Murder Afloat The true story of massacre aboard the brig, Carl

By Gordon Plowman

Ships sailing the trading routes of the South Pacific in the 1800's mostly carried general merchandise. Other sailors sought fortunes gathering sandalwood and diving for pearls and pearl shell.But,in the latter half of the century a much more lucrative trade developed - the labour trade.
Plantation owners in Australia and Fiji were desperate for a source of cheap labour. Their dreams were fulfilled when the Australian government approved a scheme to recruit labourers from the South Pacific islands. What started out as a legitimate venture soon degenerated into a slave trade where cruel men used bribery and threats to fill their ship's holds with human cargo. When these methods didn't work they resorted to kidnap and murder.
Of all the blackbirders involved in this sinister trade, a dapper Melbourne doctor was the worst. This is the true story of bloody mass murder on board the brig, Carl,systematically carried out under orders from Dr James Patrick Murray. But this was just the beginning of a bizarre series of terrible events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gordon Plowman
• Release date: Apr 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458024312

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MURDER AFLOAT

THE TRUE STORY OF MASSACRE ABOARD THE BRIG, CARL.

PUBLISHED BY GORDON PLOWMAN AT SMASHWORDS

COPYRIGHT 2021, GORDON PLOWMAN

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MURDER AFLOAT

The true story of massacre aboard the brig, Carl.

First, an explanation for the use of the words, ‘Kanaka,’ and, ‘blackbirding.’ Native Hawaiians were once called kanakas but the word spread to describe inhabitants of the Pacific Islands as well. It is used in this story in its historical context only and certainly not as an offensive term. The same logic applies to ‘blackbirding,’ the recruitment by fair means or foul of Pacific Islanders to work on farms and in businesses as a cheap source of labour. In many cases and in Queensland in particular, the exploitation of kanaka labourers amounted to slavery and their recruitment or blackbirding involved some of the most heinous crimes ever committed against fellow human beings. The term is used here in its historical context only. Now to our story:

Wind billowing in her sails, the brig, Carl, ploughed through the blue Pacific waters on yet another leg of a dastardly recruiting mission. On board she carried a precious cargo but not the kind you'd usually expect to find on a vessel trading in the South Pacific Ocean. She doesn't carry tropical fruits, valuable timbers or sandalwood; no copra or pearl shell. The Carl carries human cargo.