The Voyage of the Ship “ CHALMERS”

The Voyage of the Ship “ CHALMERS”
bringing a first pioneer of Burleigh (South Wandin)
Hubert John HOLLIS

‘Chalmers” ship –
Hubert John Hollis, later the joint first-pioneer of Wandin South (which later became known variously as Silvan and Burleigh) with Eliza his wife’s cousin, George Parker came out from England as an impressionable twelve-year-old with his parents and siblings as the eldest child in the family of six. They sailed on board the ship , the “ Chalmers” which raised anchor from Graves End, Kent on 1st August 1852 arriving in Melbourne on 19th January 1853 .


George BAKER's DIARY
..................................................................transription by Wayne David Knoll in 2006

George Baker a passenger kept the following Diary of his passage aboard that self-same emigrant ship, the “Chalmers” from Gravesend, Kent, to Port Phillip Bay, and also of his subsequent activities on the Victorian Goldfields, 1 August 1852 to 19 January 1853

Manuscript held at the State Library of Victoria [ Boc 1719/4 MS 11374

{ Reference is made to a work which refers to George Baker – by William Howitt, in ‘Land Labour and Gold’ 2 vols p 58 ]


THE DIARY

Sailed July 29th 1852

August 1st 1852 Dropped down from the E.J. Docks to Gravesend ship “Chalmers”, Captain Smith, bound for Port Phillip with Emigrants, etc to London same day by steam boat, (Tugged to Gravesend)

August 1st 1852 Sailed from Gravesend about 3.0. Tugged as far as Isle of White ( The Downs) the Pilot left us

Log Omitted, but continued bad weather.

Wind, rain & Lightning & heavy seas & Terrible hurricane & horsesail lost

August 20th 4 O’clock Pm 6 Sails in sight. Set very light/.st
Day fair, wind . all sail set, very light wind. Average speed 7 knots Very hot.
Water not given out before 4.0 pm – of 6.0 am

Saturday August 21 Fine day. Fair wind. SW? all sail set. Ah Study sails, Average speed 10 Knots, At 4.0 p.m. a Sail Telegraphed with French from Brest. Concert in Evening

Sunday August 22 Fine day. Fair Wind SW. Yards square on. Service in Morning & Evening. A child Christened (John Chalmers Jones) this day, the child was born on board, but they ought to have named him Son Storm & make a sailor of him.

Monday 23rd Fine with Showers in Evening . Moonlight night. Sighted Madera 2.0 am till Evening. A Lecture in Evening on the Gold Regions by Mr. Noble, Passenger.
Wind S.W.
Tuesday 24th Very hot, bad water. Alterations of Messes. Concert & Dancing in the Evening.
Point Voosers (Roses) had up, off Morocco. Coast of Africa Average 9 Knots.

Wednesday 25 Hot. Service in Evening. Thermometer at 8.o pm 81 dg. At 12 p.m. 75 degrees
In shade. Appearance of cockroaches.
Thursday 26th Hot. Cloudy. Light breeze SSW. A flock of flying fish & ship Jack, remarkably large. Singing. Reciting and Dancing in Evening.

Friday 27 The rigging covered with sand from the Deserts of Sahara. 700 (100?) Miles from Shore & brought to us in the Clouds/ In the trade winds. Hot. Clouds.
Page3
Saturday August 23rd Hot. Wind S.S.W. Concert and Dancing.

Sunday 19th Hot. Wind S.W. Church Service & a Strom of Lightning & Thunder about 6.p p.m. till 9.0.

Monday 30th Dead Calm. Hot. Fair Wind.

Tuesday 21 Singing. Dancing. Hot. Fair Wind

Wednesday Sept 1 Debating Class. Very Hot

Thursday 2 Theatrical Class. Singing. Wet. Saw a shoal of Grampuses. One of the Sailors caught a Bonita about 7 lbs. A shark seen about 4’o in Morning
Includes a Drawing of the Bonita and this description:. The Bonita is found in the Atlantic Ocean & in other seas from 6 to 20 pound in weight. They are caught with a line , the bait being a piece of White Rag) ,on the surface of the water, but must not be towed or they will not touch the bait, being a very shy fish. They prey on small Flying fish & swim in shoals. They are delicate eating, having the flavour when fresh or cooked early of a pork chop. They are very tenacious of life & have great strength considering their size.

