21 September 1933

'AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN'

FORGOTTEN EPISODE OF 1839

There were some queer episodes in the infant days of South Australia. The case of Samuel Thicknesse was one of them. It throws a curious light on what were considered the rights of 'gentlemen' when the State was a century younger than it is.

Probably the reader never heard of Samuel Thicknesse, nor of the cause celebre of 1839 in which he was the central figure. Thicknesse was the 'Preventive Officer' at Port Adelaide. Exactly what the duties were is not apparent now, but it was an office under the harbor master, and had something to do with the ships in port. The affair in which Thicknesse was involved was a particularly brutal assault on two of the boatmen whose duty it was to take him backwards and forwards between the ships. On May 1, 1839, the master of the Henry Freeling, then at the anchorage, was dining aboard the Catherine Stewart Forbes with Thicknesse. Thomas Boyde and George Dyer, two of the crew of the preventive boat, had been ordered to lie alongside. They had been waiting some time for Thicknesse when Morris, master of the Henry Freeling, ordered them to push off. As Thicknesse was their officer they refused to go without his order. Thereupon Morris seized the stretcher of the boat, felled Boyde with a blow that cut his head open, and stretched him unconscious in the bottom of the boat. Dyer was remonstrating with Morris when Thicknesse knocked him down. Boyde had by this time re-covered, and he told Thicknesse he was going to report the assault to the harbor-master (Captain Lipson) . Thicknesse whipped out a pistol, presented it at his head, and told him that if he repeated that again, he would blow his brains out. The boat was then rowed back to the Henry Freeling, and Morris and Thicknesse went aboard. Boyde and Dyer were summoned aboard, ostensibly to have some grog. But when they were on deck Thicknesse shouted out for irons. These were not forthcoming, so he and Morris seized the two boatmen and strung them to the rigging, with their toes just touching the deck. The unfortunate boatmen brought an action against Morris and Thicknesse and obtained a verdict of brutal assault. Probably the deciding evidence was given by one Buck, who stated that, two evenings before, Morris had offered him £10 to make the two men drunk so that they could not appear in court.

Apropos to the verdict, the 'Southern Australian' remarked:— 'We wonder whether Mr. Thicknesse still holds office? We would believe it to be impossible for the Government to allow his so doing one moment after the above conviction.' The taunt drew a strange reply from Thicknesse, an amusing mixture of braggadocio and heavy humor. It was published as an advertisement in the 'Register':—

"The Editor of that valuable journal, the Egotist, I observe, considers himself the 'best abused man in the colony,' but although I must acknowledge that he has much to blame in the amiable public, still how much have I to complain of in the amiable— too amiable Government? 'Coming out to this colony as an officer and a gentleman, you will appreciate my feelings when I see all my hopes of promotion blasted by having performed my duty too conscientiously. Yes, sir, that is the rock that Sam Thicknesse has split upon; but how gratifying is it to my feelings to be able to lay my hand on my heart and say. 'Sam Thicknesse, thou hast done thy duty.' When the reference to Brutal Assault appeared in that luminous journal, the 'Southern Australian,' the conflict of my feelings was so great that I hardly knew whether I should pull the editor's nose between his own paper or terminate my own miserable existence; but, thank God, those irritable feelings have been smoothed by my friends, and I have since learned to view the article in a different light. My friends assure me that the article, instead of being derogatory to my character as an officer and a gentleman, is rather a compliment than otherwise. For they say that the editor means to insinuate that, after the manner in which I have been treated by this imbecile Government, it would be impossible for a man of honor like Mr. Thicknesse to hold office. I should much like the best abused man in the colony to inform me how he construes the article headed Brutal Assault. 'I will not, by injuring others, raise myself in the public estimation: but 'I could a tale unfold.' I will not allude to a certain gentleman, notorious for his amours, who rides a piebald horse, and who is the son of a great Government functionary, I will not allude to this gentleman's adventures with certain casks of O. P. rum; I will not mention how I prevented these said casks from reaching the cellars of the afore-said functionary. No, sir, Sam Thicknesse can stand upon his own bottom, and ruining these gentlemen will not raise him in the estimation of his friends as an officer and a gentleman. To the delicate affair respecting the assault, I will not allude, as the facts have been sufficiently before the public."

The letter is signed by Thicknesse. The last heard of him is in a letter addressed to the Governor's private secretary, asking to be excused the fine of £10 imposed at the trial. 'All my salary,' he writes, 'went in settling debts, and I have not now a shilling in the world.' Whether he was let off paying or not, I don't know.— 'Kestril,' Norwood.

Stories of interesting incidents are wanted for this page. But they must be true. Unusual experiences outback are especially suitable. Contributions, which will be paid for on publication, should be marked Real Life Stories.

An Unusual Wool Sale

Probably one of the strangest wool sales held in South Australia took place at Robe in 1862. It was held on the cliffs at the back of the Newton Arms, a mile and a half from the town. It realised £40,000. Here are the circumstances.

The ship Livingston had just completed loading a valuable cargo of wool and copper for London when one of the fiercest storms — that of December 13-14, 1861 — carried her from her moorings and swept her towards the rocks, where she was dashed to pieces. Another ship which was awaiting freight shared the same fate. There were many dramatic incidents during the two days the gale raged, while the life-saving service got the crews off the vessels by means of lines fired by the rocket apparatus.

When the sea had subsided the sodden wool was brought ashore, and spread out in the sun to dry. It was then offered for sole by auction. The auctioneer was Mr. Wadham, of Adelaide, who declared that he had never before made so much commission in one day.

On the occasion of the storm, Mr. Fergus Fullarton went aboard one of the drifting ships by the main line to show the crew how to use the cradle buoy in effecting their escape. The crew of 24 were saved, but Fullarton. in returning, was dashed against the rocks, and suffered from the effects of the experience for the rest of his life — 'Tanta Tyga,' Millicent.

Real Life Stories Of South Australia (1933, September 21). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 19. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90955015