Johnstone Bryson Anderson was born in Co. Monaghan, Ireland (a county in the north of Ireland) in 1868. When he was 21, he set off, on his own, to make his way - and future life - in Australia.
The information that he gave in 1919 (see image left) about his arrival in Australia was that he came here in 1887 aboard the "Nuremberg" but an online search was unable to find a ship of that name. However, it would appear that Nuremberg is anglicised for the German Nürmberg and there is a ship - an iron screw steamer - of that name that began its passage in Bremen, Germany in 1887. After picking up further passengers at Southampton, UK she arrived in Sydney 55 days later - with a passenger J. Anderson on board.
Use the map to follow the journey of the Nürmberg as transcribed (beneath) from the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Tuesday the 6th September 1887. (I have added some headings and paragraphs to make it more readable.)
If you click on the points on the map, a description is given, including the weather and state of the seas, of each leg.
The steamer Nürnberg, of the North German Lloyd line, made her first appearance in this port yesterday. She is from Bremen Antwerp and Southampton via ports, with passengers and a general cargo. The Nürnberg in exterior appearance is exactly like her predecessors in the Australian trade, belonging to the same line.
She is an iron screw steamer and was launched from the yard of Messrs. R. Steele and Co., of Greenock in 1873, her principal dimensions being 351ft in length 39ft. 1in. in breadth and 31ft. depth of hold. The Nürnberg is fitted with compound surface-condensing engines and her former record shows her to be a smart vessel.
Her accommodation for passengers is of a superior character, and among other attractions on board is the electric light which is fitted throughout. Captain Englebart late of the Habsburg, is in command: Mr E Sander is chief officer; Mr F. Ziganke, chief engineer; and Mr C Rhodemann who was also in the Habsburg, is purser. Dr Hoick performs the duties of medical officer and reports very favourably on the health of all on board no sickness of any contagious or infectious nature having made its appearance. The passengers generally were thoroughly pleased with their trip and presented the captain with an address to that effect referring specially to the liberal dietary scale.
Amusements of one kind or another were frequent and the fine band on board lent able assistance on such occasions; it also discoursed a selection of music while the passengers were landing at the Circular Quay yesterday and added considerably to the attractiveness of the scene.
The Nürnberg left Bremerhaven, with 272 passengers and a general cargo, at 1.30 pm on July 13 arrived at Antwerp on July 14 at 9.50 am and sailed again at 3.45 pm on July 16.
Southampton was reached at 4.10 am on the 17th and, after passengers had been embarked was left again at 9 15 am same day. Favourable N.E. winds and fine weather followed till arrival at Genoa at 4.50 am on the 24th July. The Nürnberg resumed her voyage at 1.40 am on the 26th July and had a continuation of fine weather till arriving at Port Said at 9.25 am on July 31. The Canal was entered at 11.30 am on the 1st August, a call was made at Suez on the 2nd, and variable winds and calms with very hot weather were experienced during the passage of the Red Sea.
The Nürnberg arrived at Aden at 3.30 pm on the 6th ultimo and after coaling left at 8.10 pm same date experiencing a strong S.W. monsoon to Socotra, where the wind increased and was accompanied with heavy squalls and a very rough sea. Colombo was reached on the 13th ultimo and left again the next day and variable winds and fine weather were had from there to the Line, and very strong S.E. trades with high head sea thence to 25 S. Variable westerly winds followed for several days and fresh to moderate easterly winds from that time till arriving at Adelaide at 10.40 pm on the 30th ultimo. The voyage was resumed at 2 pm on the 31st, and the vessel had to contend with a strong easterly gale and high sea during the whole passage round to Melbourne, where she arrived at 8 am on the 2nd instant. The Nürnberg left again on the 3rd but owing to a strong gale blowing she did not clear Port Phillip Heads until 4 pm having anchored off the Quarantine Station. A strong N.W. gale was encountered to Wilson’s Promontory and fine weather thence to port.
Built by R.Steele & Co, Greenock in 1873 for North German Lloyd of Bremen, the NURNBERG was a 3,116 gross ton ship, length 351ft x beam 39.1ft. She had a straight stem, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. There was accommodation for 34-1st, 33-2nd and 600-3rd class passengers. Launched on 9/9/1873, she sailed from Bremen on her maiden voyage to Southampton and Baltimore on 17/2/1874. On 11/9/1880 she commenced her first voyage from Bremen to Southampton and New York (9 round voyages) and on 15/12/1886 started sailings from Bremen via the Suez Canal to the Far East. She started her first Bremen - Suez - Australia voyage on 13/7/1887 and her eighth and last on 11/6/1891. On 21/1/1892 she commenced her last Bremen - Baltimore crossing and in 1895 was sold and scrapped the following year at Vegesack. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.549] http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsN.shtml
On the transcription, I was very surprised to see how many crew there were - at 110 - the number was almost as many passengers - although the transcription may not be complete as it is very hard to read.
MASTER | 3rd FIREMAN |
1st OFFICER | FIREMAN x 20 |
2nd OFFICER | BOY x 3 |
3rd OFFICER | WAITER x 3 |
4th OFFICER | 1st STEWARD |
DOCTOR | 2nd STEWARD |
PURSER | 1st STEWARDESS |
PURSER ASST. | 2nd STEWARDESS |
1st BOATSWAIN | STEWARD x 9 |
2nd BOATSWAIN | PANTRYMAN x 2 |
1st CARPENTER | BARBER |
2nd CARPENTER | TRIMMER x 9 |
QUARTERMASTER x 4 | 1 COOK |
STEERAGE STEWARD x 3 | 2 COOK |
SAILOR x 12 | COUETSBAR (?) |
LEADING SAILOR x 8 | 1 STEAM COOK |
1st ENGINEER x 4 | 2 STEAM COOK |
ASSISTANT x 5 | BUTCHER |
1st FIREMAN | PROV. STEWARD |
2nd FIREMAN | PORTER |