Old-Time Echoes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 26, 23 September 1893, Page 7

Old-Time Echoes

CAPTAIN DEVLIN. Captain Arthur Devlin, the “ father of the Athenasum Club,” wherein he was affectionately called “ Daddy,” for many ; c irs member of the old Steam Navi.cation Board, habitue of Coilins-Streer, and a man of splendid physique, died in his eighty-third year on Sunday Aug. 27. He might (writes the Australiasian) have lived a good while longer but for an accident that happened to him nine months ago, when he slipped down the stairs of the Opera-house and fractured his knee. He then became an invalid, and had to abandon all his life-long activity. Captain Devlin was a fine-looking, white-bearded, w’hite-complexioned man, exceeding’ sis feet in heig’ht. He was born on Febuary 15, 1811, his father being one of five ringleaders in the Irish rebellion of 1798 who were banished to Port Jackson and given leave to select land. His mother, Priscilla Squire, was a native of New South Wales, and daughter of the founder of the first brewery in Australia. His birthplace was the George River, near Sydney. Young Devlin, who was named Arthur, after his father, went to sea at the age of 12, in a ship called the Hope commanded by Captain Norris, and trading between Sydney and South America. During these times whaling was a flourishing Australian industry, and great rivalry existed between the whaling crews. Arthur Devlin was one of the first whale boat’s crew which claimed the championship of New South Wales, his boat companions being’ James Chapman, George Chapman, William Howard, Andrew Melville, and Geo. Mulhall, six young Australian giants, all standing over 6ft. in height, and splendidly built men. For many years this crew was unbeaten, and on one occasion rowed two races of 12 miles each with an interval of only two hours between the first and second races. He built and owned sailing craft, and was the captain who commanded the first vessel moved by steam in Australian waters. This boat was called The Surprise, and was built for Captain Delvin by Henry Gilbert Smith, in Sydney, in 1832. He was then 22 years of age. He brought the material and helped to build the first wharf in South Australia, which was called MeLaren’s Wharf. In eight years from that date he had -accumulated weal ch enough to have' an account covering a credit balance of £48,000. This

amount lie lost in two years after" wards, and through marine disasters he was left penniless, or, as he used to say, with nothing but a ship’s compass. With indomitable pluck and energy, he was soon once more in affluence and command of several vessels. But it is interesting to know that but for the extraordinary strength of body and will power which he possessed he could never have survived the trying ordeal which he had to pass through. On one of his trips, in a vessel called the Rapid, he was wrecked —and some readers will remember the wreck of the Rapid on January 14, 1840, and the subsequent suffering- the crew of the vessel underwent. It may be here stated that it was through no fault of Captain Delvin that the vessel was lost. The crew of the vessel managed to get away from the wreck in the two boats, and for 22 days these men fought the pangs of hunger, thirst, and other privations, and, but for the determined will and physical force of Captain .Delvin, would have taken extreme measures to allay their misery. On 7th February the}' - made one of the Fijian islands, and on this descried a tribe of Fijian cannibals, who gave chase. Here again Captain Delvin’s energy stood in good request, and by his tact they outwitted the natives, and got clear; and after being 48 hours at the steer oar he fell asleep, and when he awoke he found that his hair had fallen out and that he was a bald man. On one of the Fijian islands the crew got 20 cocoanuts, and for 20 days more they had to suffer fearful privations, and finally reached Rotumah after some of the most trying and dreadful experiences a man could pass through. They were saved by the barque Avon, commanded by Joseph Underwood, and owned by Captain George Ward Cole. In December, 1842, he commanded the Abercromby and sailed for China, taking a cargo of sandalwood and returning with a cargo of tea, which he disposed of at a great profit in Australia. W hilst in China he contracted the Hong- Kong fever and was given up for dead several times, but his great physical powers pulled him through. He traded between Sydney and San Francisco during- the memorable period of the gold discoveries in California (1849) and Australia (1851), and on many an occasion was his nerve and courage tried by his unruly passengers. He gave up the sea during the height of the gold excitement, and went in for gold-buying, first on the gold diggings and afterwards in Melbourne, of which he became a fixed resident. In partnership with Captain Cole he ran the steamer Gem between Sandridge and Williamstown, and up to the last drew an income from the earnings of that vessel.