The New York herald., 1874-12-13
BURIED IN MID-OCEAN.
Fearful Mortality Of Calcutta Coolies from
Asiaiic Cholera on the Ship FOrlarshire.
Arrival Of the Ship in New
York.


The English ship Forfarshre, owned BY Messrs.
shaw' Savllle Co., OF London, which is now
at anchor on the Battery has been visited,
while on her voyage from Calcutta to this port.
via Demerara. In the West Indies, with fearful
cholera epidemic, followed by measles among the
children, and nlty-two OF her dead coolie passen.
gers have been buried In the deep. In addition
to this ner engineer died.
Yesterday afternoon HERALD reporter met st
the British Consulate, the commander OF said yes.
sci, Captain Jones, who consented to give the
story OF the fearful mortality on board his vessel.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
l am the captain OF the ship Forfarshire. and
left Calcutta the 18th OF last August bound for
Demerara, with 5l0 coolies and cargo consisting
principally OF linseed, for New York. The coolies
were engaged for term OF five years In
Demerara to work on sugar plantations. and are
to receive about half rupee day (twenty-nve
cents) Indian money. for their labor. Their con-
tract states where they were born who their
iatner was. and the name OF the British govern
ment agent who had selected them. Before ship.
ment they all had appeared before magistrate.
and declared that they came OF their own free Will
and voliton. Upon their arrival at Calcutta,
from different parts Of the country, they
were shipped under the supervision of the Pro.
tector OF Emigrants. The majority OF them were
Bengaese. Some OF them were In good condition.
but Others In my opinion, had suffered rom Tho
recent famine In India, which had, doubtless,
somewhat impaired their normal condition OF
health.
THEIR QUARTERS.
Their quarters were between decks where an
elevated platform had been arranged for their
sleeping accommodation, about two feet six
inches from the deck. Some OF them slept on this
platform and others on the deck, with blankets
and rugs All these arrangements were made
under government inspection at Calcutta. No
berths were erected for them. as they are almost
Invariably accustomed to sleep on the ground The
ratons prescribed for them by the charter party
were oil placed on board, and consisted OF rice,
nour, preserved mutton, salt beef curry powder
for condiments to their meat, tea. onions &c.
They had their own cooks, and we gave them the
best facilities possible with the galley for their
cooking. They did not drink tea to any extent.
all coolies invariably preferring water In a word,
they are better "found" than passengers taken
to Australia. / may mention in this connection,
that recently carried over five hundred emgranta
to Australia IN the Forfarshire, and only had one
DEATH Well to return to the coolies. their quar-
ters were dry holystoned daily, as We are NOT
allowed to use water In cleaning them. The sides
OF the vessel were whtewashed with carbolIc pow
der ana Mme. The coolies were forced to wash
themselves daily. and every effort was used to
keep the place clean. must do them this justice,
viz ITO state that they are ceanier in their eat
ing ana lovers OF more frequent "tuobng than
many European emgrants that have carried.
The ventilation was as good as possible.
THE CHOLERA BREAKS OUT.
The cholera broke out the second day after
passing the sand Heads, the germs OF the disease.
, undoubtedly, having been brought on toard ship,
s ors we IS Uehe dnw
from the Medical College at Calcutta, and his as
QlaO I'm a
pltal. These gentlemen worked hard, but were
unable to stay the progress Of the fearful disease.
The next day other cases developed themselves,
ouDG That lkey " were assaeksa 0Sa We A' had
on deck and quarantined from the other
coolies. who were, apparently. in good health.
csden dsessye soy inc sp
nmpsssd oveg s s our attempts to stay It's fearful
my Coolies were sufering from cholera. Previous
TO this the deaths averaged one day. The third
aas s hs d assss:
was thus committing such fearful havoc In our
ne e he on o. 80 os
from three to four hours, and the coolies resigned
themselves alphabetically to their fate when they
found that they were attacked.
IN FIVE DAYS THIRTY DEATHS TOOK PLACE.
and It looked at one time as If every soul on
condensed milk to drink. port wine, brandy,
essence or beef d.. and every thing that could DO
eyes commenced turning upward in their socketit
was an infallible sign that death was near. went
freely among the sick and ala my best to cheer
them up-speaking to them In their own language
lHindostanee), OF which have iair knowledge.
showed. VINO apparently looked upon the matter
as a fatast would. VIZ. :-Ii they live, they live; II
We're S those 81 children many Of very tender age.
who had not the stamina Of their parents. But a.
MEASLES CAME UPON Us,
and among the first cases were those OF my two
children, who were attended to by my wife; but
ha NJ n INF ms ri fo toln nh<ln
attacked merely the children, not the adults.
now THE BURIALs WE'RE CoNDUCTED.
their blankets aud put some sand with the boay
to sink IT, OF course, they were hurried as We
last death took place at about fourteen days from
our arrival at Demarara, and was q child debih-
rara. The cholera lasted from first to last about
three weeks, alter which we had no more cases.
AN INVESTIGATION AT DEMERARA
/ Upon our arrival at Demerara an Investigation
was held by the British emigration agent, who
took my sworn deposition, also that OF the doctor
lwh0 lett the vessel there and proceeded back to
Cacutta) and some OF the officers and coolies. The
report and their finding will be sent TO the Com.
receives 81 head on all coolies landed alive.
REHABILITATION.
The following Is our loss OF cOolies:-12 women.
from cholera; 13 men, from cholera; ~ children,
from cholera; children, from measles. Total, 50
souls. !,
The government officials at Demsrara sent all
our coolies y, . to the hospital 70 recruit ABOUT
Foriarshire ' was the rss shin OF the sea
son to arrive with coolies at Demerara. About
1000 more OF them are coming there in 1875. They
are far better or there than IN India, where there
is surplus OF population liable to fearful famines.
In Calcutta the lab0rers get about twelve cents
day; IN Demerara double, and at this latter
point do not have to pay Tor their food. We were
seventy-one days on the passage between Calcutta
and Demcrara. The passage money for coolies 10
els q head, and children above two and under ten
half price, At Demerara l received payment Of
thhs thhs eSaas}2IH9arygya|yiY for careful attention t1
should have regarded II as structure By
the government officials. All I have 70 say lss
that every soul OF the ships company did their
best under very trying circumstances When I
left Demerara for New York received o clean bill
OF health and was not quarantined here. About
10000 coolies are shipped annually from Calcutta.
None OF them are allowed to go to Cuba on &C.
count OF slavery existing there They are, how.