A LINK WITH A GREAT PAST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 585, 13 August 1909, Page 4

A LINK WITH A GREAT PAST.

END OF A ROMANTIC CAfIEER. <I3y Tcleffrabb.—Press Association.) . 'Dunedin, August 12. ' The doath of Mr. J. Eskdale at Palmorston South yesterday, at tho age of 84 years,'. . brought to a closo' a most romantic career. Deceased was born near Dumfries in 1825, '■■■ and when 14 years old went to Hull to join . an uncle in the drapery trade, but ho tired of this life, and went to America.' ! After, a year's life,on a ranch,'he took up salbohkeeping at fcadvillo, where tho ill-fated Victor! Galbraith, who was afterwards tried by. court-martial and shot, aiid whoso death waa immortalised by Longfellow,: saved his \ life. -Eskdalo was attacked by a ruffian, who was about to strike him down with a knife, when' Victor Galbrditli fired and broke the desperado's arm, the knife falling to tlio ground. • After two years fo saloon-keeping, EskdaJb.joined a party of fur traders plying between tho Indian Territory and' Mexico, and on ono occasion deceased was badly wourtded by a. tomahawk thrown by reSskinn. Mr.. Eskdale served in the Mexican War, during which ho was wounded In the leg v While with the troops lie witnessed the unfortunate incident which led to'the execution of Victor Galbraith. . . ■ . After tho war Eskdalo and a party of fur traders received 30,000 dollars 'compensation for the loss of goods and a wapon-train, and with this they set out for California. They had to cross the Arizona desert, and so great were their privations that out of 90 members of tho party only Mr. Eskdale and- two. othors survived. In a little over a . year, howover, Mr. Eskdale had amassed £20,000, aiid he returned to England, whore ho' married.' Deceased, was liext heard of -in' Paris (Ontario), and two years later ho camo- to : Oldburne, his fortune having previously loft •' him. Subsequently he Came to New Zealahd, ; aiid after living for a time ,at the Themes as a commission agent he arrived in h where ho managed several businesses. ;.? ■. ' Mr. Eskdalo was seriously' jnjured at 1 Oainaru by a stack of wheat falling on him some years ago, his sight, hearing, taste, and smell being impaired. His wifo died before ho came to Now Zealand. *