" Lizzy Carruthers nee BRADFIELD and her family originally came out on the sailing
ship John Masterman in June of 1860. The ship arrived at Port Elizabeth in good order and
particularly clean."
Many of the immigrants came from conditions of shocking poverty and had no idea of
personal hygiene and cleanliness. The surgeon with the help of the matron and schoolmaster
managed to enforce acceptable standards, the children became noticeably thinner and had to
be given a supplementary diet under supervision, as it was known that the parents were
eating their rations. School was attended by 27 children and 86 adults but was frequently
interrupted by bad weather. It was an eventful journey. On the 3rd April they came across
a wrecked schooner from Bordeaux, the passengers were impressed by the bravery of their
captain and crew in rescuing the survivors. Later they had a near collision with a vessel
which neither showed a light nor answered a hail and gave off a pewtrid smell as they
passed close to it. A crew member became violent and so terrified the passengers that he
had to be confined. On the 26th the crew mutinied and refused to shorten sail, apprentices
assisted by m!
ale immigrants succeeded in manning the sails, standing watch and running the ship until
the 31st when all but four of the crew returned to work. The four were considered to be
ringleaders and imprisoned. A child fell from the upper to the lower deck, sustained
slight concussion and a small premature infant was overlaid by its mother and found dead
in the morning.
"February 1897, my wife 'Lizzy' and I left Kimberley for East London,
travelling up to Durban by boat where we waited a chance to get through to Salisbury via
Beira. We finally reached Umtali from the rail head near Macequece by wagon, which was
lent to us by my friend, Dick FISCHER (spelling ?) of 'Headlands' we were delayed
in Old Umtali several weeks awaiting the road being safe to travel up."
"My friend, Edwin WEBB, also delayed at Umtali with his wagons, received a wire from
the B.S.A. Company asking his charge, to load to Salisbury. He quoted @6 per 100 Ibs. The
Company wired back 'Load all you can.' He immediately went round, bought up all
the wagons available, most of them derelicts on account of the Rinderpest. These he pulled
up along side the Commissariat Store. Many of them had only two or three wheels on,
however having no time limit, all were made serviceable. My brother in law, Dick BRADFIELD
taking charge, had returned with me from Kimberley. WEBB paid as much as @65 for an ox.
Eventually he delivered his complete load to Salisbury, receiving many thousand pounds for
transport. The coach we travelled up by was crowded, included was Mr and Mrs Frank BRIERS.
Strange to say there was not a rifle on board. We felt relieved on reaching Marandellas.
My old Kimberley friend of the Diamond Field Horse, Major Mouri BROWN, was in charge of
the laager who m!
ade us very welcome. The same day the remains, of Mrs HEINEY, was found a few miles out
with a bottle of water by her side. She had died in her attempt to reach Marandellas,
having been severely stabbed by an assegai. Her two children, a girl 13 years and a boy 11
years were killed down beyond Wedza. Having lost her husband by fever, she was out trading
grain with a wagon at the time, that I had lent her for the trip." Etc.....