Ravenswood Dreaming, page 56
No gentlemen she is not married. Her name is Rose-Ann and she is gainfully employed by me to help look after my children. I do not want her distracted from this responsibility. This information was followed by laughter and some comments not worth repeating.
Tell us about the children Captain.
There are four boys aged between 14 and 3 and a little girl aged 5, they belong to me and my brother….. and of course my eldest son John is already on board standing in for his uncle William while the ship is in port.
This information was followed by some conversation and nodding of heads.
The shake-down cruise took place on the 27th of August 1858 and as far as John was concerned it was very successful. The children and the ladies had an enjoyable outing and they came away with knowledge of what the Thomas brothers would be doing on the long periods they spent away from home. John was able to assess the performance of his new crew and they in turn had a chance to sail the ship, get to know one another and work with the captain and the other officers. Once out in the open ocean this short trial run in the new ship should, he hoped, pay off.
At the end of August loading the ship for Singapore began in earnest. John had contracted to carry one of the largest cargoes of sandalwood ever to leave Fremantle. George Shenton, a regular client, and William and Robert Habgood had between them consigned over 100 tons. The boats and barges ferrying this cargo out to the ship backloaded ballast on their return journey. It was a slow and labour intensive process using the main yardarm as a crane to lift bundles of sand bags out of the hold onto the deck and then swinging the bundles of sandalwood logs out of the boats and barges and stowing them in the hold. Then, finally, lifting the sandbags off the deck and loading them in the empty boats. Then, onshore repeating the whole process in reverse order. It took the best part of three weeks to fill the hold with sandalwood. Also on board were two hogs heads of rum which could be added to drinking water to ensure that the crew and passengers did not get sick from drinking bad water.
Three passengers, young siblings of the Spencer family, had booked a passage to Singapore and they came on board with their luggage. On this ship they would be able to travel in relative luxury with private sleeping quarters. Relative, because on a merchant sailing ship things are far from luxurious.
By the 21st of September 1858, the ship was fully loaded and ready for sea. John had been onshore for two days. Richard Bennet and John Brown were given shore leave over night for private reasons. The three men met at the police jetty where they boarded a police boat which would ferry them out to the Rory-O-More. The water police had requested permission to come on board once the ship was ready to depart. There was really nothing wrong, they just wanted to check that everything was in order and chat to a few of the crew members and reassure themselves that morale on board was good. Going out to sea in ships was inherently dangerous. The last thing they wanted was to have a situation where a crew was on the verge of mutiny. John was confident that there would not be any problems, he and William had scrutinized the men carefully before allowing them to sign on. It was much easier to select a crew in their home port.
Satisfied that there was nothing to be concerned about, the police officers wished them good luck and a safe voyage, boarded their boat and headed back to shore.
That afternoon John had the ship moved to the north end of Garden Island and since it was fine weather with a light southerly wind instructed the crew to set one anchor on a short rope.
At first light on the morning of 25th of September the Harbour master came on board. They weighed the anchor and headed out through the channel to the open sea past the tip of Rottnest and then set a course to the North west.
The ship made good time with favourable south westerly winds for most of the journey up the Australian coast. Towards the end of the first week in October they passed Christmas Island, barely visible on the port side. That put them about 240 miles south of Java Head at the Indian ocean entrance to the Sunda Strait. At that point their luck with the weather ran out. The wind switched to a north westerly aspect and they were heading into strong squalls and driving rain which reduced visibility to a few hundred yards. They were too close to land and it was too dangerous to attempt to navigate through the entrance to the strait with limited visibility. John ordered the crew to reduce the amount of canvas and this meant that the ship’s speed was reduced and she was less manageable. The weather set in and by night fall visibility was down to about 50 yards so they elected to turn south away from the land and ride out the storm on the open sea.
A few days later the weather had improved and this time they were able to negotiate their way safely through the Sunda Strait and then turn north along the Sumatran coast and through the Banka Strait. This was the slowest part of the journey as the ship was forced to tack frequently to avoid reefs and sandbanks. On two days they barely made any progress because they had to drop anchor to avoid being pushed back south by strong currents and tidal movements.
Finally, after struggling against the elements in soul destroying heat and humidity, they reached Singapore on the 16th of October, 1858. The next day William resigned his position as first mate and boarded the newly refurbished Empress and assumed the position of captain. Their agents had arranged (with the caretaker crew) some cargo for the Empress. As yet it had not been loaded and William immediately began advertising for extra crew and arranged for lighters to begin loading cargo for Fremantle.
Later that afternoon John assembled the crew of the Rory-O-More and with a small ceremony Richard Bennet was promoted to first mate and John Brown promoted to second mate.
The crew spent a few days taking down the sails and readying the ship for an extended stay. Then once all was in order, a steady stream of boats pulled alongside each day and they began the long process of ferrying the cargo ashore where it was stacked in the warehouses.
