| James Livingstone
"CROSSED THE BAR."
LATE CAPTAIN LIVINGSTONE.
AN-OLD RESPECTED TOWNSMAN.
IT was not generally known last Friday night that Captain James Livingstone, of 55 Osborne-street, South Williamstown, had passed "to the beyond." He had been suffering from a prolonged attack of pneumonia and attendant illness thereon for some seven months. A fortnight or so back he had become sufficiently recovered to take an airing in a dog-cart. But a relapse set in. The late ex-master of the Government steamer Lady Loch was 59 years of age. As many supposed he was not a native of Williamstown, but came here at a very early age. His sisters are well-known townswomen, all having well married. The deceased captain was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. Early he showed predilection for a seafaring life, and joined the State service as a boy of ten in the old steamer Empire, on which he remained from the 5th May, 1864, to August, 1865, before transferring to the H.M.V.S. Pharos. He remained in her until 1870, when owing to reductions he was among others thrown out of the State's employment for a time. The interval he utilised in making sundry voyages in an Aberdeen clipper, thus by deep sea experience qualifying him self for the eventual high position to which through merit he was raised. He rejoined the service in October, 1872, as a seaman on the Pharos, and two years later, in 1874, became that vessel's chief officer. Mr C. M. Maclean, Chief Engineer of Ports and Harbors, tells us at this time young Livingstone exhibited himself as an almost unsurpassable exponent in the management of boats, at that period (and now for the matter of that) an inseparable ingredient of capable marinership, compelled largely by the hazardous work attendance on many lighthouses of the Victorian coast exacted, and in connection with which during the colony's history more than one sad catastrophe has eventuated, notably that of Blanket Bay, when an officer and three or four seamen, all identified with Williamstown, met a watery grave. In 1888 Captain Livingstone became chief officer of the well-known H M V S Victoria, a relic of Williamstown's earlier days, with which Captains "Bobby" Fullarton and "Jimmy" Anderson were identified. In 1881 the State Government chartered Huddart, Parker and Co's smart steamer Dispatch (still running in the Gippaland Lakes trade) as a lighthouse tender. Here the late Captain Anderson and deceased likewise served together. On the 1st January, 1887, he was given the post of chief officer in the new Government steamer Lady Loch, then just new off the stocks, having been built at Footscray. When the then master of her Captain Anderson, in June, 1888, was awarded the post of Chief Inspector of Fisheries, his chief officer succeeded him in the position, which he retained until 30th June, 1903, when he resigned through ill health on pension. During later years he has taken, until his illness, an active part in the management of the Williamstown Mechanics' Institute, having been a prominent member of the Curators' committee. Deceased throughout the greater part of his life was a member of the Loyal Williamstown, M.U. He leaves a widow, five sons and one daughter to mourn his loss. Mrs Livingstone was originally Miss Christina Curry, identified with one of the oldest families in the town " at the north end." The funeral took place last Sunday afternoon. It was a large and representative one. A number of floral tributes from friends had been forwarded. Leading the funeral cortege were the members of the Loyal Williamstown, M.U., in regalia, among them being the veterans, "Larry" Gray and "Brother" Bridges. The remains were interred in the Presbyterian compartment of the local necropolis. The Rev. Robert Murray, of the Cecil Street Presbyterian Church, recited the beautiful burial service of his denomination at the graveside. The pall-bearers were Pilot Russell, Captain Bolger (present master of the S.S Lady Loch), Captain James Mitchell (managing director, Victorian Stevedoring Company), Messrs H. A. Underwood. (secretary, Victorian Stevedoring Company), Dimelow (Ports and Harbours Department), H. Hick, J.P., (Mechanics' Institute), J. Goff (superintendent Alfred Graving Dockyard) and A. Fowler (Loyal Williamstown, M.U., secretary). Mr T. Lonsdale had charge of the mortuary arrangements.
Williamstown Chronicle, 6 May 1911 |
