A Short Account of My Voyage Per the St Kilda
from Liverpool to Otago, New Zealand
Monday, June 23rd 1873
In company with a ship all day. Set the "donkey" to work condensing, which she managed to do at the rate of about 400 gallons per day. Lizzie bad with toothache.
Tuesday, June 24th 1873
Very good breeze and doing good work.
Thursday, June 26th 1873
Had some good sport shooting cape pigeons etc.
Friday, June 27th 1873
Today the wind was right aft, which caused the ship to roll very much. In consequence to this we had great fun in carrying our stores from the cabin to our house. It was very amusing to see one or other, with 5 or 6 packages to carry, trying to balance and stores, and after all his care, find himself in the scuppers. I may mention here that Lizzie, one day when the ship was rolling very much, was going along the deck and not being able to hold her ground ran into a log lashed on the deck and hurt her leg very badly. Of course this was not at all amusing.
Saturday, June 28th 1873
Discovered Walter had 3 double teeth through. Saw a great number of whale birds. These are somewhat after the style of a swallow, but rather larger and a light gray colour. They fly very rapidly and whenever they get the chance perch on the whale's back.
Sunday, June 29th 1873
Very fine morning, but during the night the wind suddenly changed round, a heavy sea on at the time and we took several tremendous seas on board. During the night the wind was blowing a gale.
Monday, June 30th 1873
Turned out fine, but very cold. We were in Lat 37.27. South and Long 8.0 West. Rope making the order of the day. Broke the globe of our lamp, but were able to use it with out one.
Tuesday, July 1st 1873
Fine day.
Wednesday, July 2nd 1873
I altered our bunks taking the top one down and arranging so as to have a sofa during the day and a bed the whole extent of the cabin, gaining by this means far more sleeping room. In the evening up came a severe gale. Wind right ahead. Lizzie and Mrs. Morris were very much afraid and in fact the weather was so bad that none of us could sleep. Books (off the bookcase I had made) tins, forms etc. etc. all flying about.
Thursday, July 3rd 1873
Gale continued, much difficulty in getting about the deck. Saw the same vessel we sighted on June 23rd, the "Guinniverre ?". She was close to us in the evening. Bound to Calcutta.
Friday, July 4th 1873
Gale gone. Very fine, with a steady breeze S.E x S. Went up to the main royal and saw the same vessel about 9 to 10 miles off. About 6pm a very strong breeze came up from the N.W. ship going (at 11pm) 12 knots. Beautiful moon lit night. Nearly every night I was in the habit of going the last thing to have a smoke and yarn with the officer of the watch on the poop.
Saturday, July 5th 1873
Stiff gale all day. Shipped a great quantity of water. At 9pm a tremendous sea came over the bulwarks and on to the main hatch. I was just closing the door of our house for the night, when I heard a tremendous crash. It was the 1st mates watch and he immediately called "All Hands". The Captain was on the poop in a minute and sang out "Grouches, what's the matter?" when the latter calmly replied, "A hole in the main hatch Sir". I, of course, turned out as soon as I had put my oilskins on, and found as reported a HOLE in the hatch exactly the size of the hatch. The whole (cover) was smashed up just like firewood. As all were willing and worked hard too, by midnight we had made a temporary hatch with some planks which had fortunately been loaded in the main 'tween decks and so lay handy for use. If another sea had come over in that 3 hours I hardly think I should have been writing this now. You may be sure we were very thankful it was not worse and it seems to me an act of providence that these planks were so handy, as they were according to the loading of the vessel in the wrong place. The resistance offered the sea shipped, by the main hatch cover, however slight, was sufficient to throw off the greater portion of the water, as we found out afterwards, very little had got below, comparatively speaking, that is.
The St. Kilda was only a small vessel beside some other ocean going vessels and yet I think I have not seen a much larger hatch. It turned out afterwards that the Captain had spoken to the owners about having some supports to be placed under the hatch, as we being loaded with railway girders, slates and other heavy merchandise were consequently deep in the water, tho' not nearly full and had a large space between decks empty. The Captains request was refused and the owners might have had to answer for several lost lives. But here we are again, now for the next day.
Sunday, July 6th 1873
Gale still continued, tho' fine. A ship off our port bow. This was the "Dallam Towers" a vessel which was dismasted a few days afterwards, but towed into Melbourne and brought on, after having new masts and other repairs done to her, to Port Chalmers, a friend of mine.
Journey to NZ