Dorunda’s cholera bees, Brisbane, 1886

When some cholera infected passengers were identified aboard the R.M.S. Dorunda on its arrival at Moreton Bay, Queensland, in mid December 1885, health authorities decided to place all aboard ship in quarantine at Peel Island. Swept up in the safety procedure was a hive or hives of bees consigned to a Mr. Spry, a commercial beekeeper in Brisbane.

S.S. Dorunda, rounding Kangaroo Point on Brisbane River, c1892 1

The British India Steam Navigation Company’s iron steamship Dorunda of 2,977 tons, being 350.2ft x 36.4ft x 28ft, was built in 1875 at Dumbarton, Scotland. “Of the first class of steamers, the two largest lines in the world are the British India Steam Navigation Company and the Austro-Hungarian Lloyds. … at present the steamers owned by each number about seventy-seven and seventy-nine respectively. The British India Company … has lately started a line to Brisbane in Queensland via Batavia. Its steamers have until lately been of medium size, but it is now building larger ships. Its vessels are named after Indian towns, etc., and the names are mostly very pretty, as the Merkara, Dorunda, Ellora and others.” (pp.287-8) 2

The bees plight prompted Charles Fullwood, a prominent Brisbane apiarist, to write to the Editor of the Brisbane Courier, wherein it was published on 16 January1886. “Sir,-Your subleader this morning re bees in quarantine attracted my attention. Of course, it is well known that I am personally interested in the introduction of foreign races of bees, having very successfully introduced and established the far-famed Ligurians into Queensland.

I have nothing whatever of personal interest in the bees brought by Mr. Spry by the Dorunda. Yet I should be very sorry to learn that they were destroyed; for they must have cost him much expense and trouble to get them so far. Still, if the bees may be a source of danger to the inhabitants by introducing disease, they ought not to be allowed to land. This is what I challenge. As a beekeeper who has for many years studied the habits of these insects, and worked among them pretty considerably, I must express my decided dissent to the statements contained in your leader. Allow mo to assert - rather dogmatically, may be - bees are not scavengers. They cannot endure any kind of putrescence. They do not feed on any animal or similar substance. They are particularly clean in their habits, and the most unlikely insect of all I am acquainted with to carry disease germs, unless those germs are to be found in theblossoms of trees and plants, or the water they visit. But should there be any doubt in theminds of the authorities, the destruction of the honey is all that is necessary, and that is reallynot needed, seeing that it is most unlikely that a single particle of the small quantity they have in store will come into human consumption. … I understand Mr. Spry has brought some of the most valuable strains of bees to be found in Europe or Asia, and believed to be the most suitable for this climate. I hope they will not be injured. Chas. Fullwood, 15 Jan. 1886” (p.3)

1 Image from http://www.biship.com/logentries3.htm2 Preble, Geo. Henry (1883) A Chronological history of the origin and development of steam navigation. L.R. Hamersley & Co., Philadelphia

The article to which Fullwood so strenuously objected appeared in the Brisbane Courier, 15 January1886: “We are informed that among the passengers by the Dorunda, and placed in quarantine with them, were a number of bees. Now, it is pretty well known that bees are about as indefatigable in the collection and distribution of germs of all kinds as any known agents. It is therefore by no means unlikely that these industrious insects, while foraging about Peel Island, may have managed to convey back to their hives along with their store of pollen whatever of these dangerous germs they may have encountered on their way. Besides, though it may not be generally known, bees are great scavengers and frequently infest sewage and all kinds of refuse for the sake of obtaining saline particles, which particles the curious may observe on the comb by means of a microscope. Under these circumstances it is evidently advisable, in the interests of the public health, that the hives and combs should be destroyed. With regard to the bees themselves it seems a pity to adopt such a summary measure when the trouble and expense that has been bestowed upon them is taken into consideration, but if the queens are saved that will probably satisfy the owner.”

