Norfolk Island

New Zealand Tablet, 8 June 1922, Page 18

Norfolk Island

(By John H. Cullen, in The Catholic Standard , Hobart.)

In 1788 the first British party took possession of Norfolk Island under Philip King, who ruled the settlement for the next eight years. Huts and cottages were erected for prisoners and officials. In October 1800 Governor Hunter, on his way to England, landed several Irish prisoners who had been accused of sedition in Sydney. Amongst them was the Rev. James Harold, one of the Irish convict-priests. Two months later an alleged conspiracy was discovered amongst these Irishmen. On Sunday morning Major Joseph Foveaux forced all to attend Protestant service. After this the 36 Irishmen were put in irons. A gallows was promptly erected and John Hollahan and Peter McLean were hanged without any form of trial. No doubt Father Harold would have made an effort to prepare them for eternity. Early in 1801 Father Peter Neil joined his fellow-priest in the "Hell of the Pacific." But after two years he was permitted to return to Ireland, and tho unfortunate Father Harold was friendless once more. The Imperial authorities gave orders for the evacuation of the Island, and gradually all the prisoners were transferred to Van Diemen's Land. Thus Father Harold was the first Catholic priest to touch Tasmanian soil.

For some 20 years Norfolk Island was chiefly a. port of call for warships and whalers. Then the place was once more resumed as a penal settlement for the re-convicted felons of New South Wales. At the "Cascades" convicts were housed in huts, 20 to 24 in each. The "Settlement" included the officers' quarters, gaol, stores, offices, and barracks. "Longridge" was the centre of the Agricultural department. Joseph Holt called the island: "the dwelling of devils in human shape, the refuse of Botany Bay, the doubly damned." Crime and punishment were the ordinary topics of conversation. In 1834 some convicts conspired to seize the island. Judge Burton was sent from Sydney to try the accused. He said that Norfolk Island was "full of crimes against God and man, murders, and blasphemies and all uncleanness." On this' occasion 31 prisoners were condemned to death. The Rev. William Ullathorne^ set out from Sydney to prepare the Catholics for their end. The trip occupied a fortnight. As soon as he landed he went to the prison to interview the condemned men. Some were reprieved, and on hearing the decision they wept bitterlv with disappointment. The 13 who were doomed expressed gratitude to God. After his sentence one prisoner "broke out into most, passionate exclamations and entreaties that he might not die without the benefit of Confession.. ' As you hope to be saved yourself,' he said (to the judge), ' do not let me die without seeing my priest.' Poor soul! he was a Roman Catholic, and after this he was taken away to his cell and in miserable agony employed his time embracing, and beating himself upon a rudely constructed figure of the Cross which a fellow prisoner of the same persuasion made for him of wood, and incoherently and madly pronounced incessantly those brief exclamations for mercy, which such a ono could teach him."

This man's prayers were answered when Father Ullathorne arrived at his cell to announce he had five days during which to prepare to meet his Creator. Three of those condemned were Catholics; four others put themselves under - Father Ullathorne's care; and four men who had been condemned to death by an earlier commission also had the happiness to receive his ministrations. Two thousand were lined up to witness the executions. All the Catholics repeated prayers with the priest, who remained with them to the end. Father Ullathorne accompanied the bodies to the little cemetery. Amongst those buried there only ono had escaped a violent end. This was the child of a Highland officer over whose tomb was the inscription

"Far from the land of his fathers." Happy results followed 'Father Ullathorne's visit to that "last region on earth of crime and despair." He remained a week after the terrible executions, and 150 convicts received the Sacraments, while 20 others embraced the Catholic Faith. A young man who had formerly helped the dying to repeat acts of contrition and other short prayers was appointed to recite prayers and give instruction on Sundays and other suitable occasions. Fifteen months later Father Ullathorne called at Norfolk Island and discovered that, not one Catholic had been before the judges since his first visit. The good priest heard. 300 Confessions and received 12 converts to the Church before continuing his journey to England.

