19/06/1876 - 27/09/1876

With 344 government assisted migrants. ARRIVAL OF THE TREVELYAN INSUBORDINATION OF THE CREW The Trevelyan is one of Shaw Savill's line of vessels, which has before been engaged in carrying immigrants to Adelaide, and owing to her suitability for this service she was chartered for the present trip. Captain Edward, who is a man of long experience, speaks of the voyage in regretful tones, owing to a spirit of insubordination which broke out amongst the crew on the early part of the passage. The first manifestation of bad conduct was shown by the men breaking into the hold and stealing grog. This was followed by rebellion against the officers and insult to the other people on board, and matters went from bad to worse, 14 men at last banded together to do all sorts of wickedness. They defied the officers to deal with their misconduct, and for a long period the ship was in quite an unsettled condition from the state of apprehension which existed. As soon as possible the master separated the ringleaders, and by organizing an opposing force of the better behaved of the crew, aided by the single men, he took the mutineers by storm, and locked the lot in the forecastle, where they had been safely quartered for a space of several days before their arrival. When they found the decisive nature of Captain Edward's conduct they promised to do anything if they were only liberated, but the master had had such a lengthened period of anxiety that they were kept below for the remainder of the passage, and on reaching the anchorage a posse of police soon escorted the crowd to the Port police-cells. The report of the voyage shows that the Trevelyan left Plymouth on June 30, having winds varying from west to north-west, but very light. It was some time before the Channel was cleared, and the 9th of July before the passage of the Bay of Biscay was made. On July 9 light north-north-east and north-east winds set in, and continued until the 16th, when the vessel was well down to the Canary Islands, and fell in with the ship Hesperus, bound also from Plymouth to Adelaide. The winds were light, and for three days the vessels were in sight of each other, but on the 20th the Hesperus was lost to view ahead just before reaching the Cape Verd Islands. On July 25 the ship had reached lat. 12° north long. 27¼° west, and fell in with south and south-west winds, attended by rain and squalls and the usual fitful weather of the doldrums, so that very slow progress was made until the 6th August, when the Line was crossed in 23°45' west. Very indifferent breezes continued till the 21st August, when there was a scampering breeze, and the distance in the 24 hours reached 255 miles. That was the first good day's work since departing 53 days before. On the 25th there was a fine breeze from the westward, and the speed increased to 12 knots per hour and continued so for a few days. There was a break in the monotony of the passage on Sunday, the 27th, when a heavy sea struck the rudder with such force as to knock away all the steering apparatus. Fortunately some relieving tackles were on hand, and while they were being rigged the aftersail was taken off the ship; and although there were some heavy squalls, she was saved from broaching-to. During the excitement consequent on the accident part of the crew broke into the hold and stole a lot of spirits, which, being consumed, had the effect of reducing about half their number to a state bordering on uselessness. Especially at such a season ought the men to have kept up the character of British tars. Instead of this they became furious, and in consequence the ship only carried very easy sail until the 22nd, when the helm was again in use - a process much hastened by the help of a handy blacksmith on board, who could use his tools to some purpose. The conduct of the second officer was also very plucky, as he volunteered to go over the stern to shackle the rudder chains. On August 31 the Trevelyan was on the meridian of the Cape in 41° south latitude, 62 days out. From September 2 to 8 there were very light winds, mostly prevailing from south-east to east, and consequently too far ahead to lay her course. The smashing of the wheel, and subsequent repair, added very materially to the passage, and the insubordination of the hands was a very perplexing matter, which prevented the master carrying sail as he otherwise would have done. On August 28 the crew stole another case of spirits from the hold, and another scene of wild excitement followed. On September 22 the meridian of the Leuwin was hardly passed in latitude 43° south when a fresh outbreak obliged a lot of the men to be put in irons and kept so till arrival. On September 27 sighted Kangaroo Island, and at 9.30 Cape Borda was abeam. Towards midnight the ship was boarded off the Semaphore, and on Friday morning would be towed into Harbour.Register 29/9/1876