Wild
Deer
The
WILD DEER was launched from the Clyde yard of Charles Connell in December of
1863. Graced by a figurehead of the goddess "Diana", she was the first
of Charles Connell's composite ships, having a teak bottom, elm planking above
the turn of the bilge and iron topsides fastened with yellow metal screw bolts
and treenails.
She
left the stocks under the command of Captain George Cobb, a well-known racing
skipper in the China Tea trade and previously commander of Robin Hood. On her
maiden voyage she lost her foremast in the North Atlantic and had to put into
Lisbon to refit.
WILD
DEER sailed very well in both heavy and moderate seas and made some very good
times between Shanghai and London. In 1867 she made a run of 68 days from Anjer
in Indonesia to London and in 1868 she beat PETER DENNY and DOUGLAS CASTLE back
to Gravesend, making port in 120 days.
In
her early years as a tea clipper the WILD DEER carried 10 small guns on gun
carriages mounted on her decks. During her voyages to New Zealand these guns
were struck down and stowed in the forepeak. The racks over the saloon table,
however, still carried 24 muskets with bayonets, cutlasses and pistols.
In
1866, WILD DEER was sold to the Albion Shipping Company (formerly Patrick
Henderson & Company) and in 1871 was applied to the New Zealand immigrant
trade on which she was to spend the rest of her days. She was popular in this
activity and was well known in Port Chalmers as a clean ship aboard which her
passengers received a healthy and comfortable passage.
On
December 6th 1873 (10 years after her first taste of water) WILD DEER set sail
for New Zealand with 240 immigrants bound for Port Chalmers, Otago. Included as
guaranteed passengers were Isabella Munro (widow of James Munro) and five of her
six daughters. WILD DEER She initially made slow progress, working down the
Forth of Clyde against strong WSW winds but finally cleared land on December
18th, dropping the pilot of Scilly.
Proceeding
south & west across the Atlantic, she made her way south towards the Cape of
Good Hope, crossing the equator on January 10th 1874. During this part of her
journey she was "jammed" against the coast of South America in the
vicinity of Brazil by the south-east trade winds. This caused some difficulty in
navigating around coastal islands and required a constant and vigilant lookout
to be kept. On February 4th, WILD DEER passed the meridian of the Cape of Good
Hope and turned to commence running her eastings down. It was on this day that a
large iceberg was sighted.
Steady
moderate winds carried WILD DEER eastward across the Indian Ocean towards Cape
Leuwin, Tasmania and her final destination. She passed the Snares below Stewart
Island and bore north to make her first sighting of land on March 4th at Cape
Saunders on the South East side of the Otago Peninsula. Entering Otago heads on
March 5th she reached Port Chalmers under tow of the Geelong on March 9th making
a total time for the journey of 84 days.
After
January 1882 WILD DEER was given to Captain Kerr and it is here that I quote
Basil Lubbock from his book "The Colonial Clippers"........
"He
was a very steady man, but no sailor. On 12 January, 1883, when outward bound
with emmigrants, he piled the poor old 'Wild Deer' up on North Rock, Cloughy,
County Down, and she became a total loss".
Arrival of the Wild Deer
Otago
Daily Times Thursday January 21st 1875
The
arrival of the well known Wild Deer yesterday took the Port by surprise;
although she had been 80 days out she was scarcely expected. However, she, on
this occasion, has done what she has done before, viz., fully sustained her
reputation as a clipper vessel by making the passage in 80 days, difference of
time allowed for. The Wild Deer's approach was noted by a string of flags at the
Signal Station, which flags none could make head or tail of, and it was not
until the Geelong had towed the ship well up the Cross-channel that her identity
was made manifest by her build and general appearance. Having an exceptionally
clean bill of health she was towed right through the shipping, and moored off
the end of the Railway Pier, and there boarded by the Customs and Health
officers, the Immigration Agent, Mr Allan, not being present, having, we
understood, laboured under the impression that the ship was not an immigrant
vessel. The misconception was of course due to the mistake in the signals.
