Monarch 1866

MONARCH

The MONARCH departed Gravesend on 25 February 1866 and arrived in Auckland on 26 July 1866, with Charles John Macey in command.

Transcribed from Daily Southern Cross, 1 August 1866, Page 7

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MONARCH FROM LONDON.

The ship Monarch, 1,444 tons, Captain Macey, made the harbour on Thursday, July 26, after an eventful passage of 150 days from London. Her arrival was anxiously expected by a number of citizens having friends on board, and by the numerous consignees of her large cargo, until the late mail steamer brought intelligence of her whereabouts, together with some particulars of the unpleasant circumstances under which the vessel was compelled to put into Rio Janeiro. This information was as welcome as her unexpected arrival on Thursday. The last advices from Rio induced the belief that some months would have to elapse before we could expect her to put in an appearance at this port. Fortunately, however, her condition did not turn out as bad as anticipated, and our harbour is accordingly graced with her presence. The Monarch is, in size and accommodation, one of the finest vessels we have had for some time, and very much resembles the ship Holmdale, which left a few months ago with troops for England. She is one of the London river built vessels, launched in 1842, to the order of Wigram and Green, of Blackwall, and intended for the East India trade. She is frigate-built, and possesses immense carrying capacity. So much was her build admired that shortly after the launch she was honoured with a visit from royalty, and a bazaar in aid of a maritime charity held on board. Twenty-four years' service, however, have-left her somewhat the worse for wear, and developed, it would seem, a leaky inclination in her hull. On her present voyage, the log informs us, she left London on the 25th of February last, and puted tug-boat off Margate on the following day, proceeding down the Channel towards the Isle of Wight with a strong westerly wind. Parted pilot on the 1st March, and set fore and main upper topsails for the voyage. On the 3rd had squally weather, which caused the vessel to roll heavily and take on large quantities of water. Squalls and heavy weather continued for three days during which the vessel rolled heavily. On the 6th the first symptoms of disorder amongst the crew originated. A quantity of cargo was found to have been breached, and five of the seamen known to be implicated in the offence. A quarrel also arose amongst the men, and one of them was severely injured in a melee which followed. The same day a stowaway reported himself, and was ordered to turn to work with the crew. On the 9th March the island of Madeira was sighted, and shortly afterwards moderate N. E. trade winds were fallen in with, and continued throughout. On the 16th of March the third officer was disrated by the captain to an ordinary seaman, in consequence of his unfitness for the duties he had to discharge. Crossed the line on the 16th of March, in 0. 17 N., and 24. 55 W. On the 27th of March the crew were mustered, and the majority of them, refused to proceed further on the voyage. They were mustered again on the 28th and 29th, with the same result. On the 30th one of the seamen, name unknown, threw the coil of the fore brace down the aft companion, striking the captain on the arm whilst conversing with the steward on duty. On the same day the crew were again mustered, but obstinately refused to continue the voyage. On the 31st of March, in 11. 38. S., at 5.30 p.m., R.M.S. Stromboli was spoken, and a boat from her came alongside, the vessel having been hove to. The officers from the Stromboli boarded the vessel, and heard the complaints of the ship's company. The crew urged the necessity of returning to England, or putting into the nearest port for repairs. The commander of the Stromboli also boarded the Monarch, and was appealed to by the crew; but it was his opinion that there was no necessity for abandoning the voyage at the same time he recommended the captain to bear up for Rio, in order to have a proper examination of the vessel made, and to obtain a second pump. The officers of the Stromboli left the Monarch, at 7 p.m. the same day, when all sail was made by the vessel on her course. The company returned to their duty on the understanding that the vessel was to be taken to Rio. Shortly after, complaints were again made that the ship was making too much water and Captain Macey, taking everything into consideration, resolved to bear up for Rio, as the log states, "for the benefit of all parties concerned." On the 4th of April, a serious quarrel arose amongst the cuddy servants; and the coal-hole bulkhead was found broken open, and a considerable quantity of cargo broached. On the same day exchanged signals with an English schooner, and pasted an English barque steering to the northward. On the 8th of April, a heavy gale was experienced from the south, in lat. 23. 9. S., long. 40. 