| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1861 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4484 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/3 |
| Year | 1861 |
| Sender | McIlrath, James L |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | emigrant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Port Philip, Australia |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath family |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 941 |
| Genre | account of passage |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Quarantine, Port Philip, Australia Friday 14th March, 1861 Father, Mother & brothers, I take this opportunity to let you know we are in the best of health hoping you are all the same. We left Liverpool on the 8th Dec. and landed here on the 14th March being 94 days of a passage there has been smallpox on board during the whole voyage and but for one that took ill that morning we landed we would not been here as there was no new cases for fourteen days, how long we will be here I cannot say we may be only fourteen days or we may be longer it depends on how long the disease goes on. The laws here is very strict regarding infectious diseases the boxes are all sent on shore. The ship is to be smoked, tarred and painted the Captain and crew and Pilot that came on board the day before we landed sent on shore with the rest - a new captain and crew to take their place and take the ship to Melbourne only 45 miles from this, when ready we will be sent by a steamer, all this for the sake of 17 persons out of nearly 600. Were it not the loss of the time we could live here fine. No expense has been spared by Government to make this place comfortable there are 6 houses 145 feet in length and 28 wide two stories high, there is a platform in front the whole length. We have nature in the purest form an endless variety of evergreen shrubs and trees beautiful shady walks the shore for bathing and everything that idleness and curiosity requires a great change after 14 weeks on sea, we have 1lb each of fresh beef and potatoes every day for dinner. To give you the occurrences of the whole Passage would be needless I shall only mention the particulars, our beginning was everything but pleasant the weather was taking up on the 7th and a steam tug put on each side to take the ship through the Channel but we were not gone when a sail boat came right ahead drifting with the wind all force, the steamer on one side of the ship was tried to be loosed but all not being clear when the steamer was ran backwards her mast was nipped like a twig and fell on a sailor and broke his arm. The wind being contrary the fog so close, the Channel so narrow and the ship so large and too heavy laden in front the anchor was again cast and some of the cargo taken to the other end coals put into the steamer and some thrown into the sea. That night a sailor would kiss two girls by force a man interfered, the sailor took his knife and said he would have his life on the spot if not he would before he reached Melbourne. The man met him next morning he struck the sailor and put the pipe he was smoking down his throat. He died in a few hours. Another sailor on the 10th fell from aloft into the sea a man threw him a rope which he got but the foolish man strove to pull him in over the ship's side when nearly up he fell in again and was never seen. The cook took ill on the 15th and died on the 19th all this in 11 days. January 11th a woman was seen on deck at 4 in the morning and could never be seen again. We had a heavy storm the night before Christmas it commenced on the 22nd and lasted to the 24th everything was in readiness to cut away the masts. The weather was very warm crossing the line the sun was fair overhead and no shadows whatever. The sun on this side goes left over the horizon. Round the Cape of Good Hope the weather is very uncertain squalls comes like whirlwinds which rents the old canvas like paper. The Dover Castle which sailed from London the day we sailed from Liverpool landed in Melbourne on the 5th they seen a ship on Are off the Cape. The Queen of Commerce that sailed 10 days before us is not here yet it is believed she is burnt and not one life saved. The news from the country is good new diggings and 10s per day for labourers they are scarce as all are to the diggings a passenger here has 35s per week for splitting firewood which looks well and so many ready for employ. William Martin is well we have been in one mess and together the whole time you can let his Mrs know he is well she lives in Newtownards. William James Alexander is well we have all had good health during the whole voyage only sea sick the first week and a severe sickness it is. I shall write no more at present but we will write as soon as settled. Give our best wishes to Joseph Logan Mrs and family and Miss Irwin James Jellie Mrs and family, Uncle Tom, Uncle William and Aunts, Mr O'Preys people, Mrs Russell and family. George Logan Mrs and family, Thomas Scott Mrs and family and Robert Cooper - tell him the box was well packed and nothing hurt. Hoping you are all in good health which we are for so far. We are James and Hamilton Mcllrath Australia You cannot write until we write again as we do not know where we may be placed. We will send the directions. James Mcllrath |
