Enel. 3 in No. 1.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
Encl. 1 in No. 1.
Encl. 2 in No. 1.
2
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
SUMMARY OF EXTRACT from the log of the "Lady Montague" from Cumsing Moon in China to Callao.
Received, the coolies on board, February 17, 1850.
Number of those who died.
Lascars.
Chinese.
1850. Feb. 18 to 28
7
March 1 to 31
91
2
April 1 to 13
51
2
April 13
April 14 to 30
May 3 to 31-
April 30
-
Others.
+
1, viz., the second mate.
1, viz., the steward.
2, viz., the
doctor and
1 apprentice.
June
7
4
1, viz., the
June 27
Total
171
-
17
second mate.
5
REMARKS,
Two Chinese jumped overboard and were
picked up.
One Chinese jumped overboard and was drowned; several coolies described as being found dead in the morning, having died during the night.
During the passage several casks of water were found to be sour and perfectly unfit for use; also the fish sent on board for the use of the Chinese.
Anchored at Hobart Town; removed at
Hobart Town.
An apprentice left to go to the hospital. Sailed from Ifobart Town to Lima.
Anchored at Callao.
From the above it would appear that 193 persons died between the 18th February and the 28th June. It is, however, mentioned in the log that the Governor of Callao came ou board to ascertain the number of deaths, and to cause the ship to be fumigated, and the result is stated thus:-number of deaths, 245; remaining, 201.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1. REPORT.
Thames Street Division, June 11, 1852. Is reference to the death of a great number of Chinese coolies and others on board the ship "Lady Montague," I beg to state that, aided by Messrs. Bridges, I have made strict and careful inquiry, and submit the result for the Commissioners' information. Mrs. Vaux, wife of the owner of the " Lady Montague" (Mr. Vaux being in the country), states that Mr. Vaux is not on friendly terms with Captain Smith who commanded thre "Lady Montague," in consequence of his having unnecessarily run the ship into debt, and that he would readily give all the assistance in his power to further the inquiry; that the only persons he could refer us to who would be able to give any information on the subject would be by two young men, one named Millard, who was an apprentice on board the ship, and now lives at Weymouth; the other named Mainbridge, an apprentice to Mr. Vaux, and now lives at Southampton; he further states that he heard no com- plaint of ill-treatment or neglect of passengers or crew, and attributes the deaths to the overcrowded state of the ship, with such a large number of passengers, which she says must have been worse than a slave ship. Inspector Bridges has also seen Captain Smith, and taken from him the following statement in explanation, viz.:---
4
"Thomas R. Smith states, that he was commander of the ship Lady Montague, which was chartered by one Mr. Moore of the firm of Ritchie and Co., to convey Chinese coolies from Chiun to Callao for the purpose of being employed to collect guano for the Peruvian port; before he sailed he discovered that about 200 of the coolies were affected with dysentery, and he sent them on shore again. He procured a doctor at Hong Kong, who took charge of the passengers, and he sailed with 147 coolies. There were plenty of provisions and water on board, but some of the water on hoard turned out bad. Shortly after they got to sea several of the clies were seized with dysentery and died. On arriving at Hobart Town, the ship was put under partial quarantine, but the passengers
were not landed.
"The Governor sent Mr. Butler, a surgeon, on board to inquire about the sickness; they remained there 17 days, during which many died.
The provisions were inspected, fresh meat and vegetables procured, and water re- plenished, but the dysentery continued.
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
3
"In about a week after leaving Hobart Town, the doctor was seized with dysentery and died. The coolies and great part of the crew, with Mr. Moore (who chartered the ship), and the captain, were also attacked with the same complaint, of which 246 coolies and 27 seamen (of whom 3 were Europeans) died. At Callao the Governor came on board to inspect the ship, and kept her 10 days in quarantine."
We have used every possible exertion to trace out in London any persons who were on board the ship at the time referred to, and having failed so to do, I submit that I am unable to carry the inquiry further, unless the Commissioners deem fit to direct it to be made of the two young men above named at Weymouth and Southampton.