25. W., during which the ship made a considerable quantity of water, and sail had to be shortened. Contrary winds were experienced, and it was with great difficulty that the captain could shape his course for Rio. It was at one time thought that it would be useless to attempt making that port, but the crew were opposed to coming on to New Zealand, and would not allow the vessel to be steered for the Cape, where the captain wished to go, owing to the contrary winds. On the 10th of April three vessels were in company, and in the evening the vessel was hauled to the southward, and land sighted. The same night the vessel was brought to off Fort Sebastian, and on the 13th was taken in tow to the discharging ground. On the 14th the ship's company went ashore. The vessel at this time was making one inch of water per hour, the pumps having been kept going every four hours throughout the passage. On the 16th the captain and carpenter of H.M.s. Megaera, which was lying at Rio, held a survey, and recommended that the vessel should be lightened forward, in order to examine her forefoot, and stop the leak. On the same day, the second officer was put off duty. The seamen and second mate wished to be released from their engagement, alleging that the ship was unfit for the voyage, but in reality, it is supposed, for the purpose of entering the Peruvian service. Disturbances were of frequent occurrence on board amongst the crew. On the 17th, an officer and a tile of marines went on board from H.M.s. Megaera, and remained until night, in order to suppress any mutiny that might arise. On the same day ten labourers were engaged to discharge the cargo, and lighten the vessel, in compliance with the directions of the captain of H.M.s. Megaera. A number of the crew were drunk on the 18th, and the second officer left the vessel, Two carpenters were engaged in stripping copper off the bows, and on the 18th, 19th, and 20th the labourers were employed discharging cargo. On the 21st, a court of inquiry was held before the British consul respecting the conduct of the crew, and the following seven seamen were sentenced to terms varying from one month's to six months' imprisonment; Elliott, Barclay, Morgan, Shippick, Graves, Daniels, and Kerr. The vessel having been partly recaulked, a new pump having been put on board, and other repairs made, the labourers commenced to re-ship the cargo on the 25th. On the following day the steward, cook, and six seamen, who with others had left the vessel, returned. On the 30th several others came on beard again. The stowing of the cargo having been completed, the vessel left Rio in tow of a steam-tug, and made sail for this port, with light winds and fine weather. On the 20th of May, fell in with a strong gale from the W.N.W, in lat. 36. 15. S., long. 30. 40 W. The gale continued until the 23rd, when it moderated. During the gale the ship rolled heavily, and took in quantities of water. On the 27th of May, sighted the island of Tristan d'Acunha bearing E by N., 20 miles to leeward. On the 30th of May, the crew were mustered, and informed by the captain that, if he found the coalhole bulkhead opened after the carpenter had made it fast, he would prosecute the whole of them on his arrival in Auckland. On the 4th of June, in lat. 42. 26 S., long. 17. 3 E., experienced a W.N.W. gale, which continued, with increasing violence, until the 7th, the ship rolling and straining much. Ran down the easting in the parallel of 47. The gale was more moderate on the 9th and 10th. On the 12th of June, passed several pieces of wreck, supposed to be spars with rigging attached to them. This was in lat. 44. 26 S., long. 47. 20 E. On the 17th of June, the crew forced open the fore-scuttle hatch, and broke open the forehold, stealing ten bottles of brandy, and a quantity of hams. On the same day a hole was found cut in the passenger deck, near the forward bulkhead, through which spirits and other articles of the cargo had been taken. Two passengers, named Augustus and Edwin Clarke, were discovered to have made a passage to the hold by cutting the deck in their cabins, and plundered the cargo. On examining their boxes, and searching the cabin, a case of candles, some bottles of brandy, boots, sardines, wearing apparel, salad oil, and other portions of the cargo were found. The two men were made prisoners by being confined to a cabin. This was done in consequence of their threatening to set the ship on fire. Benjamin Makeham was also confined, as being accessory to the cutting of the deck and plundering of the cargo, upon the information of Edwin Clarke. On the 19th June the prisoners were asked to take an airing on deck, which they refused to do. Further discoveries of abstracted cargo were made. On the 20th the prisoners came on deck, one at a time. The vessel was off the coast of Tasmania on the 3rd of July, but did not sight it. On the 5th a strong gale was encountered, and on the 14th, in 38. 1 S., 157. 1 E., had a strong easterly gale, during which the vessel rolled and pitched heavily. Strong variable winds, accompanied by heavy cross seas, were experienced for a week. The iron bars of head-rails were carried away on the port side, owing to the severity of the weather. On the 17th had a strong breeze, and passing squalls, which continued until the Three Kings were sighted at daylight on Friday, the 20th, bearing east four miles distant. On Saturday and Sunday had a N. E. gale, which afterwards veered round to all points of the compass. Was off Cape Brett at 9 o'clock on Monday morning, with variable winds, and made the Poor Knights on Wednesday, at noon arriving in harbour on Thursday morning.

