ARAB 1843 arrived Port Adelaide on Jan 23, 1843 |
TREATMENT OF PASSENGERS ON BOARD "THE ARAB"
The undersigned cabin and steerage passengers (there being no intermediate ones), by the temperance barque ARAB, of Fraserburgh, N.B., |
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CABIN PASSENGER COMPLAINTS - Part One: First - That the provisions were of inferior quality and very deficient in quality to those usually placed on board vessels trading to the Australian colonies, besides many ordinary requisites, to say nothing of delicacies, being wanting; a circumstance which, as they have learnt from the admissions of Captain and Mrs Dalgarno, the brokers (Messrs. Hancock and Gull) and the officials of the ship, is mainly attributable to the characteristics but unjustifiable parsimony of the first-named individual, particularly as he gave his passengers and their agents on shore every assurance to the contrart, both by written agreements and by word of mouth. Indeed, it appears that the Custom-house Officer, who was in charge of the vessel from the time of her loading until she left Gravesend, repeatedly stated that he never saw a passenger ship so badly victualled, and expressed his conviction that her passengers would be "half-starved" before they reached their destination. Second - That although the ARAB had not been out more than six-and-twenty-days before Captain Dalgarno was appraised by the steward of the extent of the deficiency (there being at that time but six weeks supply on board) he, nevertheless made no attempt to reach Rio Janeiro or the Cape of Good Hope - either of which ports he could have made, and where he could have taken in supplies. His avowed reason being 'the expense of the port charges'. Third - That although, when fifty days out, we spoke, and for some days were in company with the whaler CANDACE of New London USA, Captain Reid, Captain Dalgarno neglected to avail himself of repeated offers to supply the ARAB with anything she might require; save that he accepted as a present a few dried apples, some onions, potatoes. Fourth - After "making" the island Tristan de'Achuna (69 days out) where some few necessaries might have been easily (if not cheaply) procured, Captain Dalgarno did not use ordinary exertion to affect a landing or to communicate with the shore. Fifth - That after we had been eighty-six days, Captain Dalgarno's conduct with regard to the Indiaman DUKE OF ARGYLE (the CANDACE and the DUKE OF ARGYLE were the only vessels with which we communicated by boats) was highly reprehensive; inasmuch as, although we had then only seven days' preserved provisions on board, no livestock save one small pig, (two sheep and three pigs, besides poultry, were all the live-stock put on board) and were without preserved or dried fruits, pickles, milk, suet, and yeast, and nearly out of butter, pease, etc. and the Indiaman handsomely offered to supply us with everything we might be short of, except livestock. Captain Dalgarno's answer made in the hearing of several of the passengers, was that "he had plenty of everything on board". Sixth - That on "making" the Island of St Paul's, being then 86 days out (although of little consequence to the passengers, inasmuch as nothing but fresh fish could be got there). Captain Dalgarno's conduct was extremely vacillating and unseaman like. Seventh - That the remonstrances of the passengers, individually and collectively, couched in gentlemanly terms and with all the proper deference to Captain Dalgarno's station in the vessel, were invariably met by sullen taciturnity, abusive language or threats of personal violence. Eighth - That by uniformly absenting himself from the cabin table, Captain Dalgarno offered an insult unmanly to his female passengers, and uncourteous to the gentlemen. Nineth - That by refusing to redress a single grievance, and by permitting familiarity and in some cases insolence towards himself from servants of the vessel, he prevented the passengers from obtaining that civility and attention to which they had a right. Tenth - That be setting a flagrant example of indolence, Captain Dalgarno was the immediate cause of neglect of duty on the part of some under his command. Eleventh - That by permitting the fore-hatch, close to the galley, to be almost continually open, the door of communication between the steerage and 'twixt decks unsecured, whilst smoking going on day and night from stem to stern, and suffering hammocks to be slung 'tween decks, the lives of forty persons were immediately perilled, and the ship and cargo most flagituously disregarded, since in the 'tween decks and only protected by other cargo and ship's stores, there were more than 250 packages of gunpowder. Twelth - The passengers furthermore desire to express their firm conviction that the presence of Mrs Dalgarno (in what capacity they know not, as in the early part of the passage Captain