The Corona was built at Dundee in 1866, she was 1,199 tons, 209.6 feet long, 35 feet breadth and with a depth of 22 feet. She was built on a iron frame and then planked.
The Corona was the largest merchant ship employed in transporting convicts. The Captain of the Corona was William S Crudace who in later years became a prominent ship owner in Dundee.
The Coronas trip to Western Australia in 1866, carrying Dennis Carr along with other convicts, was her maiden voyage. It was also the fastest passage to the Swan River, taking only 67 days.
The ships surgeon was William Crauford. (Ref Anna Wright/Barry)
Details from the Ships Surgeons Logbook
Oct 13. 133 convicts writing to friends, compressed vegetable issue
Oct 14. Wet, divine service in the prison
Oct 15. Off Portland, prisoners writing to friends, comp. veg. issue.
Oct 16. Off Portland Mr Smith, pilot came aboard, weighed anchor at 1:30 p.m. pilot left ship at 3:30. Preserved potato issued.
Oct 17. Very rough during night, most prisoners sick, wine isued to all at 1:20 p.m. much rain today.
Oct 18. Fine day, heavy seas and head wind. Comp. veg. issued.
Oct 19. Fine bright day, headwind ship rolling, pres. potato issued plus wine.
Oct 20. Strong head winds, much rain, wine and veg issued. 12:00 noon gale of wind with heavy rains 8 p.m. gale moderating but rain still falling.
Oct 21. Sunday fine bright morning with fair winds. Divine service suspended, squall at 10 a.am. wine and veg. issued.
Oct 22. Light winds, religious instruction commenced duties of school assisted by appointed monitor. Noon calm seas.
Oct 23. Fine and warm with light wind. Wine issued, school.
Oct 24. Light breeze, fine and warm, at noon breeze increases, 3 p.m. fine fresh breeze 3:50 p.m. the wife of Pt. Casey delivered of a daughter. Wine issued, school.
Oct 25. 6:30 a.m. wife of Sgt, Hughs delivered a son. Lime juice issued, wine and veg. First sign of trade winds.
Oct 26. Fine fair breeze, warm weather. Veg. and wine issued.
Oct 28. Very fine, divine service at 10:30 a.m. wine and veg. issued 2:30 p.m. divine service to guards and families.
Oct 29. Fine and warm, lime juice and wine issued. School.
Oct 30. Fine and much warmer, bathing on deck during afternoon.
Oct 31. Very hot, wine and veg. issued.
Nov 1. Very hot, wind moderating. Wine and veg issued.
Nov 2. Close oppresive weather, light wind. Wine and veg issued. 12:30 p.m. squall shorten sail, 1:30 p.m. squall abated full sail.
Nov 3. Thunder and lightening, heavy rain early morning. Later hot and oppresive, light breeze from S.E. Wine and veg. issued.
Nov 4. Light breeze, weather hot and clear. Divine service in prison 10:30 a.m. Roman Catholics on deck. 10:50 one of the crew overboard, a lifebeuy was thrown to support him until rescued by the ships longboat. Limejuice, wine and veg. issued 2:00 p.m. divine service on poop.
Nov 5. Cloudy squally day with heavy swell from S.E. wine and veg. issued. Prisoner No. 7718 Thomas Hinson suffering from diarrhoea, admitted to infirmary.
Nov 6. Fine hot day, first sign of N.E. trade winds. Wine and veg. issued and lime juice. Thomas Hinson still ill.
Nov 7. Fine day, good breeze strong head sea 10:30 passed St Pauls Rock. Wine and veg issued. Hinson still signs of sinking.
Nov 8. Strong winds, head sea. 7:50 a.m. prisoner No. 7718 Thomas Hinson of the chathom division died. Wine and veg. issued. 3:30 p.m. Thomas Hinson buried, carried by his messmates.
Nov 9. Very strong trade winds, hot fine day, Wine veg. issued.
Nov 10. Fine hot day.
Nov 11. Fine hot day, Divine service.
Nov 13. Strong squalls during middle watch ship rolling uneasy in morning, fine strong breeze.
Nov 26. The ships carpenter
on his rounds found two inches of between deck sawn through and several
holes bored through the adjacent planks forming the shape of a square hatch,
large enough for the passage of a man. On examining the upper deck no trace
could be seen of a cut or abrasion of the plank so ingeniously had the same
been filled with waste paper and soap and only by pushing a wire from below
could the place be found. Corporal punishment was administered to the alleged
culprits:-
Hugh McGriskin 18 lashes
George Eagan 24 lashes
John Parker 24 lashes
The latter two then to be placed in hand and leg irons.
Nov 27. Fine breeze, clear weather.
Nov 28. Light wind, clear bright morning.
Nov 29. Fine morning, afternoon dull rain.
Nov 30 Cloudy, strong head winds, noon fine and clear 8:00 p.m. ship-about heavy rain.
Dec 1. Dull cloudy morning, high winds, 6:30 light winds and rain.
Dec 2. Sunday Light unsteady winds. 10:30 Divine service.
Dec 3. Strong winds and squalls, heavy rain and thunder and lightening in middle watch. Noon unsteady wind heavy showers.
Dec 4. Strong breeze with heavy sea at 9:00 a.m. strong gale with occasional rain. Noon strong gale but the squalls less violent, ship lurching heavily. Wind moderating during afternoon.
Dec 6. Wife of Pte Devitt delivered of a son.
Dec 8. Early morning squally, strong breeze. 7:00 a.m. strong gale and heavy squall, main topsails double reefed. Noon gale continued with heavy squalls. 9:00 p.m. less winds.
Dec 9. Sunday Fresh breeze heavy beam sea, too rough for divine service.
Dec 16. Light breeze.
Dec 22. A.M. strong breeze, cloudy. Noon Rotness Island in sight, 12:30 pilot came aboard, 3 p.m. anchor at Fremantle, 3:30 police boat arrived from shore.
Dec 23. Commandant arrived to inspect ship and arranged to disembark prisoners.
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