The ship had been named the SS Ocean Maid and had six cabins for private passengers and fifty individual bunks separated by canvas drops for the fifty Government immigrant passengers. Edmund’s and Maeve’s bunks were adjacent. Privacy was at a minimum but it was adequate. The private passengers would dine at the captain’s table while the Government passengers’ meals would be served in a community mess.
As the sun was setting, the Government passengers were called to dinner. Edmund and Maeve went forward to mid-ships to the mess room. As they were sitting down Maeve heard her name called. She turned to see Mary Cooney walking towards her. She was pleased to see Mary. They would be good company for each other. They hugged then sat together and started chatting about nothing and everything.
Mary had been billeted with an elderly married couple sharing their double cabin. She had seen Maeve coming on board but had lost sight of her. She knew she would find her at dinner time.
The ship made very good progress down the west coast of Africa. The seas were relatively calm and the sun was frequently shining. The girls sat on the main deck enjoying the sun and read to each other. This helped Maeve conquer her feelings of inadequacy due to her limited schooling.
The trip was generally uneventful. Few ships were seen on the horizon and sea life was limited. They arrived in Cape Town surprisingly on schedule. Most ships were late. After a two day stopover they headed east out into the Indian Ocean. The trip was now to become eventful, changing weather and seas making the voyage uncomfortable.
The wind speed increased and was gusting. The topsails were reefed and the main deck hatches closed and passengers confined to below decks. The sea spray from the bow periodically covered the entire main deck from the pitching of the ship. The thumping of the hull crashing onto the sea and the creaking of the timbers were difficult to ignore. Even though the hull was sound, the noises were disconcerting to first time passengers on a sea voyage. The captain changed course to find some calmer weather. First he sailed south for a day but after encountering some ice on the decks and not finding any improvement in the rough seas and high winds, he headed due north. After two days sailing north the winds abated and the seas became calmer together with the sun shining through the clouds.
Most passengers had only been eating one or two meals a day for about a week due to the weather. That night the mess was full and all had an ample meal. Life on board the ship was more comfortable. Although the seas still had a long swell and the wind was around thirty to forty knots.
The first warning of danger was an enormous crash, the ship rose up and then the hull came crashing down to the water, wallowing and yawing. The ship had struck a large whale. The passengers were dining when the collision occurred. They could hear the captain and the bosun calling out orders to the sailors. The passengers were told to stay where they were.
After about half an hour the captain walked into the mess and advised that the whale had stove in two large planks amid ship at the waterline. Although the ship was safe they had to proceed to Port Louis on the island of Mauritius for repairs. He did not wish to continue the long voyage to the Australian colonies with a less than fully sound ship. His crew was in the process of hauling a sail underneath the ship to cover the damage and the shipwrights were attempting to place other timbers over the damage. The bilge pumps were pumping out more water than was flowing in, so the ship was safe.
Surprisingly there was little panic among the passengers. The captain’s prompt communication about the situation and his intended action had a calming effect. His confident demeanour and strong personality contributed to reassuring the passengers.
The trip to Mauritius was slower. The captain was taking advantage of the winds to keep the ship heeled over from the side the whale hit to reduce any water leaking into the hull where the damage had occurred. The only obvious change to life on board was that all were required to hold onto ropes and rails when walking on the sloping deck.
The seas were relatively calm so Maeve and Mary continued their deck readings. Edmund was content to sit and gaze into the distance from a position in the bow with the breeze in his face, and allow his thoughts to wander.
Mauritius, or Ile de Maurice as the French called this island in the middle of the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, appeared as Edmund and Maeve stood in the bow watching for the southern tip of the island to rise on the horizon. The southern area of the island had a small steep mountain named Le Morne Brabant from which a hilly spine continued running north through the centre of the island.
The ship continued north and west of the reef which surrounded the sandy coastline. It then turned east half way up the coast into a small natural bay which sheltered their destination.
The town of Port Louis was the idyllic scene. Maeve marvelled at the palm trees, the lush shrubbery, and the golden sands bordering the light blue sea water. On Mary’s insistence, she had purchased a large hat in Cape Town to protect her face from the sun. Maeve now appreciated this good advice as the sun’s rays were intense and would have reddened her skin within an hour or two.
The captain addressed the passengers and off duty crew. He advised that they could disembark but must return on board before sundown each day. He did not know how long the repairs would take but he would sail immediately they were completed. They had been warned!
Edmund, Maeve and Mary went ashore in the third cutter and strolled around the town. It was mainly a shipping port with ships’ chandlers on every corner and streets of warehouses for storing their main export, sugar cane and its by-products. Mauritius had been a French possession prior to the defeat of Napoleon, after which the British took possession of the island.
The population intrigued them. There were creoles from South Africa and Indians providing the labour in the sugar fields. The minority white population consisted of mainly locally born French speaking civilians and a few British civil servants and businessmen. The people were content, well fed and living in a pleasant environment; it was very different to Ireland.