The
Wild Deer comes here on this trip in the command of Captain Malcolm, late of the
Helen Burns, Captain Cowan, having been promoted to the Wellington, one of the
Company's new ships. Mr Kilgour is still Chief Officer of the Wild Deer, and
considering the hoard of people he has had to contend with, he has brought his
ship into port in good order. We have thank him for the report of the passage,
as follows: The Wild Deer left Gravesend on the 31st of October, and
having a leading wind down the Channel, cleared the land on the 2nd November, a
last departure being taken from the Lizard with a S.W. breeze. Variable winds
prevailed from soundings to the N.E. Trade belt, the northern edge of which was
entered by the Wild Deer in lat. 26 N., long. 24 W. The Trade hung well to the
east, and once went into S.S.E., and gave out in lat. 7 N, long 23 W. The
doldrum belt was ruffled by light southerly winds while the Wild Deer crossed it
and she crossed the Equator on the 26th November, long 27.35 W. The S.E. Trade
was met with in lat 4 S. and lost in lat 13 S.thus proving a poor Trade, on the
morning of the 6th December, and thence light airs and variables hung about the
ship to the 16th December, when she came within the influence of the "brave
westerlies".On the 24th December she crossed the meridian of Greenwich, and
that of the Cape on the 29th December, whilst the meridian of the Leuwin was
passed on the 10th inst., and Stewart's Island breasted on the night of
the 18th. After finding the Corstites the ship made a splendid running,
averaging 10 knots per hour for 36 days, her best days work being 300 miles, and
her lowest being 190 miles. She ran her easting down between the 46th and 48th
parallels. From the Snares she had easterly and variable weather to the Heads,
which were reached yesterday afternoon, and the Geelong being in readiness for
her she was towed right in.The following vessels were spoken during the
passage:- November 4th, lat. 47.30 N., long 8.30 W., ship Duchess of Argyle,
from Shields, bound to Sydney. November 11th, lat. 35 N., long 21 W. ship Lady
Jocelyn, from London to Canterbury. November 17th, lat 16 N., long 26 W., ship
Pride of England, from Cardiff to Ceylon. November 27th, lat 3.30 S., long 29
W., ship Canute, from Liverpool to Bombay. December 12th, lat 33 S., long 29 W.,
sighted the ship Lady Jocelyn for the second time. December 18th, lat 38.30 S.,
long 20.12 W., spoke barque Ellie Stewart from Liverpool to Chillinyong.
The Wild Deer brings 10 cabin passengers and 312 nominated and free immigrants. There were 314 when she left, but two infants dying soon after - they were moribund when they were taken on board - the number was reduced as above. The immigrants y be classified as 40 married couples, 71 single men, and 54 single women, or according to nationalities, English 73 male and 73 female adults; children under twelve years, 30 males and 42 females; infants 6 males and 7 females. Scotch - 5 male and 2 female adults; children 2 males and 7 females; infants 1 male and 4 females. Irish - 33 males and 22 female adults; children 7 male and 5 females; infants 2 males and 1 female. Foreigners 3 male and 1 female adults; children 1 male. Dr Gregg was the surgeon superintendent in charge, and he spoke very favourably indeed of the immigrants. Both captain Malcolm and he designated them as a steady, respectable lot of people. With captain Malcolm we passed through the various compartments, and were pleased to observe the cleanliness everywhere apparent, the sleeping berths well arranged, and plenty of ventilation and light. There was nothing to be desired in addition to the accommodation of the single men and women, but we still have to remark upon the want of privacy in the arrangement of the accommodation for the married people. The offices fore and aft were clean, the hospital space was as it should be, whilst the immigrants galley was a model of roominess and cleanliness and convenience. The condenser (one of Chaplin's) worked well and was up to about 800 gallons per 24 hours. In fact the ship was in perfect order throughout, and a credit to her commander, the doctor and officers. We presume that the immigrants will be landed today. The Wild Deer brings a large cargo, weight and measurement. We may observe in conclusion, that the death of the two infants was caused in the one case by rachitis and in the other by mesenteric disease