The Funeral of Capt HARRISON
Yesterday consigned to their last resting place on earth were the mortal remains of Capt William HARRISON.
The news of his death caused universal sorrow in the British Isles, for, as the commander of the GREAT EASTERN, he had achieved a national reputation as that of a happy and proud character as could be desired. Inspiring, by his nautical attainments and general confidence in him as a sea captain, and general love for him by his frank and courteous demeanour, he was equally trusted and admired.
In Liverpool he had won, “a local habitation and a name,” long before he was accepted by common consent for the commandership of the largest ship in the world, for as captain in the employ of Cunard he had achieved a well won and enviable reputation.
Although the weather was unfavourable with a cold, cutting wind and sharp, showers of sleet and rain, thousands of people were present, their anxiety to do all honour to the departed sailor.
Many of the shops and houses were closed along the route as the cortege wended its way from Lime St, Railway station to St James cemetery, the ships on the river had their flags at half mast, faces showed infeigned sorrow, that a stranger would imagine some relative would have been snatched away by death.
The deceased arrived at Lime St Station at 3am yesterday and remained in the carriage till removal to the hearse. By 10 am the gathering at the station was immense. Shortly before 10 am the coffin was removed in solemn silence, the sad procession slowly wending its way to the cemetery in the following order :-
The state carriage of His Worship the Mayor [T. Darnley ANDERSON Esq]
The Liverpool Mercantile Marine Association
The Clergy
Pall bearers, Captains, JUDKINS, LANG, HOCKLEY, ANDERSON and other friends of the deceased
The Chairman, Dept Chairman and Directors of the Great Eastern Service, Captains of the Cunard service, merchants and tradesmen.
Four mourning coaches
Chief mourners
Master William HARRISON, son of the deceased
Capt John HARRISON
Rev Philip HAINS
John BRANCH Esq
John BRISTOW Esq
Walter MARTIN Esq
Sebastian WATERHOUSE Esq
Samuel TOWERS Esq
Thomas BLYTHE Esq
Followed by
Mr MC IVER’ s carriage
Mr GRIFFIN’ s carriage
Mr HODSON’ s carriage
Mr Alfred STONE’ s carriage
Mr Alderman BOLD’ s carriage
Mr CRELLIN’ s carriage
Mr John BILLING’ s carriage
The cortege proceeded along Lime St, down Ranelagh St, up Bold St and Leece St and through Rodney St to the north gate of St James cemetery, dense masses of people occupying the sides of the streets as it passed.
On arrival at the north gate of St James cemetery the procession moved on to the entrance of the chapel, where the coffin which was covered not only with the pall but by the Union Jack, was removed from the hearse and borne by sailors from the ship SEAMEW, within the chapel.
The service for the burial of the dead was performed by the clergy of the established church, was solemnly read by Rev Charles T. PIZEY curate of Trinity Church, St Anne St.
After the service the coffin was removed to the family vault in the north-east corner of the cemetery, containing the remains of two of the children of Capt HARRISON.
The coffin covered in a black cloth bore the inscription, “ William HARRISON, Died January 21st 1860, aged 46yrs.” and was “slowly and sadly,” lowered into the vault as the words, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” resounded on the ear. At the conclusion of the service many a “Last lingering look,” was taken of the coffin containing the late genial-hearted, respected sailor.
The name of Capt HARRISON will long live after him.
Among the gentlemen assembled at the railway station were :-
Great Eastern Railway Co ;-
R. J. R. CAMPBELL Chairman, William JACKSON Dept chairman, Alderman BOLD, Managing Director, Montague LEVERSON Solicitor of the company, A. MC ELLAN Chief Engineer.
John H. DILLON, John TROTMAN and J. S. OAKFORD of London.
Thomas H. BOLD, George H. BOLD, HEDGER, Harbour-Master of Southampton, WESTHORPE Master Rigger, William LYNN Jnr Superintendent Engineer, Portsmouth Dockyard.
Charles GRAY Optician, William WOODS Anchor maker, S. R. GRAVES Chairman of the Local Marine Board.
Members of the Mercantile Marine Service :-
Captains, Daniel GREENE, CUMMING, CHAPMAN, Peter George MITCHELL, BEVAN, S. T. MILLS, William HAMILTON, Richard GREEN, James R. RAE, James HENDERSON, John MORTON, D. B. MORTON, Samuel KELLY, PIRRIE, GRANT, MOSSOP, COOPER, and B. J. THOMPSON Secretary.
Captains MORTON, W. O. CAMPBELL, THOMPSON, ORD, PONSONBY, H. WARD
Members of the committee of the school ship CONWAY and Capt POWELL the Commander
Captains GARNISS and COX representing the Harbour Masters Dept
Officers of the Royal Navy
Admiral GRENFELL, Capt PROWSE of the SEAMEW, Mr GARRETT, Master of the SEAMEW, Lieut EATON of the DAPPER, Mr GRANT Paymaster of the HASTINGS, Mr BRIGGS Paymaster of the Coast Guard, and a company of 22 men of the SEAMEW
Councillors, J. R. JEFFERY, J. CRELLIN, R. M. BECKWITH, John ROGERS, John SHIMMIN
Rev G. W. WARR Incumbent of St Saviours.
Messers B. P. EVANS, W. STATHAM, Registrar of the County Court, David MC CLELLAN, NEWSTEAD, ALLENDER, James LIVINGSTON, Hugh ROBERTS, DONNISON of the firm James POOLE and Co, John PRIESTLEY, G. BURGESS, John BILLING, Alfred STONE, R. LAMONT, William J. MARSDEN.
The British Ensign was at half mast at the warehouse of Mr T. BRANCH, Hanover St.
Mr MAYES of Southampton was the undertaker, Messers BUSBY of Liverpool provided the hearse and mourning coaches.
Account of the removal of the remains at Southampton
At half past one the corpse left the house at Hill, preceded by the crew of the GREAT EASTERN, walking two and two, headed by the warrant and petty officers of the ship. On either side of the hearse walked Capt M. W. KETT, Acting Captain and Dr WATSON Surgeon
Mr BOWEN 3rd Officer, Mr SEWELL 5th Officer, Mr GUNN 7th Officer and Messers RUMSEY and ROWLES, former officers, who had come from London to show their respect and esteem.
These gentlemen acted as bearers and pall bearers on removal of the coffin from the hearse.
One mourning coach followed the hearse containing the only son of Capt HARRISON, Mr TOWERS of Liverpool, father of Mrs HARRISON, Mr LYNN her brother-in-law and Mr MC GUFFY of Liverpool an old friend of the deceased.
Next followed the carriage of Dr WIBLIN accompanied by Capt LAY, Superintendent purser of the GREAT EASTERN.
Then came carriages of inhabitants of Southampton, amongst them the Spanish and American Consuls.
Many shops on the route were closed, and the blinds drawn in private homes, the streets were full of people not withstanding the wetness of the weather.
Minute guns were fired from the Platform battery during the transit from the house to the railway station, at 3 the train left for London with the corpse and relatives and friends above named.
Funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr C. BROOKS in conjunction with Mr E. MAYES, the latter gentleman accompanied the corpse to Liverpool.
The body of the youth LAY is to be interred in Southampton cemetery on Saturday, OGDEN the Coxswain was taken to London yesterday to be buried.
Copyright 2002 / To date