Dalgarno declared she was no one's servant on board) has materially added to their inconvenience, since talebearing and backbiting appear to have been her daily occupation; and it can be proved that she invented falsehoods of many of the cabin passengers and several of the steerage, by the wily dissemination of which she had nearly succeeded in putting strife and distrust between parties otherwise disposed to be courteous and agreeable. Signed by Cabin Passengers: John Stephens, Fidelia Stephens, H. S. Hulkes, W.P. Horton, R. Dennis and Paul Badcock Signed by Steerage Passengers: John Watson, John Wood, Mrs Mary Ann Wood, Miss Mary Ann Wood, David Harbey, Mary Harvey, Charles and George Knight CABIN PASSENGER COMPLAINTS - Part Two: Statement of particular aggravated or minor Grievances and personal Insults, of which the Cabin Passengers, collectively or individually, complain--- First - That, after being three weeks out, Captain Dalgarno refused the cabin passengers (nine in number, exclusive of himself and wife) any light, save one dim lamp, to work and read by, and ordered that to be extinguished at 10 P.M.; and upon being remonstrated with for such an infringement of their rights, he called them "A SET OF SCAMPS" and threatened, if anything further were said upon the subject, to throw all the candles overboard. Second - That subsequently, when the passengers were again obliged to have recourse to the ship's candles (the cuddy lamp not giving sufficient light) Captain Delgarno again churlishly withdrew them, and they were driven to the necessity of purchasing some from a fellow-passenger. Third - That on the first occassion of the cabin passengers complaining of the dietary (October 21st, 1842) Captain Dalgarno was very abusive, coolly telling them that they were only "intermediate passengers", and that "they were victualled according to their passage-money." Fourth - That, on the second occassion of their protesting against the cabin fare (Nov. 5 1842) particularly against salt junk being put on their table, Captain Dalgarno threatened to "leave them at the nearest port and proceed to Adelaide without them." Fifth - That, on Mr. Hulkes's complaining to Captain Dalgarno of the steward's neglect and impertinence, he, (Capt D.) told Mr. H. that although unable to leave his state-room at the time, "he had no business to send a message to him on the subject", and that if he talked to him of not understanding his duty, "he would have him tied to the mizen-mast and give him a round dozen." Sixth - That, on one occassion, Captain Dalgarno meditated putting Mr. Stephens in "irons" for an alleged attempt to excite a mutiny in the ship (that is, for openly and fearlessly expressing his sentiments to his fellow-passengers respecting the fraudulent way in which they - and not the crew - were victualled); and, on another, he called Mr. S. a liar on the quarter-deck, and told him he would not believe him on his oath. Seventh - That, although the Arab professed (and still professes) to sail on teetotal principles, Mr. Dennis, one of the cabin passengers, at Captain Dalgarno's request, put wine, spirits, and malt liqours on board for sale, Captain D. (a long-pledged teetotaller or Reckabite) signing the excise bond, besides carrying a part cargo of ale for sale in the colonies. Scarcely, however, had we put to sea, before the Captain and his wife sought every opportunity to denounce all alcohiolic drinks and drinkers, and to foist their particular opinions upon the passengers. Eighth - That, moreover, besides the "fetching and carrying" and private scandal, complained of in paragraph 12 of their public protest, the cabin passengers were one and all, at some one period or other of the passage, anathematized or has something said to them personally offensive or insulting to their private judgements, by Captain Dalgarno or his wife, for presuming to differ from them on the subject of teetotalism. On one occasion, Mrs. Dalgarno told Mr. Dennis ( the gentlemean before alluded to) that "an eternal curse would rest upon his head" for drinking fermented liquors; and on another, seeing one of the cabin passengers taking a bottle of ale on the quarter-deck, she flew into a violent passion, alleging it was setting a bad example to the crew, and vowing that the next time she saw a bottle of ale or spirits on deck she would throw it overboard. Afterwards she went below to her husband, and stormed and raved for a considerable time, "insisting, forsooth, that he ought to interpose his authority to prevent the cabin passengers drinking on board." Nineth - That, on Sunday the 20th November, 1842, when Captain Reid, of the American whaler Candace, dined on board the Arab, Captain Dalgarno, wishing to keep up the appearance of his ship's being a teetotal vessel, ordered the steward to put lime juice on table, and not, as usual, to bring any passenger malt liquor, wine, or