DEATH OF H.B.M. CONSUL D

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 20, 16 February 1878, Page 2

DEATH OF H.B.M. CONSUL D

It is our painful duty to chronicle the death of E. A. Liardet, Esq,' H.B.M. Consul for Samoa, which took place early on Sunday morning, after a very short illness. The deceased gentleman took ter his bed on Saturday the 2nd inst, suffering, apparently from very little else than a slight weakness, and continued so, showing no alarming symptoms until the night of Friday, the Bth inst. Towards midnight he became unconscious, and appeared to be gradually sinking, which continued till about 6 a.m. on Sunday the 10th inst, when he breathed his last. When the sad intelligence was given out, it took everybody by surprise, and threw quite a gloom over the town. Every flag, both ashore and afloat was lowered half-mast, immediately it be- ' came known. The funeral took place at 4 p.m. on the same day, and was followed by nearly every foreigner in the town, besides the natives who Inve been for some time under the protection of the British flog at the Consulate, who were desirous of showing a last tribute of respect to •their deported friend. The German and American Consuls, were both there. H.B.M.S. Sapphire having arrived in harbor at 1 p.m. with the Governor of Fiji on board, the funeral was attended by the Governor’s Private Secretary and Aide-de-camp as his representatives, and several of the officers of the ship, including Captain Murray. In consequence of Mr. Liardet having been a Lieutenant in the Navy a firing party was sent on shore, so that the unfortunate gentleman might be buried with the usual honors of a Naval Officer, Mr. Liardet leaves behind him a wife and child, besides a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. Mr. Liardet was the only surviving son of the late Captain William Liardet. R.N., of Cusop, in Wales, and was bom at Stutgart, in Germany’. He entered the Navy at the age of fourteen, after having been some years at the Royal Naval School. After having served for some twelve or thirteen years he retired from the Navy, having succeeded in obtaining the rank, of Lieutenant. He then went to Fiji, and settled with his wife on the island of Taviuni; but not succeeding there, he left and went to England in August, 1875. In February of the following year he was nominated to the office of Consul for Samoa. After serving seven months in the Foreign Office he left England for the scene of his future labors in September, 1876. He arrived iu Fiji in November, and left again for Samoa in H.B.M. schooner Beagle in the following month, arriving at his destination in January 15th,1877.