The DOUGLAS - THE DEATH SHIP - 1850In the olden times when the 'Douglas' was the terror of all Scotland, and few were found to bar his progress, to some the name was nevertheless dear. What must Old Ocean have thought of the barque DOUGLAS, which lately reached our shores? ...the brokers promised kindness and good sustenance - How has this promise been kept? Death has stalked over the waters, and the shark has made many a meal of human carcases supplied from the cholera ship - the bodies of men, women and children. True, there was variety to relieve the direful monotony on the voyage. Sales of effects belonging to the departed took place, and large sums were realised there; bodies, scarcely cold, were toppled into the deep, with little if any ceremonial of Christian burial; * A thoughtless captain, desirous of dispersing the gloom, danced on the deck with a lady's bustle, and afterwards sold by auction the interesting relic for the sum of six shillings, to the highest bidder * An officer was "taken in adultery" * A defrauded husband quenched his wrath with a glass of rum * A beer-shop was opened by a penny-turning passenger, on the strength of a stock of porter bought from the Captain and retailed at sixpence a glass to the thirsty. * Brandy was sold by the Captain at 3s.6d. a bottle, rum at 3s, port and sherry at 3s. a bottle and molasses and sugar at 8d. per pound. But none of these sales are to be wondered at. The medical comforts could not be found until nearly the end of the voyage, although the saleable stores of the skipper could be come at as long as the money of the buyers lasted. Indeed, such was the scarcity of the ship's dietary, that we are told a rat was skinned, dressed and eaten by the cabin passengers; while those in steerage grabbed anything they could lay their hands on. Quoting a passenger's journal, we find that on the morning of December 7th (the comforts being missed from September 17th to December 7th), the steward went round and told the passengers they could have sago and arrowroot with milk, at the same price as they had been charged before (sixpence per pint can), as they had managed to find the 'medical comforts'. It is the opinion of all or a great majority of the passengers that several lives, out of seventeen who died, may have been saved if proper attention had been paid and medical comforts served out to them. Three officers and the first, second and third mates had 'fancy girls' selected from among the fair passengers. These libertine pranks occasioned little or no surprise on board the DOUGLAS. Pork was issued on December 24th of so horrible a quality that complaints were made to the Surgeon Superintendent. His mild replly was, that they should be "d....d glad to eat it". Other entries in a journal we quote verbatim: * The sailors very stupid after a night's drinking. They were not fit for work. * The Captain made his appearance after a month * The Captain has not his appearance this last fortnight; he has been up to his old habit of drinking These and such as these are extracts from a journal kept diligently, and we have reason to believe, truthfully on board. But Death - the grim monster - was very busy in the early part of the voyage. The following are proof of his prowess: September 24th - a poor woman died of sea-sickness, aged 76 and with fourteen pounds sewn up in her stays. September 26th - Mr Bassett died after 12 hours sickness of cholera September 27th - Mr Adcock died of cholera, the berths smelling horrible September 28th - three more passengers, namely a nice young man named Miller, and Thorns and his wife of cholera, which cast quite a damper upon the whole crew. September 29th (the journalist says) sent a requisition to the Captain to put in at Madiera. We have sixty more passengers than we ought to have; we are huddled and messed together worse than pigs; wished myself home again, as they were seized with cholera all around me, and their groans were insufferable. September 30th (Sunday) Reading service by a drunken doctor, a most miserable affair indeed it does not appear like Sunday to me. Indeed we doubt it would - poor pilgrims of the waters! No Sunday to thee, no rest to thee Disturbed in the night by drunken messmates coming to bed at all hours of the night. a most awful affair considering the sickness amongst us. October 2nd - another man died of cholera, leaving a wife and two children. He was well in the evening, eat a hearty supper, and died in the morning. October 4th - a child died. At the same time a party of messmates were drinking and singing profane songs until three in the morning. October 5th - another child died - but this is of little moment. At least these, doubtless, wing their way to Heaven, and are well out of the doomed bark of death. October 9th - young Clay died aged 27. At the same time he was dying, a quarrel taking place over a glass. October 12th - a drunken party in the steerage keeping others awake all night October 14th - a child died, aged eight months October 17th - a young girl died aged 15 years. She was found in the morning lying on the floor. Same day another chubby child flew to heaven. Same night a regular convivial meeting, as it was a sailor's birthday plenty of drunken men on board. October 20th - two children were taken ill with scarlet fever. October 21st - a woman died, leaving five small children. So the sickening list goes on, and we have not patience to pursue it further. With abhorrence we visited the ship on Saturday (January 13th, 1850), saw one poor fellow in articulo mortis, whom Dr. Duncan had kindly and promptly visited. Until that gentleman came, he was dying with no friendly hand among his fellow-passengers; custom had made them cold and careless. This poor dying wanderer was said to be brother of Mr Evans (of the eminent firm of Bradbury and Evans, proprietors of "Punch", and was killed by the filthy poison drink, which he was allowed to buy on board the DOUGLAS. [ie. Brandy cost the agents 1s a bottle. It was sold for 3s 6d.] The REPORT concludes "we regret to state that whilst we have been writing, death has been busy again. More victims havde been added to the dismal catalogue of mortality on board the death ship, under circumstances of the most disgusting loathsomeness and intoxication. But what else can be expected on board a vessel whose commander and doctor are habitually drunk ? |