The ship planned to leave within the week so it gave Edmund, Maeve and Mary a chance to have a day trip inland in a four wheel horse drawn cart. They travelled into the hills where the foliage was even denser and the climate cooler. Standing at a vantage point in the hills they had a grand view of the entire northern coast looking over the treacherous reefs which had claimed ships for hundreds of years. The scene was magnificent and they would never forget it.
They visited a small museum with paintings of the extinct flightless dodo bird which had been hunted down by the dogs of the early settlers.
The visit was enjoyed by all the passengers and they avidly discussed their adventures during the evening meals in the ship’s mess. The ship was repaired on schedule and sailed on the tide, one week later.
The SS Ocean Maid headed out of Port Louis Harbour with a slight south westerly breeze, turned north and, after clearing the northern reefs, the ship headed east towards the Australian colonies. They were on their last leg of a long voyage with the next port of call, Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria.
The three of them sat watching an albatross wheeling and circling overhead in the clear sky. Its effortless movement was a grace to behold. They had seen some beautiful sights during the voyage but nothing surpassed the splendour of the gliding albatross. The seas were choppy with the intermittent spray annoying the enjoyment they had from walking along the deck. The girls had read all their books and had exchanged them with the other passengers.
Maeve was a quick learner and now had an excellent command of the English language, although she would always have her Irish accent. Her association with Mary had been most beneficial. They had formed a mutual bond of respect and friendship which Edmund hoped would last. They would both need friends in the new country.
The ship made good time with the strong westerly winds that prevailed at this latitude — the ‘roaring forties’ as the old salts called it. Fortunately the winds were steady and the ship kept an
even keel for several weeks. It wasn’t until they were well into the Bight that the weather changed, but even then it allowed passengers to walk on deck.
The westerly wind changed to a southerly and forced the ship to tack more frequently and hence delay their arrival. When they reached the Port Phillip Bay Heads they were four days late. Luckily the ship arrived on the high tide and managed an immediate passage through the entrance into the bay where Melbourne was located.
John had left a message and money, with the shipping agent, to be handed to Edmund upon their arrival in the port of Melbourne. The letter instructed the agent to hire rooms for Edmund and Maeve Keogh at the Travellers Inn at Williamstown and for them to wait there for him. The agent had also been requested to send a letter to John’s barracks in Kyneton advising of their arrival.
On arrival at Hobson’s Bay, the agent found out about their arrival by locating their names on the ship’s manifest. He was most helpful and helped them settle into the inn, then he wrote to John as requested.
The Keoghs found the hustle and bustle of Williamstown a bit disconcerting after the quiet Irish village lifestyle they had enjoyed. Mary Cooney was met by her father and mother and she gave Maeve their address. After a few tears and hugs they departed, promising to write to each other. Maeve had invited Mary to be her bridesmaid for her forthcoming wedding.
The great day was getting closer. John and Maeve had not seen each other since October 1854 and it was now March 1856. They had poured out their hearts to each other, sharing their wishes, desires and hopes. They both worried if they or the other had changed. They need not have worried.
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John left Kyneton well before daylight in a four-in-hand cart with Connor Scanlon accompanying him. He had received the advice that Maeve and Edmund had arrived in Melbourne the previous evening. John had been anticipating this news for nearly a month and finally he was to see her again.
The trip took until noon with several horse changes en route. The sun was overhead as they drove up the main street of Williamstown.
Maeve was standing by the window and glanced at the four-in-hand that stopped outside the inn. Two men alighted and suddenly she realised that she was looking down at John.
Her John! She did not move but simply watched him. John looked well. He was tanned and smartly dressed. He was magnificent!
Edmund was standing alongside her and saw John walking towards the inn. He took Maeve’s arm and led her to the stairway. They had been expecting John since they arrived and for two days they had dressed ready to welcome him.
John was in the foyer talking to the porter when he looked up and saw Maeve descending the stairs, followed by Edmund. John just stood and looked at her. She seemed more mature and confident. She was indeed beautiful. Her face lit up when she saw him and a magnificent smile appeared. John walked to her and held out his arms to enfold her. He kissed her on the brow and they hugged each other without saying a word.
John stepped back. “I seem to have waited an eternity for this moment. I thank God for your safe arrival.” He gently kissed her. Turning to Edmund he offered his hand. “Welcome to the colony, sir.”
He called Connor forward and introduced him. “Connor will see the porter and collect your belongings. We will travel home as soon as we can. If we get delayed or are running very late, we will stop at Woodend.”
John and Maeve sat in the back of the carriage while Edmund sat up front with Connor, who soon had the horses clipping along at a good rate. John guessed they would arrive at Sunny Lodge late evening.
While Edmund and Connor chatted to each other and exchanged their histories, John and Maeve sat holding hands. Maeve told him of her voyage. He was content just to listen to her lilting Irish voice. The story of the voyage had taken second place in his priorities.
They stopped three times to change horses and to take refreshments. At Macedon they joined with four other carriages to travel through the dangerous Black Forrest at Woodend. The convoy had a safe trip and at Woodend they each went their own way with Connor continuing towards Kyneton and Sunny Lodge.
