Frightful Effects of Fever, on Board an Emigrant Ship bound for Canada St. John’s New Brunswick Oct., 19, 1847 - You probably have learned, ere this, part of the dreadful story of the ship 'Avon', Nicholas JOHNSON, Master, of 1,100 tons register, with about 500 passengers which arrived disabled at Miramichi. No fiction (for it would require a perverted or distorted mind to give birth to so horrific a tale) could portray the frightful scenes that occurred on board that ill-fated vessel, or relate the extent of misery and suffering which were borne by most of the passengers, in listless and mournful despair, and by others, including the Captain, with a fortitude bordering on the most romantic heroism. Already, at the outset, the vessel’s doom seemed sealed for encountering heavy weather, she lost several spars, and suffered in her rigging, which retarded her progress during the voyage; still, all would have been comparatively well but for the quality and perverseness of the passengers themselves who were the most unruly turbulent, and wildest set that ever Ireland sent forth. In vain did the Captain and mate exert every nerve and use every means and persuasion, to bring them under some kind of rule for their own preservation’s sake. They would hearken to no remonstrance, adopt no sanitary measures, and even resisted and repelled, with main force, every attempt that was made to ventilate and clean the steerage. Listlessly they would behold the violent typhus fever spread among them, and cause immediate death. But, this was not all; the infatuated beings, moved by some most inconceivable and demoniacal spirit would not separate themselves from the dead bodies, until the infection rose to such a pitch on board, that frantic with despair, the Captain, uniting with the Presbyterian part of the passengers, and a few able hands of the crew, still remaining, assailing the unruly in their strong hold and giving them regular battle, succeeded overcoming them, when, to their horror and dismay, they discovered above 60 dead bodies, stowed away in chests or sewed up in beds! The deep received them, and many a fresh victim soon followed, until the largest portion of the passengers, including all the crew, except two hands, died away. The grant agent, Mr. PERLEY, has just returned from Miramichi, here he instituted by order of the Government a most searching investigation, respecting the immense loss of life sustained on board the "Looshtauk", which catastrophe attracted so much attention at home, a few months ago. It now officially appears, that out of 462 passengers, There died on the passage out 153. And shortly after arrival,96 - Sent to Quebec, 53 and Discharged at their own request, after performing quarantine, 160. But of these surviving 243 emigrants, only 196 are still in existence; presenting total loss of 272 lives out of 462, or about 60 per cent., independent of the numerous crew and worthy Mate, who, with the exception of five hands, have all perished. 'Observer'.
transcribed from the Coleraine Chronicle 5 Aug. 1848 Cheers Teena te...@cotyrone.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
