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THE SHIP “ROYAL DANE”
by Fitzroy 1920
Of all the ships on the line for the conveyance of passengers from Great Britain to Queensland none exceeded in popularity the Royal Dane, so named in compliment to Alexandra, Princess of Wales. She came three or four times to Rockhampton and a few times to Brisbane. Her master, Captain Lewis Davies, was a very popular skipper. The vessel was about the usual tonnage, and she brought 540 passengers on her initial trip. The Surgeon superintendent was Dr. E. R. Hodgkinson, and the Matron Mrs. Edwards, a sister Sir John Macartney.
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Immigration Ship Life |
The Royal Dane sailed from London on April 23, 1865, and, after a fine passage of ninety three days, dropped anchor in Keppel Bay on July 25. This ship also had an epidemic of measles during the voyage, and several deaths occurred from that disease. In all there were thirty two deaths during the voyage. One woman died just as the anchor was dropped, and she was buried on Curtis Island. As it happened, there had been no fresh cases of measles for some days prior to casting anchor, which meant that the vessel had to be in quarantine for only a few days. Pratique was granted on August 2, and the following day the steamer Leichhardt brought 401 of the immigrants to Rockhampton.
The new comers were glad enough to be on shore, and they were promptly well fed and taken to the depot. The passengers were a superior class, and English largely predominated.
A young man among the passengers was M. Wilbraham who had come out see what sort of a land sunny Queensland was for himself. He evidently intended to go in for squatting pursuits, and was induced to join in partnership with Messrs, Robert Rose Beddom, and W. Palmer, who then owned Cawarral Station. Soon after he selected Zilzie, an estate that extended from Emu Park to Cawarral Creek, with a frontage of about six miles to Keppel Bay. Mr. Wilbraham had evidently been in the British army, and on his recall to England to become Queen’s Messenger, he left Zilzie in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Armitage. Mr. Wilbraham married Miss Jardine, eldest daughter of John Jardine, a well known Police Magistrate and Gold Warden of the early days. Mr. Wilbraham attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel , and, returning to Rockhampton many years ago, disposed of Zilzie, which is now the property of Mr. C. H. Humphreys. Wilbraham has been dead many years.
Other well known passengers were Charles and Mrs. Hitchcock. Among positions of trust that Hitchock held was that of clerk of the Goganago Divisional Board, which he retained for several years. Subsequently he departed for Brisbane. Where he died some years ago but at least one son lives in the Rockhampton district.
J. W. and Mrs. Power, who kept a general store in William street, and, shifting later to Yeppoon, the business became quite an institution in that thriving town. Mrs. Power is dead but the writer thinks J.W. is still in the land of the living. He hopes so at all events.
W. and Mrs. Wright, who kept a fruit and fancy goods shop in East-street opposite the Criterion House, for many years. They are both dead, but left children and grand children, who are no doubt still in the town or district.
Miss Elizabeth Fryer, from Yorkshire who a year or two later married William Kay Hingson, the well known Rockhampton business man, alderman, and Parliamentarian. Mrs. Higson, after a long life of usefulness, died on August 13, aged 84.
Miss Kezia Seymour, in charge of friends from Devonshire, married J. T. S. Bird, and died seven years ago.
The young lady who became Mrs. Con. Hourigan, and the lady who married Henry Hart.
A rather curious incident is connection with the Royal Dane’s frequent trips to Queensland was related to the writer. At a casual meeting of four ladies at some function some years ago it was found that all four had come to Queensland by that ship, each on separate occasions.
THE SHIP “EMPRESS OF THE SEAS”
by Fitzroy 1920
The passengers by the Royal Dane had not all left the depot, when the arrival of the Empress of the Seas was announced. The Empress of the Seas was a ship of 1243 tons, Captain D. Davis. The writer does not know the name of the Surgeon Superintendent. The ship left Gravesend on June 18, 1865, and dropped anchor in Keppel bay on September 24, after a good voyage of ninety six days. She brought 491 immigrants, and there were thirty two deaths on the voyage as high mortality considering the smart voyage and that no epidemic appears to have occurred.
This was another ship in which there was a scarcity of nutritious food and medical comforts and many complaints were made without finding any redress.
One of the passengers, Mrs. Lupton had great cause of complaint for she lost her husband and little son during the voyage, and her infant daughter soon after arrival. Mrs. Lupton came from Bishopsteynton, in South Devon. She was a good looking woman with a wonderful head of black curls, and a year or two after her arrival became the wife of Herman Kingel, who had been attracted to Australia some years before by the goldfields and arrived in Rockhampton from Brisbane towards the end of 1863, starting a jewellers’ shop in East street. Mrs. Kingel not only proved an exemplary wife, but a good business woman. She lived to an advanced age. She was the mother of T. W. Kingel, Mayor of Rockhampton, and other sons, as well as two daughters, one of who is Mrs. Ben Long.