spirits if called for. Captain D., however, was defeated in this act of meanness and duplicity, for the passengers happened to have in their state-room as much of each was requisite to enable them to reciprocate the hospitality which they had previously experienced on board the Candace. Tenth - That because, on New Year's Eve, 1842-3, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Badcock searched the lockers and the steward's pantry, to try to find something for supper (none being put upon ther table, and the steward having "turned in"), Mrs. Dalgarno denounced their conduct as "ungentlemanly," and told Mr. Dennis, at the breakfast table the next morning, that, "had she been a man, she would have beaten him black and blue for it." Eleventh - That, notwithstanding the notorious scantiness and inferior quality of the provisions, Captain Dalgarno never once condescended to offer any explanation or apology to his passengers, but treated them, when set down to salt meat (often stinking), rice, and potatoes, without many of the et ceteras enumerated in their public protest, with as much swaggering haughtiness and independence as if he were fulfilling, to the very letter, the contract which he had eneterd into with them, namely, "that the provisions should be equal in quantity and quality to those put on similar ships for cabin passengers to Australia." Twelth - That the cook, steward, and cabin boy were notoriously filthy in their persons and utensils, and the cuddy and state-rooms were not properly and thoroughly cleansed during the passage, nuisances of the existence of which Captain Dalgarno's eyes and nose must have informed nim, but which he never attempted to remove. Signed by Cabin Passengers: John Stephens, Fidelia Stephens, H.S. Holmes, W.P. Horton, Richd. Dennis. Paul Badcock. STEERAGE PASSENGER COMPLAINTS: A particular Statement of the Steerage Passengers' Grievances on board the ARAB, bound for South Australia and Port Phillip. First - That although one of us (John Wood) agreed with Captain Dalgarno that on and after the 24th of September 1842, the day fixed by the agents for his being on board, he sould be victualled at the ship's expense, from that time, till October 1st (the day the ARAB left the docks) the said John Wood had to maintain himself and family (seven in all) nothing being served out to him but meat therr, several times. Second - That although we were promised by the Captain and the brokers, a patent portable commode, no such necessary convenience was but on board; nor, although the ARAB carried a ship's carpenter, was any substitute constructed after she put to sea, thereby subjecting the inmates of the half-deck (particularly the females)surrounded as they were by several of the crew, to great personal inconvenience and annoyance. Indeed it is a matter of surprise and thankfulness that no infectious disorder was the result, especially during the prevalence of sea-sickness the filth at that time lying on the floor for days together unmoved by ourselves or others.. Third - That although, before we left the docks, we were promised a person to assist in performing offices which landsmen are never expected to perform at sea (a fact since admitted by the cook), no attendance was given us; indeed our dinner things were often left on deck (sometimes all night), the cook telling us that he did not know whose place it was to wash them; and on Sunday Jan 8th 1842, he refused Mrs Wood a little hot water to wash up her tea-things, and because she contrived to get some by stealth, he flew into a passion, and said it was not allowed.Indeed he frequently displayed similar ebullitions of temper towards others of us when going to the galley, threatening to scald one, to strike another and to "do" a third. Fourth - That such was the want of proper discipline on board, that no rules and regulations were issued for the half-deck, and no officer was appointed to enforce order and cleanliness amongst us. In fact, the Captain allowed the ship's crew, even in the presence of himself and officers, to take what liberties they chose with us, thereby oftentimes causing discord and quarrelling. We are, besides, in continual fear of fire (250 packages of gun-powder being on board in an unprotected state), owing to the men's smoking at all seasons, the sliding door from the half-deck to the'tween-decks being for the most part left open (particularly at night, hammocks being slunhg there), and sparks from lighted paper frequently lying on the floor; and though the Captain was spoken to on the subject, he never forbade it until Saturday, January 7th, 1843, when he overheard one of us, in the dead of the night, complain that he saw a light from a pipe which one of the men was smoking. Fifth - That we had no scales and weights, and the cook, (who, by the way, was disgustingly dirty in his person and utensils) gave us what meat and in