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GRAND OLD SAILOR.
Death of Mr. George
Cockburn.
Early on Wednesday morning a particularly
interesting identity in the person of
Mr. George Cockburn passed away at his
residence, Pirie-street, Kent Town, at the
age of 74 years. The deceased was born at
Alloa in the parish of St. Ninians, Scotland
in 1836. As a lad he served his ap-
ticeship to the printing trade in The
Edinburgh News office. In those days the
conditions of labour were very irksome,
and when about 18 years of age the deceased
ran away to sea and joined the navy.
Altogether he served on four warships—
Calcutta (the principal one), the St.
George, the London, and the Rodney. The
late gentleman was on the Calcutta, which
was the flagship during the China campaign
of 1857-9. His Excellency the
Governor (Sir Day Hort Bosanquet) was a
midshipman on the boat at the time. The
Calcutta carried 84 guns and 812 men, and
was one of the last of England's wooden
walls having been broken up only a few
months ago. Out of her 1857-9 commission
she gave to the navy no fewer than 15
admirals, among the most distinguished of
whom are the present Governor of South
Australia; the ex-Governor of New South
Wales (Sir Harry Rawson) and the Right
Hon. Sir Edward Hobart Seymour. The
deceased received the China medal with the
Canton and Taku Forts clasps, and his
share of the prize money of £30,000 which
the House of Commons voted to the crews
at the conclusion of the war, which opened
up the treaty ports of China to the trade
of the world.
After the war Mr. Cockburn settled in
South Australia, two of his half-brothers
having preceded him here. He completed
his apprenticeship to the printing trade in
the office of The Register, where he served
for 48½ years It was his ambition to
complete his jubilee in the office, and he
remained at his machine until quite recently,
when failing health compelled him
take to his bed. When the Governor
ascertained that hrs old shipmate's health
had become impaired he visited Mr.
Cockburn at his residence in Kent Town,
and exchanged old-time memories..
Adnrnal Bosanquet accepted a copy of The
Adelaide Observer for 1904 containing a
fine illustration of the Calcutta in a gale.
The Calcutta was racing the French Admiral
to the Gulf of Pechili on that occasion,
prior to the taking of the Taku Forts,
Too much sail was on, and the mainyard
(103 ft. long and 3 ft. in diameter) carried
away. Temporary repairs were effected
and next day the signal was flown "Send
the blacksmiths of the fleet on board
the flagship (the Calcutta). Bring your
own forges." More substantial repairs
were made, and despite the mishap the
English man-of-war won the race, and had
a big say in the lively events that followed.
Admiral Bosanquet remembered
the incident well. Theleceased lived an
exemplary life, and he bore the loss of
several members of his family in a few
years with Christian fortitude. The
discipline of the navy remained with him
always. Nelson's memorable signal was
ever in his mind, and every day he did his
duty. The old navy days were ever recurring
to him, and in his last hours he asked,
"Where is my boat lying?" As one who
carried his cross without a murmur George
Cockburn richly deserves that haven of
everlasting peace where tired souls are at
rest. Three members of the family survive—Mr.
Alexander Cockburn. in the
office of the trustees of the late J. H.
Angas; Mr. Rodney Cockburn. of the
literary staff of The Register; and Miss
Maggie Cockburn.
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