Reichstag 

Ellen Jonasdatter aka Ellen Jonasen
arrives in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
aboard the Reich(s)tag in 1873

Below are extracts from various source documents and records which provide a snapshot of life and conditions when Ellen first arrived in Australia:

Reich(s)tag

Registration Number 330. Three-mast iron sailing vessel. Built for the Hamburg Shipping Line, Robert Miles Sloman & Co. in 1867 at Glasgow's Alexander Stephen & Sons' shipping yard. She was certificated on 26 June 1867. Burden 300 C.L. or capacity 722 NRT, and dimensions 53.10 m (length) x 9.17 m (beam) x 5.68 m (depth of hold).

This was the third of five voyages that she made from Hamburg to Australasia. Of these five, four were to Queensland in Australia and one to Wellington in New Zealand. After leaving Queensland on this voyage, she visited various trading ports before returning to Hamburg via Amsterdam in 1874. She was lost 11 August 1877 while travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne to Singapore.

Ships' Master on this voyage was Captain H. Hauschildt.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday, July 19, 1873]

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE
ARRIVALS

July 18—Reichstag, immigrant ship, from Hamburg. Passengers—Mr. And Mrs. Hans A. Loewe, Messrs. Hans C. Luehe, Carl Marke, Magnus Sommer, Hans Geersen, Johannes Andersen, and 381 immigrants (arrived at Hervey's Bay yesterday afternoon).

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The Reichstag, immigrant ship, from Hamburg, which had been signalled "in sight" on Wednesday, came to her anchorage in the Bay yesterday afternoon. She brings 334 immigrants of whom 10 are full-paying, 5 remittance, 25½ assisted, and 281 free, the numbers counted as adult passengers. Classified according to sex and condition, they comprise 57 married couples, 101 single men, 63 single women, 87 children, and 16 infants. The mortality during the voyage has been unusually heavy, 36 deaths having occurred, chiefly from dysentery. It appears, however, from a telegram received last night by Messrs. R. Travis and Co. from the Health Officer that there is no contagious disease, nor, indeed, any serious sickness on board. Nevertheless, as a measure of precaution, the immigrants will not be allowed to come up the river until Wednesday next.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Thursday, July 24, 1873]

The Health Officer (R. B. Sheridan, Esq.) returned last night from a visit of inspection to the immigrant ship Reichstag. His report is, we believe, to the effect that the passengers are in a fit state to be landed. The Immigrant Agent (George Faircloth, Esq.) will therefore proceed to the ship by the steamship Queensland, and the new arrivals will be brought up the river by the steamer Governor Blackall and landed here about midday on Friday.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday, July 26, 1873]

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

The German immigrant ship Reichstag left Hamburg on the 16th April, with easterly winds, which lasted to the Equator, then S.E. and S. to 40 deg. Lat.; then N. winds; passed Breaksea Spit on the 15th July; anchored in Hervey's Bay on the 15th July, having been 90 days out.

The Governor Blackall left Rockhampton on Thursday at 5 a.m.; arrived off Bustard Head at 10 a.m. same morning, and brought up off Woody Island at 8 p.m., awaiting daylight to proceed up to Maryborough with immigrants from the German ship Reichstag. Experienced fresh S. and S.E. winds and fine pleasant weather.

ARRIVAL OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP REICHSTAG

This vessel, after a run of 90 days from Hamburg, arrived in Hervey's Bay on the 18th instant. The Health Officer (R. B. Sheridan, Esq.), having spoken the vessel, and found that there had been disease of a contagious nature on board during the voyage, considered—as a matter of precaution—it would be advisable to detain the passengers for a few days before landing. On Wednesday last, the Medical Officer (Dr. Power), reported that no contagious disease then existed, and the Health Officer released the ship the following day. On Thursday, the Immigration Agent (Geo. Faircloth, Esq) visited the vessel, and the immigrants were yesterday brought to town by the A.S.N. Co's. steamer Governor Blackall.

The passengers comprise 57 married couples, 101 single men, 63 single women, 87 children, and 16 infants.

The mortality during the passage has been very heavy, 36 deaths having occurred. From the list we publish below, and the Surgeon-superintendents report, it will be seen that the mortality was chiefly confined to the children, and the causes as explained by the Surgeon-superintendent seem to show that no contagious disease existed to any alarming extent at any time during the voyage. The Immigrants who have been admitted to the depot appear to be healthy and cheerful, and the boxes which accompanies each would demonstrate that the new arrivals are not entirely destitute.