Friday Sept 3 Wet. Adverse Winds. Two (2) sails sighted.

Saturday 4th Wet Night with Lightning & thunder. Singing. Mr. Monkhouse, a passenger, struck on the head with a block from the fore Top sail.

Sunday 5th Service Morning & Evening. Rough Seas. Showery Day.

Monday 6th Fine Day, Wind. Steering S.S.E.

Tuesday 7th Wet Day. Fair Wind . Rough Sea. Sail in Sight in forenoon. Another in the Evening. Latitude 7.25, about
NOTE/ with Drawing The Porpoise is a clumsy fish as under, an inhabitant of The Deep, they are caught with a Harpoon. They swim in shoals with a Huge on at the head, in flocks of 30 or 40. Seen at night they present a pretty appearance, like lines of fire in the sea. From 3 t0 5 foot, feed on small fry.
1852. page e 5

Wednesday Sep 8th Wet. Adverse Winds. 3 Sails in sight. Service in evening

Thursday sept 9th Fine. Adverse Winds. Theatrical Class in Evening

Friday 10th A Shark caught in Afternoon about 2 cwt (hundredweight) . Small. Measures 6 feet 7 inches. Had some for dinner . Wet Night. Adverse Winds

Saturday 11th Wet. Singing in Evening. Adverse Winds

Sunday 12 Steering due W? Wind N.E. Fine. Hot. About 2º Latitude to the Line

Monday 13 Fair Weather. Adverse Winds. Singing & dancing. Sail spoken with Signals.

Tuesday 14th Fair. Foul Wind. Dancing.

Wednesday 15th Fair. Fair Wind. Dancing

Thursday 16th Fair. Adverse wind. Theatrical “Richelieu”. Singing & “Bombaste Furino”

Friday 17th Military Exercises Morning & Afternoon. Joined Fencing. Teaching Maria (Master) Adore Kind, (Adverse Winds) Fine. Only a Miles from the Line Preparations for Neptune Coming on Board.

Saturday 18 A passenger Mt Cook very bad with the Diarrhea, taken to Hospital. Adverse Winds. Fine Day. Mr. Cook died ½ past 12 night, in consequence no entertainments.

Sunday 20th Mr. Cook buried ½ past 3.0 p.m. Services. Fair Wind. Right Course. Mrs Cook’s child died.

Monday 20th Drill. Dancing. Fair Wind. S. Course. Mr. Cook’s child buried 10.Am

Tuesday 21 Fair wind. S.W. Course. No Entertainments.

Wednesday 22nd Right Course. Fine. 5.51 latitude.

Thursday 23 Recitations. Singing, nearly a failure. Right Course. Fine.

Friday 24 Fine. Moonlight. Right Course.

Saturday 25 Dancing Drill. Fencing. Attempt to get up the Old Harmonic again.
Fine. Right Course.

Sunday 26 Fine/ Warm. 6 Knots.Right Course.

Monday 27 Fine. Warm 8 Knots. Fair Wind.

Tuesday 28 Ditto Do Do

Wednesday 29 Church service Do

Thursday 30th Fine with Shower in Evening & Wet Night

Friday Oct 1st 1852 Wet all day, blowing very hard in Night. Wind fair. 31.0 Latitude, a great change in weather. Cape Pigeons, Whale Birds, Cape Hens, Boobies & Mother Cary’s chickens. A very large Thinback seen.

Saturday 2nd Ration Day. Fair Wind. Very Cold.

Sunday 3 Service / Showery. Cold. 34 ½ Latitude

Monday 4 Very Cold. Adverse Winds. Immense number of birds with Albatrosses

Tuesday 5 Becalmed. With Rain. 1 Knot

Wednesday 6 Becalmed Wet. Cold fine

Thursday 7 Fair wind. Average 9 ½ knots. Very cold. 35.00 Latitude. Sail on Starboard Bow.

Friday 8th Heavy Sea. Yards squared. Average 10 Knots. Huddy/Studdy sails set. Land seen on Starboard ----- Bow.

