MEDICAL JOURNAL OF DR. DAVIES-WEBB
WITH REFERENCE TO THE SINKING OF THE SUN CHAPMAN
Editor - Dr.Odeen Ishmael
This Copy for: Dr. C.F. Roza
DEMERARA BAUXITE COMPANY, LIMITED
MACKENZIE, BRITISH GUIANA
22 July 1964
Confidential:
Mr. J.N. Fraser
Sinking of "Sun Chapman"
Medical Journal of events
from 6.00 p.m. Monday, July 6th, 1964
1.
Introduction
On Monday, July 6th, 1964, the
launch "Sun Chapman" was proceeding up river from Georgetown
carrying many passengers. Shortly after leaving Buradaia* there was
a violent explosion aboard and she sank within minutes. It was
estimated that at the time of the explosion there were 69 passengers
including the crew. On receipt of the news at Mackenzie, racial
violence broke out and reprisals were taken against East Indians in
the area.
This report covers the events
following the sinking of the "Sun Chapman" in so far as these
concern the Medical Services of the Company.
2.
Narrative
Monday, July 6th, 1964
A request for assistance was
received from the Police at 6.00 p.m., and a First Aid & Casualty
Clearing Centre was established at the Wismar Police Station by the
Ambulance Division of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, and by 6.45
p.m. early casualties from the Sun Chapman had been given First Aid
Treatment and dispatched to the Hospital.
At approximately 6.45 p.m. the
fist 2 victims of the acts of reprisals were received at the
Hospital, and by 9.00 p.m. 16 casualties had been admitted, 5 of
them seriously injured, one requiring immediate surgery. Eight of
the casualties were East Indian (5 Males, 2 females and 1 child -
all from Mackenzie) and 8 were Africans (5 Males and 3 females -
from the "Sun Chapman"). In addition 7 were brought in dead, 4 East
Indian Males, killed in Mackenzie, and 3 African Women drowned.
In the midst of these
activities the Police brought a further 15 survivors from the "Sun
Chapman". On superficial examination, other than being slightly damp
and upset, there was little wrong with any of them, and none
required immediate medical attention. The suggestion that they be
admitted was firmly discouraged on the grounds that it would swamp
the bed capacity and leave little room for manoeuver (sic) in
the event that further casualties were received.
Three Newspaper Reporters,
whom someone had misguidedly brought to the Hospital, were present
during these exchanges, and were clamouring for a statement.
However, they were successfully "stalled" and were most reasonable
and co-operative when the situation was explained to them. The
survivors were advised to go home to their relatives, anxiously
awaiting news of their safety, remove their wet clothes, have a hot
meal and go to bed. The Police reluctantly agreed to this.
By Midnight all the injured
had been treated, the other patients had been calmed and put back to
bed, and the Hospital was quiet.
Tuesday, July 7th, 1964:
Four of the casualties were
still critically ill and one of these died during the morning.
The East Indian patients were
segregated from the rest and put in the Male and Female Isolation
Wards respectively. This was done to remove any sources of
provocation from the General Wards as the atmosphere was tense and
emotional, and there had been minor acts of hostility against the
East Indians. Further, it was deemed advisable to group them
together for their better protection.
There were now 8 bodies in the
Mortuary requiring Post Mortem Examination. This was beyond the
Medical capacity under the prevailing circumstances and urgent
representation was made to the Chief Medical Officer in Georgetown.
The response was immediate and Dr. L. Mootoo, Govt. Pathologist, was
flown to Mackenzie to assist. A further body was recovered from the
river during the day and Post Mortem Examinations were done on all
nine.