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A woman named Ane Hansen, aged 39 years, mysteriously disappeared during the passage, supposed to have jumped overboard. She was a patient at the time in the hospital under treatment for hysteria, and had more than once expressed a wish to her companions to be rid of her life. Whilst the steamer was coming up the river, a woman named Petersen died from debility, the result of dysentery. We regret to state that eight immigrants had to be conveyed to the Hosiptal (sic) immediately upon the arrival of the steamer; they consisted of six women and two men, all said to be suffering from the same kind of debelity (sic). One of the number, a man, named Christian Hellstad, aged 45 years, died an hour after his admitsion (sic). We called last night at the Hospital, but the wardsman, either would not, or could not, supply us with any information as to the state of the patients or their names, alleging as an excuse, that they were Germans, and could not speak English. We humbly call the attention of the Hospital Committee to the state of these unhappy invalids, and crave in the name of humanity, that the Benevolent fund may be again taxed to supply a suitable nurse, and interpreter. The Immigration Agent was most particular in enquiring from each passenger, whether, he or she had any complaints to make, and it is most satisfactory to find that the Captain and officers were general favorites, and the few complaints made against the Doctor, were very trivial. We may here mention that this is the third trip the Reichstag, has made to the colony with immigrants under the command of Captain Hauschildt.

DEATHS ON BOARD THE SHIP REICHSTAG

Henrietta Brunke, aged two years, diarrhoea; Johann Blum, 2, scarlet fever; Robert Blum, 1, diarrhoea; Elise Grell, aged 3, mumps; Hansine Hansen, aged 1, diarrhoea; Albertine Hablazel, 9, meningitis spinalis; Jacob Hablazel, 1, diarrhoea; Anna Holst, 3, diarrhoea; Johan Hellstad, 8, dysentery; Hanne Jonsson, 25, dysentery and miscarriage; Marcus Jonsson, 1, diarrhoea; Maren Johansen, 3, diarrhoea; Bertha Kattenberg, 6 months, bronchitis; Jacob Kung, 44, typhoid fever; Nis Kasse, 2, bronchitis; Olma Larsen, 7, scarlet fever and mumps; Mina Larsen, 2, scarlet fever and mumps; Maren Lindholt, 28, consumption; Henrich Maag, 7, mumps; Wilhelm Neilsen, 1, stomatitis; Alivine Pauke, 5, meningitis; Jeus Petersen, 17, inflammation of the lungs; Peter Petersen, 1, diarrhoea; Christen Petersen, 22, typhoid fever; Albert Pommerenieg, 2, diarrhoea; Jorgen Rasmussen, 1, diarrhoea; Herman Schoth, 1, diarrhoea; Julius Schmidtke, 2, diarrohea; Afra Stoll, 38, puerperal fever; Barbara Stoll, 6, meningitis; Ane Carlsen, 3, diarrhoea; Caroline Carlsen, 1, diarrhoea; Hanna Davidson, 9, scarlet fever; Frederic Davidson, 2, bronchitis, diarrhoea; Christian List, 1, diarrhoea; Toren Petersen, 1, diarrhoea; Bertha Schutz, 5, dysentery; Ulrike Schutz, 3, mumps; Hans Ch. Luehe, 17, typhoid fever.

SURGEON-SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

(We are indebted to Dr. Conradi for the following report on the sanitary condition of the vessel during the voyage.)

