A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia: And how £6 8s. became £8,000Hulme, E. (Edward)
History
A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia: And how £6 8s. became £8,000
Hulme, E. (Edward)
Hulme, E. (Edward), 1818-1904; Immigrants -- Australia -- Biography; Victoria -- Biography
Now, the fate of that fine new ship, I presume, is generally known. The
captain had a bet with the captain of the ship "Kent," a well known
clipper, and declared "if he did not beat the 'Kent,' he would knock
her ('the Schomberg's') bows in." On hearing that the "Kent" had made
the passage before him, the "Schomberg" was wilfully run on shore, just
a little way from Cape Otway. Luckily, it was fair weather, and the
passengers and crew were taken safely off, but with only the luggage
they could carry in their hands; there being only just standing room
on board the rescuing steamboat. The "Schomberg" became a total wreck.
This, I suppose, is one of the most wicked and shameful incidents
that ever happened on the shores of Australia. We took our passage in
the next ship; the good ship "Sultana," from Liverpool, on the 21st
October, 1855.
I remember, as we weighed anchor, being some distance out in the
stream, and out of hearing of any friendly cheer, a serious calm
appeared to pervade the ship; all appeared absorbed with their own
thoughts, when we found the ship was under way, more by the apparent
moving of the receding shore; she being a sailing vessel. I don't know
the feelings of the other passengers; possibly many were like our own,
at departing from the good "Old Land." Hitherto, we had borne up well
in parting from kindred and friends. We said "Good-bye" in London; but
now, in those few calm moments, seated upon the ship's deck, with wife,
six sons, and a baby girl around us, we felt the necessity of faith
in that good Providence on Whom we had cast the future. Our feelings,
however, would have vent in a few hot tears, but these had to be
brushed quickly on one side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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