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Leader (1850-1860), 29th October 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 1040, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      night , and that the charge of robber y was only invented when he refused . Mr . A'Beckett dismissed the case , Mon She Shantmalla , a native of Benares , tr ied to drown himself last week , but was saved . He was formerly in the service of the late -Etajah of Coorg , but had been dismissed for intemperance and loose habits of life ., Suffering from disease , despairing of cure , and -friendless , the Hindoo attempted suicide . Brought before Mr . Broderip , at the Westminster office , he was charged with the offence ; but at the suggestion of the magistrate , he was sent to a hospital instead of a prison . The ex-Rajah attended , and took an interest in the unfortunate . The man has been cured , and will be sent home . Another instance of the Nemesis which awaits criminals

      in this age of steam , and electricity has come to light . James St . Albin , a collector in the service of Messrs . Train , shipowners of Liverpool , decamped for Melbourne in 1852 with 1300 Z . At Melbourne he entered business as a general merchant , and " made" 5000 ? . But a knowledge of his whereabouts having been communicated to his duped employers , a warrant was sent out , and St . Albin was brought home . On Tuesday he was committed for trial by the Liverpool police magistrate . Mr . Richard Turpin has re-appeared on our highways . Last week , Mr . Hamlin , a solicitor of Redhill , near Bristol , was suddenly driving home in the evening , when ajhorseman presented a pistol and demanded money . Another highwayman rode up at the same time ; and being an invalid , and a little frightened , Mr . Hamlin surrendered his property . His clerk was with him ; but what chance is there for a lawyer and clerk versus two highwaymen ?

      Untitled Article

      THE WRECK OF THE "ISAAC WRIGHT " EMIGRANT SHIP . ( To the JEditor of . the Leader . ) Mb . Lovelady's Temperance Hotel , 14 , Derby-street , Whiteehapel , Liverpool , Oct . 7 , 1853 . At a Committee meeting convened by the passengers of the ship Isaac Wright , Mr . John Watt in the chair , for the purpose of giving publicity to the main facts of the disaster and bad treatment sustained by the passengers from the officers and crew of that vessel . The Committee , with myself , were all second cabin passengers . The Isaac Wright ; Black Ball liner , Captain Abeel , commander , advertised to sail on the 16 th of September , received the majority of her passengers on board on Saturday , the 17 th , while she lay in the Waterloo dock ; removed out into the river on the 18 th , where the remainder of the passengers were taken on board , a great number of the last comers being Germans ; on the 20 th , p . m ., we were taken in tow for sea b } r the Constitution steamer , which left us on the 21 st , a . m ., near to Holyhead , with 600 passengers on board .

      We had a three days provisions served out to us on the 20 th , a . m ., while we lay in the river ; but on this occasion none received oatmeal , nor salt , and only a few received rice . We proceeded on our voyage , and received no more ship ' s provisions until the 27 th , when we again had provisions served out to us , amounting in quantity to not more on an average than a three days supply , consequently we were five days at sea without any supply of provisions from the ship . On

      the 25 th , we were not supplied with any water from the ship ; on another day , the water sei-ved out to us was bad and unfit for vi . se , being more like unto soap-Buds than anything to which it could be compared ; on another day , the water served out to many of the passengers was bad , being thick , and quite red in colour ; the biscuit , too , received by many on the 27 th , was quite unfit for food , being- mouldy , and full of maggots . After at for fivo days had experienced

      being sea , we strong equinoctial gales , from which the whip Husfcaimid no injury , excepting the splitting of one or two of her sails . 27 th . Up to this date , woven of the lower deck passengers had died ; in the morning of thin day it was . i little foggy , but cleared out at noon , when the captain took the ' mm again ; it came in rather foggy for about two hours before dark , after which . w «> had a beautiful star-light night . About half pant eight o ' clock this night , a cry was heard upon deck of breakers a-head , which caused a great number of passengers to rush upon deck ; and to our coiiHternation the ship was found to be close alongside of a ,

      stupendous rock , said to be Mizenhead , in the noighbourhead of Cape Clear . Tins was during- the second mate's watch . The chief mate- inotnntly rushed on dock in his shirt , and in a most prompt manner micceeded in weighing the ship off tho rock , the captain now at the helm ; notwithstanding , she struck upon it heavily with h er koel , which materially damaged her rudder , and caused her *•> Hpring a kale . ( This disannulcould be attributed to nothing but ignorance and iniHma . nagomont the captain expecting , from what wo nad heard through the mates , that we were now clear

      of land , ami far out into tho Western Ocean . ) TJui pumps were sounded , ;« . nd we found ( he ship to have made some twenty induis of wator , which aflorwardH increased to threo ' feot . Tho pumps wore at onco most willingly manned by tho male passengers , who formed themselves into gaiign , and successfully pumped fcho ahip night ; and day , up to the 3 rd of October , when nho was again moored in Liverpool nvor . J . ho saivation of tho ship from sinking was solely and entirely owing to the indofatigablo oxortions of tho passengero , who also lout tho crow material aid all thin time in otherwise working tho ( drip . On tho 28 th , tho flhip ' ii

