The day the 'Leonidas' arrived in Fiji
The
"Fiji Times" was there to record this historic occasion.
Following is an extract from their paper dated May 17, 1879
May
17, 1879
The
ship Leonidas, Captain McLachlan, which sailed from Calcutta on
March 3rd, arrived at the port on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th,
but failed to make the harbour that evening.
On the next morning communication was
had with the ship, and the unfortunate vessel was found to be in a
pest-stricken condition.
Eventually,
after the ship had sailed for some time up and down outside the
port, she was piloted in by means of the pilot boat.
The Leonidas passed up the harbour,
passed Vagadaci, and when off Waitovu through some stupidity touched
the reef, but with the riding tide floated off and dropped anchor in
Waitovu passage, or as far away from the shore as she could be
conveniently anchored without touching the outer reef.
CHOLERA
So soon as communication was made
with the ship, it was ascertained that cholera had been on board
together with smallpox, and that II coolies had died of cholera arid
six of dysentery; cholera seeming to predominate, while little seems
to be known of smallpox.
Every precaution, under the
unfortunate circumstances of the case, appears to have been adopted
by the Government.
A cordon of four police boats has
been arranged at suitable distances round the Leonidas, and the
schooner Elizabeth (lately the Samoan navy) has been sailed down
from Nasova and anchored off Waitovu, as relieving, or guard ship,
that the boats' crews may be relieved every four hours.
Dr McGregor (the Chief Medical
Officer of the Colony) has devised a very ingenious method of
effectually preventing the contagion being conveyed to the shore,
during the process of sending stores, letters, etc, to the ship.
A staging has been erected on the
outer reef, with a moving platform. Stores necessary to the ship are
placed on this platform at low tide and taken off by the ship s
boat.
DEMOLISHED
The whole staging is then demolished
and allowed to float until the next low tide; when it is re-erected.
All letters are placed in a carbolic
acid bottle, and are of course fumigated before delivery.
Communication with the vessel under these circumstances is of course
slow, but from what we learn there are 373 male and 149 female
coolies on board, independent of children, all of whom are under the
charge of Doctor Welsh. We hear also that two buffaloes are on
board.
It is sincerely to be hoped that all
officers of the Government will, under the trying and unfortunate
circumstances, be at their post and duty, and that any and every
assistance will be rendered by one and all to prevent any contagion
reaching these shores.
|