Saturday 9th Heavy sea. Fair Wind. S to E Very cold. A Squall about 9 ½ pm lost the Starboard Main Huddy Sail yard. With Rain. Dancing

Sunday 10th Service. S.eE. Very cold Heavy sea & wind. 10 ½ knots. A squall abt ½ past 9.0 am. Starboard for Studdy Sail Guide snapped. & Rain. Many birds about. Heavy Lurches.

Monday October 11th Fair wind. Heavy seas. Very Cold.

Tuesday 12th Fine Cold Fair Wind in Evening
&
Wednesday a terrible Gale & Awful seas

Thursday 14th Fine in morning. Evening very Squally & Gale all night, blowing terribly

Friday 15th Fine all day. 10 Knots

Saturday 16th Fine day. Caught a porpoise. After tea saw 5 Whales, Spouting & playing about ship.

Sunday 17th No Service. Too rough. Wind. Starboard fore topsail Split. Fearful Storm.
Lightning & Thunder. Sea Mountains high, beating over the ship, fore and aft.
Awful Night.

Monday 18th Fine. Very Cold. Rough sea

Tuesday 19th Wet. Heavy Seas. 9 ½ knots.

Wednesday 20th Cold and Heavy Gales & Sea

Thursday 21st Fine. Squally. Starboard foretop & Lower Studding sail booms snapped. Heavy seas all night. A shoal of Grampus see at 6.0 am.

Friday 22nd. Fine. Cold. S.E by E. Many birds about , 4 knots. Square yards. Light winds.

Saturday 23rd Cold. Fine. 4 knots 6 pm. Night 11& 12 knots.
Her he includes a page of 14 flags with the legebd: marry at Code of Merchant Signals Ensign Nos 1-9 plus 0, plus a 1st & 2nd Disty; a Rendezvous & a Numerical point,

Sunday 24th Oct Very cold. Strong seas. Heavy rain all day. Night, strong breeze & seas.
10 knots. Service

Monday 25th Cold. 8 knots. Noon, light wind 6 knots. Night Fresh breeze 8 knots

Tuesday 26th Very cold. Fresh breeze 8 knots. Immense flight of Ju Petrels. Night, fresh breeze 10 knots; Square yards & Studdy sails

Wednesday 27th Church Service. Light wind. Night: squally Heavy seas. Contrary Winds.

Thursday 28th Squally all day, drifting about with Contrary Winds; 3 young Albatross caught
6 feet 10 inches long from wing to wing & sold ther. Night: 6 & 8 knots.

Friday 29th Fresh breeze. Light squalls. 8 & 9 knots. Night: Strong Breeze, heavy seas, very cold. 9 knots

Saturday 30th Becalmed till 11 AM. . 12 noon strong Breeze, heavy seas. Square Yards and Shiddy sails. Rain 9 & 10 knots. Night: Cold 10 knots

Sunday 31th Fine. Very cold. 10 knots. A ship sighted at 4.0 am. Came alongside of her at 12.0 noon within 300 yards. Spoke to her by signals/answers. The “Arundel” for Port Phillip, sailed London. What ship 40-72 .. 4810 --------- ------
10 days before us, all well, passed her at 1.0 pm. She called at Plymouth & lay alongside the Chalmers in E.J. Docks. Moon Rose at 10 p.m. Cold. 10 knots.

Drawing of the ship passing Cape of Good Hope 1852 in sun(rise) or set.

Nov 1st Monday Tremendous gale all day. Very Cold with Hail very large. 10 & 11 knots.
Short Heavy seas/ The “Arundel in sight astern 6.0 pm. Night. Strong seas & much wind. Carrying only Main & Fore Topsails, close reefed. 6 knots.

Tuesday Nov 2nd Strong wind & seas. Cold & Squally. 9 knots. Night: Strong Breeze. Heavy Squalls.

Wednesday 3rd Passed St Pauls & Amsterdam Islands 4.0 am. On Starboard side. Strong wind & seas. Heavy squalls. With hail. Longitude 89.0 Latitude 40,0 South. Hatches battened down & caulked. “Arundel” in sight on the Starboard Quarter . 9 knots. Seas Mountains high & washing over the Poop & Forecastle. The Captain thinks of parving ?? ( Porving/harving} her too, Very bad Weather, Really. Bad night.