(Signed) J. C. EVANS, Superintendent.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Thames Division, June 21, 1852.
IN pursuance of the Commissioners' directions, Messrs. Bridges proceeded to South- ampton and other places, for the purpose of pursuing the inquiry respecting the deaths of the coolies on board the ship "Lady Montague;" and having returned on Saturday evening last, report,--
That he found three persons (Henry Millard, George Lee, and Charles William Mains- bridge), who were apprentices on board the "Lady Montague" when the deaths averted to occurred; and I submit that the information he has elicited from them will be seen substantially to differ from the statement taken from Captain Smith (the late commander of that ship) appended to my last report.
It appears that in February 1850 the "Lady Montague" was chartered by Mr. Ritchie, the American consul at Canton, to convey coolies from Cumsimoon to Callao, that before the coolies came on board the between decks from the foremast to the mizenmast were cleansed and whitewashed for their reception, but no sleeping berths were constructed. From 440 to 450 coolies came on board under the superintendence of a Spaniard named Mur, who acted as supercargo, and the total number of persons, with the crow,
amounted to about 500.
Provisions were shipped for them, consisting of salt fish, rice, and sweet potatoes, and water, with tea, sugar, &c., and a small quantity of citric acid. The tea, it was believed, was put on board for the use of the coolies, but was seblom served out to them; the acid at no time. The fish was in a very bad state when brought on board; it had been but imperfectly dried, and packed in mats, and smelt exceedingly offensive. It was at that time just eatable, but not fit to take to sea. The rice was good; but the water, from being filled into old ale and porter casks not thoroughly cleansed, soon became filthy and not
fit to drink.
When the coolies came on board, they all appeared in good health (except two or three, who being affected with venerea were sent on shore). The only sleeping accommodation for them was a batten, fixed fore and aft on each side of the lower deck, to prevent them 'rolling to leeward. A few laid on grass mats which they brought with them, but the bulk of thern slept on the bare deck, closely stowel in two tiers on each side, feet to feet.
The 'tween decks were excessively crowded and Indly ventilated. The water and fish soon became dreadfully nauseous, and a great quantity of the latter could not be eaten, and was thrown overboard. The sweet potatoes also spoiled, and the greater part were thrown overboard. The rations of fish were insufficient for subsistence, had it been good in quality. Six gallons of stinking water were served out daily among 30 coolies, and about one pint of rice to ench.
A quantity of soft mud from the bottom of the river had been taken on board as ballast at Shanghae, which, as it dried and the vegetable matter it contained decomposed, it emitted the most disgusting and unwholesome effluvium.
About 10 or 12 days after leaving Cumsimoon the coolies began to sicken and die, on some days 4 or 5, on one 13 died. The general symptoms were vomiting with diarrhea, and a wasting away of the system; these continued three or four days, and death generally ensued. Their bodies were found daily in the chain lockers, in the long boat, ou deck, or about the decks, and were thrown overboard. Mr. Holgate, the doctor, who was shipped at Hong Kong, paid the sick very irregular and scanty attention. Ile visited them only four or five times a week, and he was scarcely ever sober. The medicine he usually gave them was called "corigee water;" when they were attacked with the disease they asked the supercargo for opium, but he told them he had none, which was an untruth.
On arriving at Hobart Town, Mr. Butler, the Government doetor, came on board. examined the water and provisions, and gave directions for the treatment of the coolies. Provisions, consisting of sheep, two barrels of salt fish, vegetables and water, were sent off to us, and the ship was placed in partial quarantine. After leaving Hobart Town, the coolies were supplied by the supercargo with one Chinese jacket and trowsers and one blanket each.
He
In about a fortnight after leaving Hobart Town, the doctor died; he was labouring under delirium tremens. The water taken in at Hobart Town became expended, and they were again compelled to drink the bad water shipped at Cumsimoon, some eusks of which were left in the hold; sickness increased, and dentlis lenme more frequent.
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