West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-02-04
CHAPTER ".
TIE CONVICT SHIP


had been thoroughly IeGtted tor sea, but
was in the hands Of gang of carpen-
tsrs and blaoksIuiths as hhe lay ln her
bHrth.
What's the meaning Of all this?''
repeated Captain Clark AS found him
overseeing the workmen in the hold.
well, Ralph, to be short about it.
we've got "A government charter for
Botany Bay"
What! The Hindu 20 90 out to Aus.
sralia with convictsl'
Exactly. Don't fire up about it,
man, until you learn full particulars.
Things are very dull just now in the
carrying trade, and if we hadn't made
this charter we might have been forced
to lie here for weeks We didn't Jump
at it, assure you, but yet we look upon
it as a lucky stroke, and there are a
score of crafts in port which would be
willing to pay us a premium"
but it will give the ship bad
name" protested.
mot in this case, hope, though we
must take our chances. You see, the
government has been in the habit OF
chartering any old tub which could be
got hold of cheap. There's public out
cry against sending ont convict ships
which are so unseaworthy that u top
sail breeze is bound TO do for them,
There's also a great ndo about crowd
ing the men as If they were blacks from
the African coast. Certain papers and
public men have been raising a great
row OH this subject while you've been
in drydock at Dudley, and the upshot
of the matter is that the government is
going to try an experiment
''At the loss of our reputation. Why,
sir, craft which has ever made the
trip TO Botany Bay goes to the boneyard
or into the coal trade on her return. All
shippers seem to look upon her with
distrust and disgust after that
However, came to look upon the
charter with more favor after bit.
The price paid US was very high, and
we bad the privilege of fitting up ac-
combinations to carry 90 passengers as
well. You will understand that / am
now writing Of a matter really belong
Ing to the last generation. 1t is good
many years since the penal colony at
Botany Bay was abolished and since
England ceased TO send her convicts cut
of the country. The idea Of transporta-
ton was, first, TO remove bad men as
far away as possible, and, second, to
make conVicts the nucleus Of new col
onies. After two or three years Of prop
er behavior convict got ticket of
leave and could settle outside the camp.
If his record continued good for two or
three years more, he was discharged and
could settle anywhere in Australia. 1t
is a matter of history that three-fourths
Of the sheep growers and good share
OF the business men of the big island
today can trace their ancestry back to
the convict camp at Botany Bay.
There were no steamers running to
Australia in those days. Aside from
the regular packet ships, there were
craft fitted out to carry emigrants, q
thousand at a time, but there was
class OF people which preferred to go by
convict ship. The fare was about half
what the packets charged, and yet high
or than by an emigrant craft, but only
a few were taken. and the accommoda-
tions were very good. The Hindu had
only main hold, which had depth
Of about nine feet. Our contract called
for the carrying Of 60 male convicts.
To keep these men secure the hold Of
the ship was converted into three cages,
as IL were, each cage to hold 90 men.
The entrance to them was by way Of
the matches, The cages were of iron, Of
course, and made as strong as in pris-
on. There were hunks for the prison
ers, and portfolios gave them light and
ventilation. In the rear Of the third
cage was fitted up what is known as a
''brig, or dark cell, for the confinement
Of refractory prisoners. The remainder
of the hold was taken up by storage
rooms, staterooms and cabins.
In the days Of which write a con-
/ vict ship sometimes carried out az
many as $50 men and women The
law laid its hand heavily upon every
wrongdoer. OGcnders who vould not
Z get more than three months in Jail to-
| day were then sent away for five or ten
I yenrs. The embeZzler AID Tie murderer
/ were treated alike until they arrived at
/ the Bay. Then some little difference
I was made In the favor Of the former,
I though the place was O hell on earth
/ for all, according 70 every mans testi-
I fnOny. Where big batch was taken,
the government sent along from 8 20 ~
marines and an officer 70 take entire
charge Of the prisoners. IN our case the
1 contract only bound the government TO
furnish a doctor. We must ship hands
! enough to guard tho eonvicts and land
them safely at Botany Bay. and the
ship must provide its own outfit Of fire.
arms.
We went about these things in good
faith and with an ego as 70 what might
happen on the voyage unless we were
/ fully prepared for trouble. Thore were
+ hundreds Of men looking for an oppor-
tunity 70 work their passage out We
bargained with seven very decent look
ing fellows TO pay their way BY acting
rs guards. The odd man had been q
sergeant of infantry and was 70 com
maud the guard We bought dozen
muskets and plenty Of ammunition, and
one day, when almost ready 20 receive
tbe prisoners aboard, the captain said 90
me