Thursday 4th Nov Very cold. Strong wind. Awful sea 10 knots. Hatches battened down. Squally.

Friday 5th nov Guy Fawkes Day. A Guy exhibited. Cold, squally 8 & 9 knots.

Saturday 6th Nov Very Cold Heavy Squall & Shipping Seas. Hatches battened & Caulked Down, 8 & 9 knots

Sunday 7th Nov. Cold. Steady fresh breeze, heavy sea. 10 knots. Yards Squared, Night. Squally . A Studding Sail Yard lost. 7.0 pm. E Longitude 100º O` 41.0 S.

Monday 8th Milder weather. Fresh breeze. 10 ½ knots. Studding sails set. Taking in Salt water all day for the hold. Night: 9 knots. Steady breeze on the Quarter.

Tuesday 9th Light wind. Fine. Yard &Studding sails set. 8 & 9 knots. E longitude 109º
South Latitude 39º

Wednesday 10th Light breezes. 4 knots/ E longitude 113º S latitude 40º. A magnificent sunset, the sky hued in a beautiful manner. Dancing. Off Cape Leeuwin.

Thurs 11th Nov Pumping water into the hold for Ballast. Dead calm. Warm & clear. Night: cold. Fresh breeze. 8 knots. The play of the Mountaineers & the Turnpike Gate played. Singing & Recitations

Friday 12th Fine, fair wind. Square yard & Studding sails set. 9 & 10 knots. Pig killed for Captain’s Table. Dancing

Saturday 13th Fresh breeze. Slight rain. 9 & 10 knots. Pumping salt water into hold. Captain gave all the ladies in the ship a plate each of Fresh Pork for Sunday Dinner (None to the Gents). Shoal of porpoises on Starboard Bow. Night: very cold. Fresh breeze with heavy head of sea.

Sunday 14th Fine. Fair wind. Square yards set. 5 Whales spouting on Lee Quarter 6.0 am. E longitude 122 ½º A flight of Cape Pigeon. Porpoises under the bows 6.0 pm. 3 very large Albatross flying astern. Church Service.

Monday 15th Strong Breeze with rain. 10 knots. E longitude 127º 25` latitude South 46 º..
A beautiful Sunset, surpassing all imagination, seen 7.0 pm.

Tuesday 16th Strong breeze & heavy seas. Rain. 131º longitude E; S latitude 46º. Porpoises under the Bow 6.0 pm. – a sign of wind

Wednesday 17th Light wind all day. 4 & 5 knots. E longitude 135º 30 `. A Quantity of Goods sold by Auction by the Passenger. Square yards. Church Service after which Dancing, rather strange, and much in the French style, A ship in sight, and signaled with, the “Diana” of London, bound to India from Port Phillip.

Thursday 18th Light wind all day. Square yards. 138º E longitude.

Friday 19th Ditto. 6 knots. Cable hauled up from the lower deck and anchors bent on and brought-over the bows. Cape Otway, Australia, sighted in Evening. Auction & Goods fetching high prices. One of the passengers caught an Albatross.

Saturday 20th Nov E. Longitude 143º Dead Calm. 2 pm running 4 knots. Land in sight from the Deck. &. 0 pm sight Cape Otway Light at 20 miles distance, from the Fore yard. It is a revolving white light, rotating once in a minute and a half. A very fine light. Land may distinguished by its colour, appearing at a great distance like curious blue cloud, like indigo, and is often taken for rain clouds, but by watching you may see it does not move & a practiced eye can see the difference directly. 10.0 pm ‘Bout-ship wind, dead ahead. Ship heading S.S.W. Slight wind. Left the Land on the Starboard Quarter. 12 p. “bout-ship. Yards braced & harp up. Heading due Nº. Close to the wind. Hazy. Little Moonlight. Fine Mackerel sky. Lighthouse in the two miles current
Note: Now in sight, everybody busily engaged packing & and of being so near our destination quite inspires. Many this night sat up to have the first glimpse of the morning. The yards and Crosstrees crowded with people in their anxiety to see the Land, much to the detriment of the sailors at work there. A Gentleman in the next Cabin, the name Moore, & a Reporter for Charles Dickens, is going out to glean scraps for the “Household Words” & many an unfortunate passenger who renders himself conspicuous suffers from his criticizing pen. There are terrific fights at the Oven, who shall take precedence in the way of baking their rolls or pies, and Rows at Dinner for the largest pieces. I have even seen two men fight for a piece of Pork in a disgraceful manner, and claw it from each other with their hands like wild Beasts. The Fore part of the ship is allotted to the youngest men & on account of the horrible din, they kick up, especially at meal times, when their food is brought down, & rows at night, we denominate them: the “Lions & Tigers”. These gentlemen he has not forgotten. There is one of the Passengers, who, at the commencement of the voyage, volunteered kindly to preach to us & read the Prayers on Sundays, but finding he did more harm than good by Swearing & acting in a very Irreligious manner after Church, his services were dispensed with, & now another, almost as bad, occupies his place.

