When Forbes was given the _Schomberg_, James Baines offered the
command of the _Lightning_ to Captain Anthony Enright, who had earned
a great reputation as a passage maker in the tea clipper _Chrysolite_.
At the same time the White Star Line asked Enright to take over the
_Red Jacket_, and it was only after considerable deliberation that he
decided to take the _Lightning_, first demanding a salary of £1000 a
year. The Black Ball Line replied that it was a great deal more than
they had ever previously given to their captains, but eventually they
agreed to his terms rather than lose such a good man.
Captain Enright had the _Lightning_ for four voyages, from January,
1855, to August, 1857, and proved himself perhaps the most popular and
successful captain under the famous house-flag; indeed, under him the
_Lightning_ became a very favourite ship with passengers.
Enright was a very religious man, a Puritan of the old type yet no
bigot: a stern disciplinarian, the men before the mast knew that he
was sure to give them a square deal, impartial and just, and fair
treatment for good service, and for that reason never gave him trouble,
whilst in controlling his passengers and keeping a happy ship in spite
of the trials of such long passages and crowded quarters, he showed
the most wonderful tact and gift for ruling men. This gift of tact
was perhaps more desirable in the captain of an emigrant ship than
in any other walk of life, especially in the days of the gold rush
when the emigrants represented every nationality, every creed, every
class and every trade; and the _Lightning_, under Enright, was as
good an example of the best-run first-class emigrant ships as can be
found. I therefore intend to give as good a picture of life aboard the
_Lightning_ during 1855-7 as I possibly can with the material at my
command.
Captain Enright’s Regulations.
First of all I will give a list of Enright’s regulations for preserving
order amongst his passengers, which were always posted up in prominent
places about the ship.
RULES OF THE _Lightning_.
1st. No smoking or naked light allowed below.
2nd. All lights, except the hatchway lights, to be put out by 10 p.m.
3rd. No Congreve matches to be used in the berths or on the lower
deck.
4th. Cleanliness and decorum to be strictly observed at all times.
5th. Every place below to be well cleaned every day after breakfast,
for the inspection of the surgeon and chief officer.
6th. All bedding to be on deck twice a week.
7th. The ’tween deck passengers to appoint constables to preserve
order and see these rules are strictly observed.
8th. The constables are to keep watch in their respective
compartments for their own safety and that of their families; trim
the lamps; report all misdemeanours, for which they will receive a
glass of grog or a cup of coffee every morning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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