The above narrative of events on board is gleaned from the ship's official log. From another source we are furnished with a few additional items of information concerning the chapter of misfortunes experienced on board. Considerable uneasiness existed amongst the passengers and crew, owing to the quantity of water made daily, and shortly before reaching the equator the ship's company refused to work the vessel longer unless the captain would promise to put into some South American port to repair ship. The men were mustered by the captain, after being boarded by officers of H.M. s. Stromboli, and consented to work the vessel on these conditions. The officers of the Stromboli had recommended Captain Macey to put into Rio for survey, and the men persistently refused to proceed unless the captain complied with this recommendation. The quarrels arose from the fact that, instead of making for Rio, the captain was directing his course to the Cape of Good Hope and under these circumstances the crew expressed their intention of mutiny, to take charge of the ship. The captain was kept in his cabin for a day and, a storm coming on, a deputation from the saloon, second cabin, and steerage passengers waited upon him, and urged the necessity of putting into Rio, to avoid consequents the most disastrous to all, and secure the safety of the vessel. Captain Macey maintained command of of the vessel by giving his orders through the chief officer, and alleged that he was unable to make Rio owing to the steady contrary winds with which he had to contend. He was willing, he said, to do so, if the wind would permit, but contrary winds continuing he was desirous of proceeding to the Cape, where he could obtain a supply of fresh water, and several things required by the vessel. The mutinous spirit of the crew was only inflamed by any deviation from the course to Rio, and the conduct of several was very riotous. The captain therefore bore up for Rio, and arrived there on the 13th of April, 42 days out from London. The great complaint amongst the passengers was that the ship had left London in an unfit state for sea, and with very inferior accommodation for her passengers. Mr. Nelson, the second officer of the ship, left her at Rio, and Mr. Williams, very able and efficient officer, was engaged to supply his place. To Mr. Williams the passengers feel themselves much indebted for the care and skill he exhibited in the discharge of his duty. Twelve of the ship's crew also deserted at Rio, and seven were tried for disobedience of lawful commands during the passage, and convicted to various terms of imprisonment, ranging from one month to six months each. The vessel leaked from the time of leaving London until its arrival. At Rio, some 60 tons of general cargo were disposed of by the captain, in order to lighten the ship. The cargo sold was consigned to Auckland merchants, and comprised provisions, ale, stout, ironmongery, &c. A survey of the vessel was held by Captains Jones and Levy, when the leak was discovered in the stern, and ordered to be repaired. The vessel remained at Rio five weeks, during which cargo was unshipped, and she was raised forward to facilitate the repairs. The forward pump was repaired, but got out of order again so soon afterwards that it was never used. After leaving Rio a fresh leak broke out, but was repaired.

The Monarch, upon the whole, experienced a fine passage, and had it not been for the detention caused by putting into Rio would, no doubt, have made a very good passage. She comes into harbour in a healthy, cleanly condition, in medical charge of Dr. Ryding. There have been two deaths during the passage. On the 16th June, a second-class passenger, named Benjamin Pegler, aged 18 years, died of consumption, having been sick from the time of embarking. On the 3rd of June, the infant son of Mr. B. Triberg, also expired. There has also been one birth during the passage. Three steerage passengers, named Edwin and Augustus Clarke and Benjamin Makeham, were handed over to the custody of the water-police on a charge of broaching cargo during the voyage, shortly after the vessel dropped anchor.

Passengers.

Saloon: Mr. Peter Chapman, Mrs. and Master Chapman, Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. George, Emily M. and Hester B. Ryding, Mr. R. J. Phillips, Mary Rowlands, Kate Hoggard, Lipman and Sarah Levy, Harriet and Caroline Spear, John M. Muir, Mitthofer J. Puller, T. E. Fitzgerald, John, Mary, John Griffin, John W. Marmont, Allan T. Douglas, Arthur Gubbins.

Second cabin and steerage: James, Emily, John H., Walter J. Weeks; Lydia, Ann E., Louisa L. Pegla; Benjamin Makeham, B. and Cecilia Triberg, John and Mary Sheppard, Frederick Stiles, Thomas and Zenobia Williams; William, Henry, and Thomas Harvey; George, Theresa, and Emma Williams; Richard Coltman, Wm. M. Charlton, Christopher and William Peglar, Thomas Haywood, George Deery, Henry Stidolph, Wm. and Louisa Plumridge, Duncan McMillan, James Carty, Augustus, Matilda, and Edwin Clarke; William Morley, Henry Dykes, George Wade, William C. Vise, John and Jane Cumming, Matthew Dalton, Edwin Hammond, and James Thompson. Total, 69. Cruickshank, Smart, aud Co agents.

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