Sat No 20th DRAWING A ship position, drawn at 12 at night and showing the course of the Wind on various points of the ship, where it does good or bad, for all vessels, wind on eth Quarter is better than right astern, but some sail better with the wind on beam, but according to the cut of her sails, - done while thinking of home, & when I shall see it again.

Sunday 21st Nov Dead calm all morning. Tacking about off Cape Otway. Very fine. Warm, Porpoises on the Starboard Quarter. A shoal of Barracuda, about 3 dozen, caught. Taste like Soles, much in the appearance of the Mackerel, but longer. A small land Quail seen, about the size of a lark. Land seen plainly about 6.0 pm. Breeze sprung up. Doubled Cape Otway, lost the Light about 9.0 pm. Ship heading E.N.E. by E. Light breeze from eth Southwest. 8 knots. Fine. Moonlight, with vivid lightning off the land.

Monday 22nd 4.0 am blowing ½ a Gale. Close reefed topsails, Yards square. 8.0am Wind lulled, in sight of Port Phillip Heads & Lighthouse. Saw the Wreck of a ship which ran aground about 7 months ago opposite the lighthouse on eth Starboard side of Bass’s Straits. Saw the wrecks of two schooners; the topmast only visible above the water. 8 ½ am. Hoisted the Jack – signal for a Pilot. (.9am Pilot came on board. The men brought with them a bunch of Australian flowers a sign of Welcome. ( Drawing of flowers- look like fringe lilies- or other 5-petalled flower] They were double Stocks and scented Geraniums, with others, just like the dear old flowers I used to cultivate so carefully at home & they brought tears into my eyes, for it made me think of poor Charly & her little garden – but only fancy, double Stocks in November.

The view of the land of Promise from the Bay is beautiful, and the little settlement of Williamstown, off which we are anchored, took my fancy so much that I got a sketch of it in my log. At 1.0 pm we cast anchor with three hearty cheers. Pilot left us. In a Melbourne Paper the Pilot left behind we had news from the Diggings. Another spot containing gold has been discovered and is called Mount Bendigo, of more extent and richness than any before found. There are at present 40,000 at the Diggings & all peaceable and quiet, no fighting or cutting throats. Labour ( mind labour) is scarce and well paid for, Carpenters 5 to 6 £ a week, Farm servants and Shepherds £55 per year, Policemen 45/- per week, Tailors 14/- a pair of trouser making, Sailors and Coasters £14 a month; and £50 for the run to England. Ships lying in the Bay; all hands left, & off to the Diggings. Captains of ships got leave from the Governor to shoot all deserters. On one ship 9 sailors were shot in attempting to escape from the vessel. The “Marlboro” has only the Caption, Mate & one sailor now, out of 40 men. The “Lady Evelyn” which started before us is in Quarantine and has the Yellow Flag flying at the masthead. The fever is in her, she has lost 120 passengers, and 3 0r 4 dying every day now. 5 of the passengers, in trying to swim ashore were shot in the water, & the Crowd? (Ground) Sharks, with which the Bay abounds, devoured their bodies. 3 other ships also are in Quarantine near us. Provisions dear in the Town. Bread 2/6 a loaf; Butter 2/- a pound ( Tea 2/- cheap); tobacco 2/- ; Mutton 7 ½ a pound. Fare to Williamstown, about a Mile 3/- in boat; to Melbourne, about 6/-, about 2 ½ Miles. Lodging 30/- a week for an apology for a room.

