Canada is currently celebrating it’s 150th anniversary in 2017. Coincidentally Emily Weddall was born 150 years ago too. Read more:

Emily’s ancestors, the Graisberrys, emigrated to Canada, where their descendants still live today.  One such relative was her uncle Richard Lyons McArthur. Born in 1826 he was her mother Emily’s only brother. Emily McArthur was born a year after, and appeared to be very close to her older brother, that may have come to pass because of the early loss of their father who died in 1829.

Both sibling lived together with their mother for most of their lives, the greater part in Dublin while Richard completed his education at Trinity College. He was ordained a Deacon in 1849 and a Priest a year later. His first parish it appears was in Copgrove, a small parish near Ripon in Yorkshire, where his mother and sister moved along with him. His mother Mary died in 1855 and sometime after that he emigrated to Canada to take up a position in the church at St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. His sister Emily followed some time later and stayed on as his housekeeper. They bought a house on Duke St. St Catharines, but only lived there less than a year. Richard contracted Scarlett Fever and died within days. The grave of Rev. Richard Lyons McAthur

For the short time he spent in his Canadian parish Richard Lyons McArthur was well liked and sadly missed. His kindness was noted by the parishioners and his memory lasted for decades as expressed in his obituary from a unknown local paper:

“On Saturday morning last the Rev. Richard Lyons McArthur, Curate of the English Church in this town, aged 30 years.

The deceased had not been among us quite a year, and yet had made himself beloved and respected by all who were honored with his acquiescence. In addition to Mr. McArthur’s clerical duties he added many others calculated to to endear him to the inhabitants of this town – such for instance as visiting the poor and needy, the sick and infirm. To those who required help his hand was open in offering charity to those who required instruction, he was “apt to touch.”

We have suffered a loss not seen to be supplied in the death of this gentleman. Mr. McArthur was quite a young man but has been cut down by two days sickness. Scarlet fever took hold of him and not withstanding the able medical attendance of Dr. Mack, such was the virulence of the disease, that he lasted but from Tuesday till Saturday. The deceased was a young Englishman, who had chosen Canada as his home, and the sphere of his spiritual labours. He was rich, and had invested largely in our Provincial institutions. How mysterious appear the ways of Providence to us in the removal of much usefulness and the means and dispositions to do such good. The poor blessed him, the children loved him, and the close observer of, character respected him. Unobtrusive and deeply pious he “did good by stealth, and blushed to find it fame.” Mr. McArthur’s remains were followed to the grave by a large and respectable portion of our inhabitants.”

Emily must have been heartbroken and at a loss to what to do now that her only brother had passed and her service to him was over. She rented their house and returned home to Ireland.

With her own fund to live on and investments in Canada and a house there too she was for all intents and purposes an independent woman. It was still Victorian times and independence was not the order of the day for young ladies from Emily McArthur’s background. She may have enjoyed her freedom while it lasted but a few years later she was matched up with Rev. William John Burke, more than twenty years her senior. In October 1861 she became the second Mrs. Burke.

Sources

Dublin Evening Mail 28 December 1849

Edward Weddall was a true master of his trade. The master mariner, on at least two occasions saved his crew and ship from wreckage. Once in Captain Weddall saves the day and Lloyd’s some money – again.

The following article appeared in the – Hull Daily Mail on 21 November 1895;

A PLUCKY HULL CAPTAIN

“The Hull steamer Fairy, on a recent voyage from Konigsberg to London, had the misfortune to break her crank shaft. at the time of the accident she was 300 miles from Hull, to which port the master decided to take the steamer. Very stormy weather was experienced, the steamer having to ride at both anchors during the worst of the gale. The pluck and perseverance of the master, Captain Weddall, had its reward, the vessel reaching Hull in safety without any assistance and Lloyd’s underwriters in London have recognised these services by a handsome presentation to the master.”

Emily, who had not as yet met her future husband when the incident occurred. She would have been proud of Edward Weddall’s bravery and perseverance, traits she possessed herself.

Lloyd’s of London today

Sources

21 November 1895 – Hull Daily Mail – Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

“From those beginnings in a coffee house in 1688, Lloyd’s has been a pioneer in insurance and has grown over 325 years to become the world’s leading market for specialist insurance. On the following pages you can learn about Lloyd’s unique and colourful past, from its early days in Edward Lloyd’s coffee house, to the historical events that changed the face of Lloyd’s forever.” Lloyd’s of London

Lloyd’s of London today

Lloyd’s the insurance company originated in a 17th Century London coffee shop, run by Edward Lloyd trading where the merchant navy traded. The demand for insuring expensive cargo increasingly became a necessity. In Victorian times the business transporting goods around the world grew and practically every ship in the British Isles was insured with them. Edward Weddall as a captain in the merchant navy was covered by the company.

