DEATH OF A SURVIVOR OF THE STRATHMORE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1027, 7 November 1882, Page 3

DEATH OF A SURVIVOR OF THE STRATHMORE.

Recently there died in the Lone-more Hospital for Incurable?, Edinburgh, John NicoJl, aged 89, a native of Dundee, and one of the survivors of the wreck of the Strathmore. In the joint narrative by Mrs Wordsworth and her son of the shipwreck and of the sufferings on the island, which appeared in Blackwood's Magazine for September, IS7G, and was subsequently reprinted in the Tales from Blackwood, JN T icol! is referred to as follows :—' We were very ranch afraid of our engine-driver, John Nicoll, or ' Steam,' a nice cheery fellow, who was very delicate, and spitting blood in quantities. He was to have got the bottle of wine tint tvas buried, but it was stolen—a great sin, for they knew it was for the sick. There was still a little rum left, which did him good.' Nicoll had always been in delicate health, with a tendency to consumption, and in fact it was, if possible to counteract this, that, although at the time employed in a, good situation in connection with the Tay Bridge works, ho undertook his voyage in the ill-fated vessel. The terrible exposure which, however, he underwent on the island proved too much for his delicate constitution, and on nis return Home he was admitted into the Longmore Hospital for Incuvables, Edinburgh, the victim of chronic consumption. About twu years, however, after his admittance to the hospital he improved so greatly in health that he was again allowed to try a sea voyage. This he did, Wi was away for upwards of eighteen months, when, unfortunately, his health onca more failed, and he had to return to the hospital in Edinburgh. There he lingered until, a few weeks ago, in addition to the rapid advances of consumption, dropsical syniptons developed, under which he gradually sank amid great pain. In spite of all the hardships and sufferings which he endured, not only in connection with the shipwreck of the Strathmore, but indeed throughout his whole life—for many of its pagas were sad enough records — he always maintained his reputation for being a ' nice cheery fellow.' Many visitors to the ward in which he lay, adds an Arbroath paper, will have a vivid recollection of his narration of the catastrophe, told with a good deal of quiet power, and enKrened with incidents which showed how, even in such awful moments, the tragic aud the humorous are often strangely blended. But it will be amongst the occupants of the hospital that his loss will be sorest felt, for by his unselfidmess, his patience, and his cheerfulness he had won the respect and love of all within its walls.