      rudder went away entirely . During all this time , in justice to Mr . M 'Gill , the chief mate , too much praise cannot be given to him for his praiseworthy conduct in managing and devising means for the navigation of our now disabled vessel . He immediately set about and had a temporary rudder constructed ,- which , waa shipped on the 30 th , and proved to be a good substitute for steering the ship , untilwe were taken in tow by the Constitution steamer , and received a pilot on board , near to Holyhead , on the forenoon of Monday , the 3 rd of October .

      A few days after we had struck , being in a hopeless condition , just at the mercy of the wind and waves , a flag of distress being hoisted , a ship from St . John ' s , bound for Liverpool , bore down upon us , with British flag—a joyous sight— -and took on board from us a gentleman , with his family , servants , and luggage , being first cabin passengers , who , on arrival at Liverpool , sent the steamer in search of us . While we were still in the midst of our distress , and previous to the achievement of the erection of our new rudder , another ship bore down upon us , and hailed us , asking the captain if he wanted any assistance . This " model navigator" replied "No . "

      During the time we were at sea , many of the passengers received most barbarous treatment at the hands of the crew ; for instance , the sailor ' s , or cabin cook , a man of colour , threw a quantity of hot water upon a poor Irishman , for just asking of him a little water ; another poor Irishman who , when in the act of stooping outside the cook-house , for the purpose of getting a little water from a tub , was kicked violently on the head by this black cook , and knocked down ; he then took a large iron ladle , and dealt the poor man a severe blow , as he rose , on the forehead , by which he was cut , and caused to bleed profusely . The cook then , like a tiger , seized the poor man by the neck , when a number of the crew came to the cook ' s assistance with drawn knives . The Irishman was immediately put in irons , and imprisoned by the officers , but he was soon after released .

      29 th September . —Fatal disease had now dreadfully set in among-st the steerage passengers , which began with the Germans ; and although it was as yet confined to the lower deck , we found the numbers of those who daily fell into the grim jaws of death to be rapidly increasing ; in fact , it was most alarming to witness , for , generally speaking , no sooner was it announced that there were so many more cases of disease than the poor creatures had swallowed Dr . Hornbook ' s Panacea , breathed their last , and were consigned to the deep ; and notwithstanding that very many of the passengers were now confined to their miserable beds , from severe illness , which daily proved fatal , numbers of them , while in this helpless condition , were pulled out by the hair of their heads and beaten with a wooden pin , or a piece of hard rope , by the merciless crew .

      From the inadequacy and bad condition of the passengers' cookhouse it was utterly impossible for so many to get the necessaries of life cooked daily , hence the only resource left for those who had money was to purchase hot water from the cabin cook , after the rate of Od . for about three gills ; consequently numbers of the steerage passengers who had no money had to suffer the consequences of being deprived of hot water for tea , gruel , or any such warm preparation of food , and In this state many of them died . Many who survived are now ready to attest that , but for the humane supply of food and water to them by tho second cabin passengers , they must have died also , for some who we supplied had not tasted food or water for one and two days , and many Lad not tasted anything

      warm for four and fivo davs . warm for four and fivo days . Soon after we had sailed , the deck hofrpital was partly demolished by the second mate , and a sheep , some poultry , turnips , and hay were put therein . The partition also in tho steerage , which separated the young men from the females , was totally taken away by tho crew . The treatment of the dead also was most inhuman and barbarous ; they were generally sewed up and put overboard ero they were cold , and , in some instances , nothing put on them to cause them to junk ; and for burial service the crew were umially heard to utter , in tho spirit ' , of the most iniquitous levity , language likounto

      V » 'N "Co along , you old ; we have had too much trouble with you ; " and "Good night , you old ;" : ii the Hjuno time kicking the corpse with their aHHaHsinlilce foot ; then the crew proceeded to plunder tho dead ol what clothing and valuables thoy might possosH , On one morning , when illness was at its height , the . whole 01 the second cabin ; ul < l stem-ago passengers were driven on ( leak l > y ( , ht ; second mate and crow , for the purpose of Hl . oving the nfceorago deck with tar , and sprinkling the second cabin wiUi a prepared liquid arid lime , which wo ooimidered to bo quite requisite , but we have to complain that at , thin time tho chests of several of tho

      passengers won , broken open bolow decks , and robbed of thoir clothing and money by tho crew . . Some of the paHHeng (! is applied l , o" l , ho captain and chief mate for rodrosH in regard of tho tilings stolen , when those oflicni-H either coolly told uh that " there was no redress -Uioy knew the ' crow to bo big roguoH ; " or that " Von ought to have Ukon hotter care of your thingfl ; " for rudely ordered tha applicant from tho quarter-deck .