Another memorable arrival was George Rutherford and five sons George, James, Andrew, Thomas, and John, all of whom are now dead, unless George is alive. They are well known in Central Queensland in connection with their horse bazaar, an institution that was practically killed by the advent of the motor car. The widows of James and Andrew still survive, the former living, in Brisbane. John Rutherford had a saddlery business, but has been dead many years. Possibly his widow survives.
William M. and Mrs. Bartlem and family, from Nottingham. William soon started a small grocery business, to which he subsequently added baking, which he continued in Fitzroy street till death. The widow lived to be considerably over eighty, and is still living. She was always of an amiable disposition and met the misfortunes of life with Christian fortitude.
Adam Henderson, an admirable colonist, who settled on the land, Bannock burn Mornish. He acquired other properties and by constant and intelligent attention to his possessions became a wealthy man. He died a few years ago.
Joseph and Mrs. Hunt, from Nottingham. The husband will be remembered by amateur fishermen as a maker of splendid fishing rods. Died at the age of ninety two and his widow likewise lived a very old age.
Miss Kate Ferguson, married Frederick Cook, of Sanders Station. Died at an advanced age, leaving several well to do children, including Mrs. T. J. Ryan.
A. E. Waike, an eccentric nephew of the bishop of London. Died many years ago.
Peter M’Donald, owned lime kilns at Glenmore. He was married to a shipmate and had a family.
John Wilson, a tall typical Scotsman, who was employed for a long period by Wilson, Hart and Co. He was one of the foundation members of the Loyal Victoria Lodge, I.O.O.F.M.U.
F. M. Black, so well known in municipal affairs in Mount Morgan and Rockhampton, but now dead.
Mrs. Davis, widow of Rudolph Davis, well known for his philanthropy.
THE SHIP “GREAT PACIFIC”
by Fitzroy 1920
The ship of the greatest tonnage that ever brought contract immigrants to Rockhampton, was the Great Pacific, 2088 tons, Captain W. Baillie. She sailed from Liverpool on March 27, 1866, with 644 passengers on board, and after a rough voyage arrived at her destination, Keppel Bay, on July 11, the passage lasting 106 days. The trip was more than usually healthy, and but few deaths occurred.
It was usual for the Rockhampton papers to speak in favourable terms of each shipment of new arrivals, unless there was something specially wrong with them. With regard to those by the Great Pacific they were dubbed “an inferior shipment.” Probably it would have been more correct to have stated that among the immigrants were some of the greatest blackguards ever set ashore from any of those contract vessels.
Among them were a lot of fighting men and some of a worse class, and these became so unruly during the voyage that the Captain and Surgeon Superintendent were nearly driven frantic. The Crocodile goldfield was then in the height of its glory and a lot of these ruffians took up their abode there. One of them in particular, who accurately described himself as “a Liverpool son of a b---h”, so incensed his mate at Ridglands that he struck him on the head with the edge of a tomahawk. Many other man would have been killed but the skull was damaged, the doctor cut a piece out and inserted a silver plate. Except that drink overcame him quickly, he might have lived to an old age. He ultimately died or was killed. The man who struck him had witnesses to prove that he was goaded to a state of mind that he did not care what happened. He received twelve months’ imprisonment. Those who knew the Liverpool beauty would willingly have exonerated him from all blame. The name of the fellow is forgotten, otherwise many would remember him.
Probably one cause of the rowdiness on shipboard was that a number of the single men were navies, or had come out as navies, to get work on the railway. One between Rockhampton and Westwood, then in progress. However, the financial crisis was then at its worst stage, and the government was unable to supply the contractors with funds, and Barry O’Rourke, and Munro discharged about 600 of the men already employed. These men with those by the Great Pacific caused a glut in the labour market, and it was a long time before they all became absorbed. What made matters worse was that there was also a glutted market in Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba, and a good many were coming north to Rockhampton hoping for better things, or at least a chance of winning gold at Crocodile.
The Great Pacific was largely loaded with steel rails for the railway.
Among the passengers by this great ship were Frederick and Mrs. Linthwaite. This notable man, who was of great bulk, eventually obtained the position of Locomotive Foreman on the Central Railway, a position he held for a great number of years. As time went on he took a great interest in Emu Park, and built four cottages on the hill, which are probably still known as Linthwaite’s cottages. He ultimately retired from the railway service, probably under the age limit. He then obtained a seat on the committee of the Livingstone Shire Council, which he held for some time. At length he became obsessed with the idea of going back to England to end his days, and though it was an extremely unwise proceeding, he had been so accustomed to having his own way that his agreeable wife at length gave way. He sold up his property and took ship for the old land, leaving his two married daughters, Mrs. A. J. Haswell and Mrs. S. George behind. Mrs. Linthwaite succumbed to the rigour of the voyage and was buried at sea and Frederick Linthwaite lived to reach England and take a second wife. He lived to see his mistake, but has been dead several years.
Mrs. Haswell and Mrs. George whose husband recently retired from the railway employ under the age limit, are still living and have no desire to leave genial Queensland.