One incident in 1881 when he was at the hull of Cohanim, under his command spared the company a big insurance payout on the cargo worth 250,000 dollars (5.5 million in today’s currency). His quick thinking and ability to influence his crew to follow through to the bitter end paid off. The article taken from The Shipping News; “The crew repairing a broken crank shaft in the Atlantic.”

His crew worked for four days and nights to repair the crank shaft, which got broken in a storm, which they did against pretty much all odds. The brave bunch saved the cargo and were rewarded 200 dollars (almost 5,000 today) by the insurance company.

The Shipping News

THE CREW REPAIRING A BROKEN CRANK SHAFT IN THE ATLANTIC

We see it is stated in a New York contemporary that the New York Board of Trade of Underwriters have awarded the officers of the Cohanim 200 dollars in testimony of their courage and skill during a recent storm. Late in October last the screw-steamer Cohanim belonging to Newcastle, sailed from Gibraltar for New York with a cargo of dried fruits and almonds form the Mediterranean valued at about 250,000 dollars. When she was seven days at sea a severe hurricane broke the crank shaft and left her the mercy the waves about miles west of Madeira, the nearest port. Captain Weddall ordered the crew to set all sail and keep the vessel hauled to the wind. So furious was the tempest that the vessel must have foundered but for the captain’s skill in managing her. The engineers had no tools with which to repair the broken shaft, but the were ordered to get to and make them. by working hared a large drill was finished in a few hours, but it was found to be needless without a large brace and the only one on board was a small one, the sailors made a new socket for the brace. Then with the ship tossing about like a cork, the seamen began to bore a hole 3 1/2 in diameter through 28 inches of solid iron. For four days and nights they stuck to their task, each man working as long as he could, and then being relieved by another until the core of the shaft was neatly drilled out. then an iron stanchion was cut away from the hold and rude bolt was made out of it. The bolt was driven through the shaft and clenched on both ends, thus securing the fractured part sufficiently to carry the steamship to Madeira in six days by running slowly and keeping the ship under full canvas. from Madeira world of the accident was sent to England, and after a few days Captain Wendall received a new shaft from Hull. Then the vessel proceeded on her way to New York in safety. the owners of the cargo testified their admiration of the feat by making every man a handsome present.

Sources

https://www.lloyds.com/lloyds/about-us/history

26 January 1881 – Shields Daily Gazette – South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England

http://www.in2013dollars.com

“Every year 3-5 million people around the world are infected  with cholera and 100,000- 120,000 people die from the infectious disease, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).”

The above is from a 2016 report not that of more than a century ago, when an outbreak meant death for most that contracted the deadly disease. Nowadays a vaccine can be administrated in high risk and epidemic zones saving thousands of lives. Back in the nineteenth century there was no such vaccine as the disease was thought to have been transmitted by air. The disease is in fact  but we now know that the disease is caused by  bacteria. Cholera is spread through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. That is how it found its way on to the Bracadaile, the ship Edward Weddall was captain on in 1894/5.

The ship carrying mostly emigrant workers from Calcutta in India to St. Lucia in the West Indies, when cholera broke out. This particular stain of cholera originated on the banks of the Ganges making its way to the port of Calcutta and then on broad Captain Weddall’s ship in the water supply and in the food.

Edward Weddall, just like any other sea captain would have placed high importance on hygiene on board his vessel, as it was vital to the survival of all on board. The Health Authority of the United States, stated in regards to the cholera epidemic of 1894/5:

“Sanitary service at sea. Second only in importance to securing at the foreign port a clean vessel and uninfected freight, with the crew and passengers in healthy condition, is a sanitary service at sea that shall preserve the cleanliness of the ship and the health of the crew.”

The above would have been implemented by the captain when leaving port, but as it has a twelve hour to five day incubation period symptoms may not have been recognized till the ship was far out at sea. By then the Blue Death because the victim turns a blue hue from dehydration, had well taken it’s grip, claiming the lives of 21 passengers and one crew member. Captain Weddall telegraphed the port authority with the grim news to prepare the for the arrival at  Saint Lucia, but the ship was quarantined until the disease had run it’s course.

REPORT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH. WEST INDIES. BARBADOS.

[Report by Consul Holley. ]

‘ I have the honor to report the following Government telegrams from Saint Lucia, telegraphed as general news to the commercial body of this island, viz, August 3: *’ The ship Bracadaile, with immigrants from Calcutta for this island, arrived to- day. Reports having had 31 cases of cholera on board, 21 of whom, including one of the crew, succumbed. No fresh cases have occurred for twenty-nine days. Vessel quarantined.”

August 6. — The administrator officially announces that the  ship has been free from sickness since leaving the Cape on the 9th of July, and that all are well on board. No communication whatever has been or is allowed with the ship, which has been sent to ride out her quarantine of observation in a bay 5 miles from Castries Island perfectly healthy, and clean bills of health are being issued.

