The Life of William Hodge

used since she was built in Glasgow some years before that was in the year 1881 and the authorities was not nearly as strict in those days as they are now so that was the last of the Steamer Euro. Anyhow we was all brought to port Adelaide by another steamer. I just forget her name at present. Anyhow shortly after we arrived at Port Adelaide the trial came on which lasted for a few days and the second mate was called for at the trial but he was no-where to be found. And we found that he had bolted away to some of the other states while we was waiting for the trial to come on. He knew he was in the wrong. So he through he would better leave. Anyhow both me and the captain saved our certificates, and the second mate was brought in guilty through not looking out for the break on rock. But he was no-where to be found. So that finished the trial. Now the next thing the agent thought about was to get another steamer, as him and the captain had the Euro only chartered and they did not want to lose the trade so this agent got a man to back him for any amount he wanted and to get another steamer on the run as soon as possible. So there was a steamer came into Melbourne called the India whether for sale or charter. And she anchored at Queenscliff before she went right up to Melbourne as she as for sale or charter. Anyhow the news was about at that time of a steamer being stolen from Glasgow by the name of the Ferret. She belonged to the Highland Railway Co and a policeman was standing in Queenscliff looking at this steamer India. And he thought he knew that steamer at home in Glasgow as very like this stoke Ferret and reported it to the authorities and a naval vessel came down from Melbourne and [?ceased?] her and her crew. So all hands went to Melbourne Jail, and the steamer was towed up to wharf in Melbourne. Now before I say any more, I will just give you the career of the Steamer Ferret, appearingly there was a man in Glasgow that chartered this steamer from the Highland Railway Co for to go on a cruise into the Mediterranean and actually got her coaled and fitted

out with provisions and stores, in other peoples names and shipped his crew of engineers, officers, fireman and sailors appearingly the captain was in this swindle along with this man Henderson, as that was his name. Anyhow they shipped their crew and got away at midnight then after a couple of days the news got about that the Ferret was stolen and swindled a lot of the merchants in Glasgow anyhow there was no news of the Ferret until she was passing Gibraltar when she ran up her signals as the Ferret and she passed just as it was getting dark so after dark the captain called the crew into her cabin and told them what the game was, and that they were only out to make a bit of money. But if any of them did not care to stay, he would land them anywhere as long as he could get another crew. So they all agreed to stay with so he got to work and threw her boats and life bouys (sic) overboard and slipped out through the straights of Gibraltar in the dark with no lights out. And shaped a course across the Atlantic under the name of the Bantam and her boats and life bouys was picked up and the Ferret was supposed to be lost with all hands. Anyhow, she arrived at Bahia under the name of the Bantam and loaded a cargo of coffee beans then ran her to Capetown under the name of the India, and sold the cargo, and the captain left her with his share of the plunder as he got a bit frightened to go any further in her. Anyhow they shipped another Captain to take her to Melbourne either for sale or charter. so when she got near port philip heads the pilot boarded her, and ran her in and anchors her at Queenscliff still under the name of the India. And when the pilot left her and got on shore he was telling people that she was called the India and was either for sale or charter. But there was a policeman looking at her from Queenscliff and knew her as the Ferret, as he was an old sailor and knew her in Glasgow and reported to the Authorities. And they came down from Melbourne and seised (sic) her, and arrested the reputed owner Henderson. Also the purser and captain, and

towed her up to Melbourne and the insurance at home sold her as appearingly the insurance was paid for her when her boats was picked up, and she was supposed to be lost. Anyhow they sold her to the firm that owned the Euro the Steamer I was shipwrecked in. So all us shipwrecked men was sent to Melbourne to join her. And I was in Melbourne when those men was tried and Henderson the reputed owner got 7 years, and the purser got 5 years and the poor unfortunate captain they shipped in from Capetown got 3 years. And the sailors and Firemen got clear of prison. But never got paid as they knew the Game they were sailing on. So I read in our paper that their case was also tried in Glasgow and they got nothing so that ended their career in the Ferret. Now we was six weeks in Melbourne fitting her up and having a general overhaul and getting her all ready to run in the South East trade from port Adelaide. But I did not stay in her very long in that trade. So I left her. And applied to the Adelaide Steamship Co for a berth and the marine superintendent gave me a berth as chief officer of the S. S. Lubra. I sailed in her for some time and got charge of the S.S. Rob Roy and ran her round on the West coast of South Australia for a couple of years. But appearingly that trade never did pay. I used to run to Streaky and Waterloo Bays, But had to give it up as at that time there was not trade enough for a steamer of that description. So I got orders to lay her up. So I was idle for a bit when the company prepared to run her in the port Lincoln trade. So I ran her in that trade for some time. Then I had to give her up to an older hand than me that was out of a berth and I had to go Chief Officer with him in the same boat. Anyhow it only lasted for a couple of months when I took charge of the SS Lubra once more and ran her in the Moonta and Port Pirie trade. Then there was a new boat came out from Glasgow called the Investigator for this trade as the Lubra was not big enough. So I laid her up.