The stormy weather just off the coast of Sumatra had revealed problems with some of the timber in the ship’s super structure, probably due to its age, and this required John to replace some of the yard arms. He had not picked this up when he purchased the ship. He reprimanded himself. He had been too trusting and failed, because of the urgency of the auction, to check these sorts of details. The discovery of the problem with the yard arms prompted him to have the hull beneath the water line inspected. The divers discovered that there were several sheets of copper missing and John commissioned them to carry out the required repairs.
These repairs had just been completed when on the 25th of October, in the middle of the night a schooner, obviously carrying too much sail for a busy harbour, collided with the bow of the Rory-O-More breaking the jib-sail boom.
The following day after negotiating with the captain of the offending ship the repair crew were brought back on board to measure up for a replacement boom. This matter, by the time it was finished, took up another three days of John’s time. Meantime the lighters kept coming alongside to deliver cargo bound for Fremantle.
Whoever first used the expression ‘plain sailing’ obviously did not mean it to apply to the owner-captain of a large merchant ship. It seemed to John that there was always some problem to be solved. Since the debacle that occurred during his first voyage on the Rory-O-More he had begun to appreciate the value of a capable first officer. He had hopes for Richard Bennett whom he had promoted when William had left to take over the Empress. The rest of the crew had been carefully selected. The voyage north from Fremantle had not been without its challenges and the crew and his officers had risen to the task. He was optimistic. It was not to be. His optimism was premature.
A week later when the unloading had finished and most of the usual maintenance tasks had been completed Richard Bennet resigned and took a position on another ship. The Cook became ill and one of the crew had to step into his job (temporarily) which turned out to be about a week. Three other members of the crew went ashore without asking for leave and came back on board drunk and had to be disciplined. A few days after that Brown, McCann and the Cook drew their pay and then just disappeared ashore and had to be replaced. John was tearing his hair out. He longed for a simple life.
Loading of the cargo continued for the best part of a month and was finally complete on the 26th of November and they up-anchored and made their way slowly out of the harbour bound for Batavia. This was not their usual procedure but John had been assigned a cargo of coffee and other goods for delivery to Jakarta by his agents and was also to pick up more cargo, particularly sugar, for Fremantle. This consignment of sugar would probably break all records as they already had about 1400 bags on board.
The ship headed south east from Singapore keeping Banka Island on their starboard and sailing past the Sunda Strait. They arrived at the entrance to Batavia Harbour at the end of the first week of December but there was a backlog of ships loading and unloading and they were forced to anchor and wait for clearance.
A day later they were permitted to enter and John went ashore to arrange for boats to discharge the 600 bags of coffee and other items and bring out close to 1500 bags of sugar, 75 bags of rice and other sundries.
By the time this was complete it was Christmas eve and the ship moved to the outer harbour and dropped anchor while the crew prepared for sea. Early the following morning, 25th of December 1858, they weighed anchor and headed north west towards the Sunda Strait. The weather was typical of the region for that time of the year, hot and quite still with hardly enough breeze to move the ship forward with sufficient speed to hold a course. At the entrance to the Sunda Strait they detected an unfavorable current flowing from west to east which made it almost impossible to make any head way at all and so they were forced to anchor in the shelter of one of the small islands that dotted that part of the sea. It took four days for the wind to pick up and the current to subside sufficiently to allow the ship to move through the strait past Krakatoa Island and out into the Indian Ocean.
From there they set a course which would take them close to Christmas Island which they passed about five days later. Then they headed on a south westerly course to the east of Christmas Island which would take them 1000 miles directly west of Cape Leeuwin. John was of the opinion that it was safer to stay well out to sea on the voyage south. Out in the middle of the Indian ocean there were very few hazards such as reefs and islands that a ship could run into or be blown onto in a storm. The west coast of the continent was the grave yard of many ships caught in too close to shore in bad weather. Once far enough south, the ship could pick up the westerlies and easily sail back towards the west coast and then approach the Swan River from the Southwest with a south westerly breeze on their tail.
Bad weather dogged the ship for the next two weeks. Massive waves constantly sloshed water over the deck. The gale force winds shredded sails and damaged the rigging. This together with the constant rolling of the ship caused the masts to move and break the seals where the masts passed through the deck timbers. Some of the cargo was water damaged.
On the 31st of January, after more than a month at sea, John altered course towards Cape Leeuwin and then to the north east up the coast towards Fremantle. Early on the 4th of February 1859 they sighted Rottnest and later that day they were safely at anchor in Gage Roads.
John immediately had the ship’s boat launched and hurried ashore anxious to see Elizabeth and find out how the birth had gone. It was a typically hot day and people were gathered on Bather’s Beach with their children and were walking in the water. The news of the arrival of the Rory-O-More had spread rapidly through the port. On hearing the news Elizabeth had packed up the younger children and had hired a carriage and was waiting on the beach near the jetty for him to come ashore. John Frederick, now seventeen, had accompanied his mother. When John stepped off the boat onto the jetty, nine year old George was excitedly waiting for him. Obviously feeling very important and proud, he pointed to his mother who was sitting on a shaded bench, with Jane, nursing the new baby. John bent down and gave his youngest son a hug and thanked him for pointing out his mother. John Frederick, now seventeen, had accompanied his mother and was hovering nearby, keeping an eye on his young brother. When George had completed his moment of glory, John Frederick stepped forward and shook his father’s hand.
