the most acute character. Striving in vain to separate the combatants, and failing to bring assist-ance by her cries, the unconscious cause of this un-brotherly encounter proceeded at her topmost speed to the scene of the revelry above.
Meanwhile the fierce struggle went on without any abatement of its fury, and as seemed inevitable from the beginning, was now carried on upon the frozen waters of the lake. At first the coating of ice bore well the strain
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upon its surface, but as Ruben with one last effort grasped his brother by the [indecipherable], both fell with a heavy lunge upon the ice, which gave way with a frightful crash, and both the combatants were engulphed in deep water.
The scene at the old hall may well be imagined as Milly rushed wildly into the midst of the Christmas revellers shrieking for assistance. It came too late, however, for when the bodies were recovered, they were locked in death.
Thus were the future hopes of the household blighted. Milly Bluntcliff never recovered the shock, and the name of Fellowby is now unknown in Semerdale except in relation to this sad story.
A Merrie Christmas Greeting from Old Mother Carey
At daybreak yesterday morning, a little speckled bird pecked thrice at the window of a Saloon Cabin on the port side of the Ship Parramatta; at the same time he peeped with one of his bead like eyes at a drowsy man inside who was lying in his berth wishing it was breakfast time.
Hullo! Who are you? said the man as he rubbed his sleepy eyes open, and looking rather scared, for he thought it was a ghost, Who are you, I ask? Why don’t you speak?
The bird replied in a peculiar chirp, like a swallow with a grasshopper in his maw, "My name is Joey Spray, I am one of Mother Carey’s Chickens".
"Ugh! then you had better fly back to your old Mother, and tell her, from me, that she ought to know better than to rear up her chicks to brew bad weather, and frighten poor sailors. I suppose it was you who tried to upset our ship and to ‘Blow the man down’ on last Sunday morning? You wicked bird!"
"Oh! no, Sir; that wasn’t my doing. I never blew a man down so please don’t blow me up. I am a messenger of peace; and I wish to see the young Editress of the "Parramatta Journal". She wont scold me I know".
"Well, she does not live in this cabin. And let me tell you Master Joey, that it is not good manners for a sea bird to be tapping at a young ladies window with his beak. Pray what do you want with the Editress so early in the morn-ing before her Newspaper Office is open?
"My mother has sent a verse for the Christmas number of the "Parramatta Journal", she is going to send a Christmas
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card to each good boy and girl on board the Ship. The parcel is too big to go into my pocket, so my big Cousin Molly-Hawk will bring it to the Editress before Christmas Eve. My dear Mother told me to give her love to everybody I meet, as this is Happy Christmas time".
"Oh! that’s your errand, is it, Joey Spray? I wish you could fly all over the world with your message of love. You may push your verse through the chink in my port, and I will give it to the Editress. I daresay it will please her. I am sorry I misjudged you my pretty birdee".
Joey wagged his little tail, and said "Chippy, Chippy, Chip" which no doubt he meant for his compliments to the Editress. Then he picked a leaf of sea-weed from a feathery pocket under his left wing, and pushed it though the port. On the leaf was written in legible bird language the following stanza.
Ship Parramatta, ahoy!
To every soul on board, I say in rhyme,
I wish you a right Merry Christmas time,
I send each boy and girl a Christmas Card,
I token of my loving-kind regard,
God speed your ship along her watery way,
And safely land you all on New Years’ Day
Mary Carey
My "Rocky Lair"
Island of Desolation
Southern Ocean
Christmas, 1882,
J.R.H.
We have intended to mention the Parramatta Journal as a publication of great merit issued by some of the young folk on board for their own special organ – The post of Editress has been intrusted to Miss Gertrude Brooks, and the above article is extracted from the pages of her ably conducted paper.
Ed. PP.
Entertainments.
On the evening of Tuesday December 19th the children presented us with the short play of the "Little Sentinel" after going through the performance once they were warmly encored & and so reproduced the whole – The plot is that a fair widow has a lot of butterfly admirers flitting around her. She has living with her in the capacity of servant and companion a cousin who undertakes to
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act the part of guardian angel to the fair damsel. Two of the admirers are introduced one in the form of a dandified little old gentleman with a foreign accent - the other in the shape of a young officer who has a straw coloured moustache and hair. The widow makes a rendezvous with each of her admirers – who subsequently find the cousin in tears, & lamenting that they all neglect her – each of the fickle fellows in turn falls on his knees, declares her "the most adorable of women", and she also makes an appointment at the same hour with each as that fixed by her cousin, but in a different spot. The widow finds no one at her trysting place, the butterflies having gone to the appointment with the cousin. Late in the evening the widow returns home & expresses her vexation at being played falsely with - during this the amorous swains enter & upbraid the cousin for not keeping the appointment, the widow then discovers that her cousin has simply been throwing the others off the trail and at the same time she has her eyes opened to the deceit of the satelites. Now enters a bucolic looking little fellow the cousins veritable lover a well to do young farmer whose indignation is aroused by the supposed flirtation of his fiancee with the swells, but whose wrath is appeased on discovering that she has only been tricking them into showing their true colours.