Tues 23rd Nov Preparing to go ashore, a subscription for the sailors made up, took 2 shares. The Steward & Cook ran away. Formed a party to go to the Diggings. 4 of us.


Wednes 24th Nov Wrote to Mother. Went ashore to Melbourne in the Steamer, charge 4/- a passenger, and 13/- for

Sunday 5th 1852 Dec Started at 8.0 am. Cocoa and Bread for breakfast. A terrible road. In the Bush the road is very bad up & down hills, Cows and horses lying dead every now & then by the road side, having fallen from exhaustion, & been left there. Across the plains, with the hot wind blowing, the Mosquitoes, the Fine Sand and Flies, with your trousers full of Ants, and stooping under a heavy pack, all these combined show a slight specimen of the joys, not only of Englishmen, but of what we undergo in attempt to make a fortune in a hurry. Stopped in the Plains at 12.00 noon, not a house to be seen, no trees or herbage, Nothing but a sun burnt desert, the roads teaming with sand, & extending for many miles. Started again after a dinner of cold coffee and biscuit. Pitched the tent at the entrance to the Black Forest. Miles done 16. Had a supper of Parrots and Partridges shot. Bushrangers made there appearance in Evening & began asking questions as to where we were bound, & then, after looking about them, rode away. On guard 2.0 am till 4.0. Horrid Cold. I had just turned in when all the people who had encamped near us came running out, all armed, with they cry of “Bushrangers” and directly after we heard the tramp of a troop of horses along the avenue, coming towards us. They turned, however, and passed us on the other side. Too dark to see, but I suppose there were about a dozen, all expectation. The others kept on guard all night, but I went to bed, being tired. No further interruption that night.

Monday 6th Dec Through the Black Forest, so called from the black appearance of the trunks of all the trees, as if burnt with a fire. 12 Miles through it. Awful roads, very fatiguing. Searched about for Water, none to be had. The heat in this part of the country is equal to India. After walking 5 hours came upon some water in a Cart rut, more like pudding than water, from the sand in it. Drank by all of us. An Opossum shot, about the size of a rabbit. Stopped for dinner. Had water and biscuit with Oil of Peppermint on it. Away again in the hot broiling sun. Met party of diggers coming to Town to spend their Christmas. Desperate looking men with Guns continually in their hands & at full cock for fear of an attack. Pitched tents at 7.0 pm. Miles done 21. Supper: Cocoa, bread & beef.

Tues 7th Dec Started 8.0 am after breakfast of cocoa and biscuit. Noticed the reverberation of the firing of a gun in mountains, like thunder. Had tea: Bingoo & Cocoa with Bread 4/- a loaf. Across the plains today & in the Bush passed several sheep stations with flocks of a thousand each. Stayed at night at Kineton, near the river. Catching crawfish. Had a bathe. Miles done 16.

Wed 8th Dec Started 8.- am . Met a digger, favourable accounts. Mount Bendigo and Cohram recommended. Went 12 miles, pitched in the forest of Kineton. A terrible storm with lightning & thunder rattling down the prairies. Some beautiful parrots shot. Rain all night. Very fatigued. The sand worn into my feet underneath. It is not the distance that tires, but the slow pace to follow the dray uphill & through ruts in the road.

Thursday. 9th Breakfast: Coffee and Bingoo . Started 9.0 am. A terrible insect about 3 inches long and the shape of a centipede found under the pillow of one of our party. It was shown to the driver who said the Sting was deadly, & no person had been known to survive in 5 hours. He could not remember the name. I should have liked to preserve it to bring back to England, but they destroyed it. A narrow escape. , am. 5 parrots shot.

Arrived at Forest Creek Diggings, the Entrance 12.0 am. Pitched at Commissioners Office. Charge for Conveyance of Luggage £4.0.0. – in a fix about 10/- in hand amongst us. Never say die, keep up your spirits. Mean to look for work tomorrow. Many people digging. Average about ½ oz a day. Very hot and much water in the holes. Was offered £3.0.0 for our barrow, and £6.0.0. for a gun. Refused. Wanted more. A dinner Suet Pudding & Beef, the first pudding since I have been ashore. Every thing very dear. No milk to be had.