Welcome home Captain, he smiled.
It’s good to be home my boy. Thank you for the welcome.
John turned back to the boat and the two men lifted one of two trunks and placed one end on the jetty. John Frederick stepped forward and helped his father lift the trunk and place it down safely. The second trunk followed. John then signalled for a jetty worker with a trolley to take the trunks ashore and leave them at the end of the jetty. He then turned back to his son.
How is your mother?
She is well and in good spirits. As you can see she has brought the new baby to meet you.
John nodded. How did the birth go?
Good I think, as far as I can tell. He had not been privy to all the intricacies of the birth.
Do I have another son or a daughter?
You have another daughter, Mary Ann.
Right, well I had better go and meet her.
Before you do that, with your permission Captain, I would like to go aboard the ship and lend a hand with taking down the sails and getting everything ship shape and helping out with unloading the cargo.
John noticed the kit bag at his son’s feet. He was aware that his son was interested in maybe going to sea someday.
John Frederick was looking straight into his eyes. He was deadly serious.
John hesitated. Does your mother know about this?
Yes sir, I have her permission.
John knew that his answer was crucial. He thought for a few seconds.
Yes Mr Thomas, you have my permission to go aboard. Report immediately to the first officer.
Aye! Aye! Captain. Thank you Captain.
John smiled and issued some instructions to the two men sitting in the boat. John Frederick scrambled aboard and one of the men pushed off.
John took hold of George’s hand and picked up his bag and together they walked down the jetty towards the shore.
As they walked along the beach Jane came running towards them. John handed his bag to George and scooped the little girl up in his arms.
Hello princess have you got a kiss for your daddy?
Hello Daddy, she replied and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.
As they approached, Elizabeth stood up cradling the baby in her arms.
John lowered the little girl gently on to the ground and then embraced his wife as best he could without squashing the baby. Hello my darling, you are indeed a sight for sore eyes, and he kissed her on the lips.
Hello John dear, I am glad you are home safe again. This is your new daughter, Mary Ann. She opened the shawl that was shading the baby’s face. Mary Ann, this is your Daddy.
John leaned forwards and looked into the tiny girl’s face. Hello Mary Ann, it is nice to meet you. Amazingly the little girl smiled.
John turned his attention back to Elizabeth. I gave my permission for John to board the ship and help out with taking the sails down and general maintenance. The first officer will supervise him and see that he learns about things he needs to know.
Elizabeth nodded her understanding and acceptance but did not comment.
With that they walked over and climbed into the carriage. John instructed the driver to stop at the end of the jetty to pick up the trunks.
At the end of the jetty the driver stopped and climbed down and together they lifted the trunks onto the shelf at the rear of the carriage. Back home they carried the trunks into the living room and John paid the driver and thanked him.
Later that afternoon when William and James arrived home from school John opened the trunks and began to hand out gifts and other items for everyone.
Coats, trousers, boots and hats for the boys. Dresses, stockings, shoes and a bonnet for Jane. Some trinkets and jewellery, hairpins, hat pins, brooches for Elizabeth, as well as lengths of beautiful fine material, cotton and silks that could be made into dresses. For the house, a variety of materials suitable for curtains, several bed spreads and packs of sheets and towels.
Unloading of the ship commenced a few days later. Once again it had been a very successful and profitable voyage. The discharging of the cargo took around a week and then loading for the next voyage commenced. During that time repairs to the ship’s sails, rigging and hull were undertaken.
So the monotonous voyages continued through 1859. Load up in Fremantle, sail north. Struggle slowly through the straits to Singapore and Jakarta. Endure the stifling heat and humidity. Take down the sails. Struggle to keep a reliable crew on board. Undertake repairs. Unload the massive cargoes of sandalwood (up to one hundred tons). Re-load with massive cargoes of sugar, (four to five thousand bags) coffee, spices, and other stock goods for the shop. Re-fit the sails. Sail south through the straits out into the Indian ocean. Battle the storms, the relentless wind and waves sometimes for two weeks or more. Then discharge the cargo in Fremantle, a short rest and then do it all again.
With each voyage north to the Asian ports the cargoes grew larger. The profits from these voyages were enormous. Sometimes it took up to eight boats working continuously for one to two weeks to complete the discharge.
They also had revenue coming in from the assets they owned in Fremantle. The shop was doing well. The hotel was leased. The three houses were rented out. They needed to invest some of this capital. They really didn’t want to buy any more properties as this would create more work looking after them. They discussed this matter with their bank manager and he suggested that they should move into the mortgage market. That meant that they could lend money to other people to buy properties or businesses. The bank would provide them with guidance and also hold the mortgage agreements in safe keeping. It was agreed that Elizabeth would, with the bank’s advice, decide which mortgages to accept and authorize the transfer of funds. This would become a good way to make their capital work for them without risk or extra work.