The Police were having
difficulty with identification of the bodies. Although crowds of
about 50 or more had collected at the Hospital all day, and passed
in procession through the Mortuary; and although with loud
manifestations of grief, professed that they had recognized
relatives, none were prepared to come forward and identify these to
the Police - presumably from fear of being implicated in the acts of
reprisal. Eventually, as the crowds were getting out of hand, the
Mortuary was closed and only those who were prepared to make
positive identification to the Police were permitted to see the
bodies. This caused marked discontent. It was evident that many came
out of morbid curiosity, and when the Mortuary was closed to them,
they paraded through the Wards to see the casualties. The battered
East Indian patients caused particular mirth and several times they
were threatened. It became necessary to clear the crowds from the
hospital and to post sentries over the East Indian patients. On 2 or
3 occasions, when the Police seemed unwilling or unable to move the
crowds from the vicinity of the Wards, British Troops had to be
called on for assistance. The atmosphere remained tense throughout
the day and the Nursing Staff and patients were nervous and worried.
The greatest cause for concern was the possibility that numbers of
bodies might be recovered from the wreck and brought to the
Hospital, and if this happened when the crowd was present an
explosive situation might develop in an atmosphere already heavily
charged with emotion. It was much appreciated that the Commanding
Officer of the British Troops was fully alive to these possibilities
and gave immediate and adequate support whenever this was asked for.
It is quite evident that the presence of British Troops did much to
allay the apprehensions of the staff and patients, and keep the
situation under control.
Meanwhile the East Indians in
the Mackenzie Area had been rounded up and taken to the Police
Station for protection. These were visited in the morning and
altogether there were 100 persons, including 42 women and children.
None required medical attention and arrangements were made with the
Army and Police to feed them. They were all evacuated that evening
by the R.H. Carr.
The most urgent problem was
the supply of sufficient coffins. The Carpenter Shop was alerted to
this end, and 2 were promised that afternoon. The total requirements
were not known, but it was feared they might exceed 20. Due to the
lack of coffins and the time taken to conduct the Post Mortem
Examinations, it was not possible to dispatch the bodies of the 5
East Indian dead to Georgetown that evening by the R.H. Carr, as had
been requested and arranged.
With the continuation of the
curfew on Tuesday night the situation settled down.
Wednesday, July 8th:
The condition of the
casualties gave no cause for alarm, but there were three still on
the danger list. The situation throughout the day was quiet. People
had recovered from the initial shock and excitement and only
isolated groups of anxious relatives and friends gathered at the
Hospital. Two further bodies were recovered during the day, and Post
Mortem Examinations were done on these. All eleven bodies in the
Mortuary had been identified and examined.
The Police Authorities in
Georgetown decided that no further Post Mortem Examinations would be
required on bodies recovered from the wreck, if drowning was the
obvious cause of death; and further directed that when all the
bodies were recovered these should be sent to Georgetown. This
remained the major cause of concern, as the Refrigeration Plant of
the Mortuary was not working efficiently and one of the motors had
required attention. It was also agreed that the bodies of the 5 East
Indians and 2 of the Africans could be sent to Georgetown that
evening by the "Cay Sal", and if coffins were not available these
bodies could be shrouded, and this was done. The Carpenter Shop had
every available man now making coffins and it seemed that the
requirements would be filled.
The situation seemed well
under control when, at 7.00 p.m., the Police telephoned that 4½
bodies had been recovered and were being sent to the Hospital. There
had been some delay in the sailing of the "Cay Sal" and the 7 bodies
for dispatch therein had been returned to the Cold Chamber. This now
contained 11 bodies and the Police were warned that, with the 4½
additional bodies on the way, this was the limit the Cold Chamber
could hold, if a complete breakdown was to be avoided. Normally the
Refrigeration capacity is 5 ton, provided it is left undisturbed,
but during the past two days the compressor had been turned off
frequently and the Cold Chamber opened for various reasons. This
would now have to be done twice more: to admit the latest bodies,
and to remove the 7 for the "Cay Sal" when it is ready to sail.
