The advent of steamers meant larger hauls of livestock could be transported over longer distances at quicker speeds. In Australia, sheep and bullocks were transported long distance across the oceans of the world. Australia had strict regulations to ensure the safe passage of animals, bullocks being the biggest trade were either tethered to the deck of the vessel or held in wooden stalls in the hold.
On average losses of stock on long trips were relatively low, but long overseas voyages could result in cattle arriving at their destination in an appalling condition, this affected the price the investors would get for their stock, sometimes investors lost money.
Loading and unloading livestock could be a challenge in itself. The better ships and wharves were set up with ramps, giving relatively easy access onto the ship, others slung the beasts on and off the ship using overhead cranes. Where the dock facilities were inadequate or non-existent the vessel would stand offshore, the cattle were hoisted over the side into the water then swim to shore. The success of this method often relied on the health of the animal, drownings were common, others were taken by sharks attracted by the activity.
Many things influence the welfare of the stock, their condition at the time of loading, how many were carried, the distance they were transported, by far the biggest factor which could affect the health and safety of the animals was the weather.
The following story is about the struggle of one ship against the ferocity of nature, the survival of the vessel, the crew and the stock rested on a knife edge for 4 long days.
On average losses of stock on long trips were relatively low, but long overseas voyages could result in cattle arriving at their destination in an appalling condition, this affected the price the investors would get for their stock, sometimes investors lost money.
Loading and unloading livestock could be a challenge in itself. The better ships and wharves were set up with ramps, giving relatively easy access onto the ship, others slung the beasts on and off the ship using overhead cranes. Where the dock facilities were inadequate or non-existent the vessel would stand offshore, the cattle were hoisted over the side into the water then swim to shore. The success of this method often relied on the health of the animal, drownings were common, others were taken by sharks attracted by the activity.
Many things influence the welfare of the stock, their condition at the time of loading, how many were carried, the distance they were transported, by far the biggest factor which could affect the health and safety of the animals was the weather.
The following story is about the struggle of one ship against the ferocity of nature, the survival of the vessel, the crew and the stock rested on a knife edge for 4 long days.
The weather was fairly good.
May 25 - Spirits must have been high for Captain Robertson and his crew as they cleared Newcastle harbour bound for South Africa, The 1887 ton steamer Anerley was almost new and fitted with the best equipment. The weather was fine and the ship was fully laden with some of the finest cattle in Australia. Not far into the voyage the mood quickly changed. A strong southerly gale and what was described at the time as a " strong hurricane" engulfed the vessel. The seas rose quickly threatening to sink the ship and all on board, it was so bad she rolled from side to side almost rails under. Captain Robertson put her head into the teeth of the gale and reduced her speed, although scarcely moving ahead, great volumes of water thundered over the forecastle and deluged her fore and aft.
She carried 10 tons of fodder, a hull laden with coal, and 330 head of cattle tethered to her decks and in pens below, most of them of the very best stock. Each time a sea came onboard the beasts on deck were carried, with their fittings, either along the deck smashing into the ship's machinery or over the side of the ship, dead cattle were strewn across the ship. The noise of the violent storm was overlaid with the sounds of the death groaning, the moaning, and the sickening, piteous outcries of helpless beasts.
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| The depiction of a scene such as the Anerley must have experienced. - Amazon. |
May 27 - The hurricane showed no signs of abating, the steamer still drove her nose into the oncoming swell, each approaching mountain of water threatened to engulf her. Dead and maimed bullocks lay about the deck in heaps, but still, nothing could be done. Barely a dozen of the original consignment held their footing. As night approached the stench from the hold ventilators was so terrible the officers could hardly remain on the bridge.
With the decks awash with constant water, much of which was finding its way below. Captain Robertson directed his crew to batten down the holds which had been left open for ventilation for the poor beasts below. Battling hurricane force winds, mountainous seas and a steeply pitching deck while fighting the fear of being washed overboard or crushed by untethered bullocks at any time, these tough men strained to lash down the hatches. This action exasperated the blight of the animals in the hold, dashed about in their wooden pens suffocating in the thick air, one can only feel pity for the terror these animals suffered.
Out of 330 animals, only 65 remained alive on board, and these were by no means in good condition. In their endeavours to save the animals and the ship from disaster Captain Robertson and his crew were exhausted with anxiety and fatigue. They could have scarcely held out much longer.
The long slow haul down the coast now found the vessel standing off Jervis Bay where she signalled to the Jervis Bay Lighthouse keepers that she had lost a large number of bullocks overboard.
May 28 - The weather moderated and the hatches could be taken off, revealing a revolting spectacle below, a stench absolutely overpowering arose through the open hatches. Carcases of beasts lay strewn about, timber stalls were broken and scattered like matchwood. The moderating weather allowed the captain to enter the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay. During this ordeal, the Anerley had only travelled 140 miles at the rate of a knot and a quarter an hour. The news of which shocked the shipping industry and could hardly be believed.
This gives us some insight into the extreme conditions the ship and crew faced.
During the ordeal, Captain Robertson tried in vein three times to reach the safety of a port, but the conditions were so bad he was forced to keep the ships head toward the sea for fear of foundering.
After a nights rest the steamer left the bay and headed for Williamstown, the crew cleared her decks and hold of the carcases on the journey, arriving on the following Saturday, two hundred and sixty cattle had been cast overboard. Sitting alongside the wharf, the Anerley attracted a lot of attention from onlookers, she was a sorry sight, displaying all the signs of a fierce battle against the elements.
"As the vessel lies at Williamstown pier she does not look anything like the taut and trim steamer she did when she left Newcastle, almost new on Friday week."
"In the history of cattle shipping, it has rarely happened that such a disaster has overtaken a vessel off this coast."
Unlucky steamer.
June 7 - After the experience of almost losing the ship and the dreadful loss of cattle, you wonder how these men could put back to sea. But shortly after arriving in Melbourne, repairs to her holding pens was carried out, the Anerley's hold was loaded with horses and cattle and coal and she set off for South Africa, when she arrived in Durban news was received that 210 animals had been lost on the voyage. Another disastrous voyage for the Anerley, her owners, and the poor creatures involved in the live animal trade.
1904 - Steamer wrecked.
The steamer Anerley, owned by Messrs. Watts, Watts, and Co., had been trading to Japan for some little time, she went ashore on a voyage from Japan to Fusan, and became a total loss.
Continue reading about dead cattle strewn acroos the shore of Jervis bay.
Continue reading about the terribel ordeal of the Ship City of Melbourne and the loss of prize race horses.
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