| John Hurley Silke
From Crew List of HMCS Victoria as at January 1857.
OBITUARY.
CAPT. J. H. SILKE.
This city's oldest resident, Capt. John Hurley Silke, died suddenly on Saturday morning, 13th inst., at his residence, 29 Hannan-street, at the advanced age of 98 years. Deceased, who was born at Somerset, England, came to this city 78 years ago, and has resided here since. He served his apprenticeship in a timber ship, trading to British ports, and later was a seaman I on the famous clipper, "Champion of the Seas." In 1859 he joined the "Victoria," the first unit of the old Victorian Navy, and was present at the capture of the convicts who murdered Capt. Price. In 1861 he entered the service of the Public Works Department, and became master of the dredge, "John Nimmo." He had a wonderfully retentive memory, and always took a delight in relating his exIeriences. He remembered the railway that ran along Nelson-place from the piers to Gem pier. His wife predeceased him 10 years ago. The funeral, very largely attended, took place on Monday afternoon, leaving his late residence for interment in the local cemetery. Many beautiful floral tributes were received. Ernest W. Jackson had charge of the funeral arrangements, and the Revs Fenwick Brown (Anglican) held a house service and officiated at the cemetery. The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. H. Colvin, A. J. Clark, W. V. Harkess, J. J. Robinson, D. Mur ray, WV. Jones, T. Craig, J. Grieve, Cr. H. J. Harvey and W. Hunter.
Williamstown Chronicle, 20 April 1929
Article in Journal of Police History, vol. 3 no. 1, March - May 1995 by Ian MacFarlane.
Letter to the Editor re the murder of Mr. Price.
Williamstown Advertiser, 16 January 1915
Click photo to enlarge.
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