The sun had well set when they arrived in Woodend but the sky was cloudless and the night would enjoy a full moon, so John decided to continue home. Edmund was dozing up front and the rocking of the carriage had caused Maeve to fall asleep in John’s arms.
It was another two hours before Connor turned up the long driveway and headed to the house. Connor’s dog, Blackie, ran down the drive barking and jumping around the carriage. With the reins pulled back and the brake applied, they stopped at their future home.
Maeve was now awake and sat up, looking around. The moonlight was shining over the fields and had cast shadows around the house. She could hear cattle in the distance and see some sheep standing at a nearby fence looking at them. It was a picture of serenity. Maeve felt that she had arrived at her destiny.
John sat in the carriage looking at her. She turned with tears in her eyes and kissed him. They left the carriage and together walked hand in hand into the house. John showed them to their rooms. It had been a long day and they immediately went to bed.
Maeve slept deeply. The next morning she dressed quickly and wandered through the house, finding her father sitting at the table in the kitchen waiting for the pot to boil. He had risen over an hour ago and had gone for a walk with Connor and had just returned to have breakfast. It was the country habit to keep the large wood stove alight all day and night in the winter months. Wood was plentiful and had been cut and stacked by Connor under the adjacent veranda.
Edmund said John had been called on by a trooper and had immediately dressed and ridden out. “Tell Maeve I’ll be back by nightfall.”
Connor was available for the day and after breakfast he walked with Edmund and Maeve around the farm. Maeve was delighted and Edmund was impressed with the layout, the facilities and the stock. He could see that it was almost self-sufficient. He would enjoy living here.
John arrived at dinner time and both he and Maeve sat at the end of the table and talked animatedly. They could not get enough of each other’s company and it was very obvious.
The next four weeks soon passed and they had settled into a comfortable relationship born from their love for each other. During this time Maeve sat and wrote a letter to Michael c/- Heather Alford in Van Diemen’s Land and gave him John’s address. Her father constantly spoke of Michael. He was in his thoughts all the time.
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The wedding had been arranged to be held in May. Caroline Eden, the wife of John’s friend William, had befriended Maeve and had been invited to be her maid of honour with John’s deputy, Lieutenant Caly, John’s best man. Naturally Edmund would be giving the bride away.
As Maeve was a devout Catholic, John agreed to have the marriage service in her religion. John was not a Catholic, so the Kilmore district visiting priest had suggested that they hold the wedding and the celebration at Sunny Lodge. This arrangement was satisfactory; indeed it would help resolve some potential transport problems for guests during the wedding day. The music would be provided by a local trio consisting of a soprano accompanied by a piano and a violin.
The day duly arrived. It was sunny but cold, a typical Kyneton day for this time of the year. The guest list consisted of businessmen and most civic leaders and several soldiers of the 12th Regiment including Lieutenant Colonel Sir Nickle.
The two parlours had the unnecessary furniture removed. One room was prepared for the ceremony and the other room was laid out for dinner. They had borrowed the tables and chairs from the Kyneton Mechanics Institute. Connor had cleared the farm shed and whitewashed the interior walls ready for the overnight guests’ horses to be stabled. The two cooks had started cooking the day before and the serving staff would arrive one hour before the dinner was to be served. All was now organised.
After meeting Mary Cooney at the coach station, John drove her to Sunny Lodge and returned to Kyneton to stay at the barracks for the night. The wedding was schedu
led for noon.
John rose early and went to his office to check the mail. Then he carried out the daily inspection of the stables and the men’s dormitory. As the wedding was on a Saturday, only a guard and a duty officer remained at the barracks; most of the others were at leisure in town. The soldiers who had been invited to the wedding had left the barracks at ten o’clock with John and Lieutenant Caly left an hour later.
The two were resplendent in their red and yellow trimmed dress uniforms and white shoulder belts, together with the sun glimmering on their black polished hats, riding boots, saddles, bridles and chrome sword scabbards. They were a fine example of British Army officers mounted on their two jet black horses. They rode quietly, listening to the birds. In the distance they could hear a laughing kookaburra.
As they came over a hill John looked down on his property and he could see the carriages of the guests and people milling around the farm house. The time had arrived.
Maeve had risen early and had breakfast with her father and Mary. She was naturally excited and was pleased she had Mary to comfort her and Caroline to help and advise her. Maeve began dressing at ten o’clock. She wore a long white dress and the others wore light pink dresses, all made by the local seamstress. Her veil was the one Aunt Jane had given to her on her departure from County Clare. The wedding room flowers, bouquets and table floral arrangements were from the farm gardens. They were simple but colourful. Caroline pinned Maeve’s hair and tied ribbons in her tresses and did the same to Mary’s hair.
John had bought Edmund a wedding outfit including a suit, shirt and shoes. He walked to Maeve and kissed her lightly. “If only your mother could see you now.” He turned and walked away. As John and Lieutenant Caly dismounted, the priest and Connor stepped forward. The priest shook their hands as Connor took the reins of the two horses and led them to the stables. He smiled and asked, “Are you ready?” They took off their hats, placed them under their arms, took a deep breath and nodded.
The Convict and the Soldier Page 22