Mabel Maffey admirably sustained the principal part of the fair young widow, her get up hitting off the character to a nicety. Gertrude Brooks and Reggie Maffey took respectively the parts the little old gentleman, and the "Straw coloured officer" – the former both in dress and deportment ably representing the character, indeed her acting was most praiseworthy – Reggie Maffey was scarcely so polite or gallant as we should expect an British officer to be; but he certainly looked very dignified & went through his part in very good style – next time he takes the part we would suggest his offering his fair hostess part of the refreshment handed to him before commencing to partake thereof himself. May Brookes sustained the part of the little servant and friend very well indeed. And Edith Stalibrass
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bore her small part as the Farmer lover of May with most telling effect.
On Thursday last December 21st 1882 Mr Joseph Lunn’s farce ‘Fish out of Water’ was exceedingly well put up by some of our friends on board, under the stage management of Mr A Puiches.
The ladies’ parts in this piece are unfortunately very small, but were certainly made the most of. Miss Edmeads was fully equal to the requirements of the character of Ellen Courtley, and her acting especially in the last scene was worthy of all praise. Miss Brookes made all that was posssible out of the small part of Lucy. Mr P. Odling’s make up for the character of Sir George Courtley was remarkably good and great credit is due to him for the carefulness and consistency of his acting throughout the piece. Alderman Gayfare was well impersonated by Mr D’Arcy Goddard. The part of the steward was entrusted to Mr Michael and could scarcely have been placed in more com-petent hands. Mr Field was very good as Charles Gayfare and evidently fully appreciated the part. Mr Seville as Sam Savory was in his element and he gave us quite a clever impersonation of the character. To judge by the marked ability exhibited we should say he (Mr S.) has had some previous experience behind the footlights. The small part of John, the footman was entrusted to Mr Richards one of the Midshipmen, and was creditably taken.
The performance was altogether worth of high commendation. When we consider the difficulties which are met on all sides in getting up a play at sea it reflects no little credit on those concerned in Thursday evening’s performance, that every thing was done in so masterly a manner.
There was an overflowing house, the piece being enthusiastically received, the applause was liberal and continuous.
The entire company were summoned before the curtain the prompter receiving a special call.
F.W. Bryant
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On the evening of December 26th Boxing Day the Parramatta Troupe of Christy Minstels gave one of their spirited entertainments to a crowded and highly appreciative au-dience. The company was augmented on this occasion by the addition of Messrs Sloper and Burton to the other artistes.
The first item on the programme was a continuation of the topical song ‘Rolling on to Sydney" introduced in the last similar enter-tainment in which Mr Michael very pertinently referred to incidents which have occurred during the last few weeks of the voyage. The Chorus went with a good roll and rather better than last time. "Ella Rae" followed being rendered by Mr Bush, this is one of the good old negro plantation melodies & always acceptable – A comic song ensued "Josephus Orange Blossom" and was sung by Mr Hayter this was very good – Some patter followed this between Tambourine and Mr Michael con-sisting of exaggerations which, could we afford the space, we should like to transcribe – Mr Houghton followed with "Annie Lisle" but unfortunately the gentleman had a severe cold, notwithstanding this the sweet old melody naturally brought forth the encore which an audience ever ready to be pleased and not over critical easily evoked. Patter between Bones and Mr Michael followed. The next item was another original song from Mr Ottewill’s prolific pen en-titled "Dashing Sal" – this was entrusted to Bones (Mr Burton) and received an encore. In "Ever of thee" from Mr Deaven we had one of the sweetest of the earlier negro songs made popular by Christy Minstrell troupes, it was rendered in most pleasing style and received a hearty, well deserved encore. Patter on arithmetical subjects followed, which, Mr Bellingham’s (tambourine) enunciation very evidently proved a clincher for the conductor. Next came Mr Ottewill with a comic ditty "Razors in de Air" was given in his usual style - it has a rollicking chorus and elicited an encore. "The old log cabin in the lane" by Mr Sloper would have been better had it been rendered with more confidence as he has a
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pleasing voice, he was heartily applauded. The Happy Nig with original words again from Mr Ottewill’s pen was sung by Mr Bowler in his usually "happy" style. On being encored he followed with an original song of a topical character, & of his own composition, it contained clippings from most of the old songs, entertainments and occurrances which have taken place on board during the voyage and elicited round after round of applause. Patter followed in which Mr Michael propounded the following conundrum to Bones,
"Why is the Parramatta hove to like a sheet of paper?