In the passage of the Reichstag from Hamburg to this colony, two different periods are visible, showing human life to be entirely dependent upon the overwhelming influence of nature. From the start, on April 16th, up to the end of the month of May, while fine weather and a pleasant temperature were prevailing, but little sickness raged, not spreading much beyond the original limits of the cases which, apparently, were already infected on shore. A few babies died, some in consequence of the general imprudence and bad habits of the lower classes in all countries, combined, in some instances, with neglect and carelessness, arising from sea-sickness and the unwonted way of living. From the latter date the transition into the cold regions took place rapidly, the winds were growing stronger and unfriendly, turning at last into furious storms, with extremely frequent downpours of rain, alternating with mist and fogs, and an untoward state of the atmosphere. At once the leaven of sickness began its work, and to assume greater demeanour. During the most of the month of June, and the first part of July, while the passengers could hardly move on deck without getting wet through, and the women and children were kept down below for weeks, the majority of the passengers (over 200) got ill, of whom more than the half so seriously as to be confined to their beds. Children of the more tender ages to whom exercise and liberty are as indispensable as food and air, fell victims to the rapacity of death in the first instance, and furnished two-thirds of all the lamentable events which subsequently happened during that time. Scarlet fever and disease of the bowels in its various forms of diarrhoea and dysentery made their appearance, and typhoid fever became prevalent among the adults. As soon as finer weather set in, when on the longitude of Cape Leeuwing, the state of health began to improve, as far as fresh cases are concerned; the list of patients began gradually to decrease, and the stronger recovered rapidly enough. The passengers would certainly have emerged from such calamity with less damage had they followed more strictly the medical advice tendered to them, and put less confidence in nonsensical family remedies of their own. The most essential conditions of health, as regards cleanliness and ventilation, were, however, fulfilled by them even during the roughest parts of the voyage most willingly, and as frequently as possible. No bad smells or foul air were ever allowed to add to the hardships which had befallen the vessel, and thus it happened that with the inclemency of the weather the virulence of the disease disappeared. That some ultimately fell victims to the great hardships they had endured is not surprising.

The married people and single girls are half German and half Danish, with a few Scandinavians, and the majority of the single men are Danes.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Tuesday 29, 1873]

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

The ship Reichstag will leave this [?] about Friday next for Batavia.

VESSELS IN HARBOUR

Reichstag, immigrant ship, from Hamburg, sailed 14th April.—Graham and Co., Agents.

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An inquest was held by the Police Magistrate, on Saturday, on the body of a woman named Kirstine Petersen, an immigrant by the ship Reichstag, who died on board the steamer Governor Blackall, whilst being conveyed from the ship to town. Jens Petersen, husband of the deceased, gave evidence (through the Government Interpreter) that their child had died on the voyage, and his wife seemed never to have recovered the shock. She had also suffered severely from dysentery. Dr. Conradi, surgeon-superintendent, deposed that the deceased died from the combined effects of debility, the result of dysentery and mental depression. A verdict on accordance with the evidence was returned.

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Of the immigrants admitted to the Hospital one, a single man, named Johann Joergen Nielson, has died since our last issue from acute consumption, but there is a decided improvement in the others. An extra nurse, we notice, has been temporarily engaged at the institution to tend the new arrivals, and as she can speak both German and Danish she will prove an acquisition. But she is, unfortunately, quite ignorant of the English language, so that although the patients can convey their wants to her, she, in her turn, is unable to communicate with the matron. It is in no cavilling spirit that we feel compelled to express our regret that the very small amount of trouble in procuring a woman who was able to speak both English and German was not taken the more so as there are so many fully qualified in that respect.

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We have refrained from commenting on the extraordinary mortality that marked the last voyage of the good ship Reichstag, as it was understood that a searching inquiry would be held, with object of discovering the cause, if possible. The fact of the matter being, to a certain extent, sub judice, does not, however, prevent us from remarking on the total absence of accommodation at Hervey's Bay for passengers whom it may be necessary or desirable to subject to quarantine on shore. It cannot be for want of a suitable site, for there is more than one island available where, if proper shelter were provided, the weak and suffering immigrants might at once be put ashore, with great advantage to themselves and the rest. The establishment of a sanitary station at the Bay would have the further advantage, even when there is no sickness on board the arriving vessel, of temporarily relieving the inconvenient and often over crowded Maryborough depot at times when the demand for labor is less brisk than it is at present, and when it may therefore be on many accounts desirable to keep a portion of the immigrants back until those first forwarded to Maryborough have obtained engagements. Under present circumstances, however, it is sufficient to look upon the matter from the sanitary point of view. To keep immigrants, among whom disease has prevailed, or who are prostrated by weakness, quarantined on board ship, is to expose them to influences so depressing as are likely to aggravate, rather than check, the evil. On the other hand, their location on shore under tents is both more expensive and unsatisfactory - even in a sanitary point of view - than would be a permanent building specially designed for the purpose. Such a building would prove useful in many other ways in connection with the Pilot and Harbor departments and when not likely to be wanted for a specified time, would probably let at a fair rental to sportsmen, anglers, and excursions.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Thursday, July 31, 1873]

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE
DEPARTURES

July 30. — Reichstag, ship, Captain Hauschildt, for Batavia, with original cargo.

[The Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday, August 2, 1873]

The Reichstag left Woody Island yesterday morning for Batavia.

Reichstag Memories 1873

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