A LINK WITH A GREAT PAST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 17 August 1909, Page 3

A LINK WITH A GREAT PAST

END OF A ROMANTIC CAREER.

Dunedin, August 12. ) The death of Mr. J. Eskdale at Palm- | crston South yesterday, at the age of 64 years, brought to a close a most romantic career. Deceased was bom near Dumfries in 1825, and when 14 years old went to Hull to join an uncle in tne drapery trade, but he tired of this life, and went to America. After a year's life on ,a ranche, he took up saloon-keeping at Seadville, where the ill-fated Victor Galbraith, who wan afterwards tried by court martial and shot, and whose death was immortalised by Longfellow, saved his life. Eskdale was attacked by a rufliau, who wis about to strike him down with a knife, when Victor Galbraith fired and broke the desperado's arm, the knife falling to the ground. After two years of saloon-keeping, Eskdale joined a party of fur traders plying between the Indian Territory and Mexico, and on one occasion deceased was badly wounded by a tomahawk thrown by redskins. Mr. Eskdale served in the Mexican War, during which he was wounded in the leg. While with the troops he witnessed :thc unfortunate incident whicii led to the execution of Victor Ualbraith.

After the war Eskdale and a party of fur traders received 30,000 dollar's compensation for thc loss of goods a-ul a wagon-train, and with this set out for California. They had to cross the Arizona desert, and sw great were their 1 privations that out of !I0 members of | the party oidy Mr. Eskdale and two other survived. In a little over a year, however, Mr. Eskdale had amassed £20,000, and he returned to England, where he married. Deceased was next hard of in Paris (Ontario), and two years later he came to Oldbnrne, .Ss fortune having previously left him. Subsequently he came to New Zealand, and after living for a time at the Thames as a commission agent lie arrived in Dunedin, where he managed several businesses.

Mr. Eskdale was seriously injured at Oamani by a wheat stack falling on iiim some years ago, his sight, hearing, taste, and smell ..being injured. His wife died before he came to New Zealand.