Part 13: Letters from the Goldfields - 8th November 1898
Wm. Howard Smith and Sons Ltd
Steamship Owners etc. [letterhead]
Sydney, New South Wales
SS Barrabool[1]
8 Nov 1898
Dear Billy,
Many thanks for your kind letter of
September 27. Was jolly glad to hear of your success bossing for
the Baron and trust you may keep at it and do all right. I have
just returned from a trip to Melbourne and hope and trust they will
keep us on that run instead of North Q., tis a bit cool round
South. I am keeping a staunch T.T. now until I come back. It’s a
mug’s game, Bill, drink in a climate like this and the mugs can do
my share. I won’t say I’ll be TT the day I leave here or the day I
arrive as I intend having a feed of it then, what oh!
S.S. Barabool,
Photo credit.
I have had a great number of people lately and hope to have more.
The more the merrier (if there is anything merry about these crooks
out here). I wish I had you here. We would put in 12 months and
then take a pub at home. I do get some rotters here. I have sacked
3 Chief Cooks and 7 stewards in 3 months and “logged” (fined)
another this trip. This process (logging) is as follows: you take
him up to the Skipper who has made an entry in the Official Log
that he was drunk in Lat. So-and-so and Longitude so-and-so.
Skipper says “You were drunk yesterday. Got anything to say?” “No.’
“Fined 5/-”. Skipper and self sign log. Victim finds 5/- deducted
from his wage a/c. Very simple!! All the same bally
magistrates.
Arthur’s letter
I don’t know whether it will be after Xmas or before when I make
tracks for home but in any case will let you know of ship and dock
so that we can meet in London. In one sense I don’t like turning up
a job like I’ve got now. It’s very hard after battling up to this.
But still should be happier perhaps in a different job at home,
something to live for there. The lark keeps worrying about me
staying here. She’s been waiting patiently enough goodness only
knows over 3 years. I don’t think there are many would have stuck
to me like she has. Of course, that’s between you and me. Would
give anything to have you in Melbourne for a spell and introduce
you to the people. They’re some of the kindest hearted people ever
I struck. Can’t do too much for a chap, same style as Aunt Pearce.
I hope you go and see her occasionally. She always speaks of you
and hopes we will soon come and see her together again so that she
can pay us out for the beer racket of ours.
I intend (when I get time) to have my phiz taken in uniform so look
out when she comes up. You will take me for a pirate. Must dry up
this Tommyrot or you will get the hump. I suffer from it
occasionally as some of my chaps know to their cost if things don’t
go smoothly. Well, Billy, I trust I won’t have to write much
longer. Accept the hearty best wishes and kind regards of your
sincere chum.
Arthur J. Baker
Ps. Last week, Billy, my expenditure of meat was only 1028 lbs and
7 sheep for serving 2,000 meals so you can judge whether we have to
cut things fine or not. I don’t know whether that information is of
any use to you, but it is to me – I get patted on the back by the
Management.
[An attached note]
Billy, this is a rough copy of my Melbourne order to take me to
Sydney. Only 2½ days victualling. Where does old “Hamlet” come
in.
Buy:
16 doz. Eggs
500 lb beef
200 lb mutton
50 fresh fish
30 smoked fish
6 pressed hares
6 crates fruit
1 bunch bananas
10 gallons fresh milk
9 dozen salad
16 dozen cauli, cabbage, carrots and turnips
6 gallons green peas
160 loaves bread (large)
15 lb sausage, 20 lb trip, 6 sets cow heels
6 lb Fries [liver], 30 lb veal, 30 lb pork (legs)
½ ton ice
10 crates beer
[A second attached note]
Bill, the enclose occurred last Sunday night . A passenger named A.
Dall getting tired of life and going over the side without a life
buoy:
SS Barrabool
On the evening of Sunday Nov. 6 at 10.35 p.m. I was called by the
Captain to search and see if the number of steerage passengers were
all in bed. There was a passenger missing and a coat had been
found. I went forward and in company with the F.C. Steward (C.
Hobson) made a careful search but found one man missing. The berth
belonging to a passenger named A. Dall was empty and had not been
slept in. Afterwards search the after part of the ship but could
find no trace of anyone. The steward says he [A. Dall] was in the
F.C. at 9.30 but after than went on deck and that the man was
perfectly sober and had not touched drink. I brought his
portmanteau and other clothing and locked it up by order of the
Captain
(Signed) Arthur J. Baker, Chief Steward, SS Barrabool
Witness: Chas. Hodgson, Fore Cabin Steward
- [1] Barrabool. Steamer,
942/588 tons. Built 1874. Howard Smith Company. Nicknamed “the
great Australian ram” due to her many collisions. She sank three
steamers, the Bonnie Dundee, Queensland, and Birksdale. It is said
that she steered so badly that other vessels got out of her way
when they saw her coming - some apparently not fast enough. Laid up
in Sydney as a coal hulk, 1912. http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/portjackson-wrecks.html
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