August 16. — It is officially announced that the ship Bracadaile left this morning for New York without having communicated with the mainland. The passengers were landed yesterday on the quarantine island, about a mile and a half from main- land. On landing all clothing was burnt ; the only articles of any kind which were’ landed from the vessel were jewelry and metal drinking vessels. The passengers are in , strict quarantine. The general health among them has been good, and there has been no cholera since 10th July.” In consequence of the telegram of the 16th August, I cabled the following to the Department of State, viz : ‘* Ship Bracadaile left Saint Lucia 16th — New York — had cholera.” I observe by New York Herald, August 11, that the steamship Bracadaile, with Saint Lucia advises, arrived, and was quarantined at Havana August 10. This is undoubtedly the ship referred to in the foregoing official telegrams.

ROBERT Y. HOLLEY.

Captain Weddall with the remainder of his crew arrived home at Tyne on February 18th 1895, having survived this infectious and deadly disease. It was not an unusual situation, life in general was precarious and life at sea more so. He survived this time but would contract a tropical disease later forcing him into early retirement.

Sources

http://www.who.int/wer/2016/wer9138/en/

Full text of “Annual report of the National Board of Health. 1885“

http://www.choleraandthethames.co.uk/cholera-in-london/origins-of-cholera/

Image:

Sanatory Committee, under the sanction of the Medical Counsel, in New York City – New York Historical Society Wilford, John Noble. “How Epidemics Helped Shape the Modern Metropolis.” The New York Times. April 15, 2008. – And “Plague in Gotham! Cholera in 19th-Century New York.” New York Historical Society. April 04, 2008 – August 31, 2008.

Disasters at sea were all too commonplace when Edward Weddall was a mariner. Before modern technology it was more difficult to predict weather patterns and communications with shore were limited as Emily’s husband Edward Weddall recounts in his letter to a newspaper below. The event of the night of 12th December 1869 resulted in the loss of  The Lady Flora, on which Edward Weddall first mate off the Island of Heligoland, in the North Sea. This may have been his first brush with death in his ten years at sea. He survived to tell the tale and to express his gratitude  for the kind treatment he and his fellow shipmates extended by the islanders. His letter to the Hull and Eastern Counties Herald of December 30th 1869;

Lady Flora in Lloyd’s Register of Ships 1865

The Loss of the Lady Flora

To the Editor of the Herald
Sir- During the fall of 1868 I remember seeing in your paper a story of the unkind treatment received by the crews of some Hull fishing smacks that were lost on the island of Heligoland at that time. I wish now, on the part of myself and the remainder of the crew of the Lady Flora, steamer, to state my experiences of the conduct observed towards use and the reception given us by the governor and the inhabitants, when we landed there from the wreck of the steamer, on the 16th instant.

Our second boat, after leaving the wreck, was unable to reach the island, on account of the terrible sea which was running and being in addition stove in in two places, our escape sensed almost hopeless; yet in the face of the awfully heavy gale and tumultuous sea, the islander out in there or four boats to our assistance, and eventually landed us safe on the island, which, but for their help, we should never have reached. On landing we were in a naked condition, and half dead from cold and exposure. They took us up to the houses, where the had already for us hot water for baths coffee and other restoratives and immediately provided us with new dry clothing which the had the greatest difficulty in obtaining having to send the bellman round the island asking who had a coat or other article of clothing for sale.

Owing to the stress of weather there was no communication with the main land, and we were detained on the island three days. during this time the governor (the Hon. Mr Masse) seconded by the port captain, Mr, Mains, showed us every kindness and attention in their power, visiting us three or four times a day to see if we were comfortable and had all our wants supplied. As an instance of their extreme kindness to all of us, I may mention that they even supplied the whole with pocket-handkerchiefs and other small articles of comfort, and the governor sent us a complete suit of his own clothing, even the studs for the shirt. He himself was the very first to volunteer to come off to our aid the they from the island observed the ship to be sinking.

I am requested by the whole of the crew (as well as obeying my own feelings) to endeavor to express out sincere gratitude to the governor, to Mr Mains and to the whole of the inhabitants generally for the unceasing kindness and attention shown to us while on the Island.

The death of Captain Borstal who was drowned while endeavoring to clear away the boats, and thus div a chance of escape to the crew, was mainly owing to his exhausted condition, he having had no rest since the Sunday previous (four whole days and nights), and when in the water was totally unable to help himself, and we were utterly unable to reach him. The other two poor fellows were lost as the vessel settled down and the boats were washed off the deck. With these three unfortunate exceptions, the whole of the crew have this day arrived safely in Hull by the s.s. Leopard, Captain Hedgecock, to whom I, in the name of the whole crew, wish to express our heartiest thanks for the kind and generous treatment accorded to us on board his ship. – I am, sir, yours respectfully, Edward Weddall,
Late Chief Mate of the s.s. Lady Flora.
Hull, 23rd December, 1869

Sources

Hull and Eastern Counties Herald 30 December 1869

http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?188777

http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/public_education/reference-library/register-of-ships-online/