THE PERSIAN – PLAGUED BY TYPHOID

I hope this article unearths some Tasmanian descendants of the Persian migrant ship, or perhaps the relatives they left behind in Scotland.

The Highland Clearances; what a heartbreaking episode in Scottish history. During the 19th century, destitute crofters were evicted to make way for large sheep runs. The potato famine made matters even worse, and landlords financed ‘assisted migration’ for their tenants. initially to America and later to Australia.

Some of the final victims were from the Hebridean islands of Lewis and Coll. On July 26 1857, they were among 300 people who boarded the immigrant ship Persian in Liverpool, bound for Hobart. The Persian was a new ship, owned by a Mr French of Liverpool and chartered by Messrs Wilson & Chambers of the White Star Line. In addition to her human cargo she was carrying coal and salt. She was under the command of Captain Patrick Richard Kerr.

TROUBLE ABOARD

Only days after leaving port it was discovered that one of the Highland passengers, Anne MacKinnon, had contracted the infectious disease typhoid, probably in Glasgow. After her death, typhoid began to spread through the ship. By the time the Persian arrived in Tasmania on October 31, ten people had died or were sick beyond recovery. There were three dozen other cases, presenting a very real threat to the residents of Hobart.

It was decided to tow the ship to Impression Bay (now known as Premaydena) and to isolate the immigrants at the old convict probation station. Due to the end of transportation in 1853, only a few convicts remained there. The buildings were virtually empty and 98 people were admitted to the station’s hospital. The Persian remained in quarantine as well, anchored two miles offshore.

Subsequently, three of the convicts employed with the station’s medical service were singled out for praise; William Ayton, John Halliwell and Henry Fisher. These were men with long records, which included almost every crime imaginable, but they were certainly not devoid of humanity. In a letter published in the Tasmanian Daily News dated February 2 1858, sincere gratitude was expressed by surviving immigrants for the convicts’ ‘generous devotion and brotherly love‘. They had volunteered to care for the typhoid patients, risking their own lives. The letter stated that the men had performed services to the sick, dying and dead from which even close relatives had ‘shrank back appalled.’ The tribute concluded;

We wish to make known the fact, that a memorial signed by all the adult portion of the Immigrants, will be presented today to His Excellency the Governor, praying for the pardon of these individuals,,,, for we feel certain that never did men deserve reward more richly than the men in question. The letter was signed by Stephen Piper, John Piper, and Donald McKinnon, on behalf of all the survivors.

The pardons did not eventuate, but all three were granted a four month remission on their sentences.

An inquiry held the ship’s owners and senior crew accountable for the tragedy;

Mr Loch, after a careful investigation of the whole case. considers the “Persian” to have been improperly ventilated, ill-found in wholesome provisions and medical comforts, and deficient in accommodation for cooking and baking; and worst of all, that the health, and as it proved, the lives of the Emigrants were entrusted to a ‘manifestly incompetent medical man, and he [Mr Loch] very much regrets that those who sanctioned the appointment of Mr Gray to such a charge cannot be visited with a suitable penalty. (Tasmanian Daily) Jan 13 1858)

Gray was only 23 years old. He had failed to keep medical records on the sick and dying passengers, his excuse being that nobody told him to. The young man faced numerous other accusations. One was that he was not properly qualified. Another was that he had spent time drinking with young female emigrants, neglecting his duties.

W. K. was probably William Kerr, who is to be admired for his advocacy.

Joseph Gray wrote a lengthy rebuttal of the charges, addressed to the editor of The Tasmanian Daily News, but his reputation was in tatters. A public meeting was held, at which survivors called for his arrest.

Eventually the Persian was allowed to leave Impression Bay and unload her cargo at Franklin Wharf in the city. Some residents felt the salt should not be used, for fear of infection. There was huge relief when the ‘plague ship’ left the shores of Tasmania.

The citizens of Hobart must be thankful that the Persian was hauled into the stream the night before last, and is expected shortly to sail – we hope, never to visit us again. (Tasmanian Daily News Dec. 17 1857)

On March 29 1858 The Mercury published a piece on the fate of survivors;

It is with deep sorrow we hear that some of the passengers by this ship, composed principally of widows and orphans and the fatherless, are in the greatest distress, and we believe it to be true of many more, in which one of the females has been left a widow, by the ravages of the fever on board, with six young children, the whole of whom have thus been left entirely destitute in a strange place far away from the practical sympathy of their own friends and relatives. An appeal was made for wealthy residents of Hobart to assist.

The male immigrants struggled too, particularly as the majority were Gaelic speakers, and had little or no English. Fortunately a fund was set up, to provide them with boats and fishing apparatus.

I can’t help wondering what became of these people, especially those who had lost loved ones. No doubt some were resilient enough to make new lives, but for many others it must have been impossible.

Finally, what became of the Persian, and in particular the wretched Joseph Gray?

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