and went chief officer of the S.S. Investigator and sailed in her between Port Adelaide and Pt Pirie for twelve months then the Captain of the Investigator took charge of a steamer called the Emu, a steamer that the company bought from the Euro Steamship Company. So I went chief officer of her along with the same captain and ran her to al the south east ports and terminated at Melbourne then used to come back by Warrnambool and Portland and all South East ports towards Port Adelaide. I ran in that trade for two years when our captain left us in Melbourne to take charge of a steamer called the Victorian. She was a steamer that traded between Port Adelaide and Melbourne. So I applied for a berth along with my old captain. But she was full handed. So I was not successful then there was an older hand than me came and took charge of the Emu. And I only ran in her along with this new captain for about twelve months . I found he was a foreigner and simply unbearable so he discharged me in Port Adelaide and that was the last steamer in the Adelaide Steamship Company that I was in. I then wet round to Melbourne and stayed for a bit, and tried to get a berth but unfortunately I did not succeed. So I had to come back home to Port Adelaide belonging to the Adelaide steam ship Co and left in her for Port Pirie as she was stationed up there for towing purposes. I ran in her for a few months when I got charge of a tug called the Nelcebee. I ran in her for some time at Port Pirie and Port Augusta then I was sent on to Port Adelaide with her as her time was up for overhaul. I put her on the slip and cleaned her bottom and painted her, then ran her of the slip to the wharf and got her engines and boiler overhauled then left port Adelaide for Port Pirie. and when I arrived in Port Pirie the Adelaide Tug had to come down to port Adelaide for overhaul and the captain of the Adelaide being laid up at Pt Pirie hospital. I shifted form the Nelcebee to the Adelaide and sailed for Port Adelaide then arrived at Pt Adelaide and put her on the slip

then got her overhauled and sailed for Port Pirie and arrived next day and the Master of her who was successfull in getting over his trouble took charge of his steamer and I went mate with him as the Nelcebee had to be laid up and I sailed mate with him for eight months and they laid her up and paid me and the crew of. so the agent asked me if I would take charge of a schooner called the Dianella as the master of her was sick and had to go to the hospital. Now this schooner belonged to the Port Pirie Shipping company, this company had two schooners and this agent was agent for both companys and I knew that those two schooners was nothing more than two workhouses. Anyhow I agreed to take charge of the Dianella as I thought that it would not be for long as I had been used to steam for so many years. I thought it would be pretty hard if I had to keep this windjammer for any length of time. So I went to Port Adelaide by train as this schooner was there loading for Port Pirie. So when I arrived at Port Adelaide she was ready for sea and a tug alongside and they were only waiting for me so I just had to hop out of the train and get on board of the Dianella and of to sea in this workhouse. As them two schooners belonged to all the storekeepers and butchers of Port Pirie and they even expected you to run to time as it was only a short distance but they had no thought about the winds only run to time and believe me she was a wreck. Anyhow I ran her as near to time as I could but seemingly not to their satisfaction and in fact I was just hanging on until the master of her was better. But unfortunately the master of her died. so they had a meeting of shareholders in Howes Hotel in Port Pirie. So I happened to be there at the time of the meeting, and they came to the conclusion that I had had to leave. So I got notice from the agent at Port Pirie to give her up as soon as I arrived at Port Adelaide and as I told the agent that I was very glad of the change as I was just fed up with her and also with her owners. So I sailed from Port Pirie and arrived at Port Adelaide and gave her up after running her for nine months. So I finished with the Port Pirie Shipping Compy