The following statement has been handed to us by some of the passengers brought on to Moreton Bay in the barque Emma, from one of the Navigator islands:-

Sir, Being one of the passengers by the barque Elvira, Captain Alley, bound from San Francisco to Sydney and Melbourne, via Navigator Islands, I deem it necessary that the public should be informed of the treatment the passengers received at the hands of the Captain, the (supposed) owner Corby, and the American Commercial Agent, Mr Vancamp. Each first cabin passenger paid 125 dollars and each second ditto 80 dollars for a passage to Sydney or Melbourne. The Captain stole out from San Francisco in the morning of February 28^th, 1855, having previously got rid of three sheriffs officers that had been on board for a fortnight.

Immediately we cleared the land a heavy gale came on, which nearly drove us ashore. Some or the ship's sails were carried away, and we had none to replace them until some old ones were mended some time afterwards. We also lost the whale boat, through great carelessness. The number of passengers was sixty two. We had no medical man, and scarcely any medicine. One passenger died April 23rd two days before the ship anchored in Apia harbour. There is every reason to believe the passenger would have lived to the end of his voyage (Apia) if he could have bad any medical comforts, such as arrowroot, sago, or oatmeal. Two days after arriving at Apia, the passengers asked the captain if he were going to purchase the necessary things for the ship - sails, ropes, and provisions - that we might continue the voyage. He replied that he had no money. The American Consul would do nothing for us I forgot to state that the ship left San Francisco with New Granada papers, but no colours, and immediately the ship arrived at Apia, the Captain placed himself under American protection, and the American ensign was hoisted on board the same day, by the Consul, who told the passengers that the laws of America did not allow him to do anything for British subjects, even if they did sail from an American Port. When the passengers found they could not obtain any redress from the American Consul, they went to G. Pritchard. Esq., H. B. M: Consul, and told him how they had been treated, having been nearly starved while in the harbour. The British Consul had several interviews with Mr. Vancamp, the American Consul to obtain redress for us, but to no purpose.

The cargo (timber) was discharged at Apia, and placed in the hands of the American Consul. The Wizard, schooner, came into Apia harbour a few days after our arrival, and the Captain (Jackson) after severely animadverting upon the conduct of Captain alley, took as many of the male passengers as could pay 80 dollars each, and the remainder were left behind.

During the time the Elvira was lying in Apia harbour, the barque St. Mary's arrived from San Francisco, with a cargo of flour, and passengers for Australia. The vessel was in the same predicament as our own, the Captain (Martin), having stated to me, that it was never his intention to go to Australia. On the 15th of May, the American Consul turned the remainder of the passengers, eleven in number, off the Elvira. H. B. M. Consul then undertook to provide for them, at the same time telling the American Consul that he would hold the ship while there remained a stick in her unless he was paid for their support. I must here state that Mr. Pritchard sympathised greatly with our misfortunes, and did his utmost to remedy them. Three families and two single men left the island in the barque Emma, on May 16th, bound to Sydney, and paid their own passages - E. Lyne, J. Christie, Costello." - Moreton Bay Courier, June 30, [1855].

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 157 ; 9 Jul 1855

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