When the bodies arrived at the
Hospital Stelling it was seen that there were 9½ and not 4½. It was
therefore urgent that the 7 bodies for dispatch to Georgetown should
be removed immediately from the Cold Chamber, and these were loaded
on a lorry for transport to "Cay Sal". The recent bodies were taken
from the river and placed in the Mortuary Cold Chamber. When the
operation was nearly completed Major Goodbody, C.O., British Troops,
Mackenzie, arrived with the news that Assistant Superintendent
Austin had sent instructions from Georgetown cancelling the
arrangements for the despatch of the original 7 bodies and directing
that these be retained in the Mortuary. This meant that there would
be 20½ bodies, most o fthem in an advanced state of putrefaction, in
the Cold Chamber, which was presently at atmospheric temperature
with the Refrigeration turned off, and there was the prospect of
more bodies to come. It was therefore decided to make a personal
approach to Commissioner (sic) Austin. Fortunately reason prevailed,
the original plan was re-instated and the 7 bodies despatched.
Everything was once more under control, the hospital quiet, the
crowd dispersed and the bodies secured.
Thursday, July 9th:
There was some improvement in
the condition of the casualties on the danger list and the Hospital
was functioning normally.
Although a crowd had collected
at the news of the recovery of further bodies, this was orderly and
the atmosphere calm. Identification was proceeding and arrangements
were being made for burial; some had requested postponement until
the weekend, to allow relatives to travel to Mackenzie. It was then
discovered that the Refrigeration of the Cold Chamber had failed.
Putrefaction of the bodies was rapidly progressing, and it became
imperative to arrange for the burial of all as soon as possible.
Somehow this was achieved; coffins arrived in time and in sufficient
numbers, transport was arranged, relatives rounded up and by 3.30
p.m. that afternoon the first group had moved down the river to
Christianburg for burial. The crowds were well behaved, the
organisation efficient and the whole operation was completed by 6.30
p.m. There was one hitch in the middle of all this preparation and
despatch of the dead, when the Police blithely announced that they
were sending to the Hospital 7 more bodies they had recovered. These
were already at Wismar on their way up, and prompt action was
necessary to intercept them, and take them to the far bank of the
river until the funeral proceedings were completed. The Police were
then instructed to have the bodies towed back to Christianburg and
secured in the water, near the Cemetery. This action may have seemed
callous, and in fact it provoked some severe adverse comments. But
the bodies could not be accommodated in the Mortuary, nor could they
be left all night at the Hospital Stelling; and in any case they
would have to be taken to Christianburg the next day for burial. As
they had to wait overnight it was safer to leave them in the water
rather than drag them up on to dry land, where they would have
decomposed even more rapidly and constituted a health hazard, or at
the least a very unpleasant nuisance. In the circumstances this was
the only action that could be taken.
Friday, July 10th - Friday,
July 17th:
The Hospital was now back to
normal except it was necessary to maintain a guard on the East
Indian Patients.
The three Female East Indians
- 2 women and one child - had to be transferred back to a far corner
of the general ward as people kept going into the Female Isolation
Ward and threatening them, or shouting threats and abuse through the
windows.
All of the casualties were off
the danger list and well on their way to recovery.
Extra coffins were made and
despatched direct to the Police at Christainburg. During the next
few days further bodies were recovered and all were buried as soon
as possible.
In all 32 bodies of Africans
were recovered from the wreck, and 5 East Indians were killed in
Mackenzie - a total of 37 deaths from this one incident.
As long as the East Indian
patients remained in the Hospital they were a focus of tension, and
were subjected to continuous threats. Arrangements were therefore
made for their transfer to the Public and Mercy Hospitals in
Georgetown, as soon as all were fit to travel.
On July 17th, under escort of
British Troops, they were transported to the R.H. Carr, 3 as
stretcher cases, and the British soldiers accompanied them to
Georgetown.
This concluded the immediate
sequence of events following the sinking of the launch "Sun
Chapman".
(Signed)
C.O.C. Davies-Webb **
[Editor's Notes: *
Some newspaper and official reports spell the name as "Booradia".
** Dr. Davies-Webb was the doctor in charge at the Mackenzie
Hospital.]
(Source: Cheddi Jagan
Research Centre)
Published by GNI Publications
- Copyright © GNI Publications, 2004
Edited by:
Odeen Ishmael