In the same issue of the Brisbane Courier: “The following account of the voyage of the R.M.S. Dorunda, Captain N. R. Sayers, has been kindly forwarded to us:- “… left Gravesend on 20 th October with 24 saloon passengers and 283 statute adult emigrants. Had a very fine run across the Bay of Biscay down the Mediterranean to Malta, at which port we arrived on the 29th October at 7 a.m. After taking coals and water proceeded to Port Said, where we arrived on the 2nd November, and entered the Canal the same day as far as the first station, where the ship was detained eighteen hours owing to the grounding of the s.s. Eden Hall. While at anchor in the Bitter Lakes a concert was given by the emigrants, assisted by the saloon passengers and some passengers from the s.s. Port Victor visited us and helped in the concert, which went off with great eclat, 3 and was fully appreciated by all. We got clear of Suez to date, and had a very cool run down the Red Sea to Aden, which was reached on the 9 th November: had to wait for the arrival of the P. and O. Company's s.s. Sutlej, which arrived forty-eight hours late, and immediately on getting the mails we started for Batavia.

S.S. Dorunda, docked at Port Said, Egypt, near the entrance to the Suez Canal 4

The run across the Indian Ocean was exceedingly fine. … [then passed through the] Straits of Sunda … arrived at Batavia on the 27th November, and left the same day for Thursday Island via Banjoewangie; arrived at Thursday Island on the night of the 6th instant, where we had to wait for medical inspection till the next morning. This took some time, for each passenger was examined separately; after which we went alongside the bulk [hulk?] Star of Peace to discharge cargo. Left Thursday Island on the 7th at 2 p.m., and

3 enthusiastic approval4 Image from State Library of Queensland

proceeded through Torres Straits under pilotage charge of Captain F. Binstead. … Arrived at Cooktown at 10 am on the 9th December. Here we were again examined by the medical officer of the port. Landed mails, passengers, and cargo, and left the same afternoon at 3 p.m.

Passengers accommodation on Peel Island 5

All had gone well till leaving Cooktown, when several of the emigrants were taken seriously ill. One died the same evening, and two more before arriving at Townsville; this being reported to the health officer, who, after consulting with the doctor of the ship, decided to place the vessel in quarantine. 11 th December received orders to proceed to Moreton Bay, where we arrived on the 14 th, and awaited till the following day, When we were ordered to the Quarantine Station at Peel Island, where passengers werelanded, and a portion of the crew to attend upon them. The ship is now being fumigated,and all fittings, bedding, &c, belonging to the emigrants destroyed.”

Dorunda in quarantine at Peel Island 6

Reports vary as to the number of fatalities, however, including the voyage down from Townsville, between six and twelve passengers died from the infection. On arrival in Moreton Bay there remained

5 From Peel Island, a brief history, by Peter Ludlow: “As on board ship accommodation for passengers and crew was strictly segregated according to class. Saloon passengers occupied the largest building to the south. Next came the officers' quarters, doctor's quarters, and female steerage passengers. Crew and male steerage passengers slept in tents.”6 http://users.bigpond.net.au/pludlow/peelhist.htm

three dangerous cases. The Brisbane Courier reported “the infected ship steamed round the island at half speed, and anchored between the Quarantine Station and Bird Island. She was flying the yellow flag on her mainmast, and an ensign at half-mast on the ensign stall indicated that more deaths had occurred.” 7

Of the three in danger only one survived. One body was buried at the quarantine station and the other was interred at nearby Mud Island. 8 Some 356 surviving passengers and 105 officers and crew were released from Peel Island on 9 January 1886. 9 “The passengers certainly did appear to be in excellent spirits. This was probably due to the fact that they were now about to quit the infected ship in which no fewer than twelve of their number had breathed their last.” The bees’ fate was not recorded.

7 Brisbane Courier, 16 Dec. 1885, p.38 Brisbane Courier, 16 Dec. 1885, p.39 Refer http://www.fopia.org.au/documents/Poster-Dorunda.pdf