what quantitiies he thought proper, until we complained (often inferior pieces and for the most part bone); and, on one of us (John Watson) remonstrating with the Captain, he peremptorily ordered him off the quarter-deck, telling him "not to come there to insult him!" Sometimes, for ten persons, the allowance of meat, after being cooked, was so small that it was a mere farce to send it down, never averaging more, during the passage, than from three to four ounces, instead of half-a-pound for each individual. Sixth - That although according to the printed dietary annexed, given to the steerage passengers, and by which they were to be victualled, they were to be allowed half-a-pound of "preserved meat" each, twice a week, soup and bouilli of the worst kind, and consisting chiefly of carrots, was served to us instead.* Seventh - That the Scotch beef, forming part of our dietary, was tainted before we left the docks, so much so that we could not touch it, and by mutual consent threw it overboard. For so doing, one of us (John Wood) was grossly insulted by Captain Dalgarno (the Captain claiming what rations were not consumed for the ship's use), and threatened with personal violence if he repeated the offence!** We, however, considered as there was no stipulation to the contrary, that when our rations were served to us, whether of meat, flour, biscuit, or any thing else, we were at liberty to do what we liked with them - if wholesome to eat them or save them - if unwholesome to cast away. In fact, it is our firm conviction that, had the Arab been under the surveillance of the Emigration Commissioners or the Government, the Inspecting Officer would have condemned the greater part of the meat. Eighth - That although, on the 19th December, 1842, we unanimously gave up our allowance of stinking beef, and on the 22nd December of the salt junk, being unable any longer to eat them, nothing was offered us in their stead, and twice a week ourselves and little ones went dinnerless. Nineth - 9thly:- That although, according to our printed dietary, we were each to receive six ounces of suet and six ounces of butter each week, the supply of suet was stopped on the 2nd December, 1842, and nothing but the rancid skimmings of the galley offered us instead; and no butter was served out to us after December 28th, but its value in money, or half-a-pound of currants and three-quarters a pannikan of flour weekly, for each adult, with potatos for each daily, offered in exchange. As we had no alternative we chose the latter. N.B. Having no butter, our allowance of rice was of little use to us, and even the ship's stores of currants and raisins were exhausted before we reached Port Adelaide. Tenth - That although, before we left the docks, the Captain and the steward "repeatedly assured us that we should want for nothing, as there was plenty of everything on board", (thereby deterring us from laying in a few private stores, which we would have otherwise have done), we were deprived of even the least article likely to contribute to our personal comfort*** or convenience (since Christmas even a little brickdust with which to clean our knives, although there was plenty on board); and at the time the females amongst us were suffering from sea-sickness they were left destitute of necessary drinks and refreshments for days together; indeed, serious apprehensions were entertained thast one of us (a marrie female), who was ill for five weeks, would not recover, and yet scarecley anything was sent her from the cabin table. So reduced was she from the want of nourishment that, on two occassions, a fellow-pasenger begged a piece of soft bread and a slice of ham for her from the cabin passengers. In a word, throughout the passage, we were treated by the Captain, the cook, and the ship's servants more like Russian serfs than British freemen, every indignity being heaped upon us, and not only the taunts and jibes, but threats of personal violence, and language fit only for Leith Walk, Mussleburgh, or Wapping Old Stairs, being repeatedly, and on the slightest provocation, addressed to us. Even so late as January 8th, 1843, in consequence of some trifling altercation between one of us and the carpenter (the carpenter having placed his tool-chest in Mr. Watson's way), the Captain denounced the whole of us as "a set of blackguards not worth his men's notice," and ordered them to hold no further intercourse with us! Signed by Steerage Passengers: John Wood, Mrs. Mary Ann Wood, Miss Mary Ann Wood, John Watson, David Harvey, Mary Harvey and Charles Knight. *A detailed account of Mr. and Mrs. Wood's conversation with Captain Dalgarno respecting the soup and bouilli is annexed. ** Vide Mr. Wood's certified statement annexed. *** The only indulgence we had, during the passage, was half a pound of ham each, and an extra quantity of flour, currants, raisins, and spice on Christmas Day. |