Because she is said to be Stationery".
"Under the Willow" sung by Mr Michael was very ably rendered, it has a sweet chorus – "A little more Cider" by Mr Bellingham was another of the good old Negro melodies with a rattling good chorus it was encored. "Silver moonlight winds are Blowing" was a very sweet song sweetly sung by Mr Taylor. A comical part of the entertainment ensued with Mr Ottewill’s original "Getting Sleepy" in which the whole chorus go to sleep and are roused and attracted off the stage by the application to their olfactory nerves of a bottle of what the temperence people term "alcoholic liquor". On the restorative being applied to Mr Houghton, Mr Ottewill addressed him by the singularly apropos term of "old 2 yards". My Taylor followed with a very clever dance to the song ‘Camelia May’ considering the floor on which the dance had to be performed – the effect was achieved most creditably. To walk on a slippery deck with what appeared to us very like a pair of Yorkshire operators clogs is a feat we should not like to undertake much more the risk of a tumble or broken leg in executing a break down fling.
The entertainment was brought to a close by Mr Ottewills original song which was put down the programme thus:
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"Originalities"
"Can you wonder at that."
This was introduced by Mr O. in the character of a Ratcatcher with appropriate costume – the partner usual in such a business being produced from the internal arrangement of a large carpet bag & was the poodle dog to be seen any time in or about the forcastle.
The song was a topical one and was not only an original but a pretty strong one in personalities, this we trust was taken in the spirit of fun in which we are assured it was intended being simply meant to cause a hearty laugh. It was encored and Mr O. replied with his touching melody "Journeying Home!"
Before the singing of the National Anthem the Captain interposed and in a few words thanked all who had taken part in the Entertainments or in any way contributing to the amusements of the voyage, on his own behalf and in the name of the passengers & his crew.
The evening’s entertainment was then ended by all joining in singing "God save the Queen".
Ship’s Report
Date. Latitude. Longitude. Course. Distance. Barr. Therr
1882
December 17 41° 23’S – 87° 32’ S 85° E – 150 miles – 30.02 – 52
18 41° 24’ – 90° 43’ EAST – 144 " – 29.72. – 59
19 40° 57’ " – 96° 41’ " – S.83.E – 272 " – 29.67. – 57
20 42° 13’ " – 100° 40’ "– S.84.E – 179 mls. – 29.30. – 57
21 42° 31’ " – 105° 53’ "–S.85.E – 234 mls. – 29.54. – 56
22 43° 2’ " – 111° 14’ "– S.83.E – 241 mls. – 29.79. – 54
23 43° 20’ " – 115° 59’ "– S.88.E – 212 mls. – 29.77. – 55
24 43° 23’ " – 120° 54’ "– S.87.E – 220 mls. – 30.08. – 57
25 43° 8’ " – 125° 20’ "– N.85.E – 195 mls. – 30.15. – 56
26 42° 36’ " – 129° 49’ "– N.81.E – 200 mls. – 30.14. – 56
27 41° 47’ " – 133° 56’ "– N.75.E – 191 mls. – 30.00. – 57
28 40° 14’ " – 137° 54’ "– N.63.E – 202 mls. – 30.04. – 55
29 39° 21’ " – 141° 40’ "– N.69.E – 148 mls. – 30.05. – 55
30 38° 54’ " – 143° 26’ "– N.77.E – 125 mls. – 29.80. – 61 noon off Cape Otway
31 Off Wilson’s promontory
1883
Jany 1 Off Cape Howr & Gabe island
[indecipherable] seen in any 24 hours of the voyage
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Notices to Correspondents
We have received communications from the following Miss Spencer, Miss Horsfall, Mr Ottewill, Mr Houlding, Mr Michael, Mr Cudworth, Mr Bryant and Mr Baker.
Replies to correspondents.
Mr Baker, your report received too late, as the subject of it had already been reported and inserted when your’s came to hand.
Published this 23rd day of December 1882.
FINIS
[Transcribed by Pat Moore for the State Library of New South Wales]