      We have to complain , too , of the improper conduct and seeming incqmpetency of the " ship surgeon , " He invariably prescribed one universal powder for all the sick ; but he never saw that his patients were supplied say with gruel , or such like nourishment . > We could ! also , say much more about the base language 'generally used by this " surgeon" in regard of the dying and the dead , but we forbear . r There were , also , some pigs kept in a house amidships , next door to the hospital , the stench from which was most odious , all the time we were at sea , and enough of itself to breed a pestilence .

      We have to notice , too , that the second cabin had attached to it a water-closet for the use of its passengers which was open for their inspection while the ship lay in dock . When she removed , out into the river it was fastened up by the officers . The chief mate was asked , while we lay in the river , to open it for our use . He replied , it should when we got out to sea ; but when we got out to sea , he coolly told us , in answer to . repeated applications , that this water-closet had not been opened for the use of the passengers for two years , and that the Government Inspector would not allow one to be there ; consequently , the female portion of our cabin passengers especially were put to the most filthy inconvenience , the only places accessible , both for male and female , being amidships , and it was disgusting to be compelled to enter them .

      We lament to say , that up to the time of the passengers being taken on shore at Liverpool , fifty deaths had taken place , of which just two belonged to the second cabin ; one of the number was a poor Irishman of the lower deck , who , it was said , went overboard in a fit of despair one night at sea in the midst of our distress . Efforts were made to save him , but proved fruitless . We could have enlarged upon many heads , but thought it wise to confine ourselves merely to a concentration of facts .

      it is due to the authorities of Liverpool , to state , that so soon as the calamity of the Isaac Wright-was known , the Government emigration agent , Captain Chamburg , waited upon the Mayor , when ample provision was at once made for the reception of our unfortunate passengers . Hence , on the ship being safely moored , the active chief constable gave the whole of our luggage into the charge of his men , which was safely delivered to us next day ; and then , under

      the guidance of his force , we were marched to the workhouse , where the wants of all were supplied—the sick being placed under medical care in the hospital . Of course , those of us having means withdrew to our respective places of abode ; but to the majority this benign reception was a great blessing , who told me , on inquiry , that they had every comfort . I noticed , too , that the utmost kindness and attention of the intelligent manager of the institution was universally

      rendered . And I now beg , in the name of the passengers , to tender to the authorities of Liverpool our most grateful thanks for this veiy humane and timely demonstration of their kindness . John Watt . Committee : Robert Wilson . . Willtam C . Muir . Alexander Muir . Fkedkkiok Graham . Thomas Kenna . Jameb Graham . Samuel Aauon . John Hall . Ihaao Simpson Peacock . William Harrison . Robert M 'William Adams . James Bain . John Watt , Chairman .

      P . S . —It is also due to the owners of the ship , to state , that their brokers , Messrs . Charles Hill and Co ., returned the passengers their passago money in full , with tho exception of those who wished to be sent out in other shi ps ; and on being pressed , they also paid to each man 21 . 2 s ., as a remuneration for having pumped the sliip . J . W .

      Untitled Article

      MISCELLANEOU S . Public affairs and tho entertainment of her guests havo fully occupied the Queen since her arrival from tho bleak hillt ) of the North . At tho Privy Council hold on Monday , Parliament was prorogued from the 27 th inst . to the 20 th <> t November . Mr . John Park or was sworn of the Privy Council , and a new Scotch ropiesont-ativo Peer WJis ordered to be elected in tho room of Lord Saltoun . A Court followed , when the Persian minister , Sir Edmund Lyons , Sir William Hotham , Lords Aberdeen , Clarendon , Granville , and Lord . John Kussollliad audiences of tho Queen . Princo Albert has been out Hhooting with tho Itolgiiiu gentlemen , and Queen Victoria riding and driving with l , ho JDuehens of Brabant . Hoth the Quoon awl her guests havo visited town during tho week . Lord Clarendon , Mr . Gladstone , Lord Aberdeen , and tho Belgium and Austrian Ministers , havo < linc < i with her Majesty . _

      Untitled Article

      • ¦ ¦ v 1040 T H E LEADER . \\ •¦ Xs ^^ Rpatji .

      Untitled Article

      The periodical budget of now * from India , Ohmn , and Australia , lias bo < m received . Thoy point to tho nioHu extensive disturbances . Our now Burmaii toiritoiy w in a atato of war . Largo hodicH of jtrinod mon , " ' mere " nib bora , " but 14 , 000 strong , won ) in l ) Ofir ) J ' ' of fortified places , whence thoy wallied to nttftoK o

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 29, 1853, page 1040, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2010/page/8/