PIONEERS AND SETTLERS BOUND FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIASOLWAY 1837 |
 Return Home |
 SOLWAY departed from Hamburg, and arrived in Port Adelaide on October 16th, 1837 with Captain R. Pearson and 52 Migrants.
|
|
Memories of the 16,00 miles sea journey lasting 136 days across the Atlantic Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope lingered long. The passage was particularly rough and during one very bad storm the passengers went below decks for a prayer meeting. With the boat rocking violently to and fro, and expecting to sink at any moment, the prayer leader told them to have faith and all would be well. At that moment the storm abated. On many occasions the boat would make good progress but then during the storms would be driven back. When the coast of South Africa was sighted there was much rejoicing as many thought they had reached their destination. The SOLWAY was not a particularly clean boat and cockroaches were a constant menace. Salted meat with bread comprised the main diet and passengers were allowed to bake their own bread during the journey. Bread pudding was also a common dish at mealtimes. One of the passengers, Mrs Kleemann, died of pneumonia on October 14th, 1837. Captain Pearson, according to standard procedure, made preparations for a burial at sea, but Mr F W Kleemann pleaded with him to wait a further two days so that his wife could be buried on land, and if within that time no land was sighted the burial was to proceed. The Captain agreed and when the SOLWAY berthed at Kingscote on October 16th, 1837 Mr Kleemann was able to bring his deceased wife ashore. 
SOLWAY left Kingscote on December 20th for Encounter Bay. Whilst moored in Rosetta Harbour at Encounter Bay severe gales caused the SOLWAY to slip her moorings. |
