H.M.S."Boadicea small-pox out-break

Navy—H.m.s."Boadicea
Question. Observations
LORD COLVILLE OF CULROSS said, he wished to put a Question to the noble Earl the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, of which he had given him private Notice. It was, Whether it is true that, in consequence of the refusal of the local authorities at the Cape of Good Hope to allow some cases of small-pox to be sent ashore from H.M.S. "Boadicea" on her arrival at Simon's Bay from the West Coast of 1290 Africa on the 28th of January last, six days after the disaster at Isandlana, that vessel was compelled to remain at anchor and in quarantine in Simon's Bay during a period when her presence and that of her crew would have been of the utmost importance towards re-inforcing the troops and inspiring confidence in Natal. The Boadicea arrived at Simon's Bay from England; but on her way had touched at some ports on the West Coast of Africa, and in this way, unfortunately, small-pox got on board—so that on her arrival at Simon's Bay she had 13 cases on board. Her captain applied for permission to land these sick men; but leave was refused. He made a second application to be allowed to land them at a point of land which projected into the sea, where they would be completely isolated from the population in the neighbourhood; but this was also refused, and he was told he must remain in quarantine at anchor, and at the expiration of 21 days after the recovery of the last case he would be allowed praticque. The unfortunate ship was consequently detained pitching and tossing in Simon's Bay, exposed to a strong south-easterly wind, and it was not likely that with such treatment the epidemic could be stamped out. In February a fresh outbreak took place, affecting two officers and 23 men, amongst them being Captain Romilly. His was an aggravated case, and the greatest fears were entertained of his life; but he was happy to say that his life had been spared, to the great relief of his numerous friends in this country. He had now been invalided, and would come home. Sanitary precautions were, no doubt, all very well; but the Colonial official mind, in this case, appeared to have come to the conclusion that it was of much more importance to keep smallpox out of Simon's Bay than to send this magnificent ship on to Natal at a moment when her presence would have been of the utmost importance. He thought his inquiry of so much importance that he had ventured to bring the matter under the notice of the House.

EARL CADOGAN, in reply, said, that the facts were as stated by his noble Friend. Since the occurrence had become known, the Secretary of State for the Colonies had made strong representations to the Cape Government, with a view to induce it to modify its quaran- 1291 tine regulations. With reference to his noble Friend's statement that the presence of the Boadicea and her crew would have been of the utmost importance towards re-inforcing the troops and inspiring confidence in Natal—it was, no doubt, important to re-inforce the troops at the Cape; but he thought it more than doubtful that troops just landed from a ship in which there was small-pox would have been brigaded with the other troops. He must also say that he could hardly agree with his noble Friend that the presence of such persons would be calculated to inspire confidence at Natal.

littlehand,

Here is some additonal information on the crew members who were infected. Sorry it took so long.

List of Crew Members stricken with Smallpox
(Taken from: “Medical and surgical journal of Her Majesty's Ship Boadicea for 1 January to 31 December 1879” by James P O'Malley, Fleet Surgeon. NATIONAL ACHIVES / ADM 101/157.)

1. Tom Glasgow, aged 20, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 2 January [1879], at Quitta. Died, 12 January [1879]. Selected by the head Krooman, found to be physically fit and entered on the ship's books 28 December at Sierra Leone.
2. Jim Manney, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 20 January 1879, at sea. Died, 31 January 1879.
3. Tom Cockroach, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, [19] January 1879, at sea. Died, 26 January 1879.
4. Henry Hazleburg, aged 25, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 20 January 1879, at sea. Died, 30 January 1879.
5. Richard Gillis, aged 27, Leading Seaman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 21 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora which was a temporary hospital, 30 January 1879.
6. Jack Ropeyarn, aged 25, Head Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 21 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, reported to have died during the night.
7. Tom Sharp, aged 25, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, [21] January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, but died, 2 February 1879.
8. Owen Standon, aged 18, Bandsman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 29 January 1879, where he recovered and became an attendant on other patients.
9. Jim Crow, aged 25, Head Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 23 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, where he recovered. Stated that he had been vaccinated but there was no mark on his arm.
10. Jim Weller, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 23 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, and died, 4 February 1879.
11. Tom Newman, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 23 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879.
12. George Smith, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 24 January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879.
13. Tom Poorfellow, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, [24] January 1879, at sea. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, where he recovered.
14. Bottle of Beer, aged 24, Krooman; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 27 January 1879, off the Cape. Transferred to HMS Flora, 30 January 1879, where he died.
15. William Holliday, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 7 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
16. William Bevis, aged 18, Sick Berth Assistant; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 7 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879, where he recovered.
17. Albert Charles Aitkins, aged 26, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 8 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879. His case turned out to be a mild form of small pox following revaccination.
18. Robert John Day, aged 18, Domestic; disease or hurt, variola. Put on sick list, 8 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
19. Henry Perry, aged, 20, Stoker; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 8 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
20. William Passingham, aged 17, Boy; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 8 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
21. George Challen, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
22. William H Burfield, aged 23, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879, where he died on the sixth day from leaving the ship.
23. Samuel Thorn, aged 19, Domestic; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
24. Thomas Clayton, aged 23, Private Royal Marine Light Infantry; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
25. Alfred Newberry, aged 17, Boy; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
26. Thomas Lowe, aged 24 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
27. John Cook, aged 19, Private Royal Marine; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
28. Edward Fabrey, aged 24, Stoker; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
29. John Dalton, aged 23, Stoker; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 9 February 1879.
30. John Bracegirdle, aged 20, Private Royal Marine; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 10 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,10 February 1879.
31. Francis Romilly, aged 34, Commander; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 10 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,10 February 1879.
32. Albert Moore, aged 38, Leading Stoker; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 11 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,11 February 1879.
33. Edwin Porter, aged 22, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 11 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,11 February 1879.
34. Thomas Strong, aged 32, Ship's Corporal; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 11 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,11 February 1879.
35. Thomas Martin, aged 23, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 13 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora,13 February 1879.
36. Lucas Rose, aged 23, Stoker, 'a coloured man'; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 13 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 13 February 1879.
37. Mr Charles H Biddick, aged 27, Engineer; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 13 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 13 February 1879.
38. William Henry Adshind, aged 32, Gun Room Steward; disease or hurt, varioloid fever. Put on sick list, 14 February 1879, at Simon's Bay. Transferred to HMS Flora, 14 February 1879.

Petty Officer Tom

Tom. Thanks very much. Much more than expected. And more infected than expected.

From the footnote on page 391, Chapter XVII "The Life Of Sir George Pomery-Colley" by Lieut. General Sir William F. Butler.

"A year or two earllier there had ocurred in the ship to which he belonged a terrible oubreak of smallpox. The disease was almost confined to the black Kroo boys, as they are called, who are taken for service on board ships of war on the African station. Commander Romilly would not abandoned the stricken sailors, whatever might be their colour. Attending to them closely through their sickness, he too caught the infection, and though he recovered, it was to bear on what had been a handsome face, the deep scars of the disease. Such things tell for much in a community of sailors or soldiers."

Petty Officer Tom

I did read. There was no cure for Smallpox. But if you were lucky enough to survive. You wouldn’t catch it again.

Also. It was the Europeans that passed on the deceases, to the Africans. Smallpox. Whooping cough ect.

In 1853 The Smallpox Vaccination was made compulsory by an Act of Parliament.