In December 1874, Captain Renaut sailed his ship The Crusader into Lyttleton Harbour,
New Zealand with 374 passengers on board.
The Crusader departed from Plymouth on the 25th of September and made the passage in 97 days
with very little illness reported.
The surgeon superintendent was Dr. John Guthrie who settled in Christchurch.
On the voyage Dr Guthrie found it necessary to appoint two nurses, Mrs Cleaver and Mrs Lindon.
The Crusader developed a hole and the well was taking in water.
The water was successfully pumped out throughout the voyage but the pump kept breaking down and not too much water continued to come in. It is said that on arrival at Lyttleton harbour a fish skeleton was found in the well and so it was thought that the fish body had blocked the hole thus stopping the ship taking on more water and sinking!
My great great grandparents, Robert Forsyth and his wife Jessie nee Farquhar were on board the Crusader with their little son Alexander.
They were very LUCKY to arrive safely.
 |
| Robert and Jessie Forsyth went on to have a large family in New Zealand |
 |
| Photo A Large Sailor's Woolie of the Clipper Ship The Crusader at Anchor in New Zealand Circa 1875-85courtesy of Paul Vandekar http://www.vandekar.com/archives/details.asp?inventoryNumber=NY07221 |
The Press newspaper reported the Arrival of the Crusader in its edition on the 1st of January 1875.
Everyone spoke most highly of the Captain "The passengers and Immigrants alike testifying to his unwearying care and devotion during the passage".
Everyone spoke most highly of the Captain "The passengers and Immigrants alike testifying to his unwearying care and devotion during the passage".
An excerpt from that newspaper article.
No comments:
Post a Comment