Hell Ship: The True Story of the Plague Ship Ticonderoga, One of the Most Calamitous Voyages in Australian History
by Michael Veitch
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For more than a century and a half, a grim tale has passed down through Michael Veitch's family: the story of the Ticonderoga, a clipper ship that sailed from Liverpool in August 1852, crammed with poor but hopeful emigrants-mostly Scottish victims of the Clearances and the potato famine. A better life, they believed, awaited them in Australia. Three months later, a ghost ship crept into Port Phillip Bay flying the dreaded yellow flag of contagion. On her horrific three-month voyage, deadly show more typhus had erupted, killing a quarter of Ticonderoga's passengers and leaving many more desperately ill. Sharks, it was said, had followed her passage as the victims were buried at sea. Panic struck Melbourne. Forbidden to dock at the gold-boom town, the ship was directed to a lonely beach on the far tip of the Mornington Peninsula, a place now called Ticonderoga Bay. James William Henry Veitch was the ship's assistant surgeon, on his first appointment at sea. Among the volunteers who helped him tend to the sick and dying was a young woman from the island of Mull, Annie Morrison. What happened between them on that terrible voyage is a testament to human resilience, and to love. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A terrific insight into life aboard an immigrant ship for those who took the perilous Journey from Ireland, Scotland and England to seek a new life in Australia. I started this and just couldn't put it down, the hardship and conditions these people had to put up with on a 90 day journey was just heartbreaking and we must remember their courage and foresight as they forged better lives for their children and grandchildren and indeed for their families left behind as they sent the money back home to better the lives of brother and sisters and the generations yet to come.
I was lucky enjoyed to have been given a gift of this book by a friend who obviously thought very carefully when choosing a gift of a book for me as this is is a story show more that really floats my boat (pardon the pun).
This is the the true account of the Plague Ship Ticonderoga and one of the most calamitous voyages in Australian history and also a wonderful insight to life in Scotland in the mid 1800s and how these people were drove off their lands by greedy landlords and forced to immigrate. I leaned so much from this book and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
The author’s Great- Great - Grandfather was one of the passengers aboard this ship and you can feel his passion as he recounts this heartbreaking but informative true story. Not only was his great great grandfather a passenger but a doctor who put his own life at risk to save and care for so many of the passengers who became ill and It comes across in the story how proud the author is of his great-great-grandfather and I am sure that his ancestor would be just as proud of his great-great-grandson’s re-telling of this amazing story.
A great read and a book that will stay with me a long time from now and another book for my real life book shelf. show less
I was lucky enjoyed to have been given a gift of this book by a friend who obviously thought very carefully when choosing a gift of a book for me as this is is a story show more that really floats my boat (pardon the pun).
This is the the true account of the Plague Ship Ticonderoga and one of the most calamitous voyages in Australian history and also a wonderful insight to life in Scotland in the mid 1800s and how these people were drove off their lands by greedy landlords and forced to immigrate. I leaned so much from this book and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
The author’s Great- Great - Grandfather was one of the passengers aboard this ship and you can feel his passion as he recounts this heartbreaking but informative true story. Not only was his great great grandfather a passenger but a doctor who put his own life at risk to save and care for so many of the passengers who became ill and It comes across in the story how proud the author is of his great-great-grandfather and I am sure that his ancestor would be just as proud of his great-great-grandson’s re-telling of this amazing story.
A great read and a book that will stay with me a long time from now and another book for my real life book shelf. show less
Ticonderoga (Ship); Emigration and Immigration; Ships and Shipping; Point Nepean Quarantine Station - History
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Author Information
12+ Works 354 Members
In Turning Point, bestselling author Michael Veitch brings to life the incredible exploits and tragic sacrifices of these Australian heroes.
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Dr. James William Henry Veitch; Edward Gibbon Wakefield
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 994.02 — History & geography Oceania & Polar Regions Australia Period of settlement and growth, 1788-1851
- LCC
- JV9124 .V458 — Political Science Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration Colonies and colonization. Emigration and Emigration and immigration. International Australia. New Zealand
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 63
- Popularity
- 491,007
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.75)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 4