Efforts to secure a resident chaplain followed. Of the 1200 convicts at Norfolk Island 450 were now Catholics. "Ono of the most beautiful of the countless islands of the great Pacific Ocean was now converted into the. great prison house of the British Empire." In October 1838 Bishop Polding sent two priests to the island, Fathers John McEncroe and H. Gregory. Soon afterwards Dr. Polding wrote: "Messrs. McEncroe and Gregory have written from Norfolk Island. They reached it after a tedious navigation of 17 days. They propose building a church. They have obtained a place of separate interment for the Catholics, and also gardens in the most beautiful part of the island." Father Gregory returned to Sydney in October, 1839. In January, 1810, the Bishop- wrote: "I continue to receive the most satisfactory accounts from Norfolk Island where an astonishing reform has taken place." Father McEncroe erected a chapel dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul. In his spare moments he put together a booklet dealing with the heresies that afflicted the Church at various periods and he also devoted many hours to the language and literature of his native country. In 1841 the Rev. Richard Walshe went to assist Father McEncroe. The latter was recalled to Sydney, and Father Walshe remained till 1845. A catechist named Harding was appointed to instruct his coreligionists.

In 1842 Van Diemen's Land assumed political control of Norfolk Island, which was to be solely a place of detention. The prisoners, on completing their sentences were to bo drafted into probation gangs in Tasmania. Bishop Willson paid a visit to the island in May, 1846. The Commandant said to him: "For God's sake go home and let them know the truth." In September the Bishop sailed for Europe. Before a committee of the House of Lords he gave evidence regarding convict life. Although Bishop "Willson was now responsible for Norfolk Island, Dr. Polding continued for some time to take a particular interest in

its welfare. It is not quite clear who succeeded Father Walshe as chaplain. Bishop Willson makes no mention of a priest on the island in 1846. In November, 1848, Dr. Folding sent to Norfolk Island the Rev. Michael Harrington Ryan, “to aid an aged priest already there.” Father "Ryan came on to Tasmania about the middle- of 1849. In October of that year' Bishop Willson paid a second visit to Norfolk Island. Its a result of his experiences the Bishop advised the Government to abandon the penal code. The next priest to assume chaplain’s duties was the Rev. Timothy Lucas who went there early in 1852. Once more in March of that year Bishop Willson visited Norfolk Island. On the Sunday after his arrival of the 272 convicts who attended the Bishop’s Mass only 52 were without chains. The Bishop manifested sympathy for 1, the unfortunate prisoners, and he decided to recommend the removal of the whole of the men from the abode, named by Father Lucas, “Paradise Lost.” In July, 1853,. Father John Murphy, afterwards the Apostle of the Huon, was sent by Bishop Willson to Norfolk Island. Father Richard Marum, whose medical advisers suggested a change of climate, ac-

companied him. Having initiated these two priests into the duties of chaplain Father Lucas left for Launceston on July 20.

\ ; , Here are some extracts, from a diary kept by Father Marum while at Norfolk Island:

"The man in attendance, a prisoner, has been on- this island for the last 20 years. He has made three attempts to escape in a boat." (27/7/1853.)

"I attended at the ' Office/ this morning for the first time. There were from 30 to 40 charged with various offences—some very trivial charges: One case seemed to me wrongly handled. The charge against the prisoner was for some disobedience or other, ' and for telling the Civil Commandant a lie.' This appeared to be the point adjudicated upon, though there was no Magistrate upon the Bench with the Commandant. He was accuser, judge, and jury. The Commandant lost his temper, a little- in this case, and more in another where he called the prisoner ' a blackguard.' (1/8/1853.)

“We rode out this afternoon. Father Murphy had the Rev. Mr. Davenport’s horse. He manifested all the delight of a boy possessing a very pleasing plaything. He cantered right and left—a most enjoyable ride.” (2/8/1853.) “Visited the Gaol. Met a man in the cells. He left Dublin when 10 years of age and never was asked by a priest to go to his duty till Father Murphy asked him. He has been here 18 years. Truly we should never despair of anyone’s return. Father Ryan had become friendly with the prisoner and thus he prepared the way.” “Robert Eugene, a black man, was sentenced to receive 36 lashes for refusing to work got them too.” “The chief constable had deemed it necessary to search the kitchen and the place occupied by ‘ Carter,’ my servant. He found some leather and tobacco which it was difficult to give a satisfactory account of. . . .1 attended the ‘ Office.’ Carter ’got 14 days in irons for being asleep in church,” “Mr. Davenport asked us to tea. Mrs. Davenport arid her sister sang some pretty airs, French, Spanish, and Italian, she herself playing the guitar. We spent , the evening pleasantly and left at half-past ten o’clock.” The Home Government began to act upon Bishop W illson’s suggestions. Transportation ceased. Orders - came for the removal of all the Norfolk Island convicts to Port Arthur, Owing to the protests of the colonists there was some delay. But finally the island prison was no more; and in March, 1855, the last Catholic chaplains, Fathers Murphy and Marum, set out for Tasmania.