THE SHIP “BAYSWATER”
by Fitzroy 1920
After dispatching the Rockhampton for Queensland the Emigration Agents gave Central Queensland a spell till February 5, 1864, when the ship Bayswater, 1200 tons, Captain Robert Morris, and Dr. R. Bargory as Surgeon Superintendent, was dispatched from Greenock Scotland, having left Liverpool, a week earlier. After a fairly prosperous voyage she cast anchor in Keppel Bay on May 23, after a voyage of 108 days. She arrived a clean ship.
During the voyage a bad accident occurred the outcome of which caused much comption Whilst the ship was sailing about eight or nine knots an hour, and the sea a little rough, a little girl named Butler was swept into the ocean by a sail. Exactly how it happened was not stated, for the child had no business to be where the sail would strike her. Directly the alarm was given the Boatswain and some of the sailors rushed to one of the boats on the davits and started to lower it. The Captain, coming on deck, ordered the men to desist, as he considered the sea was so rough as to endanger their lives, with little prospect of saving the child. At first sight it seems a very heartless action on the part of the captain, but a little thought shows how improbable it would be for the poor child to keep afloat in a rough sea till a boat could have got to her. The parents were nearly distracted. On arrival of the vessel at Rockhampton the father of the child lodged a complaint against the Captain, but got no satisfaction, as it was though he acted for the best under the circumstances. The passengers were brought to town from Keppel Bay by the steamer Diamantinat, arriving safely on May 27.
Scarcely a vessel ever escaped trouble with the sailors after the passengers had left, chiefly because the single woman, or some of them, in spite of careful watching, had found opportunities of getting on friendly terms with these gallant mariners, and when the girls had left the ship these poor forlorn fellows felt too unhappy for anything but mischief. On this particular occasion, five of the seamen formed a little conspiracy, and that night they took the loan of a ship’s boat and made for the mainland, where, of course, they had no difficulty in getting safely on shore. Search was made for them, but new chum sailors were plentiful enough, and no one took special notice of strange men. At all events they were never captured, and at least two of them lived to be well known residents of the town and district. They were Peter Bailey, of Depot Hill, and John F. Lyon, of Cawarral. If the writer ever knew the others their names are forgotten.
Among the passengers were J. Armstrong, manager for many years of the Archer Brothers’ stock at Gracemere, and who will be best remembered as an exhibitor of stock at Agricultural Shows in Rockhampton.
Mrs. Thompson, mother of General Thompson, Senator of the Federal Parliament.
David Ruddle, J. Wetherspoon, and Wyer were also passengers.
HER SECOND VOYAGE
Having left the Rockhampton passengers, the Bayswater sailed for Moreton Bay, and cleared out the remaining immigrants and cargo. She speedily loaded up for England, had a good voyage home, and was at once put on the berth for Rockhampton again.
This time the Bayswater was placed in charge of Captain Warner, with Dr. D. Hallows, as Surgeon Superintendent. She sailed from Queenstown, Ireland on September 28, 1863, with 444 immigrants. She anchored in Keppel Bay on January 22, 1866, after a voyage of 116 days, which was twenty five days longer than the Beejapore took from the same port.
On this voyage also there was an accident, though fortunately not a fatal one. During the later part of the journey, along the coast of Australia, a man named Joshua Caples fell over board. A lifebuoy was promptly thrown to him which he failed to reach, but a boat was lowered so expeditiously that Caples was picked up eight minutes after he fell over. Except for a big scare Caples was soon all right again.
Whether the discipline on the voyage had been more lax than usual, or there was some other cause, most of the sailors followed the immigrants on to the steamer and were brought to town. On arrival these men were promptly taken into custody and lodged in the lockup or some other secure place, the immigrants as usual being taken to the depot.
The next morning the sailors were brought up at the Police Court, their passage through the streets attracting a throng. A number of the new immigrant girls were very aggressive. They literally threw themselves at the handcuffed sailors, embraced and kissed them and apparently tried to get them away from the police. There was no difficulty in proving their refusal to carry out their duties and they were given a sentence in goal, or till their services were required on the ship. On being removed the girls once more clung to their loved ones, giving them a final embrace. No doubt there was only a limited number of these unruly and boisterous women, but their actions gave the Bayswater a reputation that clung to it for many years. This is no imaginary story, the writer saw it all. No doubt the trouble arose largely through insufficient care in passing people as being of the class required.
The Bayswater was lost on her homeward voyage, a mischance that occurred much too frequently with these vessels bringing out immigrants.
Among the arrivals on this second occasion were a few who became well known and respected in the town and district, among them being:-
John and Mrs. Gibbs, from Somersetshire, well known as the landlord and landlady of the Leichhardt Hotel. After the death of her husband Mrs. Gibbs married John Esler.
A. and Mrs Lloyd. Mr. Lloyd was a well known builder in partnership with David Armstrong. Mrs. Lloyd had a large family, who have grown up, married, and now have grand children. A family always held in much respect.
Robert and Mrs. Kearney, well known residents of Upper Bolsover street “Bob” is dead, but his widow, well on to ninety, lives in Brisbane, as well as sons and daughters.
Samuel and Mrs. Dobbs and family. Both dead, but their son, John Dobbs, now a veteran who has outrun Nature’s span, still a faithful employee of the “Morning Bulletin” where he has been employed a matter of nearly sixty years. His sisters, Mrs. Bennott and Mrs. Seed. Are dead.
J. Morrison, a well known miner for many years at New Zealand Gully, was an arrival by the Bayswater, as were also W. Palfrey, of Longreach, W Aspinalk, J. Higgins, and Mrs Robertson, of Stanwell, and Miss Hemsworth, of Deport Hill.