Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY
The 'Ocean Empress', a 1068-ton ship, left Liverpool on the 17th of June 1862 with Alexander McDonald as Captain and Frederick E. West as Surgeon Superintendant. The ship left with 344 on board. Two babies were born, two adults and two children died during the journey and the ship arrived with 342 'souls'.
The following is only an extract of F. E. West's report:
'The ship was not remarkable for disease at all. The most prevalent maladies were coughs---Bronchial Affections--- Amongst single men: this, I believe, was attributed to insufficiency of clothing---their part of the ship was particularly dry---the other most common diseases were dysenteric diarrhoa, and dyspepsia, whooping cough amongst the children.'
'General conduct good---the single women were remarkably quiet. The single men were indolent in habit and, although kept clean, it was under pressure. It was under the necessity of removing the schoolmaster from office for having held clandestine and prohibited communication with a single female, Susan Cousins, and having persisted in doing so, contrary to my orders, and after having been admonished on the subject. The Immigration Board refused him any gratuity, regarded him as being leniently dealt with in not being prosecuted for insubordination under the Passengers Act.'
'School moderately well attended. Average numbers, 30 children, 45 adults. Moderately fair improvement.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your obedient servant,
F. E. West,
Surgeon Superintendant of the Ship 'Ocean Empress'.'
Amongst the single female passengers was: Amelia Cleary, aged 18, a housemaid, who could read and write, and came from Rathkeale, Limerick, Ireland. 'Statute Adults' payed a contract price of £13.19.3 for their fare. The 'Ocean Empress' arrived in Sydney on the 26th of September 1862.
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