A RECENT VISITOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2025, 27 March 1890, Page 4

A RECENT VISITOR.

The Derry Standard, January 17, gives the following interesting paragraph under the heading" A Derry Man's Performances at the A ntipodes ; He converts Half New Zealand":—' No doubt a great many Derry people will recollect Mr Arthur Clampett. He was a person ®f considerable notoriety even while he resided here and managed to make himelf rather conspicuous. He was employed as clerk in the office of the late Mr Rowen, solicitor, was a good bass singer, of handsome personal appearance, well built, and had such a free and easy manner that very tew people were not personally acquainted with him. Before leaving the town he and another gentleman gave a farewell concert in the Corporation Hall, which will doubtless live in the memory of j some. The following short sketch of his career, taken from the Munster Express, proves that he succeeded in making himself even better known in the colonies (if not by his right name) then he did in his own country : —' Clampett was educated at the Model School, Waterford, and from thence went into the office of the late R. W.Cherry, solicitor, William-street, where he did not remain long. He next obtained a position as clerk to the late Mr James Lorenzo Hickley, Registrar of the Probate Court. Next he went to the post office, where having ingratiated himself, with some of the revivalists of the district, and evinced a desire for reading the Bible aud saying prayers for his brother employes during office hours, which they resented, he was compelled to leave. His religious friends then started hina as a Scripture-reader, a job of which he soon tired, and disappeared from the city. Up to this time he had continually sung ia the choir of the Protestant Cathedral. On his return it was as Lieutenant Clampett, and it was commonly rumoured that he had enlisted, but was an officer's servant, and home on furlough. Some friends bought him out, and he left, and was next heard of singing in the Catholic Cathedral, Tuam. This necessitated his bemg brought back, as his soul was held to be in danger, and after a short Btay he once more removed his remains aad joined an opera company, with which he performed under the name of Wignor Clampetti. He was last heard of in the United Kingdom at Derry some eight years ago, but his career since then appears to have been a most eventful one. According to his own statement he has travelled though the world, won the swimming championship of New York, swam the Golden Gate in San Francisco in Captain Paul Boyton's suit, trained Charley Mitchell for his fight with Ned Cleary, and finally converted more fools in nine months than Moody and Sanker in double that time.' "