Request for service of Dr Young as surgeon onboard INDUS

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Request for service of Dr Young as surgeon onboard INDUS

Maker Queensland Government, Immigration Office

Date9 January 1877

Object number00006836

NameLetter

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall (Closed): 325 × 204 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA handwritten letter Mr Thomas Hamilton of the office of the Agent General of the Queensland Government in London to Dr Young requesting his service as surgeon on board the immigrant ship INDUS. Dr Young accepted the position when the INDUS left London on 7 February 1877 and arrived safely in Rockhampton on 2 June 1877. By all accounts he performed remarkably well on the journey with five births and no deaths on the four-month voyage.HistoryAn account of the arrival of the INDUS and of the 1877 voyage from London appeared in the local paper on its arrival in Rockhampton. Of note was the review of Dr Young's services and how well he managed to keep the ship healthy. "Immigrants by the INDUS. The MARY left the wharf at 10 a.m. with Dr. Salmond, T.P. Pugh, Esq., P.M., members of the Immigration Board. The steamer arrived at Keppel Bay at 3 p.m., when Dr. Salmond directly boarded the ship, and, after careful examination, found all well and forthwith granted pratique. He reported that he found the ship very clean, no sickness on board, and the sanitary arrangements perfect in every way. The MARY then went alongside, the immigrants were mustered, and asked the usual questions as to whether they had any complaints to make, to which they replied, they were thoroughly satisfied. In this portion of the proceedings, which occupied three or four hours, Dr. Salmond was assisted by the Police Magistrate. Arrangements were then made for the immigrants going on board the next morning, so that they might arrive in town at an early hour. Immediately after breakfast the transhipment commenced. The married people and children, and single girls, together with as many of the single men as could be accommodated, were put on board. The steamer left about nine o’clock, and arrived at the wharf a Iittle after three. The police, under the command of Senior- Sergeant Brannelly, were on the wharf in order to carry out the necessary arrangements, and the banks of the river were crowded with spectators, anxious to get a peep at the new arrivals, all of whom appeared to be in excellent spirits, with the exception of one damsel, who expressed a very strong desire to return home. The march towards the depot then commenced; after the immigrants had given a hearty cheer, which was responded to by those who were assembled to welcome them. They arrived safely at the depot where they were received by Mr. Graham, the wardsman, and his wife. and were drafted off to their quarters. Everything was in readiness; the beef and potatoes were quickly dished up; the teapots were soon emptied of their contents, and after the food was over, a great number of the new comers wandered through the town, and seemed to enjoy amazingly their first stroll after their long and tedious voyage. They behaved themselves uncommonly well, and spoke in warm terms of Captain Hunt, who has been voyaging to these colonies for many years, and is well known at the different stations us an able and kind officer. They also expressed themselves as being more than satisfied with Dr. Young, the surgeon- Superintendent and with Mrs. Ganden, the matron — who in their turn reported well of the conduct of those under their charge. The Italian Immigrants were so much pleased with the manner in which the doctor performed his onerous duties, that previous to their leaving the ship, they presented that gentleman with a handsome illustrated address expressing their entire satisfaction and wishing him every happiness and prosperity. There was Iittle or no sickness during the voyage, and the weather was, until the vessel arrived off the Australian coast, everything that could be deserved, with the exception of a heavy westerly gale, encountered in the Channel. From Tasmania to Cape Moreton, the ship encountered several heavy gales, and the vessel on several occasions laboured very heavily. On the 16th April, a number of chain-plates and backstays were carried away during the northerly gale. On April 24 the gale blew so heavily, and the ship rolled to such an extent, that the railway iron in the hold shifted four or five foot on both sides, so that the other cargo had to be moved to take the list off. On the 24th of May, another gale was encountered, when the topsail and forward were blown away, and it was entirely owing to the able seamanship displayed by the Captain, and the prompt manner in which he was backed up by the officers and men, that the good ship INDUS weathered through, and was eventually brought to port without further accident. During the voyage, and while a heavy storm was raging, the lightning struck the conductor on the royalmast, which was carried away astern, but was, after being towed astern for some distance hauled aboard. There were five births and no deaths during the voyage. The MARY will leave this morning to bring up the balance of the single men together with the luggage. The hiring of the immigrants will commence this morning at 9 o'clock. " - Daily Northern Argus (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1896), Monday 4 June 1877, page 2. SignificanceThe long journey to Australia by ship was fraught with danger not least the precarious health of the hundreds of passengers in cramped steerage. The role of surgeon was essential in not only curing illness that took hold but also by preventing illness from spreading through the ship. This involved him keeping conditions on board sanitary and ensuring